3

Can we pass 2D array in vardef? Followed is a small code. It failed to compile.

outputtemplate := "%j-%c.eps";
prologues := 3;
input boxes

beginfig(1)

vardef table (expr upper_left_centre, row, col, data) =
  label(data[0][0], upper_left_centre);
enddef;

string data[][];
% title
data[0][0] := "Wall height";

table (origin, 2, 6, data);

endfig;
warem
  • 3,239

1 Answers1

5

For this, you can declare this array as a suffix parameter. 

outputtemplate := "%j-%c.eps";
prologues := 3;

beginfig(1)

vardef table (expr upper_left_centre)(suffix data) =
  label(data[0][0], upper_left_centre);
enddef;

string data[][];
% title
data[0][0] := "Wall height";

table (origin, data);

endfig;

end.

enter image description here

Quoting the MetaPost manual, p. 56:

If you just want to pass a variable name to a macro, it is better to declare it as a suffix parameter. For example,

def incr(suffix $) = begingroup $:=$+1; $ endgroup enddef;

defines a macro that will take any numeric variable, add one to it, and return the new value.

Franck Pastor
  • 18,756
  • Read the manual many times but ignore the point "Text parameters are very general, but their generality sometimes gets in the way. If you just want to pass a variable name to a macro, it is better to declare it as a suffix parameter.". But the suffix generally makes me confusing. I don't know when I should use. Sometimes by guess. Thanks @ Franck – warem Dec 16 '17 at 20:24
  • Indeed it can ben confusing. I reckon thatsuffix is to be used when you need to manipulate a variable (or more generally a suffix name), e.g. to increment it if it is a numeric. The parameters given as expr are to be used as such, they can't be changed. – Franck Pastor Dec 16 '17 at 21:29
  • 3
    The difference is in the expansion. expr variables are expanded before they are passed to the macro. text and suffix are not. suffix has a limited range of allowed characters, text is more general, with for example, , allowed. – Thruston Dec 17 '17 at 17:11
  • @Thruston Thanks for this. It is much clearer than the MetaPost manual's explanations! :-) – Franck Pastor Dec 17 '17 at 21:15