#include <Array.au3>




Dim $a1[4] = [TRUE, FALSE, "Richard", 25]
Dim $a2[4] = [TRUE, $a1, "Richard", WinExists("firefox")]
Dim $a[4] = [TRUE, $a2, 456, "Louis"]
$b = _serialize($a)
MsgBox(0,"",$b)
$c = _unserialize($b)
_ArrayDisplay($c)
_ArrayDisplay($c[1])

func _serialize($x);
    if (isArray($x)) then;
        local $r;
        local $b = ubound($x);
        local $i;
        $r = $b & '-'
        for $i = 0 to $b - 1;
            ; Recursively call the serialize function to collect more data.
            $r &= _serialize($x[$i]);
        next;
        ; Return it.
        return '[' & stringLen($r) & '=' & $r;
    ; Other types?

    elseIf (isBinary($x)) then;
        return '#' & __serialize_DataFormat($x);
    elseIf (isBool($x)) then;
        if ($x) then;
            return '?1=t';
        else
            return '?1=f';
        endIf;
    elseIf (isHWnd($x)) then;
        return '*' & __serialize_DataFormat($x);
    elseIf (isNumber($x)) then;
        return '&' & __serialize_DataFormat($x);
    elseIf (isString($x)) then;
        return '$' & __serialize_DataFormat($x);
    endIf;
endFunc;

func _unserialize($x, $ia = 0);
    ; If this function was called recursively, $ia is set to 1.
    ; Don't set $ia outside this function!
    if ($ia) then
        ; Create a temp array.
        local $bnd = stringLeft($x, stringInStr($x, '-') - 1);
        local $rar[number($bnd)];
        $x = stringMid($x, stringLen($bnd) + 2);
    endIf;
    local $typ;
    local $len;
    local $dst;
    local $i = 0;
    do;
        ; Loop, loop, loop. until $x is empty.
        ; Get the data type.
        $typ = stringMid($x, 1, 1);
        $x = stringMid($x, 2);
        ; Get the length of the data.
        $len = stringLeft($x, stringInStr($x, '=') - 1);
        ; Get the data.
        $dst = stringMid($x, stringLen($len) + 2, $len);
        $x = stringMid($x, stringLen($len) + 2 + $len);
        ; Not array?
        if ($typ = '#') then;
            if ($ia) then;
                $rar[$i] = StringToBinary($dst);
                $i += 1;
            else;
                return StringToBinary($dst);
            endIf;
        elseIf ($typ = '?') then;
            if ($ia) then;
                $rar[$i] = __serialize_UnBool($dst);
                $i += 1;
            else;
                return __serialize_UnBool($dst);
            endIf;
        elseIf ($typ = '*') then;
            if ($ia) then;
                $rar[$i] = hWnd($dst);
                $i += 1;
            else;
                return hWnd($dst);
            endIf;
        elseIf ($typ = '&') then;
            if ($ia) then;
                $rar[$i] = number($dst);
                $i += 1;
            else;
                return number($dst);
            endIf;
        elseIf ($typ = '$') then;
            if ($ia) then;
                $rar[$i] = string($dst);
                $i += 1;
            else;
                return string($dst);
            endIf;
        ; Array?
        elseIf ($typ = '[') then;
            if ($ia) then;
                $rar[$i] = _unserialize($dst, 1);
                $i += 1;
            else;
                return _unserialize($dst, 1);
            endIf;
        ; Unrecognized?
        else
            if ($ia) then;
                $rar[$i] = 'Error';
                return $rar;
                $i += 1;
            else;
                return 'Error';
            endIf;
            exitLoop;
        endIf;
    until not($ia and stringLen($x) > 0)
    ; Well, return it!
    if ($ia) then;
        return $rar;
    endIf;
endFunc;



func __serialize_DataFormat($x);
    $y = string(($x));
    return stringLen($y) & '=' & ($y);
endFunc;

func __serialize_UnBool($v);
    if ($v == 't') then
        return true;
    else;
        return false;
    endIf;
endFunc;