Restore/unhide get-variable-by-index and set-variable-by-index SEXPs in FRED

[Kerbrer]

While I can understand the reasoning behind hiding get-variable-by-index and set-variable-by-index, I don't think it's fair to do so for people that do understand how they work. Perhaps better documentation for those diving into it would be better, or numbering the variables in FRED to show their index numbers, would be good ways to alleviate confusion.

[MjnMixael]

Is there a reason you can't use Containers? They are a newer feature that essentially replace these sexps with a more modern alternative.

[Kerbrer]

Is there a reason you can't use Containers? They are a newer feature that essentially replace these sexps with a more modern alternative.

I feel like calling a variable by index has its uses, but I am unfamiliar with how containers would be a direct replacement for that.

[MjnMixael]

A Container can store a list of values accessed by an arbitrary index in the same way variable-by-index works but this time doesn't require obscure knowledge of how variables are implemented internally in the engine and mission file.

[Kerbrer]

It's a tool in the toolbox kind of thing, I suppose. Containers may make things easier but using the variable array like this also has the advantage of simply being more familiar.

Plus, while trying to fix a mission, not having reliable access to the SEXPs really made things a pain in the ass.

[MjnMixael]

I'm not the final decision maker here, but I personally don't think past familiarity is a good enough reason to undeprecate sexps that have a modern alternative. This sort of thing happens in software all the time and I'll agree it's annoying but often, as is the case here, there is a good reason something was deprecated. Containers will require you to learn how to use the feature but they are a better alternative.

Or to use your metaphor, variable-by-index was a flathead screwdriver being used for phillips screws. It worked but it's clunky and old. Containers are the Phillips screwdriver, designed exactly for cases like this.

If you provide the mission file you were updating, I'll be more than happy to help you convert it to Containers.