Interesting workaround - but in this case, EXTERNAL ARRAY does seem simpler. And, I think it doesn't create an executable statement. (The IF will actually be evaluated, wasting a tiny fraction of a second.)

Yes, You are absolutely right that should be the first try after the brackets ... actually, it's a good reminder for us humans too. However EXTERNAL ARRAY sometimes simply does *not* work. I had times where the Compiler simply ignored it.