Can we get a list of Global Variable Keys in Tcl?

That did it – thanks Jay.

I have noted this command dumps the Global Variables .ini file not the in-memory Table.

As well, it is not a list but a string with I think end of line or carriage control at the end of each line.

I will need to manipulate the dump some to convert it to a searchable list.

Perhaps this only works against the .ini file and not the in-memory Table, whereas the Tcl extensions address the in-memory table and not the .ini file.

I am finding that when I add an entry using the Tcl extensions in a UPoC, the in-memory Table is affected but the .ini is not. If I want my addition to be preserved then it appears I need to do a gvsave to save the in-memory table to the .ini file (then it is also visible in the GUI).

Interesting, I get more when I do hcigvt:

C:\cloverleaf\cis2022.09\integrator\test_jim>hcitcl
hcitcl>hcigvt show
HCIROOT = C:\cloverleaf\cis2022.09\integrator, encrypt = 0
HCISITE = test_jim, encrypt = 0
HCISITEDIR = C:\cloverleaf\cis2022.09\integrator\test_jim, encrypt = 0
HCIMASTERSITE = master, encrypt = 0
HCIMASTERSITEDIR = C:\cloverleaf\cis2022.09\integrator\master, encrypt = 0
From master site:
HCIROOT = C:\cloverleaf\cis2022.09\integrator, encrypt = 0
HCISITE = master, encrypt = 0
HCISITEDIR = C:\cloverleaf\cis2022.09\integrator\master, encrypt = 0
hcitcl>

Jeff – I am in need of checking to see if a GV Key exists to know whether to change the value for the key (it can change with the integration I am building) or add the key and value.

I have found out I can do the gvgetvar Tcl command and if that returns a value the key exists. That is because one cannot have an empty (null) value for a key. That then tells me the key exists.

However, I can see a potential need to be able to search the GV table for a specific or range of keys.

Unfortunately, the hcigvt command only works on the .ini file. There is no such facility for the in-memory table. The two tables can be different. A modification to the in-memory table does not commit to the .ini file automatically.

I think there could be a use for something like a gvshowkeys Tcl command.

I have some other observations which I think could be enhancement requests. I will post those separately once I have all of them collected so I can add a poll as well.

I am not sure they are added to the global namespace. I think that in what appears to be some instances (mine for example) they happen to match because they are placed in GV at perhaps engine startup.

What I am doing now for me is experimenting with this feature to see how it is used. Prospective use cases could grow out of this effort.

For this particular experiment I am using the GV as a repository for a value which needs to transcend engine shutdown and startup. I expecting to discover if that is true as part of this experiment.

In doing this I have discovered:

• There are really 2 GV repositories: the .ini file and in-memory.
• The Tcl command ONLY work on the in-memory table (with the exception of the save function).
• The hcigvt command only works on the .ini file.
• There does not appear to be a Tcl method to commit changes of the in-memory GV to the .ini.
  • There is a save Tcl function but that saves the in-memory to .ini in total. Not something I would do without a lot of planning.
  • One could use the hcigvt command along with the Tcl get command to save a particular in-memory entry to the .ini and this is what I am doing in this experiment. But I think it would be much better if there was a granular function in the Tcl set.
• I suspect, but have not confirmed, that the in-memory GV gets set in total from the .ini at engine startup.
• I have not investigated if there is any other way to get the in-memory reset to the .ini within the toolset other than perhaps using Tcl.
• One can reset the .ini with the in-memory values as I indicated earlier by using the Tcl GV save function.

I will try to update this post with any other discoveries I make.

I really am looking forward to folks who have more experience than I do with GV to contribute their experiences and knowledge here. Including your use cases.

I am just trying to come to a better understanding of how GV works.

Jeff,

This is a learning experiment to find out how this works. Once I am aware of the ins and outs, I can know how well it is likely to fit for various scenarios.

I do not have a project waiting to be finished or a strict time line. This is just me poking around.

I already know how to do the various other methods and their use cases. I am trying to build some additional knowledge.

I am also experimenting with other tools in Cloverleaf with which I am unfamiliar.

Tcl Developer Site (tcl-lang.org)