Dynamic array assign

Opto_Will

Maybe I am just having a Friday moment but is it possible to dynamically allocate an numbered array as a variable? Let me explain...

Basically I have multiple arrays I want to do the same set of routines on. I want to do something like:

BaseArray = "MY_ARRAY_" ArrayCnt = Dcount(......) For CurrArray = 1 to ArrayCnt FocusArray = BaseArray:CurrArray ; // Here I want FocusArray equal to the arrray MY_ARRAY_1, not the string. //Do some stuff here to FocusArray and then set it back, doing the reverse of the line above. Next CurrArray

The concept of BaseArray:CurrArray works with things like RowExists, Xlate, Read Rec, etc... because they want the string label, not the array itself.

In a nutshell I want to evaluate the concatentation before the assignment so that it then assigns the Array itself, not the string name it would otherwise automatically revert to....

AusMarkB

Does this mean that you don't know how many "MY_ARRAY_" arrays you're going to have?
In other words, the number of arrays is dependent on some other variable?

DonBakke

No, at least not with simple variables. Assuming this program is running in the event context of a form, you can store your arrays in UDPs instead:
Set_Property(@Window, '@MY_ARRAY_1', Array1) Set_Property(@Window, '@MY_ARRAY_2', Array2)
Then in your loop you would do something like this:
BaseArray = "MY_ARRAY_" ArrayCnt = Dcount(......) For CurrArray = 1 to ArrayCnt FocusArray = Get_Property(@Window, '@' : BaseArray:CurrArray) //Do some stuff here to FocusArray and then set it back, doing the reverse of the line above. Next CurrArray

DonBakke

An alternative is to store your multiple arrays in a dimensioned array:

Dim Arrays(100) ; // Either some arbitrary large number or a known number ArrayCnt = Dcount(......) For CurrArray = 1 to ArrayCnt FocusArray = Arrays(CurrArray) //Do some stuff here to FocusArray and then set it back, doing the reverse of the line above. Next CurrArray

AusMarkB

Opto_Will

@AusMarkB
Well at the moment it is actually 6. I worked around my problem by just replicating the code 6 times. However I wanted to trim the code, make it more maintainable, and future proof it a bit.

@DonBakke
Unfortunately is is not form based otherwise I could have done that. Using UDPs in forms is one of my favorite things to do! This is just a store procedure that I am trying to build up to do a little background maintenance as a side project. I guess I could always create a NDW Maintenance form that is not menu driven to control it....

AusMarkB

@Opto_Will, I was basically just checking I understood before suggesting what Don has with the dimensioned arrays.
You don't need a form that way, nor replication of the code.

AusMarkB

However if you know how many there are and they're not too complex of an array themselves, you could simplify further by setting them all to a singular non-dimensioned array.

BaseArray = MY_ARRAY_1:@fm: MY_ARRAY_2:@fm: MY_ARRAY_3:@fm: MY_ARRAY_4:@fm: MY_ARRAY_5:@fm: MY_ARRAY_6 ArrayCnt = Dcount(BaseArray, @fm) ; // of course you know this number already but a little bit of future proofing For CurrArray = 1 to ArrayCnt FocusArray = BaseArray<CurrArray> ; // Here I want FocusArray equal to the arrray MY_ARRAY_1, not the string. //Do some stuff here to FocusArray and then set it back, doing the reverse of the line above. BaseArray<CurrArray> = FocusArray Next CurrArray

Opto_Will

@AusMarkB @DonBakke,

I wrote and posted my reply before I saw your followups!
Gives me something to recode over the weekend ;-)

You are both Legends!