Re: [bug-gawk] gawk: questions:

[Andrew J. Schorr]

Hi,

On Mon, Jan 14, 2013 at 05:44:55AM +0200, Denis Shirokov wrote:
> I understand how it works but isarray() was impemented started from
> GAWK4. This is the new function and therefore it's will be easy to fix
> it, - without any compatibility problems. isarray() - should not chage
> anything(safe read).

Sorry, no, it is not easy to fix it.

> Also, i implement the following procedure in my codes:
> 
> #_________________________________________
> func  _is(p) { ###########################
>       if ( isarray(p) )               return -1
>       if ( p==0 && p=="" )    return
>       is=p; return 1 }
> 
> this function determinate type of parameter `p':
> _Is(p is array,string or undefined? return -1 : 1 : undefined)
> 
> With current gawk isarray functionality that kind of function cannot
> be implemented because isarray(p) will be allways define parameter `p'
> as the string and undefined state `p' - will be lost.
> 
> Many functions requires to know, what type of the parameter is
> present: string or array or not present(undefined). This allows to
> create more comfortable(complex) function sets.

Sorry, this just won't work.  If you access the array element, it is created.
That is not easy to fix.

Regards,
Andy