really simple array question...

[autorayman]

Hi forks,

I have a small question about passing array into functions. As you can see, most values can be passed directly without wraping into a variable:

myfunction( 1, 'a' )

But when I do this with an array, it result in error:

==> Error in expression.:
myfunction( [1,'a']  )
myfunction( ^ ERROR

so what is the expected correct expression ?

btw, it seem that the size of array must be specified:

==> Subscript used with non-Array variable.:
dim $xy = [ 1, "a" ]
dim $xy = ^ ERROR

so arrays can only be assigned like this.

dim $xy[2] = [ 1, 'a' ]

Is there any less definitive way of assigning arraies ?

I am running AutoItv3. Please help.

Thanks.

[Melba23]

autorayman,

Welcome to the AutoIt forum.

You need to pass the array name to the function:

; Do nto use Dim - use either Global or Local
Global $xy[2] = [1, 'a']

_myfunction($xy)

; You can also assign the array elements like this
$xy[0] = 10
$xy[1] = "Fred"

_myfunction($xy)

Func _myfunction($aArray)
    MsgBox(0, "Variables", "Element [0] = " & $aArray[0] & @CRLF & "Element[1] = " & $aArray[1])
EndFunc

All clear?

M23

[martin]

If you want to pass an array to a function then you can do something like this

Dim $aG[9] = [2,4,0,6,7,8,4,4,1]

$aG[3] = 17

Redim $aG[11] ;add elements to the array, set values remain
Dim $bb

$bb = $aG; now $bb is a copy of the array $aG

$aG[10] = 23

$Result = MyFunc($aG)


Function $aG($aA)
if not isArray($aA) then return ''

doSOmethingWIthArray

endfunc

You need to spend some time reading the help.

EDIT: 7 minutes after M23's post! I must be writing slower than ever.

Edited December 28, 2011 by martin

[autorayman]

Hi, Malba, martin,

Thank you for the quick help. Yes, I am not quite used to autoit but more familiar with python. This might explain why I have so many question about the basic things. So now I see, the array must be named before use. And I must speicify the size of the array when assigning it.

What I initailly want to do is to find a handy way to pass a function arbitrary number of parameters. I see in the Help doc, it's done by defining enough optional parameters. Is there any easier way to achive this without defining many options ahead of time (in my case could be up to 12 parameters)?

Please shed some light . Thanks.

[JohnOne]

Passing an array would be best in your case then.

It all depends how you are creating your array.

Maybe it's from user input, and ReDim might be good for you.

But other functions like for example StringSplit will create an array for you.

You must create your function to deal with a variable array size, look at UBound() function for that.

[autorayman]

Hi John.

OK, Then array will be the way to go for me.

Actually, orignaly I was thinking about something like myfunction( [ $a, $b, $c ] ). which looks pretty friendly to people who are reluctant to declare everything before use. Lazy me. I will try to get use to the autoit way. : )

Thanks

[JohnOne]

Well you can use a lot of optional paramaters, but that's only really if you have a max amount of them.

Here is a little example.

_MyFunc()
_MyFunc(1)
_MyFunc(1,2)
_MyFunc(1,2,3,4)

Func _MyFunc($Param1 = 0, $Param2 = 0, $Param3 = 0, $Param4 = 0 ,$Param5 = 0)
MsgBox(0,"How many params were passed", @NumParams)
EndFunc

[Malkey]

Here is another example.

; Do not use Dim - use either Global or Local
Local $xy = "1, a,b" ; Enter any number of values separated by a coma, or some other string.

Local $aArray = _myfunction($xy, ", ") ; Note "coma and space" used as separator.

Local $sDisplay = ""
For $i = 0 To UBound($aArray) - 1
    $sDisplay &= "Element [" & $i & "] = " & $aArray[$i] & @LF
Next

MsgBox(0, "Variables", StringTrimRight($sDisplay, 1))


Func _myfunction($sString, $sSeparator = ",") ; "One coma only" as default separator.
    Local $aRetArray
    ;$aRetArray = StringSplit($sString, $sSeparator, 3)
    ;or
    $aRetArray = StringRegExp($sString & $sSeparator, "h*(.*?)h*" & $sSeparator, 3) ; Removes leading and trailing spaces if present.
    ;.... More

    Return $aRetArray
EndFunc   ;==>_myfunction


#cs
    MsgBox output:-
    Element [0] = 1
    Element [1] = a,b
#ce