question on types

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CloseToPerfect(Posted 2009) [#1]
is there a way to locate a specific type in a list of types?

for example,

rem type
type characters
field CharNum
field Name$
.
.other misc fields
.
end type

rem set type list
for i=1 to 100
character\characters = new characters
character\CharNum = i
next

rem this is the only way I know to locate a specific character in the list
for character.characters = each characters
if character\charNum = 50 then character\name$="John"
next

end


Ok, so that's how I locate list entry 50 for example. I don't know if the code works just enter it here off the top of my head but I think you can see what I'm trying to get at.

I know you can got to the first, last types by
character.characters = FIRST characters
character.characters = LAST characters

and you can move up or down one place with AFTER and BEFORE
character = AFTER character
character = BEFORE character

but is there someway to go to a specific type record?

Thanks,
John


Mahan(Posted 2009) [#2]
This is actually one thing that my CollLib v2 UserLib addresses.

If you install it you could do something like this:



Note that this kind of lookup is very fast and exactly what the StringHashList is built to do. You will not notice any slowdowns when searching even if you have millions of users in the list.


semar(Posted 2009) [#3]
but is there someway to go to a specific type record?

I'm afraid, no - you have to scan the entire type collection until you find the one that matches your search.

Alternatively, if the range of numbers to be searched is reasonable small, you can declare and build up an array of types, and later get the n-element directly using the array index :

for n = 0 to 99
character.characters = new characters
character\charNum = whatever

array_of_character.characters(n) = character
next

.
.
'getting the 5er element is a snap:
character.characters = array_of_character(4)



Hope this helps,
Sergio.


CloseToPerfect(Posted 2009) [#4]
ok, thanks. I've fought around with types for some time and I guess it's a matter of when to use what for what type if function. I'll continue to use a multidiminision array for when I need a searchable list.

john