Print table at specific table depth

[Benalish]

I know, maybe a not WoWInterface related question, but I need to manage my addon profile table.

This is my custom function:

function scope(tbl, depth)
        if depth > 0 then
            for k, v in pairs(tbl) do
                if type(v) ~= 'table' then
                    print(v)
                else
                    scope(v, depth - 1)
                end
            end
        end
    end

This is the usage: let

stuff = {
        fruit = {
            yellow = {
                "Banana"
            }, -- depth = 3
            red = {
                "Apple"
            } -- depth = 3
        },
        city = {
            "Toronto"
        }, -- depth = 2
        name = {
            "Claudia"
        } -- depth = 2
    }

scope(stuff, 2)

returns

 
    Toronto
    Claudia

Otherwise,

scope(stuff, 3)

returns

    Banana
    Apple
    Toronto
    Claudia

This code works fine for me. Any advice on how to improve it? Maybe insert some code that displays

nil

if, as here, I specify depth value of 1 or a number greater than 3 (the depth of the table).

[SDPhantom]

I honestly prefer using verbose messages over inserting random nils in where I expect a list. Even if said list is empty. Perhaps if you kept track if the loop has printed anything and at the end, saying "List is empty" if it hasn't printed anything. Using indents, even in your output can give more info on the structure of data being examined too.

[Benalish]

Originally Posted by SDPhantom I honestly prefer using verbose messages over inserting random nils in where I expect a list. Even if said list is empty. Perhaps if you kept track if the loop has printed anything and at the end, saying "List is empty" if it hasn't printed anything. Using indents, even in your output can give more info on the structure of data being examined too.

Good! What could be a way to detect the maximum depth of the table? In order to display a message stating the maximum depth of the table has been reached.

[SDPhantom]

Let's take your earlier code for example.

Option 1:
(Depth check was moved to before attempting to recursive call)

	for k, v in pairs(tbl) do
		if type(v) ~= 'table' then
			print(v)
		elseif depth > 1 then
			scope(v, depth - 1)
		else
			print("Maximum depth reached!")
		end
	end

Option 2:

	if depth > 0 then
		for k, v in pairs(tbl) do
			if type(v) ~= 'table' then
				print(v)
			else
				scope(v, depth - 1)
			end
		end
	else
		print("Maximum depth reached!")
	end

[Benalish]

Thank you very much!