[expert level] naming variables

[Coldkil]

Ok, here's the problem. I want to store dynamically a sequence of values in a table i already have created. The idea is to make a standard function that updates these variables without defining them one by one - until now i had like 2-3 of them, now we're talking about 40-50.

What i have and can use? I have a list = {a, b, c, d} which is already defined, i want to do a method to create new fields in a "database" called with the names in that list.

The method should look like this:

function storevalues()
  for _, v in pairs(list) do
     local db = "my database"
     fieldname = _G[v]
     -- create the field called db.fieldname
     if somekindofcondition then 
       db.fieldname = true
     else
       db.fieldname = false
     end
  end

so the result should be something like

db.a = true
db.b = false
db.c = true
db.d =true

Making manually a variable for every value i need to store isn't an option, since i can even make it, but if i change something i'd need to double-check every one.

[Woogs]

I'm not entirely sure what you are trying to do, but here's a snippet I think will help:

local list, database = {"a","b","c","d"}, {};

function StoreDatabaseValues()
	for k, v in pairs(list) do
		database[v] = true; -- set whatever value
	end
end


function GetDatabaseValue(key)
	return database[key];
end

[Deleted]

At first glance:
db[fieldname], not db.fieldname - the latter is equal to db['fieldname'].

[Coldkil]

Thanks for help, managed to do the trick

result: http://i.imgur.com/nsPJp.jpg

(made movable and togglable frames)