Lua Need explanation on scope and the passing of variables

[Icy]

Here is a talkaction I quickly wrote up:

--@author: Icy
--@date: January 17th, 2011
--@purpose:
--	Provide an example of accessing a pseudo-global variable

-- declare variables
local number

-- function to be called on execution of talkaction
function onSay(cid, words, param, channel)

	if(setVariables(param)) then
		doPlayerSendTextMessage(cid, MESSAGE_STATUS_CONSOLE_BLUE, 'Starting...')
		local result = doMath()
	else
		return doPlayerSendTextMessage(cid, MESSAGE_STATUS_CONSOLE_RED, 'Variables not set.')
	end
	
	return doPlayerSendTextMessage(cid, MESSAGE_STATUS_CONSOLE_BLUE, 'The result is: ' .. result)
end

-- multiplies the previously set variable by 3
function doMath()
	
	local ret = number * 3
	
	return ret
end

-- function to set variables
function setVariables(param)
	
	if not(isNumber(param)) then
		return false
	else
		number = tonumber(param)
	
	return true
end

So if this talkaction was executed like this:

/math 5

It should return the message:

The result is: 15

(the product of 5 * 3)


The thing is.. to access the number that was set as a parameter I have to set it as a "global" variable outside of the onSay function.

My question to you: Is there any way to pass it as a parameter instead?

 

[Summ]

--@author: Icy
--@date: January 17th, 2011
--@purpose:
--	Provide an example of accessing a pseudo-global variable
  
-- function to be called on execution of talkaction
function onSay(cid, words, param, channel)
	local num = setVariables(param)
	if(num) then
		doPlayerSendTextMessage(cid, MESSAGE_STATUS_CONSOLE_BLUE, 'Starting...')
		local result = doMath(num)
		doPlayerSendTextMessage(cid, MESSAGE_STATUS_CONSOLE_BLUE, 'The result is: ' .. result)
	else
		return doPlayerSendTextMessage(cid, MESSAGE_STATUS_CONSOLE_RED, 'Variables not set.')
	end
 
	return true
end
 
-- multiplies the previously set variable by 3
function doMath(num)
 
	local ret = num * 3
 
	return ret
end
 
-- function to set variables
function setVariables(param)
 
	if not(isNumber(param)) then
		return false
	end
 
	return tonumber(param)
end

Since I never heard of anything like pointers in lua you cannot edit the variable by passing it as parameter

 

[Icy]

Thank you kindly for you help, Summ

(Reputation coming your way as soon as I`ve spread it around some more, ;p)