List indexing problems

[TravisE]

I'm encountering a lot more trouble with list subscripting than it feels I should for such a basic operation.

Code:


LOCAL a:={1,2,3};
a(1);   // returns 1
a[1];   // returns 2

But:

Code:


{1,2,3}(1);   // → {1,2,3}
{1,2,3}[1];   // → {[1],[2],[3]} (?!)
{"a","b","c"}(2);   // Error: Bad argument type

And, most importantly to me at the moment:

Code:


LOCAL a:={{"A",1,2},{"B",3,4}};
EXECON("&1(1)",a);   // Expected: retrieve a list of first elements in each sublist
   // Actual result: “Error: Bad argument type”
   // Same result if [ ] are used instead of ( )

Someone please tell me there's an alternative function or syntax for list indexing that works reliably.…