Prefill Array

[jamirokwai]

Hiya,

my suggestion is to add a prefill-mechanism for arrays, like this:

Dim Test.s(2) = ("AA","BB","CC)

Instead of having to use:

Dim Test.s(2)
Test(0) = "AA"
Test(1) = "BB"
Test(1) = "CC"

(EDIT: added "having to use" to clarify

[STARGÅTE]

Dim Test.s(2) = ("AA","BB","CC")

No Basic Syntax!

Use:
Dim Test.s(2) : Test(0) = "AA" : Test(1) = "BB" : Test(2) = "CC"

[jamirokwai]

Hi STARGÅTE,

please reread my post...

[skywalk]

I agree this is not Basic syntax.
But we do have Read - Data - Restore and/or Macros to simplify the function.

[jamirokwai]

Hi,

so it's not basic syntax, agreed
Stargate, I misinterpreted your comment.

Nontheless, having a prefilled Array without Read/DataSection would make some things easier.

[Little John]

Dim Test.s(2) = ("AA","BB","CC")

No Basic Syntax!

Omiting "Then" after "If" is no classic BASIC syntax, too.
And there is no official standard, that tells us what is BASIC syntax and what isn't.

Use:
Dim Test.s(2) : Test(0) = "AA" : Test(1) = "BB" : Test(2) = "CC"

The main difference is, that jamirokwai's proposal is much better readable.
It also requires less typing.

Regards, Little John

PS: One of the next versions of my pre-processor LPP will allow to use this syntax.
I have planned this some time ago, but am just busy with other projects ATM.

[skywalk]

Don't get me wrong, I welcome the "Basic" enhancements in PureBasic, but what do you do for multi-dimensional arrays?

Code: Select all

Dim Test.s(1,2) = ("AA","BB","CC":"DD","EE","FF")

This can get less readable in a hurry.

[Little John]

My pre-processor probably will only support one-dimensional arrays.

Generally speaking, the programming language Euphoria (now free and open source) shows how this can be handled (IMHO) elegantly with arbitrary dimensions. Your example could look e.g. like this:

Code: Select all

Dim Test.s(1,2) = {{"AA","BB","CC"},{"DD","EE","FF"}}

or, if line continuation is possible,

Code: Select all

Dim Test.s(1,2) = { _
                   {"AA","BB","CC"}, _
                   {"DD","EE","FF"} _
                  }

Regards, Little John

[jamirokwai]

My pre-processor probably will only support one-dimensional arrays.

Generally speaking, the programming language Euphoria (now free and open source) shows how this can be handled (IMHO) elegantly with arbitrary dimensions. Your example could look e.g. like this:

Code: Select all

Dim Test.s(1,2) = {{"AA","BB","CC"},{"DD","EE","FF"}}

or, if line continuation is possible,

Code: Select all

Dim Test.s(1,2) = { _
                   {"AA","BB","CC"}, _
                   {"DD","EE","FF"} _
                  }

Regards, Little John

Now, that is a great idea, I think!
Fits perfectly for hard-coded data!

[STARGÅTE]

And for LinkedLists:

Code: Select all

NewList Test.s() = {"AA","BB","CC"}

And for Maps:

Code: Select all

NewMap Test.s() = {"Key1":"AA","Key2":"BB","Key3":"CC"}

And for Structures:

Code: Select all

Structure Test
  Long.l
  String.s
  Array Field.b(3)
EndStructure
Test.Test = {123,"Text",{1,2,3,4}}

very useful , not really, is much harder to read later

[KJ67]

Personally I would much rather see a update in the DataSection.

Code: Select all

Structure XYZ
  A.i
  B.f
  C.s
EndStructure

CopyMemory(?MyData, @SomeWhere, MySize)

DataSection 
  MyData:
  Data.XYZ  10, 3.1415, "The Brown fox...."
  Data.XYZ  12, 0.0010, ""
EndDataSection

This would better fit my needs, still keep a similar structure and at the same time give a fast and simple way to fill complicated structures.

[STARGÅTE]

@KJ67:

+1

[TomS]

And for LinkedLists:

Code: Select all

NewList Test.s() = {"AA","BB","CC"}

And for Maps:

Code: Select all

NewMap Test.s() = {"Key1":"AA","Key2":"BB","Key3":"CC"}

And for Structures:

Code: Select all

Structure Test
  Long.l
  String.s
  Array Field.b(3)
EndStructure
Test.Test = {123,"Text",{1,2,3,4}}

PB does not support Multiline statements. That's why it's hard to read.

But With could be enhanced to work like enumeration with LLs and Maps:

Code: Select all

NewList Test.s()
With Test()
    "AA"
    "BB"
EndWith

NewMap Test.s()
With Test()
    (Key1, "A")
    (Key2, "B")
EndWith

NewList Test.POINT()
With Test()
    (10, 4)
    (35, 95)
    (45, 74)
EndWith