>> When creating an array or structure, CF allows things like this: >> >> <cfset myArray[1] = "foo" /> >> <cfset myStruct.1 = "foo" /> >> >> But if the variable has been previously set to a different data type >> (string in this case) like so: >> >> <cfset myArray = "foo" /> >> <cfset myStruct = "foo" /> >> >> <cfset myArray[1] = "foo" /> >> <cfset myStruct.1 = "foo" /> >> >> the following error is received: >> >> You have attempted to dereference a scalar variable of type class >> java.lang.String as a structure with members. >> >> You must specifically declare the variable as the new data type to >> prevent errors: >> >> <cfset myArray = "foo" /> >> <cfset myStruct = "foo" /> >> >> <cfset myArray = arrayNew(1) /> >> <cfset myStruct = structNew() /> >> >> <cfset myArray[1] = "foo" /> >> <cfset myStruct.1 = "foo" />
That's exactly what I would expect. You're declaring a simple value or string and then saying "I want to set a sub-element of this string to 'foo'" -- but simple values don't have sub-elements, which is why it throws the error, rather than assuming that you want to replace the existing variable with a new structure. Personally, I think that CF should require explicite declaration of structures with StructNew() or something else, rather than assuming the new structure, but that's just me. >> Was this a problem in CF5? Is this an expected behavior or a bug in >> CFMX? It should be mentioned that going the opposite direction works >> just fine: >> >> <cfset myArray[1] = "foo" /> >> <cfset myStruct.1 = "foo" /> >> >> <cfset myArray = "foo" /> >> <cfset myStruct = "foo" /> This is because you're explicitely replacing a structure (which contains the sub-element) with a simple value ( "foo" ). S. Isaac Dealey Certified Advanced ColdFusion 5 Developer www.turnkey.to 954-776-0046 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~| Archives: http://www.houseoffusion.com/cf_lists/index.cfm?forumid=4 Subscription: http://www.houseoffusion.com/cf_lists/index.cfm?method=subscribe&forumid=4 FAQ: http://www.thenetprofits.co.uk/coldfusion/faq Your ad could be here. Monies from ads go to support these lists and provide more resources for the community. http://www.fusionauthority.com/ads.cfm
