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Author Topic: Creating a generic function  (Read 6281 times)

rnfpc

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Creating a generic function
« on: June 23, 2019, 03:00:27 pm »
I have following simple procedure to print out an array of strings:

Code: Pascal  [Select][+][-]
  1. type
  2.   TArrStr = array of string;
  3. procedure printStrArr(sarr: TArrStr);
  4.   var item: string;
  5.   begin
  6.     for item in sarr do write(item, ',');
  7.     writeln;
  8.   end;
I also need to have similar functions for integers and real numbers. Is there any way to have generic function here that will print any type of printable item array sent to it? I see that generic classes are possible: https://wiki.freepascal.org/Generics and https://wiki.freepascal.org/Generics_proposals

I tried:
Code: Pascal  [Select][+][-]
  1. generic procedure printTArr<T>(sarr: T);
  2.   var item: string; // BUT WHAT TO PUT HERE INSTEAD OF STRING?
  3.   begin
  4.     for item in sarr do write(item, ',');
  5.     writeln;
  6.   end;

Is it possible to have simple generic functions?
« Last Edit: June 23, 2019, 03:06:20 pm by rnfpc »

Thaddy

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Re: Creating a generic function
« Reply #1 on: June 23, 2019, 04:32:05 pm »
T
Specialize a type, not a var.

rnfpc

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Re: Creating a generic function
« Reply #2 on: June 23, 2019, 05:18:33 pm »
I tried following:
Code: Pascal  [Select][+][-]
  1. program rngenericfn;
  2. {$mode objfpc}
  3. generic procedure printTArr<T>(sarr: T);
  4.   var item: T; // BUT WHAT TO PUT HERE INSTEAD OF STRING?
  5.   begin
  6.     for item in sarr do write(item, ',');
  7.     writeln;
  8.   end;
  9.  
  10. begin
  11.   specialize printTArr<integer>([1,2,3]);
  12. end.
But it gives following error:
Code: Pascal  [Select][+][-]
  1. mygenericfn.pas(3,8) Fatal: Syntax error, "BEGIN" expected but "identifier GENERIC" found
Also, T is array of integer/string etc and item should be integer/string and not T (array of integer/string).
« Last Edit: June 23, 2019, 05:20:47 pm by rnfpc »

totya

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Re: Creating a generic function
« Reply #3 on: June 23, 2019, 07:13:59 pm »
As I see on the forum:
Quote
This form of generics is not available in FPC 3.0.4

See: https://forum.lazarus.freepascal.org/index.php/topic,40356.msg278769.html#msg278769

PascalDragon

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Re: Creating a generic function
« Reply #4 on: June 24, 2019, 09:19:19 am »
I tried:
Code: Pascal  [Select][+][-]
  1. generic procedure printTArr<T>(sarr: T);
  2.   var item: string; // BUT WHAT TO PUT HERE INSTEAD OF STRING?
  3.   begin
  4.     for item in sarr do write(item, ',');
  5.     writeln;
  6.   end;
You should declare it like this:
Code: Pascal  [Select][+][-]
  1. generic procedure printTArr<T>(sarr: array of T); // << declare the element type, not the whole array
  2.   var item: T;
  3.   begin
  4.     for item in sarr do write(item, ',');
  5.     writeln;
  6.   end;

rnfpc

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Re: Creating a generic function
« Reply #5 on: June 24, 2019, 02:30:07 pm »
Does it work on your system? On my system, it gives error on the first line only:
Code: Pascal  [Select][+][-]
  1. Fatal: Syntax error, "BEGIN" expected but "identifier GENERIC" found
Why is it objecting to term 'generic'?

Thaddy

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Re: Creating a generic function
« Reply #6 on: June 24, 2019, 02:58:18 pm »
Because you did not specify  {$mode objfpc} on top of your unit or program.....
Manuals are brilliant to solve these things..... O:-) (That's a rephrase of RTFM  >:D)
 ;D
« Last Edit: June 24, 2019, 03:00:13 pm by Thaddy »
Specialize a type, not a var.

rnfpc

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Re: Creating a generic function
« Reply #7 on: June 24, 2019, 03:58:26 pm »
I have included {$mode objfpc} at top of file (shown in an earlier post in this thread).
Even {$mode delphi} is giving same error.

I am working on Debian Stable Linux with fpc version 3.0.0.

Does this code works on your system? What is version of your fpc?

ASerge

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Re: Creating a generic function
« Reply #8 on: June 24, 2019, 04:13:28 pm »
Is there any way to have generic function here that will print any type of printable item array sent to it?
Is it possible to have simple generic functions?
In FPC 3.0 only via generic types:
Code: Pascal  [Select][+][-]
  1. {$APPTYPE CONSOLE}
  2. {$MODE DELPHI}
  3. type
  4.   TPrintArray<T> = class(TObject)
  5.   public
  6.     class procedure DoPrint(const A: array of T); static;
  7.   end;
  8.  
  9. class procedure TPrintArray<T>.DoPrint(const A: array of T);
  10. var
  11.   Item: T;
  12. begin
  13.   for Item in A do
  14.     Write(Item, ',');
  15.   Writeln;
  16. end;
  17.  
  18. begin
  19.   TPrintArray<Integer>.DoPrint([1, 2, 3]);
  20.   TPrintArray<string>.DoPrint(['11', '22', '33']);
  21.   Readln;
  22. end.

rnfpc

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Re: Creating a generic function
« Reply #9 on: June 24, 2019, 05:31:05 pm »
Yes, this works. But this means for generics, full class has to be defined and it cannot be done with just a generic function.

ASerge

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Re: Creating a generic function
« Reply #10 on: June 24, 2019, 05:41:45 pm »
Yes, this works. But this means for generics, full class has to be defined and it cannot be done with just a generic function.
In the new version of FPC it is possible.

totya

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Re: Creating a generic function
« Reply #11 on: June 24, 2019, 05:44:59 pm »
In the new version of FPC it is possible.

...as you said in #3

Many people can't read as I see... :)

Thaddy

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Re: Creating a generic function
« Reply #12 on: June 24, 2019, 05:47:09 pm »
3.0.0. is several years old. So no wonder it does not work as expected.
This feature works in 3.0.4 and higher.
Specialize a type, not a var.

totya

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Re: Creating a generic function
« Reply #13 on: June 24, 2019, 05:54:30 pm »
3.0.0. is several years old. So no wonder it does not work as expected.
This feature works in 3.0.4 and higher.

I have an fpc 3.0.5 (fixes 3.0 branch), and it doesn't work, error message same as above.

Quote
unit1.pas(23,1) Fatal: Syntax error, "BEGIN" expected but "identifier GENERIC" found

Thaddy

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Re: Creating a generic function
« Reply #14 on: June 24, 2019, 06:09:05 pm »
Specialize a type, not a var.

 

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