FOREACH and For n to X, question

[mentalthink]

Hi I have a doubt whit for and foreach... when you have an Array whit Types and you make a For TO, you can show the variable of the for whit a print... Ex:

I can use n_Item for shot the counter
for n_Item=0 to len(array[])-1
  array[n_Item].x = n_Item * 10
  array[n_Item].y = n_Item * 10
  print n_Item    , 10, 10 *n_Item
next

but whit FOREACH
foreach n_Item in array[]
  n_Item.x = n_Item.x * 10
  n_Item.y = n_Item.y * 10

  print n_Item?¿ [not works,], 10, 10*
next

Thanks, I don´t know if it´s enough clear...

[kanonet]

As far as i know there is no way to get the index with FOREACH. You just can use a variable and INC it every loop, or use FOR-TO.

[MrTAToad]

FOREACH is used to access an array in a loop - using the FOR variable is just an extra use for the variable...

[mentalthink]

Thanks Kano and MrT 

[hardyx]

FOR... NEXT works with indexes (integers), and FOREACH works with the array elements, one in each round. You obtain a reference to each array element. In your example:

Code (glbasic) Select Expand

foreach Item in array[]
  Item.x = Item.x * 10
  Item.y = Item.y * 10
  print Item.x + "," + Item.y, 10, 10
next


[mentalthink]

HI hardyx thanks , nice trick!!!

[Slydog]

Or you can add a 'ToString()' method to your TYPE, such as:

Code (glbasic) Select Expand

TYPE TVector
  x%
  y%

  FUNCTION ToString$:
    RETURN "TVector: " + self.x + ", " + self.y
  ENDFUNCTION

ENDTYPE

Then, using your example:

Code (glbasic) Select Expand

FOREACH n_Item IN array[]
  n_Item.x = n_Item.x * 10
  n_Item.y = n_Item.y * 10

  PRINT n_Item.ToString$(), 10, 10
NEXT

This lets you customize how you want your TYPE details displayed, without hard coding it each time.

[Edit] But of course you still don't get access to the index, so you can't print on different lines based on the index.

[Edit2] Maybe we need a new command such as GETINDEX% for use ONLY in FOREACH statements, such as:

Code (glbasic) Select Expand

FOREACH n_Item IN array[]
  n_Item.x = n_Item.x * 10
  n_Item.y = n_Item.y * 10

  PRINT n_Item.ToString$(), 10, 10 * GETINDEX
NEXT

[mentalthink]

Hi Slydog very good too... thanks!!!

[MrTAToad]

Or have an id variable...

[Crivens]

Or have an id variable...

Yeah that's what I do incase I need it. Just before the DIMPUSH I do item.id=LEN(itemlist). Does the trick. 

Cheers

[kanonet]

But then you get problems if you use a DIMDEL.
(Ok you can decrease all later ids, but thats more work than just use FOR-To or INC an index inside FOREACH)

[Crivens]

True but then I haven't had a reason to use a DIMDEL on an array I need to keep the ID on to be honest. The DIMDEL project I did really didn't need the ID. Normally it's just a nicety when you can process with FOREACH.

Possibly would be good to be able to have a proper ID. Like you can with VB6 collections. It's basically a key. So we could have the idea where you could assign all your items to an array, then if the array is configured for a key (obviously don't need the memory and CPU overhead for every array) you could assign a key of anything you like (no duplicates), and then access that item in the array at anytime by referencing that key.

So, for example, you could use DRAWSPRITE xsprite["hero"].spriteid,xsprite["hero"].x,sprite["hero"].y rather than DRAWSPRITE xsprite[hero].spriteid,xsprite[hero].x,sprite[hero].y, which as you said could lose the correct hero pointer with a DIMDEL. Obviously the example could be replicated using FOREACH, but lets say you want to only show certain sprites in your array. Sure you could have a .visible tag, but you still process each item. Another array only full of keys for visible objects in your array would mean running through that array (and referencing your object array) would be a lot quicker. Obviously "a lot quicker" depends on what sort of algorithm is used to dig out an array element from a given key. Would be good though.

Cheers