Look for changes in #include files in compiled script

[david1337]

Hey guys

I have a script in which I have included some self-made files in the script directory. In these files I have various variables defined.

This is how the file is included and then called in the main script:

#include "Data\test.au3"


MsgBox(0,"",$variable1)

 

test.au3 could contain something like:

$variable1 = "Hello1"
$variable2 = "Hello2"
$variable3 = "Hello3"

 

Now, if I want to change the value of $variable1 and then run the script, no problem. The script uses the new edited variable.

 

But If I compile the script, the includes are compiled within the EXE file as intended.
Now, if I change the value of $variable1 and run the EXE file, it doesn't look for my change, since it uses whatever variable that was defined when the script was compiled.

 

Is there any way that I can have files with variables that changes, and then have a compiled version using these changes, without having to compile again?

 

Thanks in advance.

David

Edited October 10, 2016 by david1337

[AutoBert]

Use normal .txt files with filerread or ini files with iniread instead.

[david1337]

Hi AutoBert

Thank you for answering.

It's not just that simple is it?

Even though I do a fileread on test.txt which contains my variables, it doesn't just mean that my mainscript now is able to use those variables? Or am I missing something?

Edited October 10, 2016 by david1337

[l3ill]

I personally use ini files when saving and loading variables..

See my sig for an example...

[genius257]

A code example is always nice for more in detail help

[david1337]

@ l3ill : Thanks, I will try and have a look, to see if I can use your example

@ genius257: I actually did give a very simple example. That's all that should be needed according to my question

Thanks

[david1337]

Hey l3ill

I am beginning to understand how I can use INI files instead

Thank you!

- David

[l3ill]

You betcha 

[david1337]

Hey Bill

I got everything working with the INI files now, except one thing!

I have a for/next section which uses all that is included in the $Custom[] variable.

Quick example (working):

Global $Custom[] = ["01_Test", "02_Test", "03_Test", "04_Test", "05_Test", "06_Test", "07_Test", "08_Test", "09_Test", "10_Test"]

For $i = 0 To UBound($Custom) - 1

If FileExists $Test[$i] Then
.......
Next

"01_test", "02_Test" etc. needs to be renamed frequently, so I don't want this part to be inside the actual script as in the above example.

So I tried to solve it with an INI file, just like I did with all the variables:

[Test Section]
Test=["01_Test", "02_Test", "03_Test", "04_Test", "05_Test", "06_Test", "07_Test", "08_Test", "09_Test", "10_Test"]

And the code calls it like this:

Global $Test[] = IniRead($DataFile, "Test Section", "Test", "")

Even though a consolewrite of $Test shows what I expect, I guess I can't do it like this?

Edited October 10, 2016 by david1337

[l3ill]

On my way out but at quick glance it looks like you are trying to call an array. I would have to test that myself as I have never used ini to hold arrays.

I suggest some error checking to see where your code is skipping and read up on arrays and ini files.

If you don't find it and no one else shows up I will back later...

Good Luck !

Bill 

[genius257]

It does not seem to be possible to write an array to a single value, without some kind of imagination.

Alternatively you could do something like this:

Dim $variable[] = ["a","b","c","d","e"]

IniDelete(@ScriptName&".ini", "variable")

For $i = 0 To UBound($variable, 1)-1
    IniWrite(@ScriptName&".ini", "variable", $i, $variable[$i])
Next

;read example below here:

$i=0
Dim $variable[1]
Do
    $data = IniRead(@ScriptName&".ini", "variable", $i, Null)
    ConsoleWrite(@error&@CRLF)
    If $data=="" Then ExitLoop
    $variable[UBound($variable, 1)-1] = $data
    ReDim $variable[UBound($variable, 1)+1]
    $i+=1
Until 0
ReDim $variable[UBound($variable, 1)-1]

For reading you could also do something with "IniReadSection"

[l3ill]

Interesting fix

I was thinking more along the lines of array to string then store in INI and then vice versa when reading.

Perhaps a CSV file or excel would  serve better than ini for array storage?

Edited October 10, 2016 by l3ill

[l3ill]

Have a look at:

_ArrayToString

use a more obscure delimiter than a comma like a pipe or something ' | '     

This will give you a single string that you can save to INI

Then when reading from INI you get the string as a variable and use:

StringSplit

with your pipe delimiter and you have your array back ready to work with.

[genius257]

22 minutes ago, l3ill said:

Interesting fix

using ScriptControl and JSON a string conatining any char "should" be able to be saved and loaded like this:

$oSC = ObjCreate("ScriptControl")
$oSC.Language = "JScript"
$oSC.AddCode(BinaryToString(InetRead("https://raw.githubusercontent.com/douglascrockford/JSON-js/master/json2.js")))
$oSC.Eval("Array.prototype.Item = function(i){return this[i];};")
$z = $oSC.Eval('new Function("a","return JSON.stringify(a)")')
Dim $a[] = ['a','b','c']
$b = $oSC.Eval("new Array()")
For $i=0 To UBound($a, 1)-1
    $b.push($a[$i])
Next
;~ MsgBox(0, "", $oSC.Eval("JSON.Stringify()"))
MsgBox(0, "", $z($b))

IniWrite(@ScriptName&".ini", "variable", "array", $z($b))

MsgBox(0, "", IniRead(@ScriptName&".ini", "variable", "array", "nope"))

 

[l3ill]

I prefer a simpler approach:

1. Takes an array and makes it a string
2. Stores the string to an INI file
3. Reads the string from INI file
4. Turns it back into an array

#include <Array.au3>
$sFilePath = @ScriptDir & "/tester.ini"

Global $aCustom[10] = ["01_Test", "02_Test", "03_Test", "04_Test", "05_Test", "06_Test", "07_Test", "08_Test", "09_Test", "10_Test"]
Local $sStringArray = _ArrayToString($aCustom, ',')
Local $sStringRepl = StringReplace($sStringArray, ',', '|')
MsgBox(0, "Array to String", $sStringRepl)

IniWrite($sFilePath, "SectionName", "TestKey", $sStringRepl)

Sleep(3000)
$sTestString = IniRead($sFilePath, "SectionName", "TestKey", Default)
$aString_to_array = Stringsplit($sTestString, '|')

_ArrayDisplay($aString_to_array)

 

[david1337]

Hey guys

Thanks for your suggestions!
I am working on the implementation to the actual script right now.
Array to string - to INI - to array, is an interesting approach Bill. That might be the solution