Typecasting - Handle to integer

function H2I takes handle h returns integer
    return h
    return 0
endfunction

The well known H2I function which is very usefull.
stores a handle's address in an integer, allowing various storing systems.


Return bug information by weaaddar:

weaaddar:
All variable types in warcraft 3 are four bytes in length. The atomic types (ints, reals, and booleans) use thier four bytes as direct value. Handles use thier four bytes of space as a "pointer" to thier object they references "memory address". I use the terms "pointer" loosely. As they are not first class pointers. As well as "memory address", it is believed all objects are stored in a specific heap and these are thier keys to them. But that is irrelavant.
Anyway, the Jass parser only checks the last return value satiates the return type. Thus we "trick" it into taking a handle when it really was meant to take an integer.

Converting the integer address of the handle back to a handle is done using functions like this:

function I2U takes integer i returns unit
    return i
    return null
endfunction
function I2Trigger takes integer i returns trigger
    return i
    return null
endfunction
function I2Timer takes integer i returns timer
    return i
    return null
endfunction

Ex: if you converted a unit to an integer you will have to use I2U(ConvertedUnit) to retain the unit. For a trigger you would have to use I2Trigger(ConvertedTrigger)

NOTE: Do not use this on handles like

lightning, ubersplat, texttag, damagetype, attacktype, weapontype and playerstate
as some of them have similar ids.

Thanks to SuperIKI and Peppar for discovering this function.

Only submit your own resources unless permission quoted/stated.

This isn't your own.

Then who made it? It is used by alot of people and i don't really know if anyone knows who's the author real author.

I felt that people new to jass would have to know about this function as it is used alot and is very important.

well if this is "authorless" material. I'd say it is OK.
BTW. I am new to JASS and I don't understand at all what this could be used for.

I'm not sure if it's authorless, but i haven't heard anything about who made it.

It can be used to transfer a handle through some storing method and much other stuff.

Check out Local Handle Vars, you will see alot of use in it.

It had an author. I wasn't involved in JASS work back then, but I bet one of the older JASSers would be likely to know.

Ralle;

It's used for storing data to stuff through a gamecache, since each handle has a different ID, each gamecache slot will be different, allowing for you to store data under the same name to several different objects (usually timers) without overlap.

It can also be use for debugging, storing to custom values, etc, etc.

Vexorian is most lightly to know who made it but anyway, approve this for now since it is the most usefull function made that I know of.

Fix the typo in the name as well since it is "H2I" and not "H2i"

I did call it H2I, but for some reason it changed automatically to H2i(this also happened when i tryed to preview the thread before posting)
It would be nice if some mod could rename it to H2I.

Only a section moderator can fix it now so it was not really aimed at you. . .

It would be nice if you list every handle it doesn't work on

-Av3n

It is H2I or h2i. Both are used. There was an attempt I believe to move to a standard of lower case for type casting functions, to differentiate more with functions like I2S, etc.

I'd say any 'author-less' resources are only placed by a staff member, with clear indication in the title it is not their work. I'd also recommend that if you put this one in, it gets stickied due to overall importance.

The first JASSer to exploit H2I was SuperIKI followed by Peppar.

Originally Posted by PitzerMike

The first JASSer to exploit H2I was SuperIKI followed by Peppar.

Peppar as in Peppars Multiplayer Chess? Cool guy, didn't know he actually participated in the modding scene, I just thought he made his map and that was it.

Yes, that Peppar.
Just check wc3jass.com, he has submitted some nice scripts back then, also used to post at wc3c when there was the good old AI/Jass forum.