flexibility with declaring an array

[gcue]

hello world!

 

i have a really large array i keep modifying .. wondering if there was a way to declare it in such a way that was easy to modify.. somtimes i need to delete records from the middle which throws the count off.. if something like this was possible it would make it much easier... then again - not sure what the first line Local $array[10] would look like since i wouldnt know the final count yet

 

thanks in advance!

 

#include <array.au3>

Local $array[10]


$x = 0


$array[$x += 1] = "bob"
$array[$x += 1] = "larry"
$array[$x += 1] = "mark"
$array[$x += 1] = "will"
$array[$x += 1] = "pete"
$array[$x += 1] = "martha"
$array[$x += 1] = "jane"
$array[$x += 1] = "jill"
$array[$x += 1] = "jack"
$array[$x += 1] = "jim"

_ArrayDisplay($array)

Edited March 23, 2015 by gcue

[gcue]

this would work (not sure if its the best way).. but the first line i guess would have to be figured out manually - cant think of another way around that

#include <array.au3>


Local $array[10]


$x = 0


$array[$x] = "bob"
$x +=1
$array[$x] = "larry"
$x +=1
$array[$x] = "mark"
$x +=1
$array[$x] = "will"
$x +=1
$array[$x] = "pete"
$x +=1
$array[$x] = "martha"
$x +=1
$array[$x] = "jane"
$x +=1
$array[$x] = "jill"
$x +=1
$array[$x] = "jack"
$x +=1
$array[$x] = "jim"


_ArrayDisplay($array)

[czardas]

Although I haven't actually tried them, I believe Maps in beta would probably be ideal for this. There are various ways to handle this with arrays. One way is to use a 2D array with an ID (identifier) column which you can search. Another way, which I demonstrate below, is to track changes using a second array.

;

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#include <Array.au3>

Local $aArray[10]
Local Enum $eBob = 1, $eLarry, $eMark, $eWill, $ePete, $eMartha, $eJane, $eJill, $eJack

$aArray[0] = "Deleted"
$aArray[$eBob] = "bob"
$aArray[$eLarry] = "larry"
$aArray[$eMark] = "mark"
$aArray[$eWill] = "will"
$aArray[$ePete] = "pete"
$aArray[$eMartha] = "martha"
$aArray[$eJane] = "jane"
$aArray[$eJill] = "jill"
$aArray[$eJack] = "jack"
_ArrayDisplay($aArray)

Local $aID[UBound($aArray)] ; Second array to track changes in $aArray

For $i = 1 To UBound($aID) -1
    $aID[$i] = $i ; Each element points to a value in $aArray
Next
;_ArrayDisplay($aID)

; Delete "pete"
$aID[$ePete] = 0
For $i = $ePete +1 To UBound($aID) -1
    $aID[$i] -= 1
Next
_ArrayDelete($aArray, $ePete)
_ArrayDisplay($aArray)

; Access "jane"
MsgBox(0, "Access jane", $aArray[$aID[$eJane]])

; Access "pete"
MsgBox(0, "Access pete", $aArray[$aID[$ePete]])

;

This is not a general solution and you will have to work out how to also add items if you use this approach, and write the functions you need.

Edited March 23, 2015 by czardas

[gcue]

interesting approach - but will be hard to enum that many variables.. the array im dealing with is nearly 4,000 records

[czardas]

Enum doesn't effect the method. Just remove it and use the second array to track changes using numbers instead.

;

#include <Array.au3>

Local $aArray[10]

$aArray[0] = "Deleted"
$aArray[1] = "bob"
$aArray[2] = "larry"
$aArray[3] = "mark"
$aArray[4] = "will"
$aArray[5] = "pete"
$aArray[6] = "martha"
$aArray[7] = "jane"
$aArray[8] = "jill"
$aArray[9] = "jack"
_ArrayDisplay($aArray)

Local $aID[UBound($aArray)] ; Second array to track changes in $aArray

For $i = 1 To UBound($aID) -1
    $aID[$i] = $i ; Each element points to a value in $aArray
Next
;_ArrayDisplay($aID)

; Delete "pete"
$aID[5] = 0
For $i = 6 To UBound($aID) -1
    $aID[$i] -= 1
Next
_ArrayDelete($aArray, 5)
_ArrayDisplay($aArray)

; Access "jane"
MsgBox(0, "Access jane", $aArray[$aID[7]])

; Access "pete"
MsgBox(0, "Access pete", $aArray[$aID[5]])

I don't know if it's right for your project, but I sometimes do this kind of thing.

Edited March 23, 2015 by czardas

[kylomas]

gcue,

Are you talking about modifying the array at runtime or some kind of pre-processing approach?

If you need to maintain a count at offset +0 you can always use Ubound.

kylomas

[gcue]

gcue,

Are you talking about modifying the array at runtime or some kind of pre-processing approach?

If you need to maintain a count at offset +0 you can always use Ubound.

kylomas

pre-processing

did you mean something like this?

cant seem to get the syntax right - if its possible with this approach

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#include <array.au3>


$msg_normal = 0


local $array[1]


$array[ReDim $array[UBound($array)+1]] = "bob"
$array[ReDim $array[UBound($array)+1]] = "larry"
$array[ReDim $array[UBound($array)+1]] = "mark"
$array[ReDim $array[UBound($array)+1]] = "will"
$array[ReDim $array[UBound($array)+1]] = "pete"
$array[ReDim $array[UBound($array)+1]] = "martha"
$array[ReDim $array[UBound($array)+1]] = "jane"
$array[ReDim $array[UBound($array)+1]] = "jill"
$array[ReDim $array[UBound($array)+1]] = "jack"
$array[ReDim $array[UBound($array)+1]] = "jim"


_ArrayDisplay($array)


Func Debug($variable1 = "", $variable2 = "", $variable3 = "")


;~  #include <array.au3>
;~  $msg_normal = 0


If IsArray($variable1) Then
_ArrayDisplay($variable1)
Else
If $variable2 <> "" Then
$variable1 &= @CRLF & $variable2
EndIf


If $variable3 <> "" Then
$variable1 &= @CRLF & $variable3
EndIf


ClipPut($variable1)
MsgBox($msg_normal, "Debug", $variable1)
EndIf


EndFunc   ;==>Debug

[gcue]

Enum doesn't effect the method. Just remove it and use the second array to track changes using numbers instead.

;

#include <Array.au3>

Local $aArray[10]

$aArray[0] = "Deleted"
$aArray[1] = "bob"
$aArray[2] = "larry"
$aArray[3] = "mark"
$aArray[4] = "will"
$aArray[5] = "pete"
$aArray[6] = "martha"
$aArray[7] = "jane"
$aArray[8] = "jill"
$aArray[9] = "jack"
_ArrayDisplay($aArray)

Local $aID[UBound($aArray)] ; Second array to track changes in $aArray

For $i = 1 To UBound($aID) -1
    $aID[$i] = $i ; Each element points to a value in $aArray
Next
;_ArrayDisplay($aID)

; Delete "pete"
$aID[5] = 0
For $i = 6 To UBound($aID) -1
    $aID[$i] -= 1
Next
_ArrayDelete($aArray, 5)
_ArrayDisplay($aArray)

; Access "jane"
MsgBox(0, "Access jane", $aArray[$aID[7]])

; Access "pete"
MsgBox(0, "Access pete", $aArray[$aID[5]])

I don't know if it's right for your project, but I sometimes do this kind of thing.

the modifying of the array isnt occuring when the script runs...  its me manually typing in the changes before the script runs

[czardas]

You might want to update again in the future. Until you know the exact contents of the array, you should use a method which allows changes to be made. You could also access the data using one of the two array search functions: then you wouldnt necessarily need to track changes.

Edited March 23, 2015 by czardas

[gcue]

the data keeps changing.. so thats why the array changes (values get added or removed)

[czardas]

I showed a way to delete an element and still access records using their original numeric identifier using the only method I know of. I thought that was what you wanted.

;

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#include <Array.au3>

Local $aArray[10]

$aArray[0] = "Deleted"
$aArray[1] = "bob"
$aArray[2] = "larry"
$aArray[3] = "mark"
$aArray[4] = "will"
$aArray[5] = "pete"
$aArray[6] = "martha"
$aArray[7] = "jane"
$aArray[8] = "jill"
$aArray[9] = "jack"
;_ArrayDisplay($aArray)

Local $aID[UBound($aArray)] ; Second array to track changes in $aArray

For $i = 1 To UBound($aID) -1
    $aID[$i] = $i ; Each element points to a value in $aArray
Next
;_ArrayDisplay($aID)

; Delete pete
_DeleteElement($aArray, $aID, 5)
;_ArrayDisplay($aArray)

; Access jane
MsgBox(0, "Access jane", $aArray[$aID[7]])

; Access pete
MsgBox(0, "Access pete", $aArray[$aID[5]])

; Insert john ID = 10
_InsertElement($aArray, $aID, 3, "john") ; Insert John at third position
;_ArrayDisplay($aArray)

; Access jill
MsgBox(0, "Access jill", $aArray[$aID[8]])

; Access john
MsgBox(0, "Access john", $aArray[$aID[10]])

_ArrayDisplay($aArray)

Func _DeleteElement(ByRef $aArray, ByRef $aID, $iElement)
    $aID[$iElement] = 0
    For $i = $iElement +1 To UBound($aID) -1
        $aID[$i] -= 1
    Next
    _ArrayDelete($aArray, 5)
EndFunc

Func _InsertElement(ByRef $aArray, ByRef $aID, $iElement, $vValue)
    For $i = $iElement +1 To UBound($aID) -1
        $aID[$i] += 1
    Next
    _ArrayAdd($aID, $iElement)
    _ArrayInsert($aArray, $iElement, $vValue)
EndFunc

Edited March 23, 2015 by czardas

[gcue]

ok.. so if i use the numbers.. and i delete record 5 for instance.. i have to re-write the numbers 6-9 to accomodate the change (6 becomes 5, 7 becomes 6, etc).. not an easy task when you have almost 4,000 records.

the modifications are occuring before i run the script.  i am manually removing/adding entries so the record numbers in the array will be wrong any time i do that.

sorry if i was not as clear

[czardas]

In the code I posted you can access the elements from their original numeric identifier. You do not need to manually modify the array. Information about each new record is added to the end of the change-tracking array. Access the elements using the original numbers until you know the final version. Then hard code it if you want to. Otherwise you might want to use _ArraySearch() or _ArrayBinarySearch().

Edit: There was a mistake in the code - now fixed.

Edited March 23, 2015 by czardas

[jchd]

Is it me or is that one more typical good use case for SQLite?

[gcue]

interesting you bring that up... what i do is build a sqlite file from the array...

[iamtheky]

Do the records have to be deleted, can they just be excluded from whatever you are doing with them next?  like,

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#include <array.au3>


local $array[10]


$x = 0


$array[$x] = "bob"
$x +=1
$array[$x] = "larry"
$x +=1
$array[$x] = "mark"
$x +=1
$array[$x] = "will"
$x +=1
$array[$x] = "pete"
$x +=1
$array[$x] = "martha"
$x +=1
$array[$x] = "jane"
$x +=1
$array[$x] = "jill"
$x +=1
$array[$x] = "jack"
$x +=1
$array[$x] = "jim"


msgbox(0, '' , "9 is " & $array[9])   ; Jim is 9
$array = _deletefolk($array , "martha;will") 
_ArrayDisplay(_NoBlanks($array), "9 is " & $array[9])              ;Jim is still 9

Func _deletefolk($aArray, $sNames)
$aNames = stringsplit($sNames , ";" , 3)
for $i = 0 to ubound($aNames) - 1
$aFound = _ArrayFindAll($aArray , $aNames[$i])
$aArray[$aFound[0]] = ""
next

return $aArray

EndFunc

Func _NoBlanks($array)
return stringsplit(stringreplace(_ArrayToString($array) , "||" , "|"), "|" , 3)
EndFunc

Edited March 23, 2015 by boththose

[kylomas]

gcue,

We need more info on your app.  Otherwise the obvious answer is to populate SQLite with whatever method you are using to build the array.

If you want to stick with an array (maybe to minimize SQLite DB access) then you need a wrapper of some kind, probably similar to what czardas has shown.

kylomas

[jdelaney]

You can do something like this, and not worry about deleting/repopulating the array:

Local $aSomething[40][2]
; populate
For $i = 0 To UBound($aSomething)-1
    $aSomething[$i][0]=$i
    $aSomething[$i][1]=True
Next

; 'delete' some of the records (just make them False)
$aSomething[20][1]=False
$aSomething[25][1]=False

; loop through, and skip those that are false
For $i = 0 To UBound($aSomething)-1
    If $aSomething[$i][1] Then
        ConsoleWrite($aSomething[$i][0] & @CRLF)
    EndIf
Next

[gcue]

ok here's the scenario again i apologize if i have been unclear... i have an array being built in the code as shown below.  there are close to 4,000 records. 

 

#include <array.au3>


Local $array[10]


$array[0] = "bob"
$array[0] = "larry"
$array[2] = "mark"
$array[3] = "will"
$array[4] = "pete"
$array[5] = "martha"
$array[6] = "jane"
$array[7] = "jill"
$array[8] = "jack"
$array[9] = "jim"


_ArrayDisplay($array)

then when something changes and i have to add or delete some records - i have to delete the code for those records being created so the code looks like the code below after the changes.  it becomes a huge hassle when dealing with a large dataset

#include <array.au3>


Local $array[10]


$array[0] = "bob"
$array[2] = "mark"
$array[3] = "will"
$array[4] = "pete"
$array[5] = "martha"
$array[9] = "jim"


_ArrayDisplay($array)

 

thanks again for the help

[iamtheky]

but in that example, those elements still exist.  If they were deleted the ubound would change.  It is the same as ignoring them, doesnt matter what the exclude string is.

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#include <array.au3>


local $array[10]


$x = 0


$array[$x] = "bob"
$x +=1
$array[$x] = "larry"
$x +=1
$array[$x] = "mark"
$x +=1
$array[$x] = "will"
$x +=1
$array[$x] = "pete"
$x +=1
$array[$x] = "martha"
$x +=1
$array[$x] = "jane"
$x +=1
$array[$x] = "jill"
$x +=1
$array[$x] = "jack"
$x +=1
$array[$x] = "jim"


$array = _deletefolk($array , "larry;jane;jill;jack") 
_ArrayDisplay($array)


Func _deletefolk($aArray, $sNames)
$aNames = stringsplit($sNames , ";" , 3)
for $i = 0 to ubound($aNames) - 1
$aFound = _ArrayFindAll($aArray , $aNames[$i])
$aArray[$aFound[0]] = ""
next

return $aArray

EndFunc

Edited March 23, 2015 by boththose