using a string as a pointer to an array?

[moimikey]

So i've written up the code to do a lightbox esque overlay image gallery. everything is working smooth and fine. The only concern is that I have the following:

lets say that I have a page that has multiple galleries. Obviously I would have to make each literal array with the gallery data different names, ex:

var _gallery1 = {
	'images': [
		{ 'id' : 1, 'src' : "" }
	]
}

var _gallery2 = {
	'images': [
		{ 'id' : 1, 'src' : "" }
	]
}

or would it be easier to do it multi dimensional?

var gallery_data = {
	'gallery1': [
		'images': [
			{ 'id' : 1, 'src' : "" }
		]
	]
	'gallery2': [
		'images': [
			{ 'id' : 1, 'src' : "" }
		]
	]
}

regardless of which direction I use... my main question is this:

I have two variables which are the following:

galVariable = (i = location.hash.match(/#set=(.+)&photo=(\d+)/)) ? i[1] : null;
galArray    = _gallery2.images;

I'm unfamiliar with a way of doing something along the lines of this, and having it actually work:

galVariable = (i = location.hash.match(/#set=(.+)&photo=(\d+)/)) ? i[1] : null;
galArray    = galVariable.images;

obviously "galVariable" would be undefined... as i'm trying to get "_gallery2.images" but trying to use "galVariable" to point to "_gallery2"

I'm familiar with solving a problem like this in PHP, not so much javascript. is there a JS function that can be used to ensure that it's using whatever "galVariable" equals to, and then that array's content is? Or is there a different way to go on about this.

thanks in advance. if anyone needs some more clarification. please feel free to ask, and I'll respond asap.

[moimikey]

bump.......

[kansel]

I think I understand what you are asking. I had to read through a couple of times.

Basically what you want is something like:

When URL is www.something.com/#set=gallery1&photo=5
That galArray would point to gallery1.images.

When URL is www.something.com/#set=gallery2&photo=3
That galArray would point to gallery2.images.

Is this correct?

Easy enough to do with the storage method you describe as multi-dimensional (really a nested object).

var gallery_data = {
	'gallery1': {
		'images': [
			{ 'id' : 1, 'src' : "" }
		]
	},
	'gallery2': {
		'images': [
			{ 'id' : 1, 'src' : "" }
		]
	}
}

galVariable = (i = location.hash.match(/#set=(.+)&photo=(\d+)/)) ? i[1] : null;
galArray    = gallery_data[galVariable].images;

You will probably want to check galVariable before attempting to assign galArray. Accessing gallery_data[null] will result in an error. Also, if the URL contained #set=foo, gallery_data["foo"] will be undefined.

Note the curly brackets in the nested object. They were square brackets in your original post which should still work as an associative array, but will be a little more clear as an object. Also, don't forget the comma separating the objects, also in red.

[moimikey]

this is exactly what i wanted. thank you!