Variable scope issue

Maya
1

Hi All,

Can anybody tell me why the following code won't work?

global proc testFunction(string $attribute)
{
    // OK I'm not specifying type here because I want to handle a range of attribute types.
    $attribValues = getAttr $attribute;
}

testFunction("|MyCustomNode.myFloatAttribute");
testFunction("|MyCustomNode.myVectorAttribute");

// Error: line 3: Cannot convert data of type float[] to type float. //

I just don't understand why I'm getting this error, the variable $attribValues is in function scope, so why does it seem to assume the type should be the same as the previous call???

I should also say that if I swap the last two function calls the error is inversed (i.e. "... of type float to type float[]").

The idea was to create a function that can process 'any' attribute on a node.

If anybody can tell me what I'm missing I'd greatly appreciate it!

Cheers,

2

"I should also say that if I swap the last two function calls the error is inversed"
the only way to do that via MEL is to pass in a string, and use stringToStringArray & or regular expressions to break down and parse the string using functional logic, untill a conclusion about what type of data the string contains, after that its a simple casting the data into a varriable of the correct type and returning it.

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Sunny Jim

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Jan 20, 2013

/forums/mel/topics/variable-scope-issue--2 /forums/mel/topics/variable-scope-issue--2

Post id: 311293 /reported_items/new.html?reportable_id=311293&reportable_type=Discussion%3A%3APost

Hi All,

Can anybody tell me why the following code won't work?

global proc testFunction(string $attribute)
{
    // OK I'm not specifying type here because I want to handle a range of attribute types.
    $attribValues = getAttr $attribute;
}

testFunction("|MyCustomNode.myFloatAttribute");
testFunction("|MyCustomNode.myVectorAttribute");

// Error: line 3: Cannot convert data of type float[] to type float. //

I just don't understand why I'm getting this error, the variable $attribValues is in function scope, so why does it seem to assume the type should be the same as the previous call???

I should also say that if I swap the last two function calls the error is inversed

3

Theres nothing worng with your code per see. its just that $attribValues happens to be a global name. Try with a different name. Anyway hard to say since youve strupped all the logick of your function so theres no way to help you.