Dynamic repeat counts in struct format strings?

[Anthony Baxter]

>>> "Francis Avila" wrote
> I suppose this message is just wondering aloud, but:
> 
> Why hasn't the struct module grown a feature to specify the repeat count of
> an element based on the value of the previous element, like perl's
> (http://www.perldoc.com/perl5.6/pod/func/pack.html)?
> 
> What I mean is, why can't I do something like this (borrowing perl syntax of
> '/'):
> 
> >>> struct.unpack('!h/s', '\x00\x05Hello')
> ('Hello',)

I like this, but I have to wonder if something a bit more general
purpose would be better? What about the cases where the length isn't
immediately before the string? Why not instead have something like 
the named groups in REs? 

Anthony
-- 
Anthony Baxter     <anthony at interlink.com.au>   
It's never too late to have a happy childhood.