Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!bonnie.concordia.ca!uunet!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!ncar!gatech!purdue!haven!mimsy!tove.cs.umd.edu!potter
From: potter@tove.cs.umd.edu (Richard Potter)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.mac.hypercard
Subject: The cleanest way to index into fields w/ text cursor?
Summary: Is there a better way to write this code?
Keywords: ugly code
Message-ID: <29617@mimsy.umd.edu>
Date: 28 Jan 91 20:24:22 GMT
References: <2373@beguine.UUCP>
Sender: news@mimsy.umd.edu
Reply-To: potter@tove.cs.umd.edu (Richard Potter)
Organization: U of Maryland, Dept. of Computer Science, Coll. Pk., MD 20742
Lines: 42

subject:  the cleanest way to index into fields w/ text cursor

What is the best way to get the location of the text cursor in a field?
What is the best way to use a variable to index into a field?

Background:

I needed a HyperCard script to delete characters before the cursor back to
but not including the first non-blank character. After browsing through
the HyperTalk manual this is what I came up with.

on functionKey fkeyv
  if fkeyv=5 then
    put the selectedchunk into cursorloc
    put (word 5 to 8 of cursorloc) into thefield
    put (word 2 of cursorloc) into cursorindex
    
    put (cursorindex-1) into cursorindex
    repeat while " " = (the value of ("char " & cursorindex & thefield))
      do "put " & quote & quote & " into " & "char " & cursorindex & thefield
      put (cursorindex-1) into cursorindex
    end repeat
  end if
end  functionKey

This script goes in the stack script.  You click the cursor in any field
and press F5 to start the script.  I am using HyperCard Version 1.2.

This script works, but I am wondering if there is a more direct way
of doing this.  This is my first script that manipulates fields.

In particular,  the line:   
   put the selectedchunk into cursorloc
seems a cludgy way to get the location of the cursor.

Also,  the line:
   do "put " & quote & quote & " into " & "char " & cursorindex & thefield
seems a very hard way just to delete the character at the position 
designated by 'cursorindex'.  Is there a way to avoid using 'do'?

thanks in advance,
--Richard