Re: 2-dimensional view on 1 dimensional array

[Marek <ficorax@gmail.com>]

I want just to know if it is possible to make different "view" on 1 
dimensional array. And of course I meant not 2-dimensional array but 
array of arrays. Reason for that is that I want to use slicing on that view.

Ok, here is full specification:

     generic
        type T is private;
        type T_Array is array (Natural range <>) of aliased T;
        type T_Array_Access is access all T_Array;
     package Buffers is

        type Row_Array is array (Natural range <>) of aliased 
T_Array_Access;

        type Row_Array_Access is access all Row_Array;

        type Buffer is tagged
           record
              Raw_Buffer : T_Array_Access   := null;
              Rows_Table : Row_Array_Access := null;
              Rows       : Natural          := 0;
              Columns    : Natural          := 0;
              Step       : Integer          := 0;
              Max_Rows   : Natural          := 0;
           end record;

        procedure Init
          (This    : in out Buffer;
           Buffer  :        T_Array_Access;
           Rows    :        Natural;
           Columns :        Natural;
           Step    :        Integer);

        procedure Set_Value
          (This  : in out Buffer;
           Value :        T);

       function Get_Buffer
         (This : Rendering_Buffer)
          return T_Array_Access
       is (This.Buffer);

       function Get_Rows_Table
         (This : Rendering_Buffer)
          return Row_Array_Access
       is (This.Rows);

       function Get_Columns
         (This : Rendering_Buffer)
          return Natural
       is (This.Columns);

       function Get_Rows
         (This : Rendering_Buffer)
          return Natural
       is (This.Rows);

       function Get_Step
         (This : Rendering_Buffer)
          return Integer
       is (This.Step);

       function Move_Start
         (This       : Rendering_Buffer;
          Col_Offset : Natural;
          Row_Offset : Natural)
          return T_Array_Access;

       function Row
         (This   : Rendering_Buffer;
          R      : Natural)
          return T_Array_Access;

       procedure Copy_From
         (This   : in out Rendering_Buffer;
          Source :        Rendering_Buffer);

     end Buffers;

I consider this package to be a kind of template that I can apply to the 
raw data and get what it expects. That is why I am using access types.
I know this is very C-ish but...

thank you for your answers everybody
Marek
p.s. Be aware that this group is read not only by software engineers. 
Carpenters may also happen ... :)