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4.9 Static Expressions and Static Subtypes

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   Certain expressions of a scalar or string type are defined to be static. Similarly, certain discrete ranges are defined to be static, and certain scalar and string subtypes are defined to be static subtypes. Static means determinable at compile time, using the declared properties or values of the program entities.
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   A static expression is a scalar or string expression that is one of the following:
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    A name statically denotes an entity if it denotes the entity and:
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    A static function is one of the following:
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    In any case, a generic formal subprogram is not a static function.
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    A static constant is a constant view declared by a full constant declaration or an object_renaming_declaration with a static nominal subtype, having a value defined by a static scalar expression or by a static string expression whose value has a length not exceeding the maximum length of a string_literal in the implementation.
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    A static range is a range whose bounds are static expressions, or a range_attribute_reference that is equivalent to such a range. A static discrete_range is one that is a static range or is a subtype_indication that defines a static scalar subtype. The base range of a scalar type is a static range, unless the type is a descendant of a formal scalar type.
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    A static subtype is either a static scalar subtype or a static string subtype. A static scalar subtype is an unconstrained scalar subtype whose type is not a descendant of a formal scalar type, or a constrained scalar subtype formed by imposing a compatible static constraint on a static scalar subtype. A static string subtype is an unconstrained string subtype whose index subtype and component subtype are static (and whose type is not a descendant of a formal array type), or a constrained string subtype formed by imposing a compatible static constraint on a static string subtype. In any case, the subtype of a generic formal object of mode in out, and the result subtype of a generic formal function, are not static.
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    The different kinds of static constraint are defined as follows:
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    A subtype is statically constrained if it is constrained, and its constraint is static. An object is statically constrained if its nominal subtype is statically constrained, or if it is a static string constant.

Legality Rules

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    A static expression is evaluated at compile time except when it is part of the right operand of a static short-circuit control form whose value is determined by its left operand. This evaluation is performed exactly, without performing Overflow_Checks. For a static expression that is evaluated:
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    The last two restrictions above do not apply if the expected type is a descendant of a formal scalar type (or a corresponding actual type in an instance).

Implementation Requirements

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    For a real static expression that is not part of a larger static expression, and whose expected type is not a descendant of a formal scalar type, the implementation shall round or truncate the value (according to the Machine_Rounds attribute of the expected type) to the nearest machine number of the expected type; if the value is exactly half-way between two machine numbers, any rounding shall be performed away from zero. If the expected type is a descendant of a formal scalar type, no special rounding or truncating is required -- normal accuracy rules apply (see Annex G).
NOTES
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28  An expression can be static even if it occurs in a context where staticness is not required.
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29  A static (or run-time) type_conversion from a real type to an integer type performs rounding. If the operand value is exactly half-way between two integers, the rounding is performed away from zero.

Examples

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    Examples of static expressions:
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1 + 1       -- 2
abs(-10)*3  -- 30
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Kilo : constant := 1000;
Mega : constant := Kilo*Kilo;   -- 1_000_000
Long : constant := Float'Digits*2;
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Half_Pi    : constant := Pi/2;           -- see 3.3.2
Deg_To_Rad : constant := Half_Pi/90;
Rad_To_Deg : constant := 1.0/Deg_To_Rad; -- equivalent to 1.0/((3.14159_26536/2)/90)

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