[erlang-questions] Apparently strange dict behaviour

[Robert Virding]

Yes, dict:append/3 (and dict:append_list/3) assumes, and creates in the first call, the value is actually a list of values kept in the order they were added. If you mix dict:store/3 and dict:append/3 you have to be aware of this and preserve the data-structure.

Robert

----- Original Message -----
> Hi.
> 
> I am sorry I did not have time to read your post thoroughly,
> because I think you just ran into the feature of the shell
> (io:format("~p", ...)) being "intelligent" and prints lists
> of integers as strings if the integers can represent printable
> characters.
> 
> There is no character type in Erlang, integers are used instead,
> and lists of integers instead of strings. (or binaries instead
> of strings but that is another story)
> 
> dict:append/3 I think creates a list of the values, your values
> are integers, hence you get something that is mistaken for a string.
> 
> But as I said I did not read thoroughly...
> 
> / Raimo
> 
> 
> 
> On Tue, Aug 09, 2011 at 04:28:38PM +0930, Darryn wrote:
> > Kind Sirs/Madams,
> > 
> > I'm new to erlang, but have extensive prior experience with
> > Haskell. I thought
> > I'd play with a small version of a parallel map/fold operation, but
> > have run
> > into an annoying problem. The test example is just a parallel
> > estimation by
> > sampling of Pi.
> > 
> > pmap(Input, MapFn) ->
> >     process_flag(trap_exit, true),
> >     spawn_workers(self(), MapFn, Input),
> >     M = length(Input),
> >     collect(M, dict:new()).
> > 
> > spawn_workers(Pid, Fn, Pairs) ->
> >     lists:foreach(fun({K1, V1}) ->
> >         spawn_link(fun() -> worker(Pid, Fn, {K1, V1}) end) end,
> >         Pairs).
> > 
> > worker(Pid, Fn, {K1, V1}) ->
> >     Pid ! Fn(K1, V1).
> > 
> > collect(0, Dict) -> Dict;
> > collect(N, Dict) ->
> >     receive
> >         {Key2, Val2} ->
> >             DictD = dict:append(Key2, Val2, Dict),
> > %% <- problem: inserted Val2 integer apparently turns into a
> > string?!!
> >             io:format("Collected result:{~p,~p}~n", [Key2, Val2]),
> >             io:format("    ->is_integer?~p~n", [is_integer(Val2)]),
> >             io:format("    ->~p~n", [dict:to_list(DictD)]),
> >             collect(N, DictD);
> >         {'EXIT', Who, Why} ->
> >             io:format("Worker ~p terminated with ~p~n",[Who, Why]),
> >             collect(N-1, Dict)
> >     end.
> > 
> > samples(Index, N) ->
> >     random:seed(erlang:now()),
> >     {Index, do_samples(0, N, 0)}.
> > 
> > doit() ->
> >     Results = pmap([{1,100}, {2,100}, {3, 100}], fun samples/2),
> >     dict:to_list(Results).
> > 
> > 
> > The problem seems to lie in the collect function, where the
> > collected Val2
> > integer (the io:format confirms it is an integer) suddenly becomes
> > a string
> > upon insertion into the dictionary. Here is example output to
> > illustrate.
> > 
> > 20> c(pisim).
> > {ok,pisim}
> > 21> pisim:doit().
> > Collected result:{1,88}
> >     ->is_integer?true
> >     ->[{1,"X"}]
> > Worker <0.114.0> terminated with normal
> > Collected result:{1,87}
> >     ->is_integer?true
> >     ->[{1,"XW"}]
> > Worker <0.116.0> terminated with normal
> > Collected result:{2,76}
> >     ->is_integer?true
> >     ->[{2,"L"},{1,"XW"}]
> > Worker <0.115.0> terminated with normal
> > [{2,"L"},{1,"XW"}]
> > 22> c(pisim).
> > {ok,pisim}
> > 23> pisim:doit().
> > Worker <0.118.0> terminated with normal
> > Collected result:{1,78}
> >     ->is_integer?true
> >     ->[{1,"N"}]
> > Worker <0.123.0> terminated with normal
> > Collected result:{2,83}
> >     ->is_integer?true
> >     ->[{2,"S"},{1,"N"}]
> > Worker <0.124.0> terminated with normal
> > [{2,"S"},{1,"N"}]
> >  
> > I don't understand how the Val2 integer suddenly turns into a
> > string upon
> > being inserted into the dictionary; when I manually cut and paste
> > the relevant
> > bits of code into the shell I get dictionary values with integers
> > as I intend.
> > 
> > I wonder if anyone more experienced can see what I've done wrong?
> > Thanks so
> > much for any help!
> > 
> > Darryn.
> > _______________________________________________
> > erlang-questions mailing list
> > erlang-questions@REDACTED
> > http://erlang.org/mailman/listinfo/erlang-questions
> 
> --
> 
> / Raimo Niskanen, Erlang/OTP, Ericsson AB
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