From: Austin Ziegler <austin@...>
Date: 2003-06-12T05:35:18+09:00
Subject: Re: Multiple Initialize methods?

On Thu, 12 Jun 2003 04:54:59 +0900, Nick wrote:
> Hi,
> 
> I need to create a class either with a param in the construction
> or nothing:
> 
>   something = Object.new
> or
>   something = Object.new(val1, val2)
> 
> I have created an emtpy initialize() method and one with the two
> params. If I try to create the object with nothing (first version)
> then I get "ArgumentError: wrong number of arguments(0 for 2)".
> 
> class Something
>   def initialize()
>   end
>   def initialize(xdim, ydim)
>     @xdim = xdim
>     @ydim = ydim
>   end
> 
> I put the empty initialze in when things didnt work, thinking i
> needed at least a marker.

Ruby isn't C++; there is no overloading in that way. What you want
is perhaps:

class Something
  def initialize(xdim = nil, ydim = nil)
    @xdim = xdim || 0
    @ydim = ydim || 0
  end
end

You can also use *args.

-austin
--
austin ziegler    * austin@halostatue.ca * Toronto, ON, Canada
software designer * pragmatic programmer * 2003.06.11
                                         * 16:32:43