PureBasic Forums - English

I have 250 Numbers that link to 250 Names.

I will be scanning a barcode and receiving a number which should be one of the 250 numbers.

Which of List, array or Map would allow me to search all the numbers for the current input number the simplest?

I have currently got then stored in an array, but I'm not sure if an array can be searched like I need.

Map().s works great for this.

debug myMap(Str(SomeBarCodeNumber))

Map would be best with predefined values since you don't need to waste cycles iterating through an array or list.

Same for me, MAP

Is the speed really critical?
Have you tested all 3?
If so, did you feel a real difference ?

The number of values is small (250), maybe it doesn't matter here.

If you always get an 'index' (0...250) and all of them are in use, then I would prefer the array.
You don't need to search, because your received number is the index of the array.

This is faster and need less memory then a map.
And since the count is fixed and you need not append elements, an array is the best solution.

Does the barcode api return a string or an integer?

infratec wrote: Sat Mar 18, 2023 10:53 am If you always get an 'index' (0...250) and all of them are in use, then I would prefer the array.
You don't need to search, because your received number is the index of the array.

This is faster and need less memory then a map.
And since the count is fixed and you need not append elements, an array is the best solution.

Well, no the barcodes I have are not the numbers 0 to 250, it that what you meant?

I think I might map the barcode numbers to an Index, then use an array, to hold any other details I need.

skywalk wrote: Sat Mar 18, 2023 1:07 pm Does the barcode api return a string or an integer?

I have not received the device yet, but I have been led to believe it will give the number in ascii format, so - String.

Use a map especially if it returns a string