Converting Delphi Code to ActionScript

Delphi and ActionScript 3.0 are fairly similar, these are some simple steps to convert one to the other.

The following is just a code fragment (not the complete function)

Delphi

function Right_mc (s: string; StartPattern: string;
                     CaseSensitive:boolean=false):string; overload;
var
  tempStr : string;
  j       : integer;
begin
  tempStr := s;

  j := pos(StartPattern, tempStr);

  if j = 0 then
    tempStr := ''
  else
    tempStr := copy(tempStr, j+length(StartPattern), length(tempStr));

  Right_mc := tempStr ;

end;

ActionScript 3.0

function Right_mc (s: String, StartPattern: String,
                     CaseSensitive:Boolean=false):String
{
  var tempStr : String;
  var j       : int;

  tempStr = s;

  j = tempStr.indexOf(StartPattern);


  if (j == -1) {
    tempStr = '';
  } else {
    tempStr = s.substring(j+StartPattern.length, tempStr.length);
  }

  return tempStr;
}

Capitalize most types
Remove overload and other unsupported directives
In the function parameters, change the semicolons to commas
Use curly braces instead of begin .. end
Remove the semicolon at the end of the function header
Variable definition go inside the function's curly braces
Each variable must begin with var
The conditional statement after if must be placed in parentheses
Replace the then with curly braces
Change the equals to a double equals in the conditional test
length is a property, not a function
The copy function is replaced with the copy method
The ActionScript stings are zero based - change test case to -1
Change the assignment statements from := to just =
Change the return method (no equals in ActionScript)
Change the block comment delimiters - curly braces in Delphi to /* .. */

Common Problems

If you are programming in both Pascal (Delphi) and c-like languages, you will have continuous problems with these - be aware, be careful. I have lost many hours forgetting these points. In particular, for blocks are very different - until vs while.

Delphi

ActionScript

Compare

Single equals sign

if a = 2 then begin end;

Double equals sign

if (a == 2) { }

Assignment

Colon followed by a equals sign

a := 5;

Single equals sign

a = 5;

for Blocks

Run until the condition is met

for i := 0 to FSteps do begin end;

Run while the condition is met

for (i=0; i<=FSteps; i++){ }

Other common changes

Change '<>' to '!=' in the conditional test

Author: Robert Clemenzi - clemenzi@cpcug.org