Re: Easy question about Character manipulation

["Jeffrey R. Carter" <jrcarter@acm.org>]

Robert A Duff wrote:
> 
> I agree that it should probably be constant, but why not give it a type,
> as in:
> 
>     Size : constant Integer := 10;
> 
> I think named numbers are a kludge, and should usually be avoided.

I think they should be used whenever possible.

>> emptySpaces : array (1..size) of Character := "0123456789";
>> textLine : array (1..size * 3) of Character;
> 
> If Size is a named number, the index type of these arrays defaults to
> Integer -- another language kludge.

Right. All such ranges should be a discrete subtype, either by name or 
by being the part to the right of "is" in a subtype declaration: Integer 
range X .. Y;

And there should be no anonymous types.

-- 
Jeff Carter
"Alms for an ex-leper!"
Monty Python's Life of Brian
75