From: Bernhard 'elven' Stoeckner <elven@...>
Date: 2006-03-09T20:58:42+09:00
Subject: Re: Convert String to Hash

Nick Snels scribbled on Thursday 09 Mar 2006 12:52:
> Hi,
> 
> I get a string inputted in my program, which I convert to a hash-like
> string, like:
> 
> sql = '"table_alias" => [],"original_string" => "select * from table"'
> 
> The string has the form of a hash, now I would like to convert this
> string to an actual hash. I tried it like:
> 
> test = Hash[sql]
> or
> test = Hash.[](sql)
> 
> but I get the following error:
> test2.rb:2:in `[]': odd number of arguments for Hash (ArgumentError)
> from test2.rb:2
> 
> When I do it like,
> 
> test = Hash.new
> test = sql
> 
> test becomes a String and is no longer a Hash.
> 
> Is there an easy way to convert my hash-like string to an actual hash?
> Thanks for any help.
> 
> Kind regards,
> 
> Nick

Hi Nick,

no, you can't pass it to Hash.new directly, you'd have to write a parser for
it yourself. If you're feeling lucky, you can use eval() to do that.

*takes cover from flying bananas and such*

Bernhard