The Dictionary object
In order to learn how Dictionary object works we will create a small script which will translate number 1 to 10 from English to Spanish.
| translate.asp |
|
<%
SET MyDictionary=CreateObject("Scripting.Dictionary")
MyDictionary.Add "one","uno"
MyDictionary.Add "two","dos"
MyDictionary.Add "three","tres"
MyDictionary.Add "four","cuatro"
MyDictionary.Add "five","cinco"
MyDictionary.Add "six","seis"
MyDictionary.Add "seven","siete"
MyDictionary.Add "eight","ocho"
MyDictionary.Add "nine","nueve"
MyDictionary.Add "ten","diez" EnglishNumber="four"
SpanishNumber=MyDictionary.Item (EnglishNumber)
Response.Write(SpanishNumber)
%> |
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How the script works
- Fist we have define a Dictionary named "Mydictionary" (line 2)
- We have add to the dictionary the data corresponding to the different number in English and Spanish (lines 4 to 13).
When adding pairs of English and Spanish numbers to the Dictionary object, the number writen in English is a Key, and the number writen in Spanish a Item.
- In line 15 we have defined a variable named EnglishNumber and we have provided a value for this variable (in red).
- In line 16 we have defined a new variable (SpanishNumber) and we have get its value from the dictionary by indicating we want to get the Item corresponding to a specific Key (EnglishNumber).
- In line 17 the translated number is send to our visitor. The response will be "cuatro".
We may change the values in our dictionary by using this kind of code:
- MyDictionary.Key ("one")="1"
In our original script the key "one" will be substitute by a new key value ("1"). The item "uno" will not be changed.
- MyDictionary.Item ("two")="2"
In our original script the item corresponding to key "two" will be substitute by a new item value ("2"). The key "two" will not be changed. We may display the number of element pairs in the dictyonary by using this code:
If we want to check whether a key exists in our dictionary before responding to our visitor we will use this kind of comparisoncode
if MyDictionary.Exists ("ten")=True then
Response.Write("this key is included in the dictionary")
lse
Response.Write("Error: no such a key in the dictionary")
end if |
Example: Translation of a number from English to Spanish
This example uses most of the elements explained above.
- If there is no information posted to the script (line 6), the script will send to the visitor the form in the Sendform() subrouting (lines 34-40).
- When a request to translate a number is get the script will check whether the number corresponds to a key in the dictionary (line 25). If the response is afirmative the corresponding item is send to the visitor. In case the key does not exists, a "No translation available" response is send to the visitor (line 29).
| translation.asp |
|
<html>
<title>Page under construction</title>
<body>
<%
if request.form="" then
Sendform()
else
SET MyDictionary=CreateObject("Scripting.Dictionary")
MyDictionary.Add "one","uno"
MyDictionary.Add "two","dos"
MyDictionary.Add "three","tres"
MyDictionary.Add "four","cuatro"
MyDictionary.Add "five","cinco"
MyDictionary.Add "six","seis"
MyDictionary.Add "seven","siete"
MyDictionary.Add "eight","ocho"
MyDictionary.Add "nine","nueve"
MyDictionary.Add "ten","diez" EnglishNumber=request.form("EnglishNumber")
Response.Write("English number: " & EnglishNumber)
if MyDictionary.Exists (EnglishNumber)=True then
SpanishNumber=MyDictionary.Item (EnglishNumber)
Response.Write("<BR>Spanish number: " & SpanishNumber)
else
Response.Write("<BR>Spanish number: " & "No translation available")
end if
end if
%>
<% Sub Sendform() %>
<form action=translation.asp method=post>
Write a number in English<BR>
<input type=text size=30 name=EnglishNumber><BR>
<input type=submit Value="Enter to my Secret Page">
</form>
<% End Sub %>
</body>
</html> |
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Example: Password protected information
In this example keys and items are used as usernames and passwords. It is very similar to the one above.
| secretpage.asptry ! |
|
<%
if request.form="" then
Sendform()
else
SET MyDictionary=CreateObject("Scripting.Dictionary")
MyDictionary.Add "John","123"
MyDictionary.Add "Peter","456"
MyDictionary.Add "Anna","789"
Username=request.form("Username")
Password=request.form("password")
if MyDictionary.Exists (Username)=True AND Password=MyDictionary.Item (Username) then
SecretInfo()
else
Response.Write("Error: incorrect userame or password")
end if
end if
%>
<% Sub Sendform() %>
<form action=secretpage.asp method=post>
Username: <input type=text size=30 name=Username><BR>
Password: <input type=password size=30 name=Password><BR>
<input type=submit Value="Submit">
</form>
<% End Sub %>
<% Sub SecretInfo() %>
<html>
<head>
<title>My Secret Page</title>
</head>
<body bgcolor=FFFFFF>
<center>
<h1>This is my secret info</h1>
Hello !<BR>
Do you want to be my friend?
</center>
</body>
</html>
<% End Sub %> |
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