Using wildcards in INI group names?

[uncleswell]

Hey girl/guys (<-- extra non-sexist while maintaining a realistic average ratio).. I've been trying to come up with a few different types of solutions for this over the past couple of days. Then I just thought "why not branch out to the brilliant minds on the forums for help?".. IDK why that thought always takes so long to occur. *facepalm*

Here's what I'm trying to do in my current project:

Ideally, I'd like to be able to continuously check multiple variable values in my INI which is being used as an active 3D array with the coordinate being the group name. (yes, must be INI.. but im open to options if anyone thinks of one..the array object seems too limited for this particular situation..but I have little experience with it.)
The 3D array's values/strings stored in the INI are used to make up a "3D" (top-down 2D w/ alterable Z) grid on screen. The INI handles the communication between these cells or "blocks". When one block is altered, it affects surrounding blocks in various ways.

The problem is in being able to single out and identifying a particular INI group(cell coordinate) to test.

I got this working through various methods which "queue" up all the cell names that need to be checked into an alterable string, separated by a delimiter, and fast looping through each while checking it's values, then reacting accordingly. -- But I'd really prefer to not use this method since the queue grows exponentially and even with fast loops, becomes too slow and unreliable for my purpose when the queue string becomes too large. I've devised a few ways to make it more acceptable.. but I'd still like to avoid using a "queue" method all together.

What I'm after is a way to able to constantly test and alter values in all groups rather than having to check one at a time. Just like you are able to test alterable values in each instance of an active object. (ie. - Alt Val A("active")==1 -> Make "Active" Disappear)... only one line instantly searches all "Active", and affect's only those that meet the conditions.

So I'm looking for something like: If (INI value "itemName" in [ANY] group) == 0 -> Set (INI value "itemName" in [THAT GROUP]) to 1.

That was the other thing I got a bit confused about.. even if I could use a wildcard in the condition.. How will I identify it in the actions.. but I'm hoping the immediate IF object will be able to help make that possible.

Does anyone know a way this could be possible? I'm about to examine the possibility of utilizing the wildcard feature of string parser 2.. I'll post back if I make any progress..

Infinite thanks to anyone taking the time to offer input! All is greatly appreciated.

[LB]

The normal INI object is just a minimal implementation of the INI format - it doesn't support advanced features such as listing all groups and all items in a group or searching/wildcard searching/etc. So your method is best. However, instead of a queue string, have you considered a list object for your queue? String parsing is slower with more content to parse, but lists have everything already split up.

[uncleswell]

The normal INI object is just a minimal implementation of the INI format - it doesn't support advanced features such as listing all groups and all items in a group or searching/wildcard searching/etc. So your method is best. However, instead of a queue string, have you considered a list object for your queue? String parsing is slower with more content to parse, but lists have everything already split up.

Thankyou very much for the reply! I did consider an invisible list object but I thought it would be slower.. I'll certainly give it a shot. Thanks, LB! .. For the parsing I do have to use... Do you recommend string parser 2 or the string tokenizer? Is there a noticeable speed difference? I've only ever used string parser 2 bc 1.) it seems to have more features, 2.) i'm just used to it.

[LB]

I honestly do not know which is faster - I would assume SP2 may be slower because it supports more complex parsing options and that ST may be faster because it only does single character delimiters, but it is hard to say how the ports are on iOS. If performance concerns you, you should do some tests to time which completes a parsing operation the fastest.

[uncleswell]

I honestly do not know which is faster - I would assume SP2 may be slower because it supports more complex parsing options and that ST may be faster because it only does single character delimiters, but it is hard to say how the ports are on iOS. If performance concerns you, you should do some tests to time which completes a parsing operation the fastest.

I'm on it right now. Thanks again! ..... oh.. and ...

not going to bug you since you took the time to help me out. But if you get a chance, any updates on the iOS lacewing would be stellar!

[LB]

I'm not tasked with developing Lacewing or anything for iOS - I just wrote the help file for Lacewing. I don't know who's responsible for the iOS port of Lacewing - you should ask James.

[uncleswell]

I'm not tasked with developing Lacewing or anything for iOS - I just wrote the help file for Lacewing. I don't know who's responsible for the iOS port of Lacewing - you should ask James.

....well.. when will the help file be released?

[LB]

Revision 2, the latest version, was released in March:
http://community.clickteam.com/showthread.php?t=68442

[uncleswell]

thankyou!

I was mostly joking however.. asking for the help file of the iOS version as a way to display my desperation/excitement lol.. Ill take anything!!! haha

but I havent seen this latest revision so I'm glad you posted it anyhow! thanks!