Talk:Update a configuration file: Difference between revisions

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== A generic solution for the problem ==

Well, as I saw in the previous comments, the task was really complex. And it could be, so I did a generic solution for the problem:

1) The solution in BASIC (QB45) reads ANY configuration file and shows what it found.

# The solution in BASIC (QB45) reads ANY configuration file and shows what it found.

2) If there is an array (FAMILY John Smith, Lisa Smith, Charles Smith) the program will create an array of elements FAMILY.

# If there is an array (FAMILY John Smith, Lisa Smith, Charles Smith) the program will create an array of elements FAMILY.

3) If FAMILY variable is repeated in another part of the configuration file, will simply add the found elements to the existing array.

# If FAMILY variable is repeated in another part of the configuration file, will simply add the found elements to the existing array.

4) The main procedure can toggle the comment status of a variable in the configuration file as per User request.

# The main procedure can toggle the comment status of a variable in the configuration file as per User request.

5) The main procedure will save all the elements of an array in just one line. This way, if you have a situation like this:

# The main procedure will save all the elements of an array in just one line. This way, if you have a situation like this:

#:

FAMILY John Smith, Lisa Smith, Charles Smith

#:FAMILY John Smith, Lisa Smith, Charles Smith

FRUITSILIKE banana

#:FRUITSILIKE banana

FAMILY Donna Smith

#:FAMILY Donna Smith

FAMILY Rachel Smith

#:FAMILY Rachel Smith

#:

Will end as follows:

#:Will end as follows:

#:

FAMILY John Smith, Lisa Smith, Charles Smith, Donna Smith, Rachel Smith

#:FAMILY John Smith, Lisa Smith, Charles Smith, Donna Smith, Rachel Smith

FRUITSILIKE banana

#:FRUITSILIKE banana

#:

6) The main procedure is able, when saving, to record the variables and values with a "=" or with a space (" ") in between. The configuration file reader can identify both of them.

# The main procedure is able, when saving, to record the variables and values with a "=" or with a space (" ") in between. The configuration file reader can identify both of them.

7) The program can identify if a variable name is an array or not, and, if so, to return the number of elements in the array.

# The program can identify if a variable name is an array or not, and, if so, to return the number of elements in the array.

8) The above explained functionality lead to a very large program. Nevertheless, as per my understanding, it amply meets the requirements of the task.

# The above explained functionality lead to a very large program. Nevertheless, as per my understanding, it amply meets the requirements of the task.