I'm attempting to make a list of NPCs and, welp, it ain't working.

Using arrays like

actor[] BotArray = new actor[10]

Fails to compile in a script that extends Quest Conditional, throwing up the errors

(4,20): no viable alternative at input 'new'(4,29): required (...)+ loop did not match anything at input '['(4,9): Unknown user flag actor

So using arrays is out. Swapping Actor for ObjectReference throws up the same errors.

I tried an alternative, tracking the actor refs in a formlist like in The Good Old Days, but that doesn't work either:

a0aDwBotList.addForm((BotRef as Form))debug.Messagebox("List contains "+a0aDwBotList)

Returns an empty list, size functions claim it has no length, it just doesn't seem to work- with or without casting as a form. On the plus side at least it compiles.

So can anyone tell me where I'm going wrong? Papyrus is proving something of a challenge for my Fortran-addled physicist mind.

I believe the syntax would be

Actor[] BotArray

edit: nevermind you had the right syntax
If your formlist says it's empty, it is empty or you've not hooked it up to the right (or any) formlist in the editor

I'm aware that's the syntax to declare an uninitialised array, but the code I was using is on the wiki page for how to declare and initialise an array. Literally it's

ObjectReference[] myObjectArray = new ObjectReference[10]

With the names changed. Although bizarrely it works if I remove the initialisation, so thanks I guess? WTF.

So, do I now have to initialise the array before using it (by assigning it a New Actor XYZ in the OnInitialise() event) or can I just pick random uninitilised elements after the current end point like BotArray[3] and set them, and that automatically adds to the length?

I think your problem is that you're trying to use a variable which seems to be referred from outside the script.

My understanding is that only a Property could be referred from outside the script itself.

Try to add an Array Property from the script Properties menu...that might work! :-/
Jashkar

Most arrays are fixed length (ignoring ArrayLists and such), and the fact you need to declare its size makes me think that it doesn't automatically add to its length. But I could be wrong.

Thing is, it's not referred to from outside the script. It's all internal. I mean, you can't get more internal than the declaration, surely. Also I get the same errors when declaring it as a property- it won't accept being initialised in the declaration.

Are you calling it inside a function?

From the wiki:

...Aaaaaah. It all falls into stupid, stupid place. So whilst you can declare arrays that any function in a script can access outside of functions, you can't initialise them. However, you can declare and initialise temporary arrays within functions.

Actor[] ThisArray = Actor[10]		 ;BAD WRONG CODE

Actor[] ThatArray						   ;GOOD CODEEvent OnInit()   ThatArray = New Actor[10]EndEvent

Function DeclareArray				  ;GOOD CODE   Actor[] OtherArray = Actor[10]EndFunction

It's good to know there's still chunks of the language that make no sense.

I've edited the wiki to put this information in a slightly more useful format.

*Off Topic*

Please forgive me for asking here, Mr. Toaster (PM wouldn't go through). But do you have any plans to create locational damage for Skyrim like you did for Oblivion?

Also, thank you for all your mods!

Inbox must be full again.
Also, maybe. I shouldn't even be making this one, my course workload is kind of high.

I wish I were here when you first asked this question, as I've run into it (and the answer) before and could have saved you a hassle

Basically, you can only initialise variables to literal values outside of a function (including events). I had an example like yours in a draft of my "http://www.cipscis.com/skyrim/tutorials/externalaccess.aspx" tutorial, and SmkViper (a dev) told me this as part of his feedback:Cipscis