variable name of variable? Pointers to functions?

Forum 2005-2010 (read only) Software Syntax & Programs
#1

I am sequentially setting a number of pins on the arduino, and need help to try and write some code. Is is possible to put a variable into the name of a variable, or something like it.

The algorithm I’m shooting for is something like:
setup:
Create variables pin1, pin2, pin3 etc, set them to output.
boolean condition; // a high or low.

Loop:
for (i=1,i<7;i++){
set condition based on some criteria
digitalWrite(pini, condition);
//where i is substituted with the loop count, setting
// pin1, pin2 etc.
}

So in other words, iterate through the variable names as well as the values that they take on? Is there some smart(er) way to do this?

Thanks!

#2

You could use an array to store the pin numbers you’re interested in:

uint8_t happyPins[] = {
   3,
   5,
   13,
   14
};
#define NUM_HAPPY_PINS (sizeof(happyPins)/sizeof(happyPins[0])

loop()
{
uint8_t i;
for (i=0;i<NUM_HAPPY_PINS;i++){
   // set condition based on some criteria
   digitalWrite(happyPins[i], condition);
}
#3

I wish I had thought of that. Thanks!

#4

happyPins

;D

I suppose that's opposed to sadPins?

  • Brian
#5

uint8_t happyPins[] = { 3, 5, 13, 14};

uint8_t is a little cryptic to non-programmers, why not use the Arduino documented byte type?

byte happyPins[] = { 3, 5, 13, 14};

#6