From: Robert Klemme <bob.news@...>
Date: 2003-12-19T17:56:55+09:00
Subject: Re: How to return more than one result from a method?


"David A. Black" <dblack@wobblini.net> schrieb im Newsbeitrag
news:Pine.LNX.4.44.0312181612570.29763-100000@wobblini...
> Hi --
>
> On Fri, 19 Dec 2003, Tim Hunter wrote:
>
> > I'm trying to code a method that has two result values. The values are
> > very different objects: an Image (a large and complicated object) and a
> > plain ol' Ruby Float. I'm not sure what the best way to handle this is.
I
> > could return them an Array with 2 elements, but that feels too
> > lightweight. I could return a Hash with 2 members. I could define a new
> > class with two attributes, but that feels too heavyweight. I even
thought
> > of having the method yield to a block, passing the two results as
> > arguments to the block, but that just seems bizarre.
> >
> > So I'm soliciting advice. How has this been solved before?
>
> Could you just assign them directly to variables in the calling scope?
> Technically you'd be returning an Array but you don't have to deal
> with it directly:
>
>   irb(main):001:0> def two; return 1,2; end
>   => nil
>   irb(main):002:0> a,b = two
>   => [1, 2]
>   irb(main):003:0> a
>   => 1
>   irb(main):004:0> b
>   => 2
>
> That might be the best way if you don't need to deal with the two
> values as a pair beyond getting them back from the method.

Even if you need to deal with them as pair this is the appropriate method:

irb(main):001:0> def two; return 1,2; end
=> nil
irb(main):002:0> all = two
=> [1, 2]
irb(main):003:0>

Regards

    robert