From: Andrew Wagner <wagner.andrew@...>
Date: 2011-02-04T21:17:24+09:00
Subject: Re: Arrays and defs

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Hi Jens,

The problem here is that whenever you type "def", you start a new scope. An=
d
you can't directly access something (other than a global) in a different
scope. Here's how I might recommend approaching this:

class MyClass
  def initialize
    @list =3D ["a","b","c"]
  end

  def do_stuff
    list.each do |x|
      puts x
    end
  end
end

mc =3D MyClass.new
mc.do_stuff

Besides the technical changes, I've made a couple other simple modification=
s
to make your code more ruby-esque. These are stylistic, but worth learning:
1.) There's no point in putting Array.new in a variable before putting an
actual list in there. You can just put the list in it from the beginning.
(And, by the way, [] is equivalent to, and more idiomatic than, Array.new)

2.) Empty parens are not needed in method signatures (or, for the most part=
,
in any method signatures

3.) Unless you particularly need the index, you can use each to do somethin=
g
directly with each item in a list.

Good luck!

On Fri, Feb 4, 2011 at 7:04 AM, Jens Finn=C3=A4s <jens.finnas@gmail.com> wr=
ote:

> Hi, I've just started learning Ruby for screen scraping purposes and
> I've now run in to a problem I can't get my head around.
>
> Is it not possible to call an array outside a defintion? Like this:
>
> list =3D Array.new
> list =3D ["a", "b", "c"]
>
> def do_stuff()
>  list.each_index do |i|
>    puts list[i]
>  end
> end
>
> do_stuff()
>
> If I define list inside do_stuff() the script works. My plan was to
> build an array through several functions.
>
> --
> Posted via http://www.ruby-forum.com/.
>
>

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