Re: Can you use arrays from another package ?

[Dale Stanbrough <dstanbro@bigpond.net.au>]

Jon wrote:

> say the main program is calle MAIN.ADB
> 
> and uses 2 packages X and Y
> 
> if there is an array of records in X called A.
> 
> how do i use the array A in Y ?
> 
> e.g
> 
> package body X is
>     type R is record
>         hi : string;
>         bye : integer;
>     end record;
> 
>     A : array(1..10) of R;
> 
> end X;
> 
> 
> now in Y, how do i use that array ? ive tried this :

you need a "with, use" clause at the start of either 
Y's package spec, or it's package body.

You'll also need to wrap up the call to get inside
a procedure...

e.g.


  with X; use X;
> package body Y is

procedure Get_Hi is
begin
>     get( X.A(1).hi );
end;

> 
> end Y;


That's how to get it working; however i think it's a bad
design. My design rule is "never declare variables in a
package spec".

The declaration of A would be better in Main, and then
you pass it into procedure Get_Hi as a parameter.

A big mistake that people make it to treat packages as
objects - a good way to view them is just as a place where
type declarations and subprograms go.
(this is not quite the only way to view them, but it's a 
good first step).


Dale