How do I procedurally iterate through similar variables in Lua?

Question

I have a lot of variables that seem to lend themselves to be referenced a lot easier, but I'm not sure how to do it; the variable names are related to entries on a coordinate system, and where they are written to is also coordinate based. I have tried searching google, I've gone through the Lua documentation, but as I'm not sure what I'm looking for I think that is hindering my search. Here is how the variables look in an excerpt of my code:

-- Bank 1

local Object111 = sItem.getTargetDetails("-4,3,-4")
local Object112 = sItem.getTargetDetails("-5,3,-4")
local Object113 = sItem.getTargetDetails("-6,3,-4")
local Object114 = sItem.getTargetDetails("-7,3,-4")
local Object115 = sItem.getTargetDetails("-8,3,-4")
local Object121 = sItem.getTargetDetails("-4,4,-4")
local Object122 = sItem.getTargetDetails("-5,4,-4")
local Object123 = sItem.getTargetDetails("-6,4,-4")
local Object124 = sItem.getTargetDetails("-7,4,-4")
local Object125 = sItem.getTargetDetails("-8,4,-4")
local Object131 = sItem.getTargetDetails("-4,5,-4")
local Object132 = sItem.getTargetDetails("-5,5,-4")
local Object133 = sItem.getTargetDetails("-6,5,-4")
local Object134 = sItem.getTargetDetails("-7,5,-4")
local Object135 = sItem.getTargetDetails("-8,5,-4")

-- Bank 2

local Object211 = sItem.getTargetDetails("-4,3,1")
local Object212 = sItem.getTargetDetails("-5,3,1")
local Object213 = sItem.getTargetDetails("-6,3,1")
local Object214 = sItem.getTargetDetails("-7,3,1")
local Object215 = sItem.getTargetDetails("-8,3,1")
local Object221 = sItem.getTargetDetails("-4,4,1")
local Object222 = sItem.getTargetDetails("-5,4,1")
local Object223 = sItem.getTargetDetails("-6,4,1")
local Object224 = sItem.getTargetDetails("-7,4,1")
local Object225 = sItem.getTargetDetails("-8,4,1")
local Object231 = sItem.getTargetDetails("-4,5,1")
local Object232 = sItem.getTargetDetails("-5,5,1")
local Object233 = sItem.getTargetDetails("-6,5,1")
local Object234 = sItem.getTargetDetails("-7,5,1")
local Object235 = sItem.getTargetDetails("-8,5,1")

I would then proceed to call each of these variables in a function, where the position on screen is a function of the numbers in the name, the first two numbers relating to x coords and the last number to the y coords:

mon.setCursorPos(4,4)
mon.write(Object111.StoredPercentage)
mon.setCursorPos(10,4)
mon.write(Object112.StoredPercentage)
mon.setCursorPos(16,4)
mon.write(Object113.StoredPercentage)
...
mon.setCursorPos(8,4)
mon.write(Object121.StoredPercentage)
mon.setCursorPos(8,4)
mon.write(Object121.StoredPercentage)
...
mon.setCursorPos(36,4)
mon.write(Object211.StoredPercentage)
mon.setCursorPos(42,4)
mon.write(Object212.StoredPercentage)
mon.setCursorPos(48,4)
mon.write(Object213.StoredPercentage)
etc....

I can see that this should be able to be generated on the fly, but I don't know where to start without calling it out manually; I would prefer it if my code was cleaner. At this stage I really just need to be taught how to fish; if anyone can point me to documents that explain how to do what I'm trying to I would be most grateful.

• Kamiccolo: There is a way of accessing local variables in Lua. Check the PiL: debug.getlocal(). Another similar already answered question is here. If I were You, I'd try to avoid this kind of clotting and put those objects into local scoped table.
• fileinsert: Yes! I really am showing my greeness... Tables are the first step to solving my problem; I have some reading to do. Can you give me some pointers on how to break down a associative array variable name so I can take the last number from Object111 to calculate the x coord, and the first two to calculate the y coord? Thanks!
• fileinsert: Don't worry... I got it! I'll post my results once I'm finished. Thanks again... you gave me all the little push I needed.

Answer 1

Here's my final solution for anyone trying to achieve same:

local Banks = 2
local Rows = 3
local Columns = 5
function Objectstatus(bank,row,column)
 Id = bank .. row .. column
 worldx = "-" .. column+3
 worldy = row+2
 if bank == 1 then worldz = -4; end
 if bank == 2 then worldz = 1; end
 Object = {}
 Object[Id] = s.getTargetDetails(worldx..","..worldy..","..worldz)
 xcursor = (column*7)+3
 if bank == 1 then 
 ycursor = (row*4)+8
 end
 if bank == 2 then 
 ycursor = (row*4)+24
 end
 mon.setCursorPos(xcursor,ycursor)
 powertext(Object[Id].StoredPercentage) -- A function that sets Texts settings based on result
 mon.write(Object[Id].StoredPercentage) -- Actually writes the result
end
 for BankTemp = 1, Banks do
 for ColumnTemp = 1, Columns do
 for RowTemp = 1, Rows do
 Objectstatus(BankTemp,RowTemp,ColumnTemp)
 end
 end
 end

• Kamiccolo: one tiny suggestion - I'd make Id, worldx, worldy, xcursor, ycursor local ones too. This way it won't clog global space and perform a little bit faster.
• fileinsert: The way I have written my script means these variables are called outside the function, which I believe means they have to be global unless I am mistaken. But thanks for the continuing advice as it is warmly received.
• Kamiccolo: uffff... it's not the best practice. You know, in Lua functions can return multiple values? Ref.: PiL5.1 - multiple results