types - passing as parameter in function

I'm having trouble working out how to pass a type instance as a paramter to a function. Prior to doing this, this is what I achieve right now

; I call the function like this
start_gearchange_timer()

; this is what the function looks like
Function start_gearchange_timer()
player(1)\gearchange_timer = Millisecs()
End Function

...now I have lots of timers, so I don't want to have lots of functins that essentially do the same thing so I wanted a simple function that could be passed paramters to do the same job eg.

;call the NEW function like this
start_timer( paramters eg. player(1)\gearchange_timer )

; the NEW function would look like this
Function start_timer ( paramters )
paramaters = Millisecs()
End Function

Can anyone help ? Hope I explained that ok. Basically I want to know have to pass a custom type variable and its field as a paramter in a function!

You seem to be using an array of types so can't you just pass the index, like so?

start_gearchange_timer(1) 

Function start_gearchange_timer(i%) 
player(i)\gearchange_timer = Millisecs() 
End Function

Hi big10p

no, I want the new function to be an all purpose function that can be passed any timer and start it running. I have lots of timers and don't want to have to right lots of functions to start them

I just want to be able to pass the name of the timer to a single fuction to do the job

eg. player(1)\gearchange_timer
eg. player(4)\brake_timer
eg. player(2)\spin_timer

;call the function
start_timer ( player(1)\gearchange_timer )

; the single all-purpose function to handle any timer
function start_timer( paramaters )
parameters = millisecs()
end function

sorry if I'm not making myself clear, doh!

actually looking at it, its probably easier not to even call a function at all - just simply put a line of code in like

player(1)\gearchange_timer = millisecs()

its late, and my brain hurts! so much for my attempt at elegant code, doh!

*chuckle*

I was going to suggest that myself but I assumed you wanted to have other code in the function too, not just set the timer. :)

if you want to pass the type then do

function start_timer( p.yourtype ) ; p is acting as a pointer and is declared as yourtype
p\gearchange_timer = Millisecs()
end function

call it with
start_timer( player(1) )

dmaz out of interest is the any way to include the type's field in the function's parameter ?

Yes. Its late but I'll try this. It goes something like this. Best to put it in a dll.
in the dll....

Type timer
 field ID$
 field starttimer
 ect...
end type
;call the function in your game loop
start_timer( "paramters eg. player(1)\timer",starttimer,ect ) 

function start_timer.timer(ID$,starttimer,ect..)
 ticktock.timer = new timer
 ticktock\ID = ID
 ticktock\starttimer = timer
 ticktock\ect... = ect...
return ticktock
end function

;return the timer instance given its ID
function timer_getID.timer(ID$)
 For this.timer = each timer
  if this\ID = ID then return this
 next
return null
end function

;one more function for your timer
Function time()
 for this.timer = each timer 
  ticktock\timer = Millisecs()
 next 
End Function 

Hope it helps.
If it did not then goto the source.
Look in blitz coder and in the article section find the article Reusable Code: portable moduals in blitz by Morduun.

thanks