I have problems with functions and sometimes UI elements that are not defined the first time I run the program. Does anyone have a good way to avoid these problems?
Should I pre-define the functions in some way? The help covers some of this but I still can’t get it to work good.
I have for example:
function1 (calls function2)
function2 (calls function1)
Now if I run function1 it will crasch, since it don’t find function2. Function2 will work however.
Any help would save me a fair bit of pain
/Andreas
If you are in a local scope, you can do in Pseudo-Code:
(
local function2
fn function1 = ( call function2 )
fn function2 = ( do something )
…
(call function1)
)
When function1 is evaluated, the variable function2 will be already declared (but undefined), so the function1 will be able to set a pointer to that variable.
Right after that, the function2 definition will come along, write to the SAME location in memory, so the pointer of function1 becomes a valid pointer at a function definition!
If you call function1 at this point, it will be able to see the actual function2 and nothing bad will happen.
(Calling function1 that calls function2 that calls function1 forever might be a bad idea though…)
Using global declarations is only advisable if the function is going to be used by multiple scripts…
If i am going to use a lot of functions in a script, i always declare these functions as globals at the beginning of the script, so i can use them whenever i want, even in the listener while the script is running, pretty nice for debugging…
It is also good to have oftenly used functions in a seperate file which you can just include in your script.
so you just say
global BananaFunction
and then later
fn BananFunction=
(
print(“Create Bananaz”)
)
Like that?
/Andreas
Aha, but I see a problem with this. I have many more functions and they call each other back and forth, and what I understand is that I have to declare the other function right after I have a reference to it in the previous function.
I think I must have the functions global, since I plan to have 2 floating windows, that can use the functions, as well as shortcut keys than can access most of the fucntions.
I have planned to place all the functions in a struct like you suggested, but I’m not sure this will bring other problems with them though (will it work to connect shortcuts to them?)
Thanks for the help
/Andreas
Just one thing to remember: If you really must use globals (which, like Bobo already mentioned, should be your last choice in variable declaration), make sure you use unique variable names! Eg. prefix them with the name of your script, or your name or whatever… This makes sure your globals don’t interfere with globals of any other scripts you have running… Because when this happens, you will most likely lose A LOT of time in debugging your script. Only to find out that your script is perfectly fine, except that your globals are also being used by another script :banghead:
- Martijn
hmm… what is so bad about declaring functions as globals (except that naming thing)? i always do that on larger projects so that i can share the functions between different scripts and never have had any problems with it yet…
Jupp, I always give them a “prefix” before their names. I think i’m going to put the main bulc of the functions in the standard folder so they start up at load and also put the functions and the globals in a struct. this way i can easily clear all of them by killing the struct. the global persistents I will have to remain the way they are i think.
How does that sound?
/Andreas
I usually wrap the functions that a script will use in a struct rather than making all of them global. This keeps the global namespace from being cluttered, yet the struct itself is global so the functions within can be called from anywhere. It also frees me to name my functions whatever I want without worrying about other scripts using the same names – only the struct needs a unique name. Hasn’t failed me yet!
RH
Jupp, that sounds like the best idea methinks. I will wrap up my enormous amount of functions soon.
/Andreas