WML for Complete Beginners: Chapter 8

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Revision as of 02:56, 18 April 2017 by Sapient (talk | contribs) (Array Variables)

Chapter 8: Array, and Container Variables

So far we have only discussed scalar variables, i.e. variables that have only one value at any given time. Believe it or not, there are types of variables than can store more than one value simultaneously, or even other variables.

Array Variables

You will typically encounter Array variables when you need to store all the units or locations on the map that meet certain criteria. That is outside the scope of this beginner's tutorial, but later you can consult the ReferenceWML documentation for [store_unit] and [store_locations] when you are ready to do that.

Container Variables

Container variables are variables that contain other variables within themselves. Returning to the metaphor of boxes, let's say you had three small boxes, labeled "Apples", "Oranges", and "Pears", respectively. Instead of having to carry around three smaller boxes, wouldn't it be much easier if we could just put them all in one large box labeled "fruit"? Well, with container variables, you can!

Container variables are not restricted to containing scalar variables, however. They can also store array variables.

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