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Quote: "dim array(1D,2D,3D)"

Quote: "ull need to learn arrays, they r a big part of many programs/games "

Quote: "azerty1#=1
azerty2#=2
azerty3#=3
azerty4#=4
azerty5#=5"

Quote: "dim azerty(5)
for t=1 TO 5
azerty(t)=t :save array azerty(t)
next t"

Quote: "
Ok, I will try my hand at explaining arrays.

What they are:

Arrays are essentially variables that can hold more than a single number. They are referenced through a coordinate like numbers.

A good way to think of arrays are like filing cabinets. First you have the variable name, which is the unit itself. It can be, just like a variable, an integer, a float (containing decimals), or a string (words). The number of drawers is the first number (so dim checkdata(3) would have 3 drawers). From there, you can sub-divide each drawer with folders, for arrays, it would simply be the next number, signifying how many "folders" for each drawer.

So:
dim apples(3,2) would, to keep up the analogy, a filing cabinet with 3 drawers, and 2 folders in them (just to throw this out there, you CAN use and store data to apples(3,0) but that should only be used if it makes the code easier to read (don't go out of your way if you don't have to).

Now, since this is a computer, you can subdivide every drawer infinitely (to a point, but you will probably run out of memory before you hit the extents) as well as every folder. Inside each folder, though, is a piece of paper, which simply has a number or string (depending on the type) printed on it. This is what the value of that folder is.

How they are used:
You reference them just like variables, with code that looks like:
rocks(32,2)=6

In this case, it is saying (once again, to reuse the same example) go to the filing cabinet labeled "rocks", open drawer 32, and change what is in folder 2 so that it is 6 (pull out the old piece of paper and put in a new one with the number 6 on it).

Tricks that make arrays useful:

Here are two examples:
Example one, with no array-


That is ugly and a waste of space and time. Sections of code with many ifs should really be looked at to see if they can be condensed with loops and arrays.

Here is the second example with arrays:


Ok, so now, lets look at how arrays can be used to help us on our current project:

1 array can store the entire map, and that way it can easily be referenced in loops.
map(3,3) could be used for a 3tilex3tile map. Then you can reference it with x and y values. So if there is a rock at 3,1 then the check could read:


Think about how you would do this without arrays. There would have to be 9 different variables and 9 different checks, which could be done with 1 array and 2 for-next loops like:



So, what could have been 18 lines of tedious and messy code (and remember, the more lines you have the more mistakes you can make) can be done in 5.

Hopefully, this has helped you out. I remember I didn't get arrays when I first started either, then one day I read it and it clicked and suddenly they helped me out. I did go overboard at first and make EVERYTHING an array in my programs...don't do that, it doesn't always help.

A few tips and tricks I have learned:
-you can't inc or dec arrays. You either have to do it the old fashioned way (rocks(rock,2)=rocks(rock,2)+1) or set a variable equal to it, inc the variable, and set the array to the variable.

-you CAN re-define an array (using dim 2 times with the same name but different numbers). Data is only lost if it doesn't exist anymore so:

Will work perfectly (it should, anyway). This really should only be done if necessary, and even then try not to, but it is nice to know the rules so that you can bend them later .

I will let you in on more as I think of them. Let me know if this helps, I "stole" the filing cabinet example from a book I read a while back, it helped me understand arrays so I figured maybe it would help you too."

Quote: "and he actually did mention the "zeroth" place"

Quote: "Even though I distinctly remember testing out the re-dim of arrays and having it preserve data, for some reason I haven't been able to recreate it lately, will let you know if I can figure out how I did it the first time."

Dim Test(5)
test(0) = 3
Dim Test(3)

Quote: "Actually, I've a feeling I've managed it before. I'll have to check, but I think I had to ensure that the new number was less than the original:"