allocate_mapping(3)   LPC Library Functions   allocate_mapping(3)

NAME
     allocate_mapping() - pre-allocate space for a mapping

SYNOPSIS
     mapping allocate_mapping( int size );

DESCRIPTION
     Returns a mapping with space for  'size'  elements  preallo-
     cated.

     For example:

          mapping x;
          int y = 200;

          x = allocate_mapping(y);

     where  y  is  the  initial  size  of  the  mapping.    Using
     allocate_mapping  is the preferred way to initalize the map-
     ping if you have some idea of how many elements the map will
     contain  (200  in this case).  The reason is that allocating
     storage all at once is slightly more memory efficient.  Thus
     if  you are using mappings to store a soul with 200 entries,
     the above initialization would be quite appropriate.   Note,
     that  the  above initialization does not restrict you to 200
     entries.  It just that the first 200 entries will be  stored
     more  efficiently.   Note: if you will be deleting many ele-
     ments from the mapping, you should use x = ([]) to  initial-
     ize the mapping rather than using allocate_mapping().

     Note: at this point in time,  `size'  is  meaningless,  x  =
     allocate_mapping(200); is equivalent to x = ([ ]);

SEE ALSO
     map_delete(3)

MudOS                Last change: 5 Sep 1994                    1