Accessing arrays by string name insted of integer index?

Question

Hi guys!

As you told me before I should use Dictionary. However following the links you've provided I am not able to figure out how it works.

Do I make a 'Dictionary' in c# so my java script will work? Because the explanations on the links appears to be for c# even though I would like to use it for Javascript!?

The previous Question:

I am retrieving data from my localhost. Since Unity can only request a webpage is it only able to read webpage generated data as a String (Is this correct? I am not completely sure is an array also possible?).

So I made a script that allows me to read the Sting data and turn it into a array in Unity. The problem is that it seems that unity is not able to accept a string as array index. The following code gives me an error:

 function Awake()
 {
     var arr = new Array ();
     arr['test1'] = 'hi!';
     arr['test2'] = 'hi2!';
     Debug.Log(arr);
 }

Error: The best overload for the method 'Array.set_Item(int, Object)' is not compatible with the argument list '(String, String)'.

By not being able to use a string it also does not accept the following (which is the code I actually want to have working):

 function Awake()
 {
     var arr                 = new Array ();
     arr[0] = 'hi!';
     arr[1] = 'hi2!';
     Debug.Log(arr);
     
     var doesNotWorkEitherArray     = new Array ();
     doesNotWorkEitherArray[arr[0]] = 'hi3!';
     doesNotWorkEitherArray[arr[1]] = 'hi4!';
     
     
     Debug.Log(doesNotWorkEitherArray);
 }

Error: Cannot cast from source type to destination type.

Does some one know why this is not allowed and how to solve this problem (I really don't want to use [0] [1] as index for hp attackpower and so on... :(

Answer 1

Best Answer

Answer by DaveA · Dec 14, 2012 at 09:08 PM

Array is not the same as the javascript Array you may be used to. Use Hashtable or ArrayList instead. http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/system.collections.hashtable.aspx

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Eric5h5 · Dec 14, 2012 at 09:10 PM 0

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I assume you meant Dictionary ins$$anonymous$$d of ArrayList?

Dexter.Unity · Dec 14, 2012 at 09:15 PM 0

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system.collections.hashtable.aspx is for C#?

DaveA · Dec 14, 2012 at 09:18 PM 0

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I have had luck with ArrayList (http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/system.collections.arraylist.aspx) but yes, Dictionary is more suited to his desired syntax.

Eric5h5 · Dec 15, 2012 at 06:16 PM 1

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No, you use Dictionary in Unityscript. The syntax for generics is a bit different, namely

 var foo = new Dictionary<string, int>();

in C#, for example, would be

 var foo = new Dictionary.<String, int>();

in Unityscript. Everything else applies though. Remember to use "import System.Collections.Generic" at the top of your script so Dictionary and List can be used easily.

Eric5h5 · Dec 15, 2012 at 06:38 PM 1

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Read my last comment again please; you're using the C# syntax for generics rather than the Unityscript syntax. Also, neither 'test1' nor 0 are types, they are values. You need to supply the types that you're using in the Dictionary when you declare it; you add values later.

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Answer 2

Answer by gabs · Dec 14, 2012 at 09:18 PM

There's an easy way, if you're willing to do this in c#:

 using UnityEngine;
 using System.Collections;
 using System.Collections.Generic;
 
 public class UnityAnswers_ParseData : MonoBehaviour
 {
     Dictionary<string,string> parsedData;
     
     void Start ()
     {
         // just a test, as if you received this from the server
         string dataFromServer = @"
 pies:delicious,
 tires:not so much,
 tree:green
 ";
         parsedData = new Dictionary<string, string>();
         // lets trim the data
         dataFromServer = dataFromServer.Trim();
         // and split
         string[] lines = dataFromServer.Split(',');
         foreach(string line in lines)
         {
             string[] keyValue = line.Trim().Split(':');
             if(keyValue.Length < 2)
                 continue;
             parsedData[keyValue[0]] = keyValue[1];
         }
         //
         //
         //
         //
         // NOW, to access the data:
         //parsedData["pies"] will output "delicious
         Debug.Log(parsedData["pies"]);
         Debug.Log(parsedData["tires"]);
         Debug.Log(parsedData["tree"]);
     }
 }

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Dexter.Unity · Dec 14, 2012 at 09:26 PM 0

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C# Looks scary x) thanks for you script though!

Eric5h5 · Dec 14, 2012 at 10:02 PM 0

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You could write that just as well in Unityscript. It's not really anything to do with C#; you use the same datatypes and classes in either case.

gabs · Dec 14, 2012 at 10:05 PM 0

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Yeah. I just can't go back to the stone age, that's why.

Accessing arrays by string name insted of integer index?

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