Function arguments as variables

[NewbieITguy]

First off, I'd like to thank everyone here for being so helpful. I'm always bugging you folks.

Anyway, I'm about to make a function, I wanted to make it so that the argument that's in the function could be used to create a variable.

In other words:

Code: Select all

^r::
cat := ""
VarSave(%cat%)
send "%cat%"
return



VarSave(x)
	{
	x = %x%
	%x% :=2
	return %x% ; Now variable cat should exist and equal 2
	}

As you can see, I'm goofing up big-time. I guess I'm basically asking how you pass a variable as an argument and then let said function edit whatever that variable is.

[gregster]

Several problems. Syntax is one, another one is that a function is a "black box" with local variables (at least by default). But you could do this:

Code: Select all

^r::
; cat := ""
VarSave(cat)
msgbox %cat%
return

VarSave(ByRef x)
{
	x := 2
}

See https://www.autohotkey.com/docs/Functions.htm#ByRef

[NewbieITguy]

Several problems. Syntax is one, another one is that a function is a "black box" with local variables (at least by default). But you could do this:

Code: Select all

^r::
; cat := ""
VarSave(cat)
msgbox %cat%
return

VarSave(ByRef x)
{
	x := 2
}

See https://www.autohotkey.com/docs/Functions.htm#ByRef

I'll try this soon, thanks!

Real-talk, should I just sit down one day and read the entire doc for AHK? Is that what everyone else did?

[gregster]

Perhaps not in one day Many things you don't need to know, just where to find them... Btw, the limited scope of functions is something that you will encounter in most (all ? ) programming languages. Other things are quite specific to AHK. I would probably start with the Usage and Syntax section of the docs.

[swagfag]

yes, u should read the entire docs. read, not understand, not memorize. u need to know what things exist. then u at least would have a starting point for looking up stuff u dont quite understand