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Simulating Multiple Constructor Functions

The document discusses how ActionScript does not support overloaded constructors like Java. It provides an example of how to simulate overloaded constructors in ActionScript by using a single constructor that delegates to private pseudo-constructor methods based on the arguments passed. The example Box class constructor checks the arguments and calls either boxNoArgs(), boxString(), or boxNumberNumber() accordingly.

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Lavanya_123
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23 views

Simulating Multiple Constructor Functions

The document discusses how ActionScript does not support overloaded constructors like Java. It provides an example of how to simulate overloaded constructors in ActionScript by using a single constructor that delegates to private pseudo-constructor methods based on the arguments passed. The example Box class constructor checks the arguments and calls either boxNoArgs(), boxString(), or boxNumberNumber() accordingly.

Uploaded by

Lavanya_123
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Simulating Multiple Constructor Functions

Unlike Java, ActionScript does not support multiple constructor functions for a single class
(referred to as overloaded constructors in Java). In Java, a class can initialize an instance
differently depending on the number and type of arguments used with the new operator. In
ActionScript, similar functionality must be implemented manually. Example 4-5, based on
our Box class, shows one possible way to simulate multiple constructor functions in
ActionScript..
In Example 4-5, the Box constructor delegates its work to three pseudo-constructor
methods, named boxNoArgs( ), boxString( ), and boxNumberNumber( ). Each pseudoconstructor's name indicates the number and datatype of the parameters it accepts (e.g.,
boxNumberNumber( ) defines two arguments of type Number

Example 4-5. Simulating overloaded constructors


class Box
{
public var width:Number;
public var height:Number;

public function Box (a1:Object, a2:Object)


{

if (arguments.length == 0)
{
boxNoArgs( );
}
else if (typeof a1 == "string")
{
boxString(a1);
}

else if (typeof a1 == "number" && typeof a2 == "number")


{
boxNumberNumber(a1, a2);
}
else
{

trace("Unexpected number of arguments passed to Box constructor.");


}
}

/** * No-argument constructor. */


private function boxNoArgs ( ):Void
{
if (arguments.caller != Box)
{
return;
}
width = 1;
height = 1;
}

/** * String constructor. */

private function boxString (size):Void


{
if (arguments.caller != Box)
{
return;
}
if (size == "large")
{
width = 100;
height = 100;
}
else if (size == "small")
{
width = 10;
height = 10;
}
else
{
trace("Invalid box size specified");
}
}

/** * Numeric constructor. */


private function boxNumberNumber (w, h):Void
{

if (arguments.caller != Box)
{
return;

width = w;
height = h;
}
}

// Usage: ***** NEED TO CALL FROM FLASH ****


var b1:Box = new Box( );
trace(b1.width); // Displays: 1

var b2:Box = new Box("large");


trace(b2.width); // Displays: 100

var b3:Box = new Box(25, 35);


trace(b3.width); // Displays: 25

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