Unit Iteration

[Zeatherann]

Of the many ways to iteration over a set a units, which methods should be used in which situations?

Methods:

1. ForGroup
2. FirstOfGroup
3. GroupEnumUnitsInRect
4. Or simply looping over an array.

Situations:

• Iterating over a group of units.
• Iteration over a temporary group of units.
• Iterating over a group while already iterating over a group, for both above situations.

Because I doubt that a single method is best for everything.
Which methods count towards the OPLimit, and which ones don't (Actions done to EnumUnit)?

 

[PurgeandFire]

When iterating over a group of units where you don't need the group afterward, FirstOfGroup() is usually faster (marginally) and often more convenient (see these benchmarks).

ForGroup() would be used if you need the units/group structure to be maintained.

You iterate through the filter if you need to maintain the group afterward but need to iterate through the units at the time of enumeration (controlling who is added/removed from the group). By this, I just mean that performing the actions you need to do directly in the filter is usually better than:

call GroupEnum...(g...Condition(function someFilter))
call ForGroup(g)

In that case it is kind of like merging conditions and actions for a trigger.

ForGroup() starts a separate thread so that is another reason why you may want to use it. FirstOfGroup(), of course, runs on the current thread.

 

[gorillabull]

probly forgroup the rest are used for different things first of group can be used to enum all units and clear the group and the other one is to get units from a location on the map

 

[Zeatherann]

Does the function call of the filter go in a new OPlimit or is it bound by the calling thread (like FirstOfGroup is)?

 

[deathismyfriend]

Im pretty sure it is bound like FirstOfGroup() is. I can be mistaken tho.

i prefer to use FirstOfGroup. its just easier. only time i use ForGroup is when i have multiple groups in a library / scope that i can call one function with to make it easier and less code.