Bottom 10 IDL requests ;-) was: Re: Top 10 IDL Requests

[wmc(at)bas.ac.uk]

ottehoman@my-deja.com wrote:
>In article <MPG.13fc6344e757c00b989bb0@news.frii.com>,
>  davidf@dfanning.com (David Fanning) wrote:

>> Well, I reiterate. Pointers. The solution is pointers. :-)

>> William asked for an array of different structures,
>> which sort of turns the definition of an array
>> topsy-turvy.

>But then why use IDL at all? Why not directly use g++/gtk
>or gnuplot or any other OO-language ?

OK, yes, I could use pointers. But its an extra layer of complication. 
IDL is nice because a lot of stuff can be done easily. Now, why cannot
there be an array type which contains different types? The array would
really be pointers to the things in it, automatically created and hidden.
Just a wish, I know...

In fact, if IDL are listening, null arrays are higher up the list, I
*really* want to be able to write

a=d(where(b eq c))

not the 2-line version...

-W.

-- 
William M Connolley | wmc@bas.ac.uk | http://www.nerc-bas.ac.uk/icd/wmc/
Climate Modeller, British Antarctic Survey | Disclaimer: I speak for myself