Initializing a Structure

sonny

Hello...

On the following block of example code I get a compile error...Too many elements in initializer.

........................................................ <-not in the code
DEFINE_TYPE

STRUCT testStruct
{
INTEGER number1
INTEGER number2
}


DEFINE_VARIABLE

testStruct oneTester = {2, 3}
testStruct anotherTester[] =
{
{5, 6},
{5, 6},
{5, 6},
{5, 6},
{5, 6},
{5, 6}
}

..................
The code will compile with only two elements in the array, but 3 or more yeilds this error. I can init many elements in a DEVCHAN array, but either there is a limitation or I have entered something incorrectly. Any ideas?

Thanks

alexanbo

I don't think you can use an array to initialize a structure like that.

I think if you did teststruct[]={oneTester,oneTester,oneTester}

That would work

or if you did teststruct[4]

and then

teststruct[1] = {1,2}
teststruct[2] = {2,3}

etc etc

[Deleted User]

Structure variables can only be initialized in the DEFINE_START

Regards, Leon

youstra

Is there any streamlined way to assign values to a structure (like can be done w/ arrays)?

Or am I stuck with assigning each component in turn?

I'd like to do:
CD = {'Boston', 'Don't Look Back'}

instead of

CD.Artist = 'Boston'
CD.Title = 'Don't Look Back'

Marc Scheibein

The idea what I have is to write a small function, and to use it in a Loop in DEFINE_START.

DEFINE_STRUCTURE _sMyStruct
{
CHAR First[20]
CHAR Last[20]
CHAR City[20]
}

DEFINE_VARIABLE
_sMyStruct NameList[20]
INTEGER X


DEFINE_FUNCTION FILL_MY_STRUCTURE(_sMyStruct MyStruct, INTEGER Row, CHAR FirstName[20],CHAR LastName[20],CHAR CityName[20])
{
MyStruct[Row].First = FirstName
MyStruct[Row].Last = LastName
MyStructRow].City = CityName
}


DEFINE_START
FOR(X=1.X<=LENGTH_ARRAY(NameList),X++)
{
SWITCH(X)
{
CASE 1: { FILL_MY_STRUCTURE (NameList,X,'Marc','Scheibein','Uhingen') }
CASE 2: { FILL_MY_STRUCTURE (NameList,X,'Any','Other','Items') }
}
}

(Code was written without compile verification, so use it "as is" and on your own risk!)

[Deleted User]

As Leon says, structure variables can only be initialized in DEFINE_START. This is a problem in the NetLinx compiler. You can initialize a built-in structure (ie DEVCHAN) when it's declared, but that doesn't work for user-defined data types. This makes for a problem if you need to make a structure variable CONSTANT (CONSTANT variables must be initialized when they're declared.)
AMX is aware of the problem, but I don't think it's a big issue for them.

GSLogic

Leon ten Brundel wrote:

Structure variables can only be initialized in the DEFINE_START

Regards, Leon

Unless I'm missing something that you're trying to say. You can initialize structures anywhere the code. I do it in BUTTON_EVENTS, DATA_EVENTS AND FUNCTIONS.

//EXAMPLE
DATA_EVENT[MASTER]
{
ONLINE:
{
//SET THE STRUCTURE TO DEFAULT
STACK_VAR X
IF(sTEST[1].nNUM = 0)
{
FOR(X =1; X <=5; X++)
sTEST[X].nNUM = X
}
}
}

You can even you multidimensional arrays in structures (even though it is not blessed by AMX)
STRUCTURE sTEMP
{
INTEGER nTEST[3][5][3]
}

[Deleted User]

What I was trying to say, is that you can not initialize a structure arry in the define variable section. And the define start is a very locical place to put in the initialisation. Of course, this could be a function. And filling the structure could every where in events, functions or in define program. But it is not possible to do initialisation in the define variable section.

GSLogic

That's what I thought you were saying, but I just wanted to clarifie it so Sonny wouldn't get confused.

DHawthorne

The problem is how memory is allocated and in what order. Structures aren't allocated until after the DEFINE_VARIABLE items are; they can't be, actually, since their elements may depend on those other definitions.