Dynamic LS-methods - Allow fluid number of/types of parameters

The easier / better way, use Lists... :)

Thanks Dwight and Sean.


My example is quite simple, but with some data-type testing/object testing and decent error-handling, I think you could expand this "idea" into more advanced Subs/Functions.

Instead of setting the method to accept a fixed amount of parameters, set it to accept one object. In my example, I use a Class that allows you to add different objects (through a variant-array).

There is (at least) one weakness with this approach. You can't add arrays to the Argument-object, as (from what I've read) an array can't contain another array. If it's a string array, you could implode the array, add a symbol at the front of the string to identify it as an array, and split it in the receiving function.

Screenshots of test-agent:
Dim s As New NotesSession
Dim args As New Arguments

Dim doc As NotesDocument
Set doc = s.CurrentDatabase.CreateDocument
doc.subject = "Some mostly harmless planet"

Call args.add( "Tommy Valand" )
Call argumentsAsObject( args )


Call args.add( doc )
Call argumentsAsObject( args )


Call args.add( "Always pack your towel!" )
Call argumentsAsObject( args )


The Arguments-class
The argumentsAsObject-sub
The test-agent
Code in a text-file

The Arguments class:

'argsdemo scriptlib
Class Arguments
 Private counter As Integer
 Private args() As Variant 
 
 Public Sub add( var As Variant)  
  Redim Preserve args( counter ) 
  If Isobject ( var ) Then   
   Set args( counter ) = var
  Else
   args( counter ) = var
  End If
  
  counter = counter + 1  
 End Sub
 
 Public Function getNth( nth As Integer ) As Variant
  
  If Isobject ( args(nth) ) Then   
   Set getNth = args(nth)
  Else
   getNth = args(nth)
  End If
 End Function
 
 Public Function getAll As Variant  
  getAll = args   
 End Function
 
 Public Function length As Integer
  length = Ubound( args ) + 1
 End Function
End Class

Sub that take one parameter (As Arguments):

'accept an Arguments-object
Sub argumentsAsObject( args As Arguments )
 Select Case args.length
 Case 1
  Msgbox "Name: " + args.getNth(0)
  
 Case 2
  Msgbox "Name: " + args.getNth(0) + Chr(13) +_
  "Address: " + args.getNth(1).subject(0)
  
 Case Else
  Dim strTemp As String
  Dim counter As Integer
  Forall item In args.getAll
   '35 - Product object (I know it's a NotesDocument)
   If Datatype( item ) = 35 Then
    strTemp = strTemp + "Item at index " +_
     Cstr( counter ) + ": doc[" + item.subject(0) + "]" + Chr(13)
   Else
    strTemp = strTemp + "Item at index " +_
     Cstr( counter ) + ": " + item + Chr(13)
   End If
   
   counter = counter + 1
  End Forall
  Msgbox strTemp
 End Select 
End Sub

Full code for the test-agent:

'options
Option Public
Option Declare
Use "argsdemo"

Sub Initialize
 Dim s As New NotesSession
 Dim args As New Arguments
 
 Dim doc As NotesDocument
 Set doc = s.CurrentDatabase.CreateDocument
 doc.subject = "Some mostly harmless planet"
 
 Call args.add( "Tommy Valand" ) 
 Call argumentsAsObject( args )
 
 Call args.add( doc ) 
 Call argumentsAsObject( args )
 
 Call args.add( "Always pack your towel!" )
 Call argumentsAsObject( args )
End Sub

If you have an easier way to allow this kind of flexibility please let me know.