Passing parameters by reference

[Dick Kriesel]

On Mar 12, 2012, at 10:19 AM, Pete wrote:

> I'm wondering how you found about about this key values array feature?  I
> can't find any mention of it in the dictionary or the reference manual and
> it sure seems like something that should be known!

I found it while looking through bug reports for arrays, in <http://quality.runrev.com/show_bug.cgi?id=7166> dated 2008-11-28.  So, thanks be to Mark Waddingham and David Bovill for that.

For convenience, here's Mark's reply to David:

Thanks for the suggestion.

This is on the list to include for the next version. In that version with:
  put tValue into tArray[tKey]
(indeed anywhere you can currently do tArray[tKey])

The meaning of 'tKey' will be extended:
  1) If it is a string then it is as it is now
  2) If it is a numerically keyed array starting at 1, then it will mean:
       put tValue into tArray[tKey[1]][tKey[2]]...[tKey[n]]
     where <n> is the number of elements in tKey
  3) Otherwise it is an error.

This will allow you to construct an array containing the path to the key you
want to modify/fetch/delete dynamically.

I agree, the feature's worth adding into the dictionary and manual.

-- Dick