> what is or isn't dynamic about it. > what about individual object properties such as long-strings > which themselves are dynamic. Can a dynamic > array deal safely with objects that hold dynamic properties > or variables by themselves or do I have to deal with this in > another way?
Well, your use of the term "dynamic" is being applied to the wrong end there Robert. Dynamic arrays and strings are dynamic in that they themselves can be sized and resized dynamically on the fly at runtime, NOT because they take on any care or concern about what's contained within them. TObjectList on the other hand is specifically for maintaining a list of "owned" objects, which of course comes with it the addition of being able to assume more duties for you when you wish to destroy that object. But you shouldn't confuse TObjectList's ability to handle this for you as the default way things are done. In fact, it's made must simplier because of Delphi's "object-based hierarchy" where there is a master ancestor class. But this is an extension, and a good one, I've never used such a class myself before preferring to to retain "pilot in command" status for myself, but remember the concept of "container" doesn't intrinsically include the concept of "owner." This was simply an natural OOP evolution. Let me also suggest again this is another example of how allowing a language to "hide" scary things like pointers fails us all. If Delphi made it plain that your array was simply holding references to other objects you'd also clearly see the distinction between the elements and objects involved. It'd be right there in the language. I'm all for making things simple, but there's enough the compiler does I depend on and don't want to know about, but "references to other things" is a primative concept that will not go away. > From what I gathered simple dynamic arrays can be looked at like They should be looked at like arrays. They're dynamic in that you can allocate and deallocate them at runtime, otherwise, they have no other special properties, they are arrays. Jim ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Jim Burns, <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Technology Dynamics Pearland, Texas USA 281 485-0410 / 281 813-6939 _______________________________________________ Delphi mailing list -> [email protected] http://www.elists.org/mailman/listinfo/delphi
