ALTER_EFFECT vs. ALTER_SPELL_EFFECT

[temnix]

What's the difference? They do the same thing, except that ALTER_EFFECT has broader scope, of course. They have a syntax that's a little different, and that's confusing.

[subtledoctor]

ALTER_EFFECT was designed as an upgraded function that can cover ALTER_SPELL_EFFECT, ALTER_ITEM_EFFECT, and ALTER_CRE_EFFECT. The older ones were left in place do as not to destroy compatibility with mods that already used them. 

The older functions have one sole advantage over the newer, broader one: I believe they can take negative numbers as arguments. ALTER_EFFECT cannot. 

[temnix]

All right, that's good to know.

[suy]

On 1/29/2021 at 3:58 PM, subtledoctor said:

The older functions have one sole advantage over the newer, broader one: I believe they can take negative numbers as arguments. ALTER_EFFECT cannot. 

FWIW, in case someone finds this thread on a forum search, like I did myself: I don't think that it's the case. The alternative for negative values seems to be DavidW's extended function:

I know subtledoctor knows, just for the rest that might find the post by chance.