Variable Ponderance
Variable Ponderance
- Subject: Variable Ponderance
- From: Ben Waldie <email@hidden>
- Date: Thu, 30 Sep 2004 13:27:09 -0400
I think I have noticed this before, but just never questioned it.
In the following examples, I set a local variable to a value, and then
pass that variable down to a handler as a parameter. In the handler, I
change the value of this parameter. I would expect this change to be
local to the handler only, and not global to the script. So, at the
main level of the script, I would expect the variable to retain it's
original value, no matter what happens to it in the handler.
In the first example, I pass down a variable containing a number,
completely change it to a value of 2, and the variable at the top level
of my script behaves as I would expect, retaining its original value.
In the second and third examples though, I pass down a variable
containing a list or a record, modify part of the list or record, and
the variable at the top level of my script does not behave as I would
expect. In these 2 cases, the main script treats the variable as it if
is a global, remembering the change I made in the handler. This
appears to occur only when manipulating the variable, and not when
changing it completely. Is this the intended behavior?
--------------------
EXAMPLE 1
--------------------
set x to 1
doSomething(x)
return x
--> 1 -- I would expect 1
on doSomething(y)
set y to 2
end doSomethingElse
--------------------
EXAMPLE 2
--------------------
set x to {1, 2, 3}
doSomething(x)
return x
--> {2,2,3} -- I would expect {1,2,3}
on doSomething(y)
set item 1 of y to 2
end doSomething
--------------------
EXAMPLE 3
--------------------
set x to {name:"Ben"}
doSomething(x)
return x
--> {name:"Waldie"} -- I would expect {name:"Ben"}
on doSomething(y)
set name of y to "Waldie"
end doSomething
--------------------
-Ben
Benjamin S. Waldie
President & CEO
Automated Workflows, LLC
610.935.0652
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