Question about local, global variables: Topic is solved

[LazarouJoinery]

Hi all;

I am using a CAD Library via DllCall().
I am loading a list of files, using a function.
I have to save to memory, each of these files, so I can access them through selection on a ListView.

Spoiler

There could be up to 1500 of these memory addresses, and they range in size from 180kb to 280kb, and then shrink down as they are processed. Quick maths says that's about 400mb of memory, at it's largest extent.

Each file needs to be saved to memory of a specific size (using VarSetCapacity) and I need to be able to access that specific memory address later, (upon selection in the ListView) so I am storing that (unique?) memory address in v.ptr

Below is an (abridged) function to load the files.

Code: Select all

LoadFileList()
{
for k, v in oList
  {
    idx := A_Index
    szFilePath := v.FilePath
    hDrw := lcCreateDrawing()
    lcDrwLoad(hDrw,szFilePath,0)
    bytes := lcDrwSaveMem(hDrw,0,0)
    VarSetCapacity(Mem%idx%,bytes,0)
    lcDrwSaveMem(hDrw,&Mem%idx%,bytes)
    v.ptr := &Mem%idx%
  }
return
}

This is an (abridged) function, to load the files.

Code: Select all

;i: index of Listview, hence file
OnChange(i)
{
global oList, hLcWnd
mem := oList[i].ptr
hDrw := lcCreateDrawing()
lcDrwLoadMem(hDrw,mem,hLcWnd)
return
}

My challenge: I can make this work, if I use global variables for the dynamically created mem%idx%.
[ie. subroutines, not functions]. I'd like to clean up the code, so that I have far fewer global variables.
Problem is, I don't know to then correctly define, store, these dynamically created memory addresses mem%idx%

What I have tried:
! Assume-global mode:
> Works. (But creates individual global variables!)
! store the memory in the object oTSV.
> I don't believe this can be done. I don't believe VarSetCapacity() takes an object reference as a parameter?
! define the memory mem%idx%, dynamically, as a global, inside the function: like global mem%idx%
> this fails. "The following variable name contains an illegal character"

Is there another way I should be doing this?

• a.) If these DXF files were represented as strings (not blobs of binary memory) I'd store them in the object oList, as text, and that would be my desired solution.
  That's a request I am making for the developer.
  However, what's the best way to store a bunch of memory addresses like this, in AHK?

• b.) Interestingly, when I write the memory addresses in assume-global mode, my function onChange() can actually read the (global) memory addresses, as stored by oList.ptr
  I figure this is because the CAD library DLL, operates on the memory address (As I am passing pointers to memory addresses.)
  Obviously then, these memory addresses need to be... global? But is there a way to store them, more protected? A little more OOP? Maybe even... not showing up in my ListVars?

[swagfag]

use

Code: Select all

...
v.SetCapacity("ptr", bytes)
lcDrwSaveMem(hDrw, v.GetAddress("ptr"), bytes)
...

[LazarouJoinery]

@@swagfag - wow! I've never seen that before. Thank you! I'll give it a go

Edit: That's fantastic, will free up my code so much!