From: Devin Mullins <twifkak@...>
Date: 2006-12-23T02:02:54+09:00
Subject: Re: storing values in variables

Vikash Kumar wrote:
> I am using the following code:
Vikash -- since Carlos answered your question, I'm going to give you 
some unsolicited tips.

> def parse_html(data,tag)
>    return data.scan(%r{<#{tag}\s*.*?>(.*?)</#{tag}>}im).flatten
> end
Have you looked at hpricot? (Google it.) With it, your code'll look 
something like:
def parse_html(el, tag)
   el.search("//#{tag}")
end

> output = []
> table_data = parse_html(page,"table")
> table_data.each do |table|
>    out_row = []
>    row_data = parse_html(table,"tr")
>    row_data.each do |row|
>       cell_data = parse_html(row,"td")
>       cell_data.each do |cell|
>          cell.gsub!(%r{<.*?>},"")
>       end
>       out_row << cell_data
>    end
>    output << out_row
> end
Get to know Array#map. Your code'll look something like:
output = parse_html(page, 'table').map do |table|
   parse_html(table, 'tr').map do |row|
     parse_html(row,'td').map do |cell|
       cell.inner_html.gsub(%r{<.*?>},"")
     end
   end
end


> def parse_nested_array(array,tab = 0)
>    n = 0
>    array.each do |item|
>       if(item.size > 0)
>          puts "#{"\t" * tab}[#{n}] {"
>          if(item.class == Array)
>             parse_nested_array(item,tab+1)
>          else
>             puts "#{"\t" * (tab+1)}#{item}"
>          end
>          puts "#{"\t" * tab}}"
>       end
>       n += 1
>    end
> end
1. Array#each_with_index will keep track of n for you.
2. Array#inspect or Kernel#p will print the array in a readable format.

> parse_nested_array(output[2][4])
If you're only interested in the first four values, then 
a,b,c,d=output[2][4] will work. Otherwise, I think we need more information.

Devin