Subclassing int for a revolving control number

[Dan Sommers]

On Fri, 16 Jul 2004 16:08:28 -0400,
Chris Cioffi <evenprimes at gmail.com> wrote:

> Hello all!
> I'm trying to subclass int such that once it reaches a certain value,
> it flips back to the starting count.  This is for use as an X12
> control number.  Subclassing int and getting the display like I want
> it was trivial, however what's the best way to make it such that:
> 990 + 1 = 991 
> 991 + 1 = 992
> ...
> 998 + 1 = 999
> 999 + 1 = 001

> Should I set any of the special functions like __sub__ to raise
> NotImpemented and just make my own custom assignment and __add__
> functions?  (The other fucntions would make no sense in this
> context...)

> Is there an "on change" kind of meta-function?  (Like the onChange
> event in a GUI text control)

That all sounds like overkill, at least to my old-fashioned, minimalist
tastes.  Remember, too, that Python has a "we're all adults" philosophy.

Untested:

    class X12ControlNumber:
        def __init__( self, initialvalue = 1 ):
            self.x = initialvalue
        def increment( self ):
            self.x += 1
            if self.x == 1000
                self.x = 1
        def get( self ):
            return self.x
        # alternately:
        def __str__( self ):
            return '%03d' % self.x


    x = X12ControlNumber( )
    print x.get( ) # prints 1
    x.increment( )
    print x.get( ) # prints 2
    x.increment( )
        :
        :
        :
    x.increment( )
    print x.get( ) # prints 998
    x.increment( )
    print x.get( ) # prints 999
    x.increment( )
    print x.get( ) # prints 1

Regards,
Dan

-- 
Dan Sommers
<http://www.tombstonezero.net/dan/>
Never play leapfrog with a unicorn.