Please allow: Dim MyArray(-1)

[Josh]

Please allow:

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Dim MyArray(-1)
;of course also for ReDim

This would be the same like this:

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Dim MyArray(0)
FreeArray (MyArray())

Background:
I often work with COM functions witch I combine in procedures. The COM arguments are in arrays. Sometimes there are arguments, sometimes there are no arguments:

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Procedure Proc1 (Array TestArray(1))

  Debug "cntParams = " + Str(ArraySize (TestArray()) + 1)
 ;Some COM functions

EndProcedure 

cntParams = 0

;Code needed now
If cntParams = 0
  Dim MyArray(0)
  FreeArray (MyArray())
Else
  Dim MyArray(cntParams - 1)
EndIf

;Code needed in future
;Dim MyArray(cntParams - 1)


Proc1 (MyArray())

Yes, I know, thats only for comfort, but it would make the code more clear

[charvista]

+1
But also, it could be extended to have a range.

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Dim A(-4:4)

meaning from A(-4) to A(4) so it would always have a parallelism with what we need, instead of adjustments.

Arrays with 2 dimensions or more, could be identical:

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Dim A(4:9,1:2)

[MachineCode]

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;Code needed now
If cntParams = 0
  Dim MyArray(0)
  FreeArray (MyArray())
Else
  Dim MyArray(cntParams - 1)
EndIf

The above is what ReDim is for.

[Little John]

Please allow:

Code: Select all

Dim MyArray(-1)
;of course also for ReDim

This would be the same like this:

Code: Select all

Dim MyArray(0)
FreeArray (MyArray())

What is the purpose of firstly calling Dim MyArray(0) ?
Just calling

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FreeArray(MyArray())

has the same effect, hasn't it?

Yes, I know, thats only for comfort, but it would make the code more clear

Since the index -1 would have a special meaning, not consistent with the meaning of all other indexes, this would decrease the readability of the code. In contrast, FreeArray() clearly tells the reader of the code what's going on.
So my vote is -1.

[Josh]

Code: Select all

;Code needed now
If cntParams = 0
  Dim MyArray(0)
  FreeArray (MyArray())
Else
  Dim MyArray(cntParams - 1)
EndIf

The above is what ReDim is for.

What? Have you read my posting? Did you really had a look at my example?

What is the purpose of firstly calling Dim MyArray(0) ?
Just calling

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FreeArray (MyArray())

has the same effect, hasn't it?

Do you know, what you are writing? Apart from the fact, that FreeArray without Dim isn't working, this would break all rules.

Since the index -1 would have a special meaning, not consistent with the meaning of all other indexes.

There is no special meaning:
Dim MyArray(2) defines an array with 3 elements
Dim MyArray(1) defines an array with 2 elements
Dim MyArray(0) defines an array with 1 element
Dim MyArray(-1) defines an array with 0 elements

...this would decrease the readability of the code.

If you don't like it, don't use it. For me it would make a better readable code, if I have one line instead of six.

[Little John]

What is the purpose of firstly calling Dim MyArray(0) ?
Just calling

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FreeArray (MyArray())

has the same effect, hasn't it?

Do you know, what you are writing?

In case you want a serious discussion, better stop stupid polemics ...

Apart from the fact, that FreeArray without Dim isn't working,

You had posted only a short code snippet. I have assumed that the array had been Dimed before somewhere in the code.

Sorry, I was mistaken concerning the effect of FreeArray(), because of its description in the documentation:

Free the specified 'Array()' and release all its associated memory. To use it again Dim has to be called.

I see now that the sentence which I wrote in red here is wrong: After calling FreeArray(), the array can still be used (e.g. as parameter for self-written procedures or as argument for ArraySize()).