[chaithresh]

I am writing a plugin where I have to store players steamids in an array and check when they connect if they are part of the array.

I came across a class called ArrayList and I'm having a hard time understanding this particular class. Can anyone help me with how can I use this particular Class:

ArrayList ArrayList(int blocksize, int startsize)

[Ilusion9]

PHP Code:


ArrayList g_Steam;

public void OnPluginStart()
{
    // g_Steam = new ArrayList(); // for data storage different than string, but i suppose we work with strings here
    g_Steam = new ArrayList(ByteCountToCells(65)) // for strings, 65 = size of string like char[65] steam;
}

public void OnClientPostAdminCheck(int client)
{
    char[65] steam;
    // get steam of client, GetClientAuthId etc.
    
    int index = g_Steam.FindString(steam);
    if (index != -1) // we found the steam in the array
    {
        // do something here
    }
}

void MakeArrayList()
{
    // we call this function OnMapStart() or OnConfigsExecuted()?
    // we clear the arraylist first
    
    g_Steam.Clear();
    
    // we make the arraylist here
    
    char[65] steam;
    g_Steam.PushString(steam);
} 


[DarkDeviL]

I believe everything is also lost upon plugin unloads with ArrayList, so when the plugin loads again, you also have to load / re-build the data from some sort of storage.

If you need the data across map changes and server restarts, I would suggest you to use a SQL database (NOT sqlite!) instead, and preferably with the database server on another system.

Can you provide some more insight on your end game, as it might be possible that we could recommend other (and potentially better) ways to accomplish what you want?

[asherkin]

Originally Posted by arne1288 NOT sqlite!

SQLite is built exactly for simple use cases like this, where does you recommendation against it come from?

If you don't want persistent storage (so not SQL / something else), you almost certainly want a StringMap rather than an ArrayList, as checking for a SteamID in the set will be considerably faster.

[chaithresh]

Originally Posted by Ilusion9 PHP Code: ArrayList g_Steam; public void OnPluginStart() {     // g_Steam = new ArrayList(); // for data storage different than string, but i suppose we work with strings here     g_Steam = new ArrayList(ByteCountToCells(65)) // for strings, 65 = size of string like char[65] steam; } public void OnClientPostAdminCheck(int client) {     char[65] steam;     // get steam of client, GetClientAuthId etc.          int index = g_Steam.FindString(steam);     if (index != -1) // we found the steam in the array     {         // do something here     } } void MakeArrayList() {     // we call this function OnMapStart() or OnConfigsExecuted()?     // we clear the arraylist first          g_Steam.Clear();          // we make the arraylist here          char[65] steam;     g_Steam.PushString(steam); }

Thanks for the explanation, I understood the most part, I have a small doubt regarding "g_Steam = new ArrayList(ByteCountToCells(65)):".
1) how many steamids I can add in this array?
2) I'm storing SteamID64 which is 17 characters, can I change the number 65 to 17? does it affect in any way?

[chaithresh]

Originally Posted by arne1288 I believe everything is also lost upon plugin unloads with ArrayList, so when the plugin loads again, you also have to load / re-build the data from some sort of storage. If you need the data across map changes and server restarts, I would suggest you to use a SQL database (NOT sqlite!) instead, and preferably with the database server on another system. Can you provide some more insight on your end game, as it might be possible that we could recommend other (and potentially better) ways to accomplish what you want?

1) I'm loading steamids from a key-value file for that particular map and once a game/map ends a new set of steam ids will be loaded.
2) I just want to check whenever a player connects if he is part of the steamid lists in keyvalue, if he is part of it allow him in the server, else kick him.
3) I am trying to avoid going through Keyvalue file again and again everytime a client connects.

[DarkDeviL]

Originally Posted by asherkin SQLite is built exactly for simple use cases like this, where does you recommendation against it come from?

That was indeed a bit misplaced! I was originally writing something about support for multiple servers too, which was the original reason to the inclusion, but then thought more clarification of the "end game" would make more sense first and then forgot to remove that part.

Originally Posted by chaithresh 1) I'm loading steamids from a key-value file for that particular map and once a game/map ends a new set of steam ids will be loaded. 2) I just want to check whenever a player connects if he is part of the steamid lists in keyvalue, if he is part of it allow him in the server, else kick him. 3) I am trying to avoid going through Keyvalue file again and again everytime a client connects.

So some sort of a server whitelist, as I expected.

If you require support for multiple servers or another system to "generate" the data for you, I would still suggest using a database like mentioned above.

[Ilusion9]

Originally Posted by chaithresh Thanks for the explanation, I understood the most part, I have a small doubt regarding "g_Steam = new ArrayList(ByteCountToCells(65)):". 1) how many steamids I can add in this array? 2) I'm storing SteamID64 which is 17 characters, can I change the number 65 to 17? does it affect in any way?

1. as many as you want, this is why you use arraylist (dynamic vector) and not a static one (char g_Steam[MAX_STEAMID][65])
2. Yes, you can change 65 to whatever size you want.

ByteCountToCells(65) means the size of the string in the array. If you have a string with 500 length, then in the arraylist will be saved only the first 65 characters.

If you only read data, then you can use KeyValues or File. If you also change the data, then you should use databases. For multiple servers, whatever you do (read or change) then you must use only databases.

[chaithresh]

Originally Posted by Ilusion9 1. as many as you want, this is why you use arraylist (dynamic vector) and not a static one (char g_Steam[MAX_STEAMID][65]) 2. Yes, you can change 65 to whatever size you want. ByteCountToCells(65) means the size of the string in the array. If you have a string with 500 length, then in the arraylist will be saved only the first 65 characters. If you only read data, then you can use KeyValues or File. If you also change the data, then you should use databases. For multiple servers, whatever you do (read or change) then you must use only databases.

Perfect, Thanks for the explanation, Now i will try with this new method and get back to you once it works.

[chaithresh]

Originally Posted by arne1288 That was indeed a bit misplaced! I was originally writing something about support for multiple servers too, which was the original reason to the inclusion, but then thought more clarification of the "end game" would make more sense first and then forgot to remove that part. So some sort of a server whitelist, as I expected. If you require support for multiple servers or another system to "generate" the data for you, I would still suggest using a database like mentioned above.

Got it so
1) If you use ArrayList the data will be lost on map change.
2) But database will be useful when I want to carry forward data around the map changes and need to use the same data between multiple servers.

Thanks for the info, <3