List All Variables

In a project I am making I need to run an separate Lua file at the same time as the current one. This is working fine using os.run(…). However, I am having a bit of trouble with the environment. I need the separate Lua file to access all the variables and functions in the main file. I could add all of the functions to the environment one by one, but there must be another way.

I've looked at _G but that doesn't seem to work.

For example, the following code list all the standard variables and functions (e.g. 'os', 'math', etc) but not 'aFunction' or 'aVariable'. What can I use to get them.

aVariable = "Hello"


function aFunction (message)
	print(message)
end

for key, value in pairs(_G) do
	print(key)
	print(value)
end

If you have a better idea on how to add all the functions to the environment please suggest it.

getfenv() returns the current function environment, which will contain all non-local variables and functions you've declared in your program.

in you current file use

os.run(getfenv(),"thesecondfile")

and the second file will have access to all GLOBAL variables from the first file. there is no way to access local variables in a different file

KaoS, on 01 March 2013 - 01:47 AM said:

in you current file use

os.run(getfenv(),"thesecondfile")

and the second file will have access to all GLOBAL variables from the first file. there is no way to access local variables in a different file

GopherAtl, on 01 March 2013 - 12:22 AM said:

getfenv() returns the current function environment, which will contain all non-local variables and functions you've declared in your program.

Thanks both of you, worked a charm.