<doc>

<legacy_id>1117</legacy_id>

<name>exists</name>

<type>function</type>

<syntax>

<example>exists(<i>object</i>)</example>

</syntax>

<library></library>

<objects>

</objects>

<synonyms>

<synonym>existence</synonym>

</synonyms>

<classification>

<category>Objects &amp; Messages</category>

</classification>

<references>

<property tag="owner">owner Property</property>

<operator tag="there is a">there is a Operator</operator>

<function tag="isNumber">isNumber Function</function>

<operator tag="there is no">there is no Operator</operator>

</references>

<history>

<introduced version="1.0">Added.</introduced>

</history>

<platforms>

<mac/>

<windows/>

<linux/>

<ios/>

<android/>

</platforms>

<classes>

<desktop/>

<server/>

<web/>

<mobile/>

</classes>

<security>

</security>

<summary><glossary tag="return">Returns</glossary> true if the specified <glossary tag="object">object</glossary> exists, false if it does not.</summary>

<examples>

<example>exists(card field 1)</example>

<example>exists(button "OK" of card "Preferences")</example>

</examples>

<description>

<p>Use the <b>exists</b> function to make sure an <glossary tag="object">object</glossary> exists before you try to perform an action on it, or to determine whether to create an <glossary tag="object">object</glossary>.</p><p/><p><b>Parameters:</b></p><p>The <i>object</i> is any <href tag="reference/object_reference.rev">object reference</href>.</p><p/><p><b>Value:</b></p><p>The <b>exists</b> function <glossary tag="return">returns</glossary> true or false.</p><p/><p><b>Comments:</b></p><p>To find out whether any of a certain type of object exist, use the <b>exists</b> <control_st tag="function">function</control_st> with the number 1. For example, exists(image 1) <glossary tag="return">returns</glossary> true if there are any <glossary tag="image">images</glossary> on the <glossary tag="current card">current card</glossary>, and false otherwise.</p><p/><p>You can also specify a chunk of a container, but in this case the <b>exists</b> <control_st tag="function">function</control_st> always <glossary tag="return">returns</glossary> true.</p><p/><p><img src="202651"/> <b>Tip:</b> To find out whether a <keyword tag="file">file</keyword> or <property tag="defaultFolder">folder</property> exists, or whether a <glossary tag="process">process</glossary> is running, use the <operator tag="there is a">there is a operator</operator>.</p>

</description>

</doc>