variable inside the name of a variable

Projects Programming
1

Is it possible to have a variable inside the name of another variable ?

For example we have 12 variables (a1,a2,a3,...,a12) and we want to make if statements with these variables like:

If (a1>....){something}
.
.
.
if (a12>....){something}

Could we do something like:

for (i=1; i<13; i++){

    If (a_i>....){something}
}

I can well understand that a2, ai and a_i are three completely different variables but I am asking whether there is a way of doing this in order to avoid repeatitive programming.
Thank you in advance,
Alex

2

For example we have 12 variables (a1,a2,a3,...,a12)

Use an array instead.
Remember arrays index from zero, not one.

3

AWOL thank you for your reply !
I know about arrays and I am aware how the work so that is what I am going to do, but apart from an array this cannot be done the way I said, can it ?
Thanx again.

4

No, tampering with the name after compilation is not possible and the macro pre processor doesn't have a loop construct, so an array and loop is the right way to go.

5

but apart from an array this cannot be done the way I said, can it ?

No. Names are for your use. The compiler discards them all, replacing them with addresses. If you store a name that goes away, the stored name will not be useful.

6

So then does the name of the variable add to the size of the sketch since it is replaced?

7

chrisnet:
So then does the name of the variable add to the size of the sketch since it is replaced?

No.

8

Names just become addresses, so no, the size of the name has no effect on sketch size.