From: Brian Candler <b.candler@...>
Date: 2009-02-11T23:43:34+09:00
Subject: Re: simple class question

Tom Cloyd wrote:
> With execution stopped, I enter at the command line:
> 
> (rdb:1) p test.t2 = 2
> 2
> 
> I should have gotten 4. I only ever get back the same number I put in.
> Can someone tell me what the problem is, and what I have to do to get
> test.t2 to do this simple thing I'm asking of it?

Just to make it clear, although you probably realise by now: you're not 
calling test.t2, you're calling test.t2=

The name of the method really does contain the = sign, and is actually 
the symbol :t2=

Operators are other examples of non-alphanumeric method names:

  class Test
    def +(other)
      .. do something
    end
    def [](key)
      ..
    end
    def [](key, value)
      ..
    end
  end

So you can make your own class look like a Ruby one:

  t = Test.new
  puts t + 1     # calls your :+ method
  puts t[123]    # calls your :[] method
  t[123] = 456   # calls your :[]= method

I especially like :[] - smiley programming :-)

Regards,

Brian.
-- 
Posted via http://www.ruby-forum.com/.