optional parameters / arguments - how to

Monkey Forums/Monkey Programming/optional parameters / arguments - how to

Gamer

(Posted 2012) [#1]

How do i set optional parameters when i call a method? Thanks.

Samah

(Posted 2012) [#2]

[monkeycode]Function Main()
Foo() ' prints "a=1, b=2, c=bar"
Foo(5) ' prints "a=5, b=2, c=bar"
Foo(,1) ' prints "a=1, b=1, c=bar"
Foo(,,"hello") ' prints "a=1, b=2, c=hello"
End

Function Foo:Void(a:Int=1, b:Int=2, c:String="bar")
Print "a="+a+", b="+b+", c="+c
End[/monkeycode]

Gerry Quinn

(Posted 2012) [#3]

For prevention of headsplosion, never use optional parameters where commas will be needed ;-)

At least that's my motto.

Gamer

(Posted 2012) [#4]

I thought about it, and basically i want to send anywhere form 0 to many pieces of data when i create an instance. And to do so i may just need to send an StringMap that contains the extra information. So ill try that. Thanks.

NoOdle

(Posted 2012) [#5]

Depending on the type of data you want to pass to the method, you might be able to use an array [].

[monkeycode]
Function Main()
Foo( [ "hello", "world" ] )
End Function

Function Foo( arr : String[] = [] )
For Local index : Int = 0 Until arr.Length
Print arr[ index ]
Next
End Function
[/monkeycode]

Gamer

(Posted 2012) [#6]

The kind of data i want to pass will end up stored in a StringMap. Stuff like color:blue, health:10, range:5 ect. I'm having trouble finding out how to send a StringMap to a Method, could anyone give me an example of how it is written properly?

What i have tryed is a variety of code that looks like this:

Import mojo

Function Main()
	Local data:StringMap<StringObject> = New StringMap<StringObject>
	data.Add("Name", "Hero")
	MakeUnit(data)
End Function

Function MakeUnit:StringMap<StringObject>(data)
	Print(data.Get("Name")
End Function

NoOdle

(Posted 2012) [#7]

[monkeycode]
Import mojo

Function Main()
Local data : StringMap< StringObject > = New StringMap< StringObject >
data.Add( "Name", "Hero" )
MakeUnit( data )
End Function

Function MakeUnit( data : StringMap< StringObject > )
Print(data.Get( "Name" )
End Function
[/monkeycode]

hope that helps :)

Samah

(Posted 2012) [#8]

Don't go creating StringMaps constantly though. Frequent garbage collection will kill your app (especially on Android). Reuse them if you can.

Gamer

(Posted 2012) [#9]

Wow i don't know how many time i tried but i never got it to work :) Thanks NoOdle. I am struggling a bit with Monkey Syntax in some ways, but i have always struggle with Syntax in a language.

Samah, do you mean i should not choose a local StringMap for a method call i will use allot, and instead i should use a Field StingMap and clear it when i am done? Or do you mean i should not use a StringMap when i call a method at all?

Thanks guys! =)

Samah

(Posted 2012) [#10]

Samah, do you mean i should not choose a local StringMap for a method call i will use allot, and instead i should use a Field StingMap and clear it when i am done?

Yep. :)

marksibly

(Posted 2012) [#11]

Hi,

Also, you don't need to use StringMap<StringObject> any more - just StringMap<String> should do the trick.