• Brian (91/91) Jun 16 2021 Hello all --
• H. S. Teoh (13/19) Jun 16 2021 [...]
• Brian (3/20) Jun 16 2021 Gotcha. Thanks.

Brian <bcallah openbsd.org> writes:

Hello all --

I have a question about assigning to structs.

I want to be able to create an array of structs that may contain 
different contents depending on user input. I have reduced the 
test case down.

The following fails to compile:

```d
import std.stdio;

struct item
{
     string name;
     int type;
};

item[] items;

void main(string[] args)
{
     item new_item;

     for (int i = 0; i < args.length; i++) {
         if (args[i] == "item1") {
             new_item = { "item1", 1 };
         } else if (args[i] == "item2") {
             new_item = { "item2", 2 };
         } else {
             new_item = { "item3", 3 };
         }

         items ~= new_item;
     }

     for (int i = 0; i < items.length; i++)
         writeln(items[i].name);
}
```

This fails (dmd 2.097) with the following:
```d
struct_bad.d(17): Error: found `}` when expecting `;` following 
statement
struct_bad.d(17): Deprecation: use `{ }` for an empty statement, 
not `;`
struct_bad.d(18): Error: found `else` when expecting `;` 
following statement
struct_bad.d(19): Error: found `}` when expecting `;` following 
statement
struct_bad.d(19): Deprecation: use `{ }` for an empty statement, 
not `;`
struct_bad.d(20): Error: found `else` when expecting `;` 
following statement
struct_bad.d(21): Error: found `}` when expecting `;` following 
statement
struct_bad.d(21): Deprecation: use `{ }` for an empty statement, 
not `;`
struct_bad.d(24): Error: found `items` when expecting `;` 
following statement
struct_bad.d(24): Error: found `~=` instead of statement
struct_bad.d(30): Error: found `End of File` when expecting `}` 
following compound statement
struct_bad.d(30): Error: found `End of File` when expecting `}` 
following compound statement
struct_bad.d(30): Error: found `End of File` when expecting `}` 
following compound statement
```

However, a slight tweak allows the code to compile and work 
correctly.
```d
import std.stdio;

struct item
{
     string name;
     int type;
};

item[] items;

void main(string[] args)
{
     for (int i = 0; i < args.length; i++) {
         if (args[i] == "item1") {
             item new_item = { "item1", 1 };
             items ~= new_item;
         } else if (args[i] == "item2") {
             item new_item = { "item2", 2 };
             items ~= new_item;
         } else {
             item new_item = { "item3", 3 };
             items ~= new_item;
         }
     }

     for (int i = 0; i < items.length; i++)
         writeln(items[i].name);
}
```

I guess I am unclear as to why the first fails and the second 
succeeds.

TIA.

~Brian

"H. S. Teoh" <hsteoh quickfur.ath.cx> writes:

On Wed, Jun 16, 2021 at 08:44:46PM +0000, Brian via Digitalmars-d-learn wrote:
[...]
 struct item
 {
     string name;
     int type;
 };

[...]
             new_item = { "item1", 1 };

The {...} initializer syntax is only available in variable declarations,
e.g.:

	item i = { "item1", 1 };

You cannot use this syntax in assignment statements.

A simple alternative is to use constructor syntax for constructing an
instance of the struct:

	new_item = item("item", 1);


T

-- 
Everybody talks about it, but nobody does anything about it!  -- Mark Twain

Brian <bcallah openbsd.org> writes:

On Wednesday, 16 June 2021 at 20:54:07 UTC, H. S. Teoh wrote:
 On Wed, Jun 16, 2021 at 08:44:46PM +0000, Brian via 
 Digitalmars-d-learn wrote: [...]
 struct item
 {
     string name;
     int type;
 };

 [...]
             new_item = { "item1", 1 };

 The {...} initializer syntax is only available in variable 
 declarations, e.g.:

 	item i = { "item1", 1 };

 You cannot use this syntax in assignment statements.

 A simple alternative is to use constructor syntax for 
 constructing an instance of the struct:

 	new_item = item("item", 1);


 T

Gotcha. Thanks.

~Brian