Problem with FX expression %[fx:n]

[GeeMack]

Using IM 7.0.8-53 Q16 x64 HDRI on Windows 10. The FX expression "%[fx:n]" gives incorrect results when there are no images in the list. Here is an example command...

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magick logo: -duplicate 5 -delete 0--1 -print "%[fx:n]" null:

That should show the number of images in the list as "0", but instead incorrectly reports the number of images as "1".

The issue also occurs when using the "n" by itself inside square brackets as in this command...

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magick logo: -duplicate 5 -delete 0--1 -print "%[n]" null:

That reports "1" image, but it should show "0". Interestingly, without the square brackets it correctly reports "0" images, like this...

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magick logo: -duplicate 5 -delete 0--1 -print "%n" null:

The issue also occurs in version IM 6.9.10-11 Q16 x64 HDRI. I have no idea which version(s) were first to have this problem.

[magick]

ImageMagick is behaving properly. Querying properties requires an image container. In some cases, the user demands a property even if an image is not available so one is automagically created. For example, you might want to perform a FX calculation before an image is read:

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magick -print "%[fx:.8765/3.14]" null: null:

Rather than return an exception, an image is instead created to ensure the FX expression can be parsed and a value returned. The correct fix to this problem, is to update the documentation so users are aware of this behavior.

[GeeMack]

ImageMagick is behaving properly. Querying properties requires an image. In some cases, the user demands a property even if an image is not available so one is automagically created. For example, you might want to perform a FX calculation before an image is read, for example,

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magick -print "%[fx:.8765/3.14]" null: null:

Thanks for the explanation. I should have known that.

I'm working on commands using FX expressions to "-set option:variable" to the number of images currently in the list. Then I'll use that variable later in the command for duplicating or deleting. I can get what I need by creating a placeholder "xc:", setting the variable to the length of the list minus 1, then deleting that placeholder, something like this...

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... xc: -set option:list_length %[fx:n-1] +delete ...

Thanks again!