Re: Using variable name as string AND value ?
- To: mathgroup at smc.vnet.net
- Subject: [mg107052] Re: Using variable name as string AND value ?
- From: David Bailey <dave at removedbailey.co.uk>
- Date: Mon, 1 Feb 2010 06:14:45 -0500 (EST)
- References: <hk17o6$ojp$1@smc.vnet.net>
Bill Rowe wrote:
> On 1/29/10 at 7:47 AM, pkshreeman at gmail.com (Paul) wrote:
>
>> In process of writing a certain routine, I am puzzled to how to
>> write this concept into Mathematica format. What I need to do is be
>> able to extract both string and values, p1 as parameter number one,
>> p2 as parameter number 2, etc...and I have to put all values into
>> one single matrix to do some mathematical operations. However, I
>> also have to call a function that depends on using the variable
>> p1,p2, so I have to reassign the values back as following
>
>> p1=10 p2=23 ...
>
>> Parameter={p1,p2,......} and perhaps Strings={"p1","p2",...}?
>
>> After mathematical manipulations of matrix Parameter is done, I can
>> manually do this
>
>> p1=Parameter[[1]], p2=Parameter[[2]], ....
>
>> But I need to be able to do it with Do Loop such as
>
>> Do[ String[[j]]=Parameter[[j]] ,{j,1,PL}]
>
>> The problem is that this approach doesn't work in Mathematica.
>
> Here is a way to do what you want. First I will create a list of
> parameter names and values to be assigned to them
>
> In[13]:= parameterNames = {"a", "b", "c"};
> parameterValues = {1, 2, 3};
>
> Then I will assign the values to the paramters
>
> In[15]:= Evaluate[ToExpression[parameterNames]] = parameterValues;
>
> and to show the parameters have the assigned values
>
> In[16]:= {a, b, c}
>
> Out[16]= {1,2,3}
>
> Now, this works as written only if the parameters {a, b, c} do
> not exist at the time the Evaluate[... is executed.
>
> What I am doing is using ToExpression to convert the list of
> strings (parameter names) to symbols Mathematica can assign
> values to. I use Evaluate to force creation of a list of
> symbols. Without the Evalaute, Mathematica will issue a error
> message saying you cannot assign values to ToExpression.
> =46inally, the = operation assigns the values. It is not necessary
> to use a looping construct such as Do since Set ("=") threads
> over its arguments.
>
>
The following command will clear any existing parameter values so that
Bill's code will work even when the parameters do have values.
Map[Clear, parameterNames]
David Bailey
http://www.dbaileyconsultancy.co.uk