How to return to the calling method? - ruby

Question

I have a program that uses a method for verification, if that verification failed I would like to return to the method it was called from, for example:
def obtain_pokemon_name
print 'Enter Pokemon: '
pokemon = gets.chomp.capitalize
obtain_basic_attack(pokemon)
end
def obtain_basic_attack(poke)
print 'Enter basic attack: '
basic_attack = gets.chomp.downcase
check_attacks(poke, basic_attack)
obtain_spec_attack(poke)
end
def obtain_spec_attack(poke)
print 'Enter special attack: '
spec_attack = gets.chomp.downcase
check_attacks(poke, spec_attack)
end
def check_attacks(pokemon, attack)
if POKEMON_ATTACKS[pokemon][attack] == nil
puts "#{attack} is not one of #{pokemon}'s attacks, try again.."
return # to where this function was called
else
attack
end
end
begin
obtain_pokemon_name
rescue => e
puts "Failed with error code: #{e}"
end
When this is run:
Enter Pokemon: arbok
Enter basic attack: eat
eat is not one of Arbok's attacks, try again..
Enter special attack: test
test is not one of Arbok's attacks, try again..
Attack list:
POKEMON_ATTACKS = {
'Bulbasaur' => {'tackle' => 10.9, 'vine whip' => 15.4, 'power whip' => 21.4, 'seed bomb' => 12.5, 'sludge bomb' => 19.2},
'Ivysaur' => {'razor leaf' => 10.3, 'vine whip' => 15.4, 'power whip' => 21.4, 'sludge bomb' => 19.2, 'solar beam' => 13.3},
'Kakuna' => {'bug bite' => 13.3, 'poison sting' => 10.3, 'struggle' => 8.8},
'Beedrill' => {'bug bite' => 13.3, 'poison jab' => 14.3, 'aerial ace' => 8.6, 'sludge bomb' => 19.2, 'x-scissor' => 14.3},
'Pidgey' => {'quick attack' => 7.5, 'tackle' => 10.9, 'aerial ace' => 8.6, 'air cutter' => 7.6, 'twister' => 5.6},
'Ekans' => {'acid' => 9.5, 'poison sting' => 10.3, 'gunk shot' => 20.0, 'sludge bomb' => 19.2, 'wrap' => 3.8},
'Arbok' => {'acid' => 9.5, 'bite' => 12.0, 'dark pulse' => 12.9, 'gunk shot' => 20.0, 'sludge wave' => 17.6},
}
So my question is, if the attack is not present in the data, how can I return back to the calling method? So for instance if I call arbok and his attack is tackle if it doesn't exist in the hash, how would I return to the obtain_basic_attack(poke) method?

Answer 1

RIght here:
puts "#{attack} is not one of #{pokemon}'s attacks, try again.."
return # to where this function was called
you should call the original method again. i.e.
if POKEMON_ATTACKS[pokemon][attack] == nil
puts "#{attack} is not one of #{pokemon}'s attacks, try again.."
return obtain_spec_attack(poke)
You could alternatively add this logic to obtain_spec_attack:
def obtain_spec_attack(poke)
loop do
print 'Enter special attack: '
spec_attack = gets.chomp.downcase
attack_found = check_attacks(poke, spec_attack)
if attack_found
break attack_found # this will return attack_found from the loop
else
puts "attack not found"
end
end
end
edit
looking at your question again, I realize you want to return to a method multiple levels up. You could use the approaches I've already outlined, or alternatively use rescue:
def obtain_basic_attack(poke)
begin
print 'Enter basic attack: '
basic_attack = gets.chomp.downcase
check_attacks(poke, basic_attack)
obtain_spec_attack(poke)
rescue AttackNotFoundError
retry # runs the 'begin' block again
end
end
def obtain_spec_attack(poke)
print 'Enter special attack: '
spec_attack = gets.chomp.downcase
check_attacks(poke, spec_attack)
end
def check_attacks(pokemon, attack)
if POKEMON_ATTACKS[pokemon][attack] == nil
puts "#{attack} is not one of #{pokemon}'s attacks, try again.."
raise AttackNotFoundError
else
attack
end
end
In order to use a custom error like AttackNotFoundError, you need to define the error class somewhere:
class AttackNotFoundError < StandardError; end
You could use any error really, such as raise StandardError, but it's better to restrict what errors you're rescuing so that you don't accidentally rescue an unrelated error.