VarDump() function

[SirRFI]

Do we have a function to dump (print) entire variable, including arrays and objects?

Normally one can MsgBox(variable), as long it's simple type - such as string, integer, and so on (or rather transformed to string for displaying). It's not as simple for arrays and objects though, so I think we could use a dedicated function. Consider PHP's var_dump as example.

Cap'n Odin wrote the following on-the-go, but it's far from what it can become:

Code: Select all

ObjToString(obj)
{
	if (!IsObject(obj))
		return obj
	str := "`n{"
	for key, value in obj
		str .= "`n" key ": " ObjToString(value) ","
	return str "`n}"
}

[wolf_II]

There is a related thread here.

[SirRFI]

There is a related thread here.

That's basically this: https://autohotkey.com/boards/viewtopic ... 37&t=39309

JSON (as in string form) is usually minified by removing all unnecessary white symbols (new lines, tabs, spaces). Not only it lacks formatting, but also does not provide extra information (variable type and length).

[wolf_II]

OK, I see. Thx. For further clarification, can't you put in a JSON or any other general type of associated object any data you want?

[SirRFI]

Quick comparison - dumped object vs JSON:

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$obj = new DateTime();
var_dump($obj);

object(DateTime)#1 (3) {
["date"]=>
string(26) "2018-04-08 08:42:05.700165"
["timezone_type"]=>
int(3)
["timezone"]=>
string(3) "UTC"
}

Code: Select all

// ...
$json = json_encode($obj);
var_dump($json);
echo($json);

string(72) "{"date":"2018-04-08 08:42:05.700165","timezone_type":3,"timezone":"UTC"}"
{"date":"2018-04-08 08:42:05.700165","timezone_type":3,"timezone":"UTC"}

JSON is basically stringified array, that is meant to be parsed / transferred into equivalent structure in the environment it's loaded in. Think of it as universal way of passing variables from one program to another, even throughout the Internet. Something like XML.
While the parser can tell timezone_type is an integer, because there are no quotes between 3, it can't tell that the parent was a DateTime object.

While I do want JSON to be inbuilt (as a replacement for ini and further usage), this is simply something else than I spoke of in this topic.

[Helgef]

Hello, maybe this will interest you: [Lib] ObjDump / ObjLoad - Object Backup by HotKeyIt.

Cheers.