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From: "Dmitry A. Kazakov" <mailbox@dmitry-kazakov.de>
Subject: Re: 'Image for composite types
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Date: Thu, 28 May 2009 11:13:27 +0200
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Date: 2009-05-28T11:13:11+02:00
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On Wed, 27 May 2009 15:20:56 -0700 (PDT), Martin wrote:

> Is it just me that gets fed up with the lack of 'Image on composite
> types?

That 'Image is not a primitive operation is even worse.

> It got me thinking that the language could be expanded to include some
> helper attributes for easily composing a function that could return a
> String a la 'Image for scalar types.
> 
>    function record_type_definition'Component_Name (I : Positive)
> return String;
>    function record_type_definition'Component_Image (I : Positive)
> return String;
>    function record_type_definition'Number_Of_Components return
> Natural;

This is the interface of a container type. A right solution should make all
records inherit from an abstract ordered mapping, so these primitive
operations will be for free.

-- 
Regards,
Dmitry A. Kazakov
http://www.dmitry-kazakov.de