AS3, adding variable to function name

Question

I have 6 functions, called callClip1, callClip2, callClip3 and so on.

I had planned on writing out 6 else/if statements to call each of these when I need to, but I thought it could (possibly) be done another way. Could I call one function called "callClip" and add a variable to the end of it that I set elsewhere? So if the variable was set to 3, it would put callClip + 3 together and call that function?

Thanks

Jason Sturges · Accepted Answer · 2012-07-04 00:59:41Z

4

This could be done with a switch block:

Used as: callClip(1);

function callClip(number:int):void
{
    switch(number)
    {
        case 1:
            callClip1();
            break;
        case 2:
            callClip2();
            break;
        case 3:
            callClip3();
            break;
        case 4:
            callClip4();
            break;
        case 5:
            callClip5();
            break;
        case 6:
            callClip6();
            break;
    }
}

Although I wouldn't recommend it, this could also be implemented as:

function callClip(number:int):void
{
    this["callClip" + number]();
}

edited Jul 4, 2012 at 0:59

answered Jul 4, 2012 at 0:34

Jason Sturges

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2 Comments

Sunil D. Over a year ago

Nice I was just about to suggest your second idea, and also would not recommend it :)

shaunhusain Over a year ago

Agree I think generally though instead of having a bunch of functions there should probably just be one that has this type of switch in it to change the functionality rather than having a bunch of copies of a function and the need to both update the switch statement and create the new function. Good answer if there's a good reason to be doing this (like callClip1-6 all have very variable functionality within them).

Marty · Accepted Answer · 2012-07-04 01:02:55Z

2

Adding to Jason's answer, you could also do this:

// Store references to each method.
var methods:Vector.<Function> = new <Function>[
    callClip1, callClip2, callClip3,
    callClip4, callClip5, callClip6
];


// Call relevant callClip function.
function callClip(num:int):void
{
    methods[num-1]();
}

answered Jul 4, 2012 at 1:02

Marty

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