An arrayDictionary part is a part that is always available; you do not define it. A variable that is based on an arrayDictionary part lets you access a series of arrays by retrieving the same-numbered element of every array. A set of elements that is retrieved in this way is itself a dictionary, with each of the original array names treated as a key that is paired with the value contained in the array element.
An arrayDictionary is especially useful in relation to the display technology described in Console user interface.
ID = 5, lastName = "Twain", firstName = "Mark", age = 30
The array of interest is the array of dictionaries, with each dictionary illustrated as being one above the next rather than one alongside the next. The declaration of the arrayDictionary requires an initial list of arrays, however, and those are illustrated as being one alongside the next.
ID INT[4]; lastName STRING[4]; firstName STRING[4]; age INT[4]; myRows ArrayDictionary { col1 = ID, col2 = lastName, col3 = firstName, col4 = age };
To retrieve values, your code uses a syntax that isolates a particular dictionary and then a particular field (a key-and-value entry) in that dictionary. You cannot use the arrayDictionary syntax to update a value or to change any characteristic of the arrayDictionary itself.
row Dictionary = myRows[2];
cell INT = row["ID"]; cell INT = row.ID;
cell int = myRows[2]["ID"]; cell int = myRows[2].ID;
Related concepts
Console user interface
Dictionary
References to variables in EGL