Calling waves from data browser in loop

Variable index = 0
do
    String wname = "wave_"+num2str(index)       // compute the next name
    Wave/Z w = $wname                       // /Z avoids error if the wave doesn't exist
    if (!WaveExists(w))
        break                           // if the wave doesn't exists, we don't have any more waves, so get out of the loop
    endif
    ... now do something with w ...
 
    index += 1                          // increment the index so we go on to the next wave in the sequence
while(1)                                    // infinite loop- better have a break in the loop somewhere!

Function test()
 
String name
Variable i=0
 
do
    name=GetBrowserSelection(i)
    if(strlen(name)<=0)
        break
    endif
    // check if name corresponds to a wave
    // do something with it.
    i+=1
while(1)
End

function base(sample, templist)
 
string sample
string templist
variable i
 
//this next part is to demonstrate that i can create all of the wave names that i need
 
for(i=0;i<=2;i+=1)
print stringfromlist(i,templist)
endfor 
 
//here i believe i am creating a local string name for manipulation: s1
 
string s1 = sample+"_"+stringfromlist(0,templist)
 
//here i believe i am creating a local wave name for manipulation: f
 
wave f = $s1
 
//however, print f results in NULL wave
 
print f
 
end

function base(sample, templist, np)
    string sample, templist
    variable np
    
    // local variables
    string s1
  
    // create new wave name
 
    s1 = sample+"_"+stringfromlist(np,templist)
 
    // make wave and reference it
    
    make/O/N=10 $s1 = p^2
    wave fwave = $s1
 
    // print one of its values
 
    print fwave[2]
 
    return 0
end

function base(film, templist)
 
// templist is a string like "1;2;4p5;". film is just a name like "abc"
 
string film, templist
 
// calling this a variable allows my code to compile. but when i run, the error indicates that i'm trying to operate on a null wave. 
// if i eliminate this variable j line, and instead change j to 2 in the loop, the function does what i want it to (adds 10 to each wave).
 
variable j = itemsinlist(templist)
 
// even if i swap j for (itemsinlist(templist)) (in parenthesis like the /n flag in the make command) i get the null wave error.
// the waves whose names i make with strings are already in the data browswer
 
variable i
for(i=0;i<=j;i+=1)
 
string s = film+"_"+stringfromlist(i,templist)
 
wave f = $s
 
f = f + 10
 
endfor 
 
end

function base(film, templist)
    string film, templist
    // variables for the function are right next to function name
    // lines indented for easier reading
    
    // local variables
    // I like them all on top
    
    variable ic, npnts
    string sf
    
    // declarations here as needed
    
    npts = itemsinlist(templist)    // abbreviations make better sense than single letters
 
    // for loop to do to work
    
    for(ic=0;i<npts;ic+=1)
 
        sf = film + "_" + stringfromlist(ic,templist) // spaces keep the line readable
        wave fwave = $sf        // did I say that single letters make me nervous?
        if (WaveExists(fwave)!=0)   // we better check that fwave exists in local folder
            fwave += 10     // shorthand notation to add 10 to all points in the wave
        else
            print "No local wave " + sf
        endif
        
    endfor
 
    return 0    // I always return something, even when it is nothing
end

macro g_n()
 
    string a
 
    a=wavelist("*",";","")
 
    make/n=(itemsinlist(a))/T/o nm
    nm[]=StringFromList(p, a)   
 
 
endmacro