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Lua Deep Table Introspection and Call Path Analyzer ..

 
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AylinCE
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Joined: 16 Feb 2017
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PostPosted: Thu Nov 13, 2025 11:26 am    Post subject: Lua Deep Table Introspection and Call Path Analyzer .. Reply with quote
A nested table analysis and call path analysis code for testing table dumps and call paths of long, nested tables in Lua or in an application.

This is a helpful function for those who create very long tables, allowing them to check where they left off and how to call them.

I won't go into much detail.

You will understand what it does with a dump analysis code, a sample table and output.

Dump, analysis:

Code:
--[[
  Function: deepDumpWithPath
  Description: Recursively prints the contents of a Lua table, including nested subtables,
               without depth restrictions. It also displays the full **call path** (syntax) for accessing each element. Safely handles circular references.
  Parameters:
    tbl: (table) - The main table to inspect.
    indent: (number) [Optional] - The current indentation level (defaults to 0).
    currentPath: (string) [Optional] - The accumulated call path string
                 (e.g., "myTable[1].settings"). Defaults to "table".
    seen: (table) [Optional] - Internal table to track circular references.
--]]
function deepDumpWithPath(tbl, indent, currentPath, seen)
    indent = indent or 0
    seen = seen or {}
    currentPath = currentPath or "table" -- Default starting path
    local currentIndent = string.rep("  ", indent)

    -- 1. Table Check and Circular Reference Check
    if type(tbl) ~= "table" then
        print(currentIndent .. "[ERROR: Expected table, received: " .. type(tbl) .. "]")
        return
    end

    if seen[tbl] then
        print(currentIndent .. "{" .. currentPath .. " = ... CIRCULAR REFERENCE DETECTED ...}")
        return
    end
    -- Mark the current table as seen
    seen[tbl] = true

    print(currentIndent .. "{ > " .. currentPath .. " < .. (TABLE  START)") -- Print the table path at the opening brace

    -- 2. Traverse Elements
    for k, v in pairs(tbl) do
        local keyString
        local nextPath
        local nextIndent = string.rep(" -", indent + 1)

        -- Format the key and build the next call path
        if type(k) == "string" then
            -- String keys: Use brackets for consistency, but build path for dot notation if possible
            if string.match(k, "^[a-zA-Z_][a-zA-Z0-9_]*$") then
                keyString = string.format('["%s"]', k)
                nextPath = currentPath .. "." .. k -- Suitable for object access (e.g., CE objects)
            else
                keyString = string.format('["%s"]', k)
                nextPath = currentPath .. string.format('["%s"]', k)
            end
        else
            -- Numeric keys: object[index]
            keyString = string.format("[%s]", tostring(k))
            nextPath = currentPath .. string.format("[%s]", tostring(k))
        end

        -- Process based on Value Type
        if type(v) == "table" then
            print(nextIndent .. keyString .. " = [table]")
            -- Recursive call: Pass the new path and increased indentation
            deepDumpWithPath(v, indent + 2, nextPath, seen)

        elseif type(v) == "function" then
            -- Special output for functions
            print(nextIndent .. keyString .. " = [Function] -- CALL: " .. nextPath .. "()")

        elseif type(v) == "userdata" then
            -- Special output for UserData/CE Objects
            print(nextIndent .. keyString .. " = [UserData] -- PATH: " .. nextPath)

        else
            -- Simple types (string, number, boolean, etc.)
            print(nextIndent .. keyString .. " = " .. tostring(v) .. " -- PATH: " .. nextPath)
        end
    end

    -- 3. Close Table
    print(currentIndent .. "} > " .. currentPath .. " < .. (TABLE  END)")
end


-- ************************ E X A M P L E T A B L E ************************--

Code:
-- Global assumption for CE's AddressList object for demonstration purposes
--local AddressList = AddressList -- Use the actual CE object in CE environment

local GameConfig_V3 = {
    -- 1. Main Configuration Structure
    ["GeneralSettings"] = {
        Resolution = "1920x1080",
        FPS_Cap = 144,
        ["DebugMode_Enabled"] = true,
        -- Array with numerical indices (Error Codes)
        ErrorCodes = {401, 404, 500, [4] = 503}
    },

    -- 2. Resources and Functions
    Resources = {
        -- Function: Simulates a method to format player names
        formatName = function(name) return string.upper(name) end,

        -- UserData Simulation (as seen in CE)
        CurrentAddressList = AddressList, -- References a CE UserData object

        -- Mixed Table (String and Numerical keys)
        Materials = {
            Wood = 500,
            Stone = 250,
            ["Special Dust"] = 10,
            [99] = "Unused slot"
        }
    },

    -- 3. Deeply Nested Player Data
    PlayerData = {
        ["Player_1"] = {
            -- Nested Array of Tables
            Inventory = {
                {id = 101, name = "Health Potion", count = 3},
                {id = 205, name = "Magic Scroll", count = 1}
            },
            Position = {x = 12.5, y = 45.1, z = 0.0},
            ["isOnline"] = true,

            -- String-keyed sub-table
            Stats = {
                HP = 100,
                MP = 50,
                Attack = 15
            }
        },
        ["Player_2"] = {
            Inventory = {}, -- Empty table array
            Position = {x = 88.0, y = 12.0}
        }
    },

    -- 4. Circular Reference (for safety testing)
    Reference = nil
}

-- Create the circular reference (Table references itself!)
GameConfig_V3.Reference = GameConfig_V3


-- ********************************* U S E ***********************************--

Code:
deepDumpWithPath(GameConfig_V3, 0, "GameConfig_V3")


-- ****************************** R E S U L T ********************************--

Code:
{ > GameConfig_V3 < .. (TABLE  START)
 -["PlayerData"] = [table]
    { > GameConfig_V3.PlayerData < .. (TABLE  START)
 - - -["Player_2"] = [table]
        { > GameConfig_V3.PlayerData.Player_2 < .. (TABLE  START)
 - - - - -["Position"] = [table]
            { > GameConfig_V3.PlayerData.Player_2.Position < .. (TABLE  START)
 - - - - - - -["y"] = 12.0 -- PATH: GameConfig_V3.PlayerData.Player_2.Position.y
 - - - - - - -["x"] = 88.0 -- PATH: GameConfig_V3.PlayerData.Player_2.Position.x
            } > GameConfig_V3.PlayerData.Player_2.Position < .. (TABLE  END)
 - - - - -["Inventory"] = [table]
            { > GameConfig_V3.PlayerData.Player_2.Inventory < .. (TABLE  START)
            } > GameConfig_V3.PlayerData.Player_2.Inventory < .. (TABLE  END)
        } > GameConfig_V3.PlayerData.Player_2 < .. (TABLE  END)
 - - -["Player_1"] = [table]
        { > GameConfig_V3.PlayerData.Player_1 < .. (TABLE  START)
 - - - - -["Stats"] = [table]
            { > GameConfig_V3.PlayerData.Player_1.Stats < .. (TABLE  START)
 - - - - - - -["HP"] = 100 -- PATH: GameConfig_V3.PlayerData.Player_1.Stats.HP
 - - - - - - -["MP"] = 50 -- PATH: GameConfig_V3.PlayerData.Player_1.Stats.MP
 - - - - - - -["Attack"] = 15 -- PATH: GameConfig_V3.PlayerData.Player_1.Stats.Attack
            } > GameConfig_V3.PlayerData.Player_1.Stats < .. (TABLE  END)
 - - - - -["isOnline"] = true -- PATH: GameConfig_V3.PlayerData.Player_1.isOnline
 - - - - -["Position"] = [table]
            { > GameConfig_V3.PlayerData.Player_1.Position < .. (TABLE  START)
 - - - - - - -["y"] = 45.1 -- PATH: GameConfig_V3.PlayerData.Player_1.Position.y
 - - - - - - -["x"] = 12.5 -- PATH: GameConfig_V3.PlayerData.Player_1.Position.x
 - - - - - - -["z"] = 0.0 -- PATH: GameConfig_V3.PlayerData.Player_1.Position.z
            } > GameConfig_V3.PlayerData.Player_1.Position < .. (TABLE  END)
 - - - - -["Inventory"] = [table]
            { > GameConfig_V3.PlayerData.Player_1.Inventory < .. (TABLE  START)
 - - - - - - -[1] = [table]
                { > GameConfig_V3.PlayerData.Player_1.Inventory[1] < .. (TABLE  START)
 - - - - - - - - -["name"] = Health Potion -- PATH: GameConfig_V3.PlayerData.Player_1.Inventory[1].name
 - - - - - - - - -["id"] = 101 -- PATH: GameConfig_V3.PlayerData.Player_1.Inventory[1].id
 - - - - - - - - -["count"] = 3 -- PATH: GameConfig_V3.PlayerData.Player_1.Inventory[1].count
                } > GameConfig_V3.PlayerData.Player_1.Inventory[1] < .. (TABLE  END)
 - - - - - - -[2] = [table]
                { > GameConfig_V3.PlayerData.Player_1.Inventory[2] < .. (TABLE  START)
 - - - - - - - - -["name"] = Magic Scroll -- PATH: GameConfig_V3.PlayerData.Player_1.Inventory[2].name
 - - - - - - - - -["id"] = 205 -- PATH: GameConfig_V3.PlayerData.Player_1.Inventory[2].id
 - - - - - - - - -["count"] = 1 -- PATH: GameConfig_V3.PlayerData.Player_1.Inventory[2].count
                } > GameConfig_V3.PlayerData.Player_1.Inventory[2] < .. (TABLE  END)
            } > GameConfig_V3.PlayerData.Player_1.Inventory < .. (TABLE  END)
        } > GameConfig_V3.PlayerData.Player_1 < .. (TABLE  END)
    } > GameConfig_V3.PlayerData < .. (TABLE  END)
 -["GeneralSettings"] = [table]
    { > GameConfig_V3.GeneralSettings < .. (TABLE  START)
 - - -["DebugMode_Enabled"] = true -- PATH: GameConfig_V3.GeneralSettings.DebugMode_Enabled
 - - -["ErrorCodes"] = [table]
        { > GameConfig_V3.GeneralSettings.ErrorCodes < .. (TABLE  START)
 - - - - -[1] = 401 -- PATH: GameConfig_V3.GeneralSettings.ErrorCodes[1]
 - - - - -[2] = 404 -- PATH: GameConfig_V3.GeneralSettings.ErrorCodes[2]
 - - - - -[3] = 500 -- PATH: GameConfig_V3.GeneralSettings.ErrorCodes[3]
 - - - - -[4] = 503 -- PATH: GameConfig_V3.GeneralSettings.ErrorCodes[4]
        } > GameConfig_V3.GeneralSettings.ErrorCodes < .. (TABLE  END)
 - - -["FPS_Cap"] = 144 -- PATH: GameConfig_V3.GeneralSettings.FPS_Cap
 - - -["Resolution"] = 1920x1080 -- PATH: GameConfig_V3.GeneralSettings.Resolution
    } > GameConfig_V3.GeneralSettings < .. (TABLE  END)
 -["Resources"] = [table]
    { > GameConfig_V3.Resources < .. (TABLE  START)
 - - -["formatName"] = [Function] -- CALL: GameConfig_V3.Resources.formatName()
 - - -["Materials"] = [table]
        { > GameConfig_V3.Resources.Materials < .. (TABLE  START)
 - - - - -["Wood"] = 500 -- PATH: GameConfig_V3.Resources.Materials.Wood
 - - - - -["Special Dust"] = 10 -- PATH: GameConfig_V3.Resources.Materials["Special Dust"]
 - - - - -[99] = Unused slot -- PATH: GameConfig_V3.Resources.Materials[99]
 - - - - -["Stone"] = 250 -- PATH: GameConfig_V3.Resources.Materials.Stone
        } > GameConfig_V3.Resources.Materials < .. (TABLE  END)
 - - -["CurrentAddressList"] = [UserData] -- PATH: GameConfig_V3.Resources.CurrentAddressList
    } > GameConfig_V3.Resources < .. (TABLE  END)
 -["Reference"] = [table]
    {GameConfig_V3.Reference = ... CIRCULAR REFERENCE DETECTED ...}
} > GameConfig_V3 < .. (TABLE  END)



Of course, kudos to all the coders who create tables of this size.

Until we meet again with another crazy topic or solution, enjoy!
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