#120298 - 2004-05-27 03:05 PM
Use of multidimensional arrays
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Scripter2004
Fresh Scripter
Registered: 2004-03-01
Posts: 31
Loc: Minneapolis, MN (USA)
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As a KiXtart beginner, I'm a bit confused about the use of multidimensional arrays. Can they be used to create a sort of "database table", where each $Array[x,y] is a record?
I have a number of items, each of which has a status flag. Can I use a two-dimensional array to store that information? So $Array[0] being the name of the first item and $Array[0,0] its status flag, $Array[1] and $Array[1,1] for the second one, etc., or am I missing something here? I've been looking for good basic information on multidimensional arrays in KiXtart, but I can't find anything.
I'm using KiXtart 4.22.
Ron
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#120300 - 2004-05-27 03:39 PM
Re: Use of multidimensional arrays
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Richard H.
Administrator
Registered: 2000-01-24
Posts: 4946
Loc: Leatherhead, Surrey, UK
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KiXtart arrays work pretty much the same as in any language.
Here is a couple of tips.
If you are going to need to change the size of the array, make the variable dimension the last one - you can only resize the right-hand most dimension.
If you are going to want to use the array like a mini-database (aka a "hash" or "associative" array), then it may be better to have an array-of-arrays. This allows you to use "Ascan" to search the "key" part of the array.
Here is an example, which uses the key "apple" to look up it's colour.
Code:
Dim $haFruitColours[1] ; Create primary array
; Create fruit name (key) array
$haFruitColours[0]="lemon","apple","grape"
; Create colour (data) array
$haFruitColours[1]="yellow","green or red","green or black"
"The colour of an apple is " $haFruitColours[1][Ascan($haFruitColours[0],"apple")] ?
The other advantage of using the array-of-arrays technique is that you may resize any of the elements.
Note the difference in addresses. A mutli-dimensional array is referenced as ARRAY[X,Y], wheras an array of arrays is referenced as ARRAY[X][Y].
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#120301 - 2004-05-27 03:45 PM
Re: Use of multidimensional arrays
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Scripter2004
Fresh Scripter
Registered: 2004-03-01
Posts: 31
Loc: Minneapolis, MN (USA)
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Thanks for the info.
So $Array[0,1] would return something like "Item Title" (the title of the first item)? The status flag is either '1' or '0', so $Array[0,1] would return either '1' or '0'? So you could something like "If $Array[0,1] <statements> EndIf"?
What, then, would be returned with $Array[1,0]? Nothing?
Also, why do you initialize the second array item as '1' ($Array[items-1,1])? Is that because the value in my case is a binary flag? What if the multidimensional array contained, say, a book title and its author? Would that be something like $Array[15,15] for a maximum of 16 books and their associated authors?
Thx
Ron
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#120303 - 2004-05-27 03:59 PM
Re: Use of multidimensional arrays
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Richard H.
Administrator
Registered: 2000-01-24
Posts: 4946
Loc: Leatherhead, Surrey, UK
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No.
If we stick to two dimensions, an array is simply a table.
You can think of it like an Excel spreadsheet. The only wrinkle is that the numbering starts at zero not one, hence the "-1".
In your example you will have two columns, the first being title and the second author.
You will have 16 rows, one for each book.
The general form becomes:
Code:
Dim $aBooks[COLUMNS-1,ROWS-1]
Which substituting your values for 16 books is:
Code:
Dim $aBooks[1,15]
If you also wanted to record the ISBN you would have three columns in your table:
Code:
Dim $aBooks[2,15]
$aBooks[0,0]="KiXtart for beginners" ; First book title
$aBooks[1,0]="The KiXtart fanclub" ; First book author
$aBooks[2,0]="023 09120912 0129" ; First book ISBN
[edit]
Note Jochen is ordering his array [ROW,COLUMN] whereas I am ordering it [COLUMN,ROW]. Either will do just fine, but if you want to change the maximum number of rows (books) in the array you must order it [COLUMN,ROW] as you can only change the last value.
[/edit]
Edited by Richard H. (2004-05-27 04:05 PM)
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#120304 - 2004-05-27 04:14 PM
Re: Use of multidimensional arrays
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Scripter2004
Fresh Scripter
Registered: 2004-03-01
Posts: 31
Loc: Minneapolis, MN (USA)
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Got it! Thanks for the info.
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