MAKE_ARRAY Function

Returns an array of specified type, dimensions, and initialization. It provides the ability to create an array dynamically whose characteristics are not known until run time.

result = MAKE_ARRAY([dim₁,... , dim_n])

dim_i (optional) The dimensions of the result. This may be any scalar expression with up to eight dimensions specified.

result An array of specified type, dimensions, and initialization.

Byte If nonzero, sets the type of the result to byte.

Complex If nonzero, sets the type of the result to complex single-precision floating-point.

Dcomplex If nonzero, sets the type of the result to complex double-precision floating-point.

Dimension A vector of 1 to 8 elements specifying the dimensions of the result.

Double If nonzero, sets the type of the result to double-precision floating-point.

Float If nonzero, sets the type of the result to single-precision floating-point.

Index The resulting array is initializ33393ed with each element set to the value of its one-dimensional index.

Int If nonzero, sets the type of the result to integer.

Long If nonzero, sets the type of the result to longword integer.

Nozero If nonzero, the resulting array is not initialized.

Size A longword vector specifying the type and dimensions of the result. It consists of the following elements:

• The first element is equal to the number of dimensions of Value, and is zero if Value is scalar.

• The next elements contain the size of each dimension.

• The last two elements contain the type code and the number of elements in Value, respectively. Valid type code values are listed below for the Type keyword.

String If nonzero, sets the type of the result to string.

Type Sets the type of the result to be the type code entered

Value Initializes each element of the resulting array with the given value. Can be of any scalar type, including structure types.

The result type is taken from the Value keyword unless one of the other keywords that specify a type is also used. In that case, Value is coerced to be the type specified by this other keyword prior to initializing the resulting array.

If Value is specified, all elements in the resulting array are set to Value. If Value is not specified, all elements are set to zero. If Index is specified, each element is set to its index. If Nozero is specified, the resulting array is not initialized.

In this example, three different methods are used to create and initialize a 4-by-3 longword integer array.

a = MAKE_ARRAY(Size = [2, 4, 3, 3, 12], $
    Value = 5)

; The type of a is determined by the Size keyword.

INFO, a

VARIABLE          LONG                   = Array(4, 3)

PRINT, a

5           5           5           5
5           5           5           5
5           5           5           5

b = MAKE_ARRAY(4, 3, Type = 3, Value = 5)

; The type of b is determined by the Type keyword.

INFO, b

VARIABLE          LONG             = Array(4, 3)

PRINT, b

5           5           5           5
5           5           5           5
5           5           5           5

; The type of c is determined by the Value keyword.

c = MAKE_ARRAY(4, 3, Value = 5L)
INFO, c

VARIABLE          LONG                 = Array(4, 3)

PRINT, c

5           5           5           5
5           5           5           5
5           5           5           5

BINDGEN, BYTARR, CINDGEN, COMPLEXARR, DBLARR, DINDGEN, FINDGEN, FLTARR, INDGEN, INTARR, LINDGEN, LONARR, SINDGEN, SIZE