From: jbieger@...
Date: 2007-12-25T01:05:00+09:00
Subject: Re: Problem with copying array

Thanks for your reply!

Like I said, it's a multidimensional array, so I suppose that the
contents aren't primitive and I need to do as you suggested. Is there
a built-in function for this, or do I need to make my own. It seems
like a pretty common operation...

Jordi

On 24 dec, 16:50, Bryan Duxbury <br...@rapleaf.com> wrote:
> What's your array an array of? Array.dup will copy the array to a new
> array, but if the values in the array are references to some class
> you're using, it'll be a different array of the same items.
> Primitives would be copied correctly. You need to do your own deep
> copy if it's a more complicated array value.
>
> -Bryan
>
> On Dec 24, 2007, at 7:19 AM, jbie...@gmail.com wrote:
>
> > Hi, I'm a total newbie with Ruby and I was trying to make this
> > function that would get a (multidimensional) array, make a copy, make
> > some changes to the copy and then return the copy, without altering
> > the original array. However, no matter what I try, the original array
> > gets altered. Here is my code:
>
> > def prune_times (times)
> > #  copy = times
> > #  copy = Array.new(times)
> > #  copy = times.clone
> >    copy = times.dup
> >    copy.each do |map|
> >            map.each do |task|
> >                    task.replace(best_n(task, 2))
> >            end
> >    end
> >    return copy
> > end
>
> > Any help would be greatly appreciated!
>
> > Jordi