From: dblack@...
Date: 2006-03-23T10:51:01+09:00
Subject: Re: questions/suggestions from a Ruby newbie

--8323328-812446712-1143078644=:7076
Content-Type: MULTIPART/MIXED; BOUNDARY="8323328-812446712-1143078644=:7076"

  This message is in MIME format.  The first part should be readable text,
  while the remaining parts are likely unreadable without MIME-aware tools.

--8323328-812446712-1143078644=:7076
Content-Type: TEXT/PLAIN; charset=X-UNKNOWN; format=flowed
Content-Transfer-Encoding: QUOTED-PRINTABLE

Hi --

On Thu, 23 Mar 2006, Simon Kr=F6ger wrote:

> Welcome Diego,
>
> first let me say it may not be the wisest thing to introduce oneself to
> a language group by suggesting to change that language. (this may
> explain the relative low volume of replies you got)
>
>> -Is there a way to have multidimentional arrays in Ruby? Ie something
>> like variable[3][2]? One could use arrays of arrays but it does not
>> look quite as clear when reading the code.
>
> This comes up ever so often, and i don't get it. I think arrays of
> arrays is the more flexible and general case. Perhaps this is enough to
> make you happy?
>
> class MultiArray
>  def MultiArray.new *args
>    Array.new(args.shift) {args.empty? ? nil : MultiArray.new(*args)}
>  end
> end
>
> usage:
>
> m =3D MultiArray.new(2, 3, 4)
> m[1][2][3] =3D 'O'
> p m
>
> #=3D>[[[nil, nil, nil, nil], [nil, nil, nil, nil], [nil, nil, nil, nil]],
> [[nil, nil, nil, nil], [nil, nil, nil, nil], [nil, nil, nil, "O"]]]
>

This reminds me of my favorite way to create an pseudo-auto-vivifying
hash:

   Hash.new {|h,k| h[k] =3D h.dup }

:-)  I don't think there's an equally concise way for the array thing.


David

--=20
David A. Black (dblack@wobblini.net)
Ruby Power and Light, LLC (http://www.rubypowerandlight.com)

"Ruby for Rails" chapters now available
from Manning Early Access Program! http://www.manning.com/books/black
--8323328-812446712-1143078644=:7076--
--8323328-812446712-1143078644=:7076--