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JASS: An Introduction to Structs
Tutorial By DuckieKing
Structs
A basic tutorial by Duckieking
#T#
Table of Contents
#T# Table of Contents
#O1# Overview
#L1# Why use structs?
#L2# A glance at structs.
#O2# Syntax
#L3# Declaring structs.
#L4# Calling structs in functions.
#O3# Conclusion
#L5# Questions? Answers.
#L6# Links and attachments.
#C# Changelog
#O1#
Overview
#L1# Why use structs?
The purpose of structs and classes in real programming is encapsulation, the idea that tasks should be broken down into simpler tasks. The point of this is simpler, cleaner code that is easier to maintain.
The purpose of structs in WC3 is additional multi-instanceability. They are used for any real physics systems, and they aren't just good for that.
Structs are useful for creating MUI effects such as stacking abilities, stat systems, kill counters, timed abilities, item systems, and anything else you can think of. Normally, these things would confine you to one instance per player or else force you to use multiple arrays for each effect you wish to implement. Structs allow you to attach multiple variables to a unit or item, thus easing these things as much as cleaning leaks is easier in Jass.
#L2# A glance at structs.
Structs are not native to the World Editor. With his awesome programming skills, Vexorian has allowed us to create structs, or custom variable types. Structs can be declared to have member data (variables) and member functions (methods). Well, kind of...
Structs is a misnomer. To be entirely technical, structs can only have member data, but with Vexorian's World Editor hack, structs have methods.
A method is just a function able to be called from any function that has access to a struct. Member data are variables contained in a struct. What I mean by that is when a struct is created, memory is set aside for each of its variables, which in general are only set by the struct's member functions.
#O2#
Syntax
#L3# Declaring structs.
Structs are declared a lot like functions, but are really unique. I'll just show you:
Note that by itself, this code does nothing. It just tells the game engine how much memory a "unitData" needs, and supplies methods to affect that memory. You need a function to create a unitData and call the methods or it's just a wasted 2 kb in your map file.
#L4# Calling structs in functions.
Now we get to the real stuff.
To attach a struct to a unit and be able to use it in other functions, all you do is assign the struct to the unit's custom value, but first you have to know how to create the struct. The following function will create a new hero with the Id given and attach a struct to it.
(I know, it leaks a unit variable, but it's a miniscule leak and unavoidable for this demonstration. :))And thus a new unit is created, with its own custom data. Now you need to know how to use and change those data.
Remember how you used "this." to call methods and change data? In a function, you would replace "this" with the name you gave the struct when you created or copied it. The following function would be the action of a trigger fired when any hero on the map levels.
You now have everything you need to know to make a basic struct.
#O3#
Conclusion
#L5# Questions? Answers.
Ninja_sheep;515275 wrote:
Whats better at structs then at local vars?
For one, the syntax for using gamecaches can be bulky and confusing. They're also considered to use very slow functions. Like gamecaches, structs allow you to continuously redeclare variables of the same name like locals but still access these variables from any function you need to.
#L6# Links and attachments.
Jass NewGen Pack v3d -- is necessary to use structs. It also includes bunches of other nifty features like a Jass parser that doesn't crash.
TESH for NewGen -- is a syntax highlighter for the above World Editor hack. It's almost as pretty and easy-to-use as JassCraft with the added bonus of writing directly into WE.
Wc3mapoptimizer 4.3 -- can reduce your map's size by a huge amount. A bit out of place in this tutorial but an amazingly useful tool nonetheless. :)
I've lost my CD-key for RoC. I can't log onto b.net or even open the world editor. If you have something to add to the tutorial, PM me and I'll read it as soon as I can.
#C#
Changelog
v1.01 Fixed some minor syntax errors in the struct declaration.
Click here to comment on this tutorial.
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2005
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