2-dimensional arrays

[Grundy]

im not sure if this has been talked about anywhere, but using the arrays in the world editor you cannot make 2d arrays. i dont know if you can using JASS but i know you cant do it the normal way. there was a map i was working on where i needed 2d arrays and then i remembered back in my "advanced c++ programing" class we had to overloard the array index operator [] to work on a class object that held a 2d array in it. we had to convert 1-dimensional arrays into 2d arrays. heres how you can do it:

make an array of size [max_rows * max_columns], if you wanted a 3x10 2d array, for example, make an array of size 30. then when ever you want to access one of the elements in the array just plug in this formula for the index:
[((row-1)*max_columns)+column]
where "row" is the row that you want to access, "max_columns" is the total number of columns you have in the "2d array", and "column" is the column that you want to access.

in this example i'll use 3 rows and 10 columns, each row is for a stat, each column is for a hero:

[hero][ 01 ][ 02 ][ 03 ][ 04 ][ 05 ][ 06 ][ 07 ][ 08 ][ 09 ][ 10 ]
[STR][ 01 ][ 02 ][ 03 ][ 04 ][ 05 ][ 06 ][ 07 ][ 08 ][ 09 ][ 10 ]
[INT][ 11 ][ 12 ][ 13 ][ 14 ][ 15 ][ 16 ][ 17 ][ 18 ][ 19 ][ 20 ]
[AGI][ 21 ][ 22 ][ 23 ][ 24 ][ 25 ][ 26 ][ 27 ][ 28 ][ 29 ][ 30 ]

now if i want to get hero4's AGI you can see that it's index 24 but just so you dont have to look at a table every time you can simply plug in the forumla
((row-1)*max_columns)+column
AGI is row 3
(( 3 -1)*max_columns)+column
max_coumns will always be 10 for this array
(( 3 -1)* 10 )+column
hero4 is column 4
(( 3 -1)* 10 )+ 4
(( 3 -1)* 10 )+ 4 = (2 * 10) + 4 = 20 + 4 = 24

every time you want to get a stat for a hero you just plug in the row and column in the formula and the game will take care of the rest.

before anyone says you can just use actions functions to find a hero's stats, this is different. i used this in my map for stats per level. i set all of them to 0 and every time a hero learned a certain ability they would gain more stats per level, ex:

a hero learns an ability
learned ability equal to evasion
set stats[((3-1)*10)+<playernumber of owner of hero>] equal to stats[((3-1)*10)+<playernumber of owner of hero>] + 1

and

hero gains a level
add stats[((1-1)*10) +<playernumber of owner of hero>] to leveling hero's strength
add stats[((2-1)*10) +<playernumber of owner of hero>] to leveling hero's intelligence
add stats[((3-1)*10) +<playernumber of owner of hero>] to leveling hero's agility

this could be useful to some of you who want to use 2-dimensional arrays.

 

[Rinpun]

Oooh nice. I don't think I'll be doing that in my LoaP map, at least for the moment, but I'll give you credit if I do.

I took some C++, but I didn't recall learning that. Then again, I never finished...I quickly moved onto Physics and Calculus

 

[sqrage]

what are 2d arrays for?

 

[DM Cross]

Took the words right out of my mouth...Also:

What are they used for?

 

[Rinpun]

Sorting mainly.

I suppose he's saying you can draw one up with only one array. Label Str for hero 1 to, say Int for hero 10 in about 30 values. Now as opposed to creating different arrays and making a mess of a trigger, he points out an equation for finding which stat is in the blah array. I don't know if you can understand what I mean, but I do suppose this is helpful. Basically, hero 4 needs to find his agility. Where in the array is that? If it's a big array, you're going to have to have one HECK of a memory to know where it is. So, instead of just putting a numerical value when you're calling the array, put in your equation and the map will find it for you, swiftly and accurately if you understand and follow his instructions.

It MIGHT be helpful once my house array gets big enough, but I seriously doubt that'll happen. I have everything numbered to the max. Alexander should take a look at my trigger organization scheme in the WE

 

[sqrage]

hehe sorry dont understand what u mean :banghead:

 

[DM Cross]

*gapes as that entire message just sort of goes in one ear, scrambles his brain, and leaves with a hooker in tow, smoking a cigar...*

 

[Rinpun]

*Sighs*



Hahaha! Well, thanks for the laugh, Alexander. That was a very unique way of expressing your opinion about my attempt at explanation

You have a 30 value array. Array space 1 is Hero 1's Strength. Array space 2 is Hero 2's Strength. And then so forth. Finally Array space 30 is Hero 10's Intelligence, or something of the sort.

Now, your hero just learned an ability or gained an item that gives multiple bonuses, perhaps one including attribute bonus. Where the heck is Hero 4's (assuming he's the hero receiving the bonus) intelligence stat? If you tell it what hero to look in and give it what row to look for via equation, the Map will see that Hero 4's intelligence is Array[24] via the equation he explains. Now you can simply set this found array to the value in question.

It's just so that you don't have to write down a diagram of which variable goes where if you're using 1 array to hold all of your hero values. I use 1 array to hold my house values.

Now, this whole process isn't needed if you feel like clogging up your variables list. Simply create a variable for everything in question, or an array for each variable in question for each hero. Either way, this process seems to be more efficient than clogging up your place with many variables.

Still don't get it? Ah well, doesn't matter. Maybe I'll be one of the only ones who profits off of this mention

 

[DM Cross]

*gapes as he suddenly realizes the idea didn't leave with a female hooker*

I GOT IT!

 

[Rinpun]

Or maybe the hooker was caught by the police and the idea when back in the head to hide

 

[Darg]

Don't know if this is useful or not, but NagelBagel summarized this on the bnet forums last month:

Usually the way to make multidimensional arrays is to just use a single array and fake it like this:


Footswitches[((INNER_SIZE * OUTER_INDEX) + INNER_INDEX)]

for an array that you would normally access like this:

Footswitches[OUTER_INDEX][INNER_INDEX]


INNER_SIZE is just the size of the inner set of arrays. (One more than it is possible for INNER_INDEX to be.)

 

[Grundy]

3-dimensions are possible too but it gets a lot more complicated and i cant think of any situation that i would use more than a 2-dimensional array.
for anyone who still doesnt understand this, consider the following:
normally if you wanted to hold integers in an array with strenght, agility, and intelligence for 10 different heroes you would either have to do:
HeroStrength[10]
HeroAgility[10]
HeroIntelligence[10]
3 different arrays of size 10, or:
Hero1[3]
Hero2[3]
Hero3[3]
Hero4[3]
Hero5[3]
Hero6[3]
Hero7[3]
Hero8[3]
Hero9[3]
Hero10[3]
10 different arrays of size 3.
using a 2-dimensional array all you need is
HeroStats[30]
1 array of size 30 (10x3)
but using a 2-dimensional array in an array thats really only 1-dimension can get tricky unless you make a chart showing which hero and which stat is in each index. but then it can be a pain in the ass to go back and look at your chart every time you want to use one of the integers in the array. the formula i gave you up the original post will automatically do it for you. now all you have to remember is the column = hero number
row = 1 for str, 2 for int, 3 for agi
and you can have this "((row-1)*10)+column" in the index and you can just copy and paste it and then all you have to do is click on row and change it to the row you want and click on column and change it to the column you want.
You don't even have to understand how it works, just know that it does work. this way is easier and more organized.