Array Declaration
DIM Identifier AS [ NEW ] Datatype [ Array dimensions ... ]
Note that you can use any expression for specifying array dimensions.
Examples
Dim aWords As New String[WORD_MAX * 2]
Dim aMatrix As New Float[3, 3]
Dim aResult As String[]
In Gambas 3, any datatype can be used as array element.
Examples
Dim aLabel As New Label[12, 12]
Dim aResult As New String[][12] ' An array of string arrays!
Dimensions
The array can have several dimensions, up to a maxium of eight.
Examples
Dim iGroupc As New Integer[27, 9]
Dim iFieldr As New Integer[9]
Dim iX9X As New Integer[3, 4, 5, 2, 3, 2, 2, 4, 2] 'will report error
The name "
DIM" for this declaration comes from the sixties, where BASIC variables did not need to be declared, except variables with dimensions.
Gambas uses brackets [ ] instead of braces ( ) to declare and use dimensions.
Embedded arrays
[ STATIC ] { PUBLIC | PRIVATE } Identifier [ Array dimensions ... ] AS Native Datatype
An embedded array is an array that is allocated directly inside the
object where it is declared.
Such an array cannot be shared, and is destroyed with the object.
An embedded array cannot be public, and you cannot initialize it.
Embedded arrays were created to ease the interface between Gambas and external
functions located in shared libraries.
Consequently, I strongly suggest to use them only if you cannot use normal arrays.
Or if your code run faster with embedded arrays than with normal arrays, as it's possible
in some cases.
In Gambas 3, embedded arrays cannot be used as local variables anymore. But they can be public!
Examples
Private Handles[8] As Label
Static Private TicTacToe[3, 3] As Integer
See also