Re: Choose from list
Re: Choose from list
- Subject: Re: Choose from list
- From: Timothy Bates <email@hidden>
- Date: Thu, 21 Jul 2005 12:06:57 +1000
- Thread-topic: Choose from list
>>> is "associative array" the new term for "record" in applescript?
> On Jul 20, 2005, at 6:37 PM, Christopher Nebel wrote:
>> No. In a true associative array, the keys can be any value;
>> AppleScript records have to use constant keys that are known at
>> compile-time. (For some definition of "have to" -- there are
>> tricks to get around that.)
> -- Michelle
> So Applescript doesn't have inherent associative arrays; they have to
> be explicitly written by the scripter?
They can be fudged in libraries or provided (at grat call-time expense) by
plug-ins.
With an associative array, at run time, you can take the parameters from a
web page form, and generate an associative array like
{"name"=>"tim", "OS"->"10.5.1"}
With complete flexibility over what the keys are.
Also, languages with assoc arrays (or "hash tables") allow you to access the
keys in various ways, as well as the values: so in an associative aray, the
keys are symetrical with the values for many purposes. In records, keys much
be known at compile time, can't vary, and can't be readily accessed as
values.
To make it concrete for the purpose of this email:
I might say something like
set a to Choose from list {"dog", "cat", "pet"}
And get back:
--> a = {"2", "cat"}
So I have in one place both the original index of the item(s) chosen, and
the values of the items chosen.
Tim
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