Passing variables between scripts Topic is solved

[Hol3yMol3y]

I need to pass a set of variables from one script to another and I need to do it a few times while both scripts are running.

My current setup writes all variables to a .txt document using FileAppend. Meanwhile, the second script is listening for when the txt document changes.

That's as far as I've gotten. Once it detects the update, I would like it to read the txt document as if it were part of the code.

For instance, the contents of the document look like this:

FirstName := Bob
Surname := Jones
Street := Jones Street

etc.

Now, I could loop through it line by line and parse the contents of it to create a line something like: VariableName " := " %VariableContents%, but this seems silly when it's already in the exact format that I want it in. I really just want to paste the exact contents of the txt doc into my script so that all of the variables are declared at once and I can use them.

This isn't a matter of being lazy either - there could be hundreds of variables in this file and I need the script to work fast.

I tried writing all of the variables to an AHK file and using an #include to bring the file into my second script. Unfortunately I can't find a way to make the #include update when the contents of the target script change (and I can't reload the script either for various reasons). I also looked into .ini files but these don't seem to have any benefit and I don't need the Header functionality.

So, basically my question is this: does anyone know an easy way to make AHK read a txt file of variables and declare them all as written? Alternatively, if it can't be done, can someone help me write a Loop function to parse it line by line?

Cheers!

[Odlanir]

In the OnMessage docs : https://www.autohotkey.com/docs/commands/OnMessage.htm there's a good working example ( the last one ) on how to send/receive data between scripts:

[Hol3yMol3y]

If I use this method then I take it I would have to send the variables in one single variable and then parse them on the other end?

This is probably really basic, but when I tried something similar once, I ended up with a horizontal line of code that exceeded some sort of internal limit that AutoHotKey puts in place and the code wouldn't run. How do I avoid that if I use this method?

[Hol3yMol3y]

Also, another point to note - what I'm really trying to achieve is multithreading. I'm passing off a task to a second script so that the user can keep using the first script without it interfering.

I've had a look into some of the more sophisticated ways of doing this like ObjRegisterActive and LoadFile libraries but they're just too advanced for me to understand at this stage.

[SpeedMaster]

So, basically my question is this: does anyone know an easy way to make AHK read a txt file of variables and declare them all as

you can also share the same ini file
https://autohotkey.com/board/topic/33506-read-ini-file-in-one-go/

I use this function ini( filename = 0, updatemode = 0 ) (by Smurth)
If you want to create lots of variable from .ini files, this function is for you. It reads the whole file in one go and creates all the global variables.

Code: Select all

;https://autohotkey.com/board/topic/33506-read-ini-file-in-one-go/
ini( filename = 0, updatemode = 0 )
;
; updates From/To a whole .ini file
;
; By default the update mode is set to 0 (Read)
; and creates variables like this:
; %Section%%Key% = %value%
;
; You don't have to state the updatemode when reading, just use
;
; update(filename)
;
; The function can be called to write back updated variables to
; the .ini by setting the updatemode to 1, like this:
;
; update(filename, 1)
;
{
Local s, c, p, key, k, write

   if not filename
      filename := SubStr( A_ScriptName, 1, -3 ) . "ini"

   FileRead, s, %filename%

   Loop, Parse, s, `n`r, %A_Space%%A_Tab%
   {
      c := SubStr(A_LoopField, 1, 1)
      if (c="[")
         key := SubStr(A_LoopField, 2, -1)
      else if (c=";")
         continue
      else {
         p := InStr(A_LoopField, "=")
         if p {
         k := SubStr(A_LoopField, 1, p-1)
       if updatemode=0
          %key%%k% := SubStr(A_LoopField, p+1)
       if updatemode=1
       {
          write := %key%%k%
          IniWrite, %write%, %filename%, %key%, %k%    
       }
         }
      }
   }
}

Here is the test file and function in one file together. (by Tuncay and Scratch)

Code: Select all

#SingleInstance force

/*
; ATTENTION! THIS COMMENT BLOCK IS IN INI FORMAT AND COULD BE USED AS INI FILE.
[META]
Source=				http://www.autohotkey.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=36601
Language=              en
Description=           If you want to create lots of variable from .ini files, this function is for you. It reads the whole file in one go and creates all the global variables. 
Date=                  2009-09-07
Author=                Scratch
Category=              File Management
Type=                  Library
*/

#NoEnv
SendMode Input
SetWorkingDir %A_ScriptDir%

; .....................................................
;                    TEST SECTION
; .....................................................

; Create the ini file (scriptname.ini)
iniFile := SubStr( A_ScriptName, 1, -3 ) . "ini"
iniContent =
(
[pos]
x=100
y=300
Z=450
)
replaceFile(iniFile, iniContent) ; delete previous ini file and replace it with the new one

;--------------------------------------------
ini(test) ; Read the ini file and store its content to variables
;--------------------------------------------

msgbox posx := %posx% , posy := %posy% , posz := %posz%
;
; Now we change the variables and write/update the ini
;
posx := posx * 2
posy := posy * 2
posz := posz * 2

;--------------------------------------------
ini(test, 1) ; write/update the ini file
;--------------------------------------------

Msgbox Updated variables written...
;
; To confirm the INI is correctly updated, we read out the INI again
;
ini(test)
msgbox UPDATED >>> posx := %posx% , posy := %posy% , posz := %posz%


RETURN ; END OF Auto-execution section


replaceFile(File, Content)
{
	FileDelete, %File%
	FileAppend, %Content%, %File%
}
Return

; .....................................................
;               END OF TEST SECTION
; .....................................................


ini( filename = 0, updatemode = 0 )
;
; updates From/To a whole .ini file
;
; By default the update mode is set to 0 (Read)
; and creates variables like this:
; %Section%%Key% = %value%
;
; You don't have to state the updatemode when reading, just use
;
; update(filename)
;
; The function can be called to write back updated variables to
; the .ini by setting the updatemode to 1, like this:
;
; update(filename, 1)
;
{
Local s, c, p, key, k, write

   if not filename
      filename := SubStr( A_ScriptName, 1, -3 ) . "ini"

   FileRead, s, %filename%

   Loop, Parse, s, `n`r, %A_Space%%A_Tab%
   {
      c := SubStr(A_LoopField, 1, 1)
      if (c="[")
         key := SubStr(A_LoopField, 2, -1)
      else if (c=";")
         continue
      else {
         p := InStr(A_LoopField, "=")
         if p {
         k := SubStr(A_LoopField, 1, p-1)
       if updatemode=0
          %key%%k% := SubStr(A_LoopField, p+1)
       if updatemode=1
       {
          write := %key%%k%
          IniWrite, %write%, %filename%, %key%, %k%    
       }
         }
      }
   }
}

[just me]

If you want to use a simple text file and create an associative array in the receiving script:
by Odlanir

[swagfag]

if u want to do multithreading, port ur script over to ahk_h and do multithreading. dont come up with the code-equivalent of a convoluted rube goldberg machine held up by nothing but spit and prayers.
there's no getting around not using any of the advanced/sophisticated stuff because the very thing uve set out to do(multithreading/IPC) is itself advanced/sophisticated. u cant just keep on banging away at steel spikes(think railroad ones) with a blowup toy hammer because heavy machinery is too advanced for u... well, u could, technically, but that would be a massive waste of both time and effort on ur part.

that said, i have no idea what the actual thing that ure trying to do is(read: the big picture). first, u say u want to "pass variables from one script to another"(implying one-way IPC). then u say ure actually writing the variables(only?), ahk syntax, in a separate file and u want "to paste the exact contents of the file" into ur worker thread script(paste them where? in the autoexecute section? what if its already been run? are u gonna rerun it? paste them in a function? or perhaps somewhere in between?)

[SpeedMaster]

So, basically my question is this: does anyone know an easy way to make AHK read a txt file of variables and declare them all as written? Alternatively, if it can't be done, can someone help me write a Loop function to parse it line by line?

If I understand correctly, you want to import the whole stuff ( variable name + content)
experimental script only !!

Code: Select all

#SingleInstance forcce
SetWorkingDir, %a_scrpitdir%


; Frist create a test file (test.txt)
fileContent =
(
FirstName := Bob
Surname := Jones
Street := Jones Street
)
replaceFile("test.txt", fileContent)

replaceFile(File, Content)
{
	FileDelete, %File%
	FileAppend, %Content%, %File%
}


; Parse the test file and declare variables
fileread, vars, test.txt

loop, parse, vars, "`n" 
{
	CurrentVar:=strsplit(a_loopfield, "=", ":")
	for k, v in CurrentVar {
		var:=CurrentVar[k]
		mod(k,2) ? var:=strReplace(var,a_space)
		mod(k,2) ? %var%:=CurrentVar[k+1]
	}
	var:=v:=CurrentVar:=""
}
	
msgbox, %		FirstName "`n"
			.	Surname "`n"
			.	Street

I also looked into .ini files but these don't seem to have any benefit and I don't need the Header functionality.

for the above ini() function if you don't want a header simply use an empty one []

cheers,

[Hol3yMol3y]

So, basically my question is this: does anyone know an easy way to make AHK read a txt file of variables and declare them all as written? Alternatively, if it can't be done, can someone help me write a Loop function to parse it line by line?

If I understand correctly, you want to import the whole stuff ( variable name + content)
experimental script only !!

Code: Select all

#SingleInstance forcce
SetWorkingDir, %a_scrpitdir%


; Frist create a test file (test.txt)
fileContent =
(
FirstName := Bob
Surname := Jones
Street := Jones Street
)
replaceFile("test.txt", fileContent)

replaceFile(File, Content)
{
	FileDelete, %File%
	FileAppend, %Content%, %File%
}


; Parse the test file and declare variables
fileread, vars, test.txt

loop, parse, vars, "`n" 
{
	CurrentVar:=strsplit(a_loopfield, "=", ":")
	for k, v in CurrentVar {
		var:=CurrentVar[k]
		mod(k,2) ? var:=strReplace(var,a_space)
		mod(k,2) ? %var%:=CurrentVar[k+1]
	}
	var:=v:=CurrentVar:=""
}
	
msgbox, %		FirstName "`n"
			.	Surname "`n"
			.	Street

I also looked into .ini files but these don't seem to have any benefit and I don't need the Header functionality.

for the above ini() function if you don't want a header simply use an empty one []

cheers,

Thanks SpeedMaster! This code works well for my purposes. I would love to try to understand this part of the script more:

mod(k,2) ? var:=strReplace(var,a_space)
mod(k,2) ? %var%:=CurrentVar[k+1]
var:=v:=CurrentVar:=""

I get a headache trying to understand all of the assignments in that last line haha.

[SpeedMaster]

I would love to try to understand this part of the script more:

mod(k,2) ? var:=strReplace(var,a_space)
mod(k,2) ? %var%:=CurrentVar[k+1]
var:=v:=CurrentVar:=""

I get a headache trying to understand all of the assignments in that last line haha.

Code: Select all

CurrentVar:=strsplit(a_loopfield, "=", ":")     ; split current line in 2 parts and correct the syntax
var:=strReplace(CurrentVar[1],a_space)          ; get rid of the spaces for the variable name
mod(k,2)                                        ; obfuscated way to say if (k=1)
CurrentVar[k+1]                                 ; obfuscated way to say currentvar[2]
var:=v:=CurrentVar:=""                          ; fancy way to clear all unnecessary variables

the for-loop is also useless, the values should have been assigned directly %var%:=CurrentVar[2]

[Helgef]

@SpeedMaster, please note that x ? y alone is not valid syntax. If you mean to use the conditional operator ?:, you have to include all the symbols and operands, ie., x ? y : z.

Cheers.

[SpeedMaster]

...you have to include all the symbols and operands, ie., x ? y : z

do you mean something like this ?

Code: Select all

mod(k,2) ? var:=strReplace(var,a_space) :

why ?

[Helgef]

No, I mean something like mod(k,2) ? var:=strReplace(var,a_space) : z, you cannot leave out any symbol or operand.

Why?

Because x ? y has no documented meaning. Just like these are undocumented,

Code: Select all

msgbox % 1 <>< 2		; the fish operator
msgbox % 1 <(.)(.)> 2	; the staring eyes operator

would you use them?

Cheers.

[Rohwedder]

Hallo,
(.) is not an operator but just the numerical value between -0 and 0
Try:

Code: Select all

MsgBox,% -0<(.) And (.)<0

[Helgef]

No it isn't an operator, that was the point, it is invalid syntax, just like x?y.

[jeeswg]

Two notes:

Code: Select all

;invalid ternary operator (fails in AHK v2, and sometimes in AHK v1):
		mod(k,2) ? var:=strReplace(var,a_space)
		mod(k,2) ? %var%:=CurrentVar[k+1]

;alternatives:
		mod(k,2) && var:=strReplace(var,a_space)
		mod(k,2) && %var%:=CurrentVar[k+1]

		mod(k,2) ? (var:=strReplace(var,a_space)) : 0
		mod(k,2) ? (%var%:=CurrentVar[k+1]) : 0

;succint:
	var:=v:=CurrentVar:=""

;equivalent to:
	CurrentVar := ""
	v := CurrentVar
	var := v

[SpeedMaster]

Because x ? y has no documented meaning.

?: Ternary operator This operator is a shorthand replacement for the if-else statement.
? [v1.0.90+]: short-circuit If operator. This operator is a shorthand replacement for the if-without-else statement. For example, (a>b) ? c:=5

Now it's documented. (by me)

... Just like these are undocumented,

Code: Select all

msgbox % 1 <>< 2		; the fish operator
msgbox % 1 <(.)(.)> 2	; the staring eyes operator

would you use them?

I know that if someone pays me enough money to make a "fish operator", I'll probably make one.
even if I liked this one <(.)(.)> more