From: Clemens Hintze <c.hintze@...>
Date: 2001-10-23T16:03:45+09:00
Subject: [ruby-talk:23022] Re: assigning variables

Joseph McDonald wrote:
> 
> HEF> One problem, I think, is that eval can't create a
> HEF> new local variable. (It can, but only within the
> HEF> context of the eval -- it won't be defined when
> HEF> you return.)
> 
> Doh!  That definitely sinks my idea.  bummer.  I did get it to work
> with instance variables which I think will do.

Hmm ... is this what you want to do?

def setvars(vars, bind)
  vars.each do |k,v|
    $helper = v
    eval "#{k} = $helper", bind
  end
end

a,b = nil,nil
v = {'a' => 12, 'b' => [9,8,7]}
setvars v, binding
p a   #-> 12
p b   #-> [9, 8, 7]

Unfortunately you need a global helper and for Ruby to know 'a' and
'b' are variables, Ruby has to see assignment before

HTH,
\cle