From: Massimiliano Mirra <list@...>
Date: 2002-08-04T10:38:37+09:00
Subject: Re: Assoc Class (Hash Pairs)

On Sun, Aug 04, 2002 at 09:15:12AM +0900, Tom Sawyer wrote:
>   z = ordhash[0]['a']
> 
> or
> 
>   z = ordhash[0].value
> 
> although it may not be out of the question to give Array a little more
> smarts to do what you are suggesting. 

That would lead to ambiguity, e.g.:

z = { 1 => 'bar', 'foo' => String }

What will z[1] mean?

Think of Array as a special case of Hash, where keys are integers and
are set implicitely when an object is added.  With a ordered hash you
have two keys, not one, and if you want to access values with the #[]
method, it has to know to which key you are referring.

>   c = 'C'=>'The Letter C'
>   puts c['The Letter C']    # --> C

So are the associations you're thinkin of bidirectional?
 
>   a = 'A'
>   b = 'The Letter A'
> 
>   a => b
> 
>   puts a.assoc  # -->  The Letter A

Wouldn't that be a.value, according to your examples above?

> thus having a way to association objects to one another, sort of like
> having varaible variable names.

You are thinking in terms of bidirectional links between objects.
Take a look at the ZigZag concept, you'll find lots of food for
thought. :-)

Massimiliano