Identifying Controls by Name instead of Handle

[Shafayat]

Here is an example on "Identifying Controls by Name instead of Handle" and how that can help you. The method used is certainly not new but the idea is. I hope I've commented it well.

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#CS
    ================================================================
    =        Identifying Controls by Name instead of Handle        =
    =                     Example by: Shafayat                     =
    ================================================================

    It can be quite troublesome to maintain controls (especially
    GUI controls) using the handlers. So, it can be a better solution
    to use "Names" instead of "Handles" (or variable containing it).

    This example shows how you can use the "Scripting.Dictionary"
    to perfectly substitute the variables containing handlers.

    If you do not know what is "Scripting.Dictionary" then you
    just need to search a little. For this example it is enough to
    know that this will work as a makeshift Associative array.

    You are free to use/modify this sample script anyway you
    like.

    - Shafayat
#CE

; First we are creating a basic GUI. It is only for the example's purpose.
GUICreate("NameList UDF Test")
$set = GUICtrlCreateButton("Insert Labels", 2, 2, 100)
$rem = GUICtrlCreateButton("Remove Labels", 2 + 100, 2, 100)
$show = GUICtrlCreateButton("Show List", 2 + 200, 2, 100)
GUISetState(@SW_SHOW)
; End of GUI creation ;)

; Now we create the makeshift Associative Array. This will contain our data.
$Labels = ObjCreate("Scripting.Dictionary")

; The main loop
While 1
    $msg = GUIGetMsg()
    Switch $msg

        Case -3 ; GUI close event (i.e. you press the X button
            Exit ; Good Bye  ;)

        Case $set ; We are going to insert 10 labels without writing 10 lines
            If Not $Labels.count() = 10 Then ; We are only creating ten lines for this example. Ofcourse you can have more.
                ; NOTE: $YOURVAR.count() returns the number of entries in $YOURVAR
                For $i = 0 To 10
                    $Labels("LAB" & $i) = GUICtrlCreateLabel("SAMPLE TEXT", 20, 50 + $i * 20)
                    ; See! How simple it was. If you didn't need names you'd have to write ten lines like: -
                    ;  $Label1 = GUICtrlCreateLabel("SAMPLE TEXT", 20, 50 + 20)
                    ;  $Label2 = GUICtrlCreateLabel("SAMPLE TEXT", 20, 50 + 2 * 20)
                    ;  .........
                    ;  $Label10 = GUICtrlCreateLabel("SAMPLE TEXT", 20, 50 + 10 * 20)
                    ; Now you see my point. Don't you?
                Next
            EndIf

        Case $rem ; Lets clean up the mess ;)
            For $i = 0 To $Labels.Count()
                GUICtrlDelete($Labels("LAB" & $i)) ; Again we see how useful it is.
            Next
            $Labels.removeall() ; We will clean up the records so that $Labels.count() Becomes 0 (Zero)

        Case $show ;We can also do some advanced stuff. For example showing what we are hiding behind the names.
            Local $tempArray = $Labels.Keys() ; $YOURVAR.Keys() will always return ALL the names in a ARRAY.
            Local $text = "" ; Now, we don't want prior data to be included. Do we?
            For $i = 0 To UBound($tempArray) - 1
                $text &= $tempArray[$i] & " = " & $Labels($tempArray[$i]) & @CRLF ; This line explains itself.
            Next
            MsgBox(0, "Names = values", $text)

    EndSwitch
WEnd


#CS
    ================================================================
    =                       Further Questions                      =
    ================================================================

    It is hard to know how human brain works. I worked so hard to
    explain this and you've still got questions! JUST KIDDIN'

    Actually it is only natural for questions to arise. I believe
    there are AutoIt scripters and my friend Google to answer you.

    So, Bye Bye.

                            CLAP! CLAP! CLAP!

    ================================================================
    =                           THE END                            =
    ================================================================

    P.S: If you think this example is a waste of space then........
                                                    Bear with it ;)
    P.S: I am a fun loving person and sometimes I get carried away
    If this sample somehow offended you or made you want to
    BANG MY HEAD OFF then please forgive me considering that was
    unintentional.
#CE

Code is attached as well. Download: Identifying Controls by Name instead of Handle.au3

[nikitanova]

Nice example. Enjoyed it much.

[picea892]

Interesting....really it is just a substitute for an array. Correct?

[Shafayat]

Let me fix you a little. Yeah, certainly it is array, but it is a bit better than the usual array. It is associative array. That means the value in those braces can be a string, not just an integer.