base.method() and this.base.method() Confusion

[A_User]

Hi,

Can somebody explain why the following code shows the message box three times? I expected twice.

Code: Select all

_o := new BaseKeyword2 ; shows the message box 3 times, not twice

class BaseKeyword {
    
    __New( s ) {
        msgbox % s
    }   
    
}
class BaseKeyword2 extends BaseKeyword {
    __New() {
        base.__New( "a" )
        this.base.__New( "b" )
    }    
}

[A_AhkUser]

Hi A_User,

Because base is a key: MyObject.key

Code: Select all

MyObject := {base: {__New:Func("test")}, key:7, method:Func("m")}
(o:=new MyObject).method()

test(this) {
MsgBox % this.key
}
m(this) {
MsgBox % A_ThisFunc
}

[A_User]

Hi,

I don't find your reply answering why the code I posted shows the message box three times.

It seems the constructor of the extended class is called twice. The strange part is that if you comment out `base.__New( "a" )`, the message box shows only once.

[A_AhkUser]

__Init is call only once. base.__New( "a" ) amounts to call BaseKeyword.__New.bind(this), while using base as a key (this.base.__New( "b" )) calls __New like any other function (in particular: this hidden parameter isn't passed to the function):

Code: Select all

_o := new BaseKeyword2 ; shows the message box 3 times, not twice

class BaseKeyword {
y :=11
    __New( s ) {
        msgbox % s . this.x . A_Space . this.y
    }   
    
}
class BaseKeyword2 extends BaseKeyword {
x :=11
    __New() {

        base.__New( "a" ) ; this calls BaseKeyword.__New.bind(this) i;e. THIS FUNCTION
        this.base.__New( "b" ) ; this calls this.__New WITHOUT ANY BOUND PARAMETERS: this.x and this.y are not displayed
        ; this.base.__New.bind(this, "b" ).call() ; if you put only this line you will get an infinite recursion.... (ahk will crash)
    }    
}

[Helgef]

A_Hello I try to give a step-by-step.
First, you do

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_o := new BaseKeyword2

which calls

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__New() {
	base.__New( "a" )

this goes

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 __New( s ) {
	msgbox % s ; a

then back to this line

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this.base.__New( "b" )

where this.base refers to the class BaseKeyword2, so you call BaseKeyword2.__new("b"), passing BaseKeyword2 as the hidden this parameter, which goes to

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__New() {
	base.__New( "a" ) ; -> msgbox a again

passing an excessive paramter ("b") doesn't cause an error. Again, you return and come to

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this.base.__New( "b" )

where this.base is BaseKeyword2.base, which now refers to BaseKeyword, so you get to

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 __New( s ) {
	msgbox % s ; b

All calls are done, everything returns and assings _o.

Cheers

[A_AhkUser]

where this.base is BaseKeyword2.base, which now refers to BaseKeyword

My head's spinning

Thanks for you input Helgef

[A_User]

Thanks for breaking it down, Helgef.

where this.base refers to the class BaseKeyword2

This is hard to understand...; `this.base` does not refer to the base object but the derived object for the first time.

This seems to be the AutoHotkey way, however. I don't think I fully understand this behavior and I decided to stay away from `this.base`.

I leave the below note for anybody who gets similar confusion.

Code: Select all

global iCallCount := 0

o := new BaseKeyword2 
msgbox % "Result`n"
       . "p: " o.iCallCount "`n"  ; shows 1
       . "g: " iCallCount         ; shows 2

class BaseKeyword {
    
    __New() {
    }   
    
}
class BaseKeyword2 extends BaseKeyword {

    iCallCount := 0

    __New() {
        
        this.base.__New()
        ; base.__New()      ; does not cause the issue
        iCallCount++        ; gloval variable
        this.iCallCount++   ; class property
        
        this.check( iCallCount, this.iCallCount )
        
    }    

    check( iGlobalCount, iPropertyCount ) {
        msgbox % A_ThisFunc "`n"
            . "p: " iPropertyCount "`n"
            . "g: " iGlobalCount 
    }
    
}

[User]

@jeeswg

[jeeswg]

Code: Select all

q::
vOutput := ""
Loop, 8
{
	vNum := A_Index-1
	vName := ""
	vName .= (vNum & 0x4) ? "A_" : ""
	vName .= (vNum & 0x2) ? "Ahk" : ""
	vName .= (vNum & 0x1) ? "User" : ""
	if (vName ~= "^(A_(Ahk)?)?User$")
		vOutput .= "Hello " vName "!`r`n"
}
MsgBox, % vOutput
return

[nnnik]

Thanks for breaking it down, Helgef.

where this.base refers to the class BaseKeyword2

This is hard to understand...; `this.base` does not refer to the base object but the derived object for the first time.

This seems to be the AutoHotkey way, however. I don't think I fully understand this behavior and I decided to stay away from `this.base`.

I leave the below note for anybody who gets similar confusion.

Code: Select all

global iCallCount := 0

o := new BaseKeyword2 
msgbox % "Result`n"
       . "p: " o.iCallCount "`n"  ; shows 1
       . "g: " iCallCount         ; shows 2

class BaseKeyword {
    
    __New() {
    }   
    
}
class BaseKeyword2 extends BaseKeyword {

    iCallCount := 0

    __New() {
        
        this.base.__New()
        ; base.__New()      ; does not cause the issue
        iCallCount++        ; gloval variable
        this.iCallCount++   ; class property
        
        this.check( iCallCount, this.iCallCount )
        
    }    

    check( iGlobalCount, iPropertyCount ) {
        msgbox % A_ThisFunc "`n"
            . "p: " iPropertyCount "`n"
            . "g: " iGlobalCount 
    }
    
}

It's not confusing at all - you just need to think about this more calmly.
An objects base is it's class - a classes base is the class it extends.
this.base refers to the objects base therefore in your case BaseKeyword2.
this.base.base refers to the objects bases base in your case BaseKeyword.
The base keyword in a class (a horrible name choice if you ask me) will refer to the current classes base regardless of what this contains.

If you wanted to replace the base keyword in a class you would have to use this.base.base -since both refer to the classes base.