adding classes to arrays

Question

I've been working with arrays to get familiar with them and hopefully create an inventory system. I can't think of a way to create an class and add it to an array. I looked at a script online where the creator made a class in another script and then added it to an array in the main script. i really just want to add a set of information to an array; for example, an object/class with a name, description, and an associated game object. I know you can add game objects and such to arrays:

 var object : Transform;
 var arr = new Array();

 function Start (){
     arr.Add(object);
 }

Something like that. does anyone have any idea how i could add a class to the array?

Answer 1

Here's some example code that uses a test class named FunkyItem.

Like you requested, a FunkyItem object has a name, a description, and a reference to a GameObject.

If you assign a GameObject to the slot named Test Object in the Inspector, the Start function will demonstrate the use of classes and constructors (when you press play).

I just typed this on the fly, so I'm sure there are a few syntax errors. Hope it helps!

/* a test object - set in the Inspector */

var testObject : GameObject;

/ how many items to put in the array when the Start function runs /

var arraySize : int = 10;

/ builtin arrays of FunkyItems that can be edited in Inspector / note: pressing play will cause the Start function to populate them */

var arrayTwo : FunkyItem []; var useMeInTheInspector : FunkyItem [];

/ example class /

class FunkyItem { var name : String; var descrip : String; var gameObj : GameObject;

 /* default constructor - takes no arguments */

 function FunkyItem ()
 {
     name     =  "Default Name";
     descrip  =  "Default description";
 }

 /* a constructor that takes 3 arguments and assigns the GameObject */

 function FunkyItem ( n : String, d : String, go : GameObject )
 {
     name     =  n;
     descrip  =  d;
     gameObj  =  go;
 }

function Start () {

 /* a dynamic 'javascript' array that could be used for any object */

 var arrayOne = Array();

 /*  builtin arrays must be initialized           */
 /*  they can be edited in the Inspector          */

 /*  initialize the builtin array declared above  */

 arrayTwo = new FunkyItem [arraySize];


 /* populate dynamic array using the default constructor */

 for ( var i = 0; i &lt; arraySize; i ++ ) {
     var tempItem = new FunkyItem();
     arrayOne.Push(tempItem);
 }

 /* populate builtin array using the constructor that takes 3 args */

 for ( var j = 0; j &lt; arraySize; j ++ ) {

     var theName = "Item number " + j;
     var theDesc = "They say " + theName + " is very funky";

     /* create new FunkyItem using the object declared in Inspector */

     var tempItem  =  new FunkyItem(theName, theDesc, testObject);

     arrayTwo[j] = tempItem;
 }


 /* test it */

 for ( var k = 0; k &lt; arraySize; k ++ ) {
     Debug.Log("Array one item " + k + " - " + arrayOne[k].name);
     Debug.Log("Array two item " + k + " - " + arrayTwo[k].name);
 }

 /* how to turn ArrayOne into something you can use in the Inspector */

 useMeInTheInspector  =  arrayOne.ToBuiltin(FunkyItem);

}

Answer 2

I'm not sure if I understand your problem correctly...
You want that what you posted there, just instead of 'var object: Transform' something like 'var object: MyThing'?
Just make a new .js file and name it 'MyThing' and for testing, add the line:

 var stuff : 'string';

And then in your original script you should be able to do

 var object1 : MyThing;
 var object2 : MyThing;
 object1.stuff = "hey!";
 object2.stuff = "oi...";
 var arr = new Array();    

 function Start () {
   arr.Add(object1);
   arr.Add(object2);
 }

Bonus Info: If you want to be über, try wrapping

 class MyThing extends ScriptableObject {  }

around the whole code. [Note: I'm not 100% certain about the syntax/spelling...]
At this point, this doesn't influence how this class will work in your array.
But ScriptableObject is the intended root-class for all classes that just hold information and are not intended to be attached to a GameObject. [Beware! Trying to add these scripts as Components will cause problems!]
By contrast to the Class MonoBehaviour which is the baseclass for all self-made GameObject-Components.
(All .js files secretly add

 class [the name of your .js file here] extends MonoBehaviour {  }

and wrap your code if nothing else is specified)

Also, if you want to learn more about Arrays you might find this helpful: http://www.unifycommunity.com/wiki/index.php?title=Which_Kind_Of_Array_Or_Collection_Should_I_Use%3F

Greetz, Ky.

adding classes to arrays

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