Softimage SDK Programmer's Guide > Plug-in Development > Working with Return Values and Output Arguments >

# What is an ISIVTCollection?

When a command has output arguments but does not explicitly specify a return value, it actually returns a special collection called an ISIVTCollection which implements the following methods and properties:

Methods

Name | Parameters | Description
--- | --- | ---
Add | key | Adds an item to the collection as a value associated with a key (String). For example:
    vtcol.Add("Native", false);
| value |
Remove | key | Removes an item identified by key (String) from the collection. For example:
    vtcol.Remove("Native");
supports __NewEnum | -- | Provides support for standard collection enumeration. For example:
    var eArg = new Enumerator(vtcol);
    for ( ; !eArg.atEnd(); eArg.moveNext() ) {
    	var myArg = eArg.item();
    	Application.LogMessage( myArg == null );
    }

Properties

Name | Parameters | Description
--- | --- | ---
Item | key or index | Returns or sets the value for an item identified by key (String) or index (Long). Since this the default property for the ISIVTCollection, you can omit the Item when accessing it. For example:
    // explicitly calling the Item property
    var oldVal = vtcol.Item("CurveKind");
    vtcol.Item("CurveKind") = 15;

    // omitting the Item when calling the property
    var oldVal = vtcol(0);
    vtcol(0) = true;
Count | -- | Returns the total number of items in the collection. For example:
    Application.LogMessage( vtcol.Count );
Value | key | Returns or sets the value for an item identified by key (String) only. For example:
    var oldVal = vtcol.Value("CurveKind");
    vtcol.Value("CurveKind") = 15;

Examples

The following examples demonstrate the use of the ISIVTCollection:

- VBScript Example: Output Arguments vs. the ISIVTCollection

- JScript Example: Using the ISIVTCollection

- Python Example: Working with the ISIVTCollection returned from a Command