From: Glen Holcomb <damnbigman@...>
Date: 2007-07-26T04:00:26+09:00
Subject: Re: Question - Passing parameters by reference

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On 7/25/07, Chris Thiel <ccthiel@gmail.com> wrote:
>
> On 7/25/07, dblack@wobblini.net <dblack@wobblini.net> wrote:
> >
> > Hi --
> >
> > On Thu, 26 Jul 2007, Chris Thiel wrote:
> >
> > > What if the method is returning something else already and you don't
> > want
> > > to have to return the changed value? How do you pass in a variable to
> a
> > > method and have the change stick when it exists the method in ruby?
> >
> > You can change an object:
> >
> >    def change_me(str)
> >      str.upcase!
> >    end
> >
> >    s = "abc"
> >    change_me(str)
> >    puts s          # ABC
> >
> > But you can't change the bindings.  In the example, I've got s and str
> > both containing references to the same string.  But the names of the
> > identifiers themselves, s and str, are solely the business of their
> > local scopes, which are different as between the method body and the
> > calling context.
> >
> >
> > David
> >
> > --
> > * Books:
> >    RAILS ROUTING (new! http://www.awprofessional.com/title/0321509242)
> >    RUBY FOR RAILS (http://www.manning.com/black)
> > * Ruby/Rails training
> >      & consulting:  Ruby Power and Light, LLC (http://www.rubypal.com)
> >
> > I'm talking in a case like this:
> def add_one(number)
> number+=1
> end
> n = 1
> add_one(n)
>
> While the method returns 2, the value of n when the method is done is
> still
> one.
>
> Or with strings
> def add_bar(st)
> st + "bar"
> end
>
> s = "foo"
> add_bar(s)
>
> Same thing. The method returns foobar, but the value of s is unchaged.
> Is there a way to change the values of these variables from within the
> method and have the values remain changed when the method has exited?
>
> Chris
>

n = add_one(n) would fix your given case.  I assume it is more complicated
than this?

-- 
"Hey brother christian with your high and mighty errand, Your actions speak
so loud, I can't hear a word you're saying."

-Greg Graffin (Bad Religion)

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