What is the syntax for declaring an index variable in a Delphi 2007 Pascal Initialization block?

Question

I need to initialize and array in a Delphi Initialization block.

It appears that you cannot use a var block in an initialize block because this won't compile:

initialization
var
idx : Integer;
begin
    for idx := 0 to length(LastState)-1 do begin
        LastState[idx] := $FFFF;
    end;
end;

(The first compilation error complains about var):

([DCC Error] ScheAutoInfRb2.pas(6898): E2029 Statement expected but 'VAR' found)

This does not compile either (because idx is not declared):

initialization

    for idx := 0 to length(Last_Pro2State)-1 do begin
        Last_Pro2State[idx] := $FFFF;
    end;

[DCC Error] ScheAutoInfRb2.pas(6899): E2003 Undeclared identifier: 'idx'

I know that I can declare an indexer in the main unit declaration, but that has a couple of disadvantages:

1. The declaration of the indexer is separated from its use but the implementation section (which can be hundreds of lines away), and

2. The scope of the indexer includes all the functions and procedures in the Implementation section.

Answer 1

You can't.

The usual way to do this is to write a procedure that you then call from the initialization section:

procedure InitLastStateArray;
var
  idx : Integer;
begin
  for idx := 0 to length(LastState)-1 do begin
    LastState[idx] := $FFFF;
  end;
end;

initialization
  IntLastStateArray;

end.