Question

after coding a custom event in AS3, i’ve come across a curious problem:

override public function toString():String
    {
    switch  (type)
            {
            case CHANGE:    return formatToString("HistoryEvent", "type", "action", "name", "data");
            case ABILITY:   return formatToString("HistoryEvent", "type", "undoable", "redoable");
            }
    }

the above code returns the following compile-time error:

1170: Function does not return a
value.

i can remedy the problem easily by adding return null; at the end of the function, but that’s redundant and it annoys me that it seems to be the only solution.

why is returning a value from a switch case not seen by the compiler? is this an issue specific to the AS3 compiler or am i actually attempting something here that is so completely dangerous and adverse that it shadows counterculturists the world over.

Answer 1

It is possible that your switch doesn’t match, and in that case the function can’t return anything. That’s why the compiler complains. Adding default: return null; to your switch statement solves the problem as well as adding return null at the end of your function.