'''array set''' ''arrayName list''

Sets the values of one or more elements in ''arrayName''. ''List'' must have a form like that returned by '''[array get]''', consisting of an even number of elements. Each odd-numbered element in ''list'' is treated as an element name within ''arrayName'', and the following element in ''list'' is used as a new value for that array element. If the variable ''arrayName'' does not already exist and ''list'' is empty, ''arrayName'' is created with an empty array value.

For example,

======
 array set val [list a 1 c 6 e 9]
 puts $val(a)
 1
 puts $val(c)
 6
 puts $val(e)
 9
====== 

Note that ''array set'' does not remove
elements which already exist in the array.
For example,

 array set spam {} ;# This does not work

...will not clear out the array ''spam''.
To clear an array, can use [array unset]
in version 8.3 and beyond.
For example:

 array unset spam

...will remove the array ''spam'' if it exists, but will not complain if it does not.

 array unset spam *

...will clear the contents of the array ''spam'', but the array will continue to exist.

This feature makes it easier to work with array variables,
but it can come as a surprise to those who expected
''array set'' to act like the normal [set] command
(which replaces any existing data in the variable).
It might be useful to think of it as ''array append''. - [RS]: Sometimes [array set] adds new elements (appending implies some order, which arrays don't so clearly have), sometimes it replaces existing elements. So I still think the name [array set] is clearer...

----

See also:

   * [array]
   * [array get]
   * [set]

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