Why Record pointer is not allowed as function parameter and return?

[wuwuxin 28]

TMyFunkyRecord = record

end;


function MyFunkyFunction(AData: ^TMyFUnkyRecord): ^TMyFunkyRecord;

Delphi gives me error saying : E2029 Identifier expected but '^' found

 

I know I can define

PMyFunkyRecord = ^TMyFunkyRecord;

 

But Is the above code using pointer directly illegal?

Edited April 23, 2021 by wuwuxin

[David Heffernan 2345]

56 minutes ago, wuwuxin said:

 

But Is the above code using pointer directly illegal?

Yes. You have to declare a pointer type. 

[Mark- 29]

type
 TMyFunkyRecord = record
  b:boolean;
 end;

function Something(inB:pointer):pointer;
var
 bRec:TMyFunkyRecord;
begin
 bRec:=TMyFunkyRecord(inB^);
 if bRec.b then
  beep;
 bRec.b:=false;
 result:=@bRec;
end;

var
 bRec,aRec:TMyFunkyRecord;
begin
 bRec.b:=true;
 aRec:=TMyFunkyRecord(Something(@bRec)^);
 if not aRec.b then
  beep;
end;

You can make it work with "naked" pointers. More trouble than worth to avoid declaring the pointer type. My2c.

[julkas 12]

For parameters you can use const or var qualifiers (option - declare absolute).

For return - use generic pointer.

See - Parameters

Pascal is a strongly typed. :-). https://ideone.com/5r1Uqf

Edited April 24, 2021 by julkas