Building a hash inside a function

Question

I have a function that returns a hash, given certain parameters:

build_message = function(from, to, bcc, subject, tag, htmlbody, textbody, replyto) {
    message = {"From": from,
        "To": to,
        "Subject": subject,
        "HtmlBody": htmlbody,
        "TextBody": textbody};
    message.encode();
}

Some of these parameters, like bcc and replyto are optional. If the caller provides null values for them, they must not be present in the hash I return. That is to say, "Bcc": bcc must only be present in the hash if the bcc argument is non-null.

Here is my first attempt, but the parser doesn't like it (this goes right before the message.encode() line of the function):

bcc_body = bcc => {"Bcc": bcc} | {};
message.put(bcc_body);

Is using the put() operation allowed on a variable inside a function like this? If so, is something wrong with my syntax?

score 2 · Accepted Answer · answered Apr 04 '11 at 23:47

2

You can use .put() inside a function, but remember that it returns a new hash and leaves the original unmodified.

Try ending your method like this:

bcc_body = bcc => {"Bcc": bcc} | {};
newmessage = message.put(bcc_body);
newmessage.encode();

answered Apr 04 '11 at 23:47

TelegramSam

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Can I chain them? For example: `newmessage = message.put(first_hash).put(second_hash).put(third_hash);` – Steve Nay Apr 05 '11 at 02:59
yes, chaining works. remember that you can also put an expression that resolves to a hash instead of a hash itself: newmessage = message.put(bcc => {"Bcc": bcc} | {}); – TelegramSam Apr 05 '11 at 22:47

Building a hash inside a function

1 Answers1