Objects in an array?

katastrophe

So I've been doodling at this story project for a bit and I've hit a snag.

The game is sf and it contains a planet discovery mechanic: basically you discover a (random) number of planets and can slowly discover more stuff about them. Because each planet will likely end up with a list of different characteristics, I thought it would be best to treat each planet as an object and create them into an array using something like this:

<<set $planets.push([$planet = {size:"giant"}])>>

And this does appear to be working. However, I now want to loop though the array showing a list of planets, and I'm hitting a snag. I tried using code like this:

<<print $planets[1].$planet.size>>

... with the assumption I could change [1] to a loop-iteration number. But it's throwing errors. I clearly have something wrong in my syntax or my assumption of how objects and arrays interact, and I'm not sure where.

Please spot my obvious mistake?  ;D Or suggest an alternate method for the results I want. Believe me, I'm open to suggestion.

L

You can't use the "$" sigil anywhere other than the front of variable names - so, not object property names.

katastrophe

Ok, I am probably very stupid but I'm still not getting what exactly I should change.

I tried:

<<set $planets.push(["planet" = {size:"giant"}])>>

And got:
[quote]Error: <<set>>: bad expression: Invalid left-hand side in assignment

Various iterations moving quotes about threw nothing but more errors. Then I thought maybe I'd got hold of the fix from the wrong end, so I changed the push statement back and tried:

<<print $planets[1].planet.size>>

And got:
[quote]Error: <<print>>: bad expression: Cannot read property 'size' of undefined

I'm sure I'm doing something dumb or flat-out misunderstanding you. Little more help?  ::)

greyelf

@katastrophe
NOTE: I am assuming you have pre defined $planets as an array somewhere earlier in your code using:

<<set $planets = []>>

To add a complex object to the $planets array you would do the following:

<<set $planets.push({planet:{size:"giant"}})>>

NOTE: I removed the double quotes around planet, replaced the equals sign with a colon and the square brackets with curly braces.

To display the planet.size of the first item stored within the $planets array do the following:

<<print $planets[0].planet.size>>

NOTE: Because java-script arrays are zero based, you access the first element using Zero, not One.

I hope this helps

katastrophe

@greyelf: WOOT! It worked! And my wee test loop is even working!

Now to add complexity and shoot myself in the foot again.

Many thanks to both of you for the hand-holding. Someday I will be able to approach a new programming language without instantly tripping over its anal grammar requirements. Someday....

mykael

Might be simpler to so:

<<set $planet1 = { size: "giant", name: "Zorg" }>>
<<set $planet = [ $planet1 ]>>

--or--

<<set $planet = []>>
<<set $planet.push({size: "giant", name:"Zorg"});

--then--

<<set $planet = $planet[0]>>
<<print $planet.name>>
<<print $planet.size>>

--or--

<<print $planet[0].name>>
<<print $planet[0].size>>

You can use a var for the index into the planets array (effectively the index number of the planet).

You can create a display macro and use the parameter function to get the planet index:


showplanet:
<<set $px = parameter(0)>>
<<set $planet = $planet[$px]>>
<<print $planet.name>>
<<print $planet.size>>

--then--

<<display showplanet 0>>