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FYI: An alternative to creating Global Functions

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    FYI: An alternative to creating Global Functions

    a user asked me this question:

    "i want to define a bunch of functions that can be used in multiple places, but I don't want to make each function into a global function (i.e. a function that is visible in the code tab of the control panel)"

    the solution is the xbasic compile_template() function.

    here is the answer i sent him:

    here is one way to define a whole bunch of functions that can be used in multiple places without having to make each function into a udf.


    1. define a string that contains all of the function definitions.

    string = ""%code%
    function foo as c ()
    ui_msg_box("","This is foo")
    end function

    function foo2 as c ()
    ui_msg_box("","This is foo2")
    end function

    function foo3 as c (name as c )
    ui_mg_box("","Hello : " + name)
    end function
    %code%

    2. when you want to use the functions in your code, get a pointer to them:

    dim p as p
    p = compile_template(string)

    3. to use a function, just call it, using the pointer as a prefix

    e.g.

    p.foo()
    p.foo2()
    p.foo3("name")

    #2
    RE: FYI: An alternative to creating Global Functio

    Selwyn,

    This could be very useful!

    1) What "scope" should be given to the pointer "p" if we want the functions to be "visible" throughout the app? i.e. to avoid having to "re-compile" the string each time we want to use one of its functions.

    2) It sounds as though the "string" could be stored in a memo field and retrieved for "compilation" in an autoexec script. Is that right?

    -- tom

    Comment


      #3
      RE: FYI: An alternative to creating Global Functio

      you could make the pointer global if you wanted.

      you can give the pointer any scope that you want. it is just an a5 variable.

      compile_template() is very fast, making the pointer a local variable, and then doing compile_template() in each script that uses the functions is not going to result in a performance hit.

      Comment


        #4
        RE: FYI: An alternative to creating Global Functio

        Also keep in mind that, because it's a A5 pointer, they can be passed along to functions, as needed....

        funcs = ""%str%
        function foo as c ()
        end function
        %str%

        dim p as p
        p = compile_template(funcs)
        bar(p)


        function bar as c ( pFuncs AS P )
        bar = pFuncs.foo()
        end function
        Aaron Brown
        Alpha Software Development Team

        Comment


          #5
          RE: FYI: An alternative to creating Global Functio

          Thanks...
          Marcel

          I hear and I forget. I see and I remember. I do and I understand.
          ---- Confusius ----

          Comment


            #6
            RE: FYI: An alternative to creating Global Functio

            Is there any practical difference between defining a group of functions this way vs. as a class?

            define class fooclass
            function foo as c ()
            ui_msg_box("","This is foo")
            end function

            function foo2 as c ()
            ui_msg_box("","This is foo2")
            end function

            function foo3 as c (name as c )
            ui_msg_box("","Hello : " + name)
            end function
            end class

            One thng I have noticed about a class is that Dim Private variables do seem to be public, e.g.
            ?p.myprivatevar gives a value.

            Bill.

            Comment


              #7
              RE: FYI: An alternative to creating Global Functio

              A class is a very different concept. Classes can be instantiated, be inherited, define interfaces, contain public and private members....

              For very very basic use, they do resemble each other, but they way they are implemented and used ends up being rather different.
              Aaron Brown
              Alpha Software Development Team

              Comment


                #8
                RE: FYI: An alternative to creating Global Functio

                I have not been able to create a private variable. If in a class definition I
                ...
                DIM private myvar as c
                myvar="a"
                ...

                then dim the class and get a pointer p to it.
                ?p.myvar should not return a value, but it does. The only variables that are not visible are local variables in a function of the class. But there is not much documentation on classes/interfaces.

                Bill.

                Comment


                  #9
                  RE: FYI: An alternative to creating Global Functio

                  You're right, Bill. Currently private variables aren't private. Classes are not fully implemented, but be assured that in the future, A5 will be moving to a more Object Oriented Design and the class support will become very robust.

                  My point is simply that compile_template() is very different conceptually than a class.
                  Aaron Brown
                  Alpha Software Development Team

                  Comment

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