A Design Choice

[jackhammerbob]

I have written the code for an automation. However, I want to give the user a choice in the tasks it performs. I am plan on making an input box asking for a number between 1 and x.

If the user enters 1 for instances, it'll perform task 1.

If the user enters 2, it'll perform task 1 and task 2.

If the user enters 3, it'll perform tasks 1 through 3.

A bunch of If statements would take up more room than I would like it to. Are there any elegant way of doing this? Ideally, the following should occur:

Required start automation segment

Task 1

Task 2 (if necessary)

Task 3 (if necessary)

Task 4 (if necessary)

Task...

...

Require ending automation segment

I thought about using a for loop but if I do, I will not be able to change it on the fly. Any suggestions? The current program does what I have described with a pause and a terminate button, no GUI. Any help would be much appreciated.

[/dev/null]

A bunch of If statements would take up more room than I would like it to.  Are there any elegant way of doing this?  Ideally, the following should occur:

How about this?

while 1 

  $action = InputBox("Choose", "... your action: ")

  Select
    Case $action = "1"
        MsgBox(0, "", "Action #1")
    Case $action = "2"
        MsgBox(0, "", "Action #2")
    Case $action = "3"
        MsgBox(0, "", "Action #3")
    Case $action = "quit"
        exitloop
    Case Else
        MsgBox(0, "", "Wrong Action")
  EndSelect
wend

Cheers

Kurt

[jackhammerbob]

Something along those lines, but it needs to be task 1 and 2 for the #2 for exmaple. After looking at what you wrote, it gave me another idea. Thanks for input.

[Arrrghmatey]

Since I'm pretty sure select case "falls through" you could maybe do this?

while 1 

  $action = InputBox("Choose", "... your action: ")

  Select
    Case $action <= "3"
        MsgBox(0, "", "Action #1")
    Case $action <= "2"
        MsgBox(0, "", "Action #2")
    Case $action <= "1"
        MsgBox(0, "", "Action #3")
    Case $action = "quit"
        exitloop
    Case Else
        MsgBox(0, "", "Wrong Action")
  EndSelect
wend

I'm not entirely sure because I am braindead right now, but I think that would work?

[/dev/null]

Since I'm pretty sure select case "falls through" you could maybe do this?

actually, no. From the help file: If more than one of the Case statements are true, only the first one is executed.

Cheers

Kurt

[/dev/null]

Something along those lines, but it needs to be task 1 and 2 for the #2 for exmaple.  After looking at what you wrote, it gave me another idea.  Thanks for input.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Ah. O.K. So something like this...

expandcollapse popup

while 1
  $action = InputBox("Choose", "... your action: ")

  Select
    Case $action = "1"
         action1()
    Case $action = "2"
         action2()
    Case $action = "3"
         action3()
    Case $action = "4"
         action4()
    Case $action = "quit"
        exitloop
    Case Else
        MsgBox(0, "", "Wrong Action")
  EndSelect
wend

func action1()
  MsgBox(0, "", "Action #1")
endfunc

func action2()
  action1()
  MsgBox(0, "", "Action #2")
endfunc

func action3()
  action2()
  MsgBox(0, "", "Action #3")
endfunc

func action4()
  action3()
  MsgBox(0, "", "Action #4")
endfunc

However, then you can't call each action separately. If you need that as well, then do this.

expandcollapse popup

while 1
  $action = InputBox("Choose", "... your action: ")

  Select
    Case $action = "1"
         action1()
    Case $action = "2"
         action1()
         action2()
    Case $action = "3"
         action1()
         action2()
         action3()
    Case $action = "4"
         action1()
         action2()
         action3()
         action4()
    Case $action = "quit"
        exitloop
    Case Else
        MsgBox(0, "", "Wrong Action")
  EndSelect
wend

func action1()
  MsgBox(0, "", "Action #1")
endfunc

func action2()
  MsgBox(0, "", "Action #2")
endfunc

func action3()
  MsgBox(0, "", "Action #3")
endfunc

func action4()
  MsgBox(0, "", "Action #4")
endfunc

EDIT: BUT, at this stage, some if statement are smarter

while 1
  $action = InputBox("Choose", "... your action: ")

  if $action = "quit" then exitloop
  if $action >= 1 then action1()
  if $action >= 2 then action2()
  if $action >= 3 then action3()
  if $action >= 4 then action4()

wend

func action1()
  MsgBox(0, "", "Action #1")
endfunc

func action2()
  MsgBox(0, "", "Action #2")
endfunc

func action3()
  MsgBox(0, "", "Action #3")
endfunc

func action4()
  MsgBox(0, "", "Action #4")
endfunc

Cheers

Kurt

Edited July 14, 2005 by /dev/null

[Arrrghmatey]

actually, no. From the help file: If more than one of the Case statements are true, only the first one is executed.

Cheers

Kurt

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Darn. I didn't actually look in the doc, but just assumed it was the same as java. I guess that's why they say assumeing makes as ASS out of U and ME. :">

[LxP]

How about this? --

action1()
if ($action > 1) then action2()
if ($action > 2) then action3()
; etc.