UnderwareDESIGN

Hi,

After a recent post finally types! has reared its ugly head. I haven't had types explaind enough as to why we need to use or have them?

Im using the Checker board as i can visualize something happening with the type! Found in Sources.



  Type Tiles
       Xpos    ; X coord of tile
       Ypos    ; Y coord of tile
       Colour  ; Colour of this Tile
  EndType


; Dimension an 2D Typed array called Board
 Dim Board(10,10) as Tiles



So the type is away of having a name with other parts attached which to me would be a DIm ()
in the above code further on in the program there is no mention of tiles or type?

So why cant it just be?



Dim Board (10,10)
       Xpos    ; X coord of tile
       Ypos    ; Y coord of tile
       Colour  ; Colour of this Tile
  EndType


I sort of get the idea of neatly putting things together. in a DIM()

Ie, 50 space Invaders all with
color, dead, shape1, shape,2 ,xpos, ypos, strength, etc

Rather than remembering which box in the array was the above.  It seems like a neat way of declaring a 3 x Dim(x,y,z) But with the Z part having a useful name to access it.

So for me trying to understand the concept. Ie for a space invader why could't we have



Type invader(5,10) ; 5 rows of 10 invaders
   color
   dead
   shape1
   shape2
   xpos
   ypos
   strength


or just plain simply do away with type and change to  :-[



Dim invader(5,10) ; 5 rows of 10 invaders
   color
   dead
   shape1
   shape2
   xpos
   ypos
   strength


or even


Dim invader(5,10) ; 5 rows of 10 invaders

   color, dead, shape1, shape2, xpos, ypos, strength


And not bother with types! I know theres something under lying or pinning as to why it all needs to be setup maybe in that way OR DOES IT?

Would make a load more sence for a beginner or someone learning the concept of Programming.   ???

or maybe a new command request for Play Basic? Cutting straight to the chase. So to speak?


Anyway with a Sigh and a Laugh. Someone is probably going to try and explain it to me. So the penny drops?

But surely the last piece of code makes a lot more sence to comprend. No mention of types or "CLASS" dare i say it.

I never use types in my programs as i don't fully understand them! Is there a speed gain in accesing the variables as well?

Kind Regards Baggey

Quote

So why cant it just be?

[pbcode]

Dim Board (10,10)
        Xpos    ; X coord of tile
        Ypos    ; Y coord of tile
        Colour  ; Colour of this Tile
   EndType

[/pbcode]

   a nameless structure couldn't be used else where, like in another array/variable/list or via pointer or function /psub parameter for example.  It's like having a function with no name.. how would you call it ? 
   
   well, in terms of parsing, anything can be parsed, but in your example you'd need an opening type so the block can be determined, otherwise it'd just random tokens following the Dim