Accessing class/attributes from string

Processing Coding Questions
3

classes use records with variables by name,
and tables have column names BUT can also be called by number.

for me the name thing of classes was actually a disadvantage,
compared to the handling of [ ][ ]

i must admit that i did not get what you wanted to do with having a string for a named class record!

while @GoToLoop is absolutely right about the “save/load file” handling with using “table”
i play my idea about a better “array of class” handling,
take a look at:

// multi dim array are possible, but only of one type like: int[][]
// classes allow (named) records mix like: int float boolean objects 
// add has the advantage that it can have internal functions
// array of class, would be a single dim array of above records,
// combines that all, BUT
// it does not allow a easy ( numeric ) looping like a  [][]

// p.s. tables allow using column names ( word ) OR numbers 

// here my "get from class" idea:


class Book {
  String title;
  int catalogue;
  String author;

  //  Book() {}
  String get(int getit) {                        // readout like matrix
    if ( getit == 0 ) return title;
    if ( getit == 1 ) return str(catalogue);     // not INT
    if ( getit == 2 ) return author;
    return("NaN");
  }
}

int many = 3;
Book[] books = new Book[many];

void setup() {
  for ( int i =0; i< books.length; i++ )   books[i] = new Book();
  books[0].title = "T1";
  books[0].catalogue = 100;
  books[0].author = "alpha";
  books[1].title = "T2";
  books[1].catalogue = 200;
  books[1].author = "beta";
  books[2].title = "T3";
  books[2].catalogue = 300;
  books[2].author = "gamma";
  
  
  for ( int i = 0; i < books.length; i++ )
    for ( int l = 0; l < 3; l++ )
      println("i: "+i+" l: "+l+" : "+books[i].get(l));
}
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