Python: How to transfer varrying length arrays over a network connection

Programmer Question

Hi,

I need to transfer an array of varying length in which each element is a tuple of two integers. As an example:

path = [(1,1),(1,2)]
path = [(1,1),(1,2),(2,2)]

I am trying to use pack and unpack, however, since the array is of varying length I don't know how to create a format such that both know the format. I was trying to turn it into a single string with delimiters, such as:

msg = 1&1~1&2~
sendMsg = pack("s",msg) or sendMsg = pack("s",str(msg))

on the receiving side:

path = unpack("s",msg)

but that just prints 1 in this case. I was also trying to send 4 integers as well, which send and receive fine, so long as I don't include the extra string representing the path.

sendMsg = pack("hhhh",p.direction[0],p.direction[1],p.id,p.health)

on the receive side:

x,y,id,health = unpack("hhhh",msg)

The first was for illustration as I was trying to send the format "hhhhs", but either way the path doesn't come through properly.

Thank-you for your help. I will also be looking at sending a 2D array of ints, but I can't seem to figure out how to send these more 'complex' structures across the network.

Thank-you for your help.

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