AS3: Refer to different arrays dynamically? - arrays

Question

This might be a simple one, and if it is I'm sure I'll feel stupid.
Basically, I have arrays a1, a2 and a3.
Using a for statement..
for (var i 0; i < 4; i++) {
//stuff
}
How can I push data in the for statement into one of these arrays using i? That is, each time adding the data into the next group up. a[0] -> a[1] etc. I tried getDefinitionByName but it seems that only works for library objects!
Sorry if it's simple!
Cheers in advance.
EDIT:
The code in full where I need this to work. This is what I tried using the first answer I was given.
var fullList:Vector.<Array> = new Vector.<Array>();
for (var i1 = 0; i1 < 3; i1++)
{
fullList.push(new Array());
}
var levelLoader:URLLoader = new URLLoader();
levelLoader.addEventListener(Event.COMPLETE, levelLoaded);
function levelLoaded(e:Event):void
{
var indexcount = 0;
txttileArray = e.target.data.split("a");
txtDebug.text = txttileArray.toString();
for (var i = 1; i < 4; i++)
{
temparray1 = txttileArray[indexcount].split("");
for (var row = 0; row < temparray1.length; row ++)
{
var a = getDefinitionByName(temparray1[row] + "Tile") as Class;
//trace(a);
var b = new a ;
b.x = 17 + 17 * row;
b.y = 17 + 17 * indexcount;
addChild(b);
fullList[indexcount].push(b);
}
indexcount++;
}
}
sorry for the messy variable names.

Answer 1

i have three arrays, a1, a2 and a3. i want to be able access these
arrays based on the value of the variable "i". so for example, if "i"
is 1, i want to push a data value to a1. and so on – hazdog
This is not possible if you have arrays a1, a2 and a3 as local (defined in the function) variables. If they are defined in the class, then here's how you do it:
private var a1:Array=[];
private var a2:Array=[];
private var a3:Array=[];
private function pushValue(identifier:String, value:Object):int {
var name:String="a" + identifier;
var target:Array=this[name] as Array;
if(target == null) {
throw new Error("No such array " + name);
} else {
return target.push(value);
}
}
//And then call it like this:
pushValue("1", "This value goes in array a1");
pushValue("1", "This is another value that goes in array a1");
pushValue("2", "This value goes in array a1");
pushValue("2", "This is another value that goes in array a2");
pushValue("3", "This value goes in array a3");
pushValue("3", "This is another value that goes in array a3");
Otherwise, you can define an array of arrays (or vector of arrays), say holderArray in which you put your target arrays, and then push the value to holderArray[identifier]
EDIT
Instead of defining a1, a2 and a3 in the this object, define it like this:
private var arrayHolder:Object={};
private function init():void {
for(var i:int=1; i<=3; i++) {
arrayHolder["a" + i]=new Array();
}
}
init();
Then, your arrays will be stored as arrayHolder.a1, arrayHolder.a2, arrayHolder.a3 etc
And modify pushValue as follows:
Change
var target:Array=this[name] as Array;
to
var target:Array=arrayHolder[name] as Array;

Answer 2

Inception.
You need to use Array in Array.
private var fullList:Vector.<Array>;
private var total:uint = 4;
function a():void
{
// first creating array list
fullList = new Vector.<Array>();
for (var i:uint = 0; i < total; i++)
{
fullList.push(new Array());
}
}
function b():void
{
// doing the stuff
for (var i:uint = 0; i < total; i++)
{
switch (i)
{
case 0:
fullList[i].push('zero-array-push');
break;
case 1:
fullList[i].push('one-array-push');
break;
case 2:
fullList[i].push('two-array-push');
break;
case 3:
fullList[i].push('three-array-push');
break;
}
}
}