add data to an existing object with a method not in @ directory

I have created a class of objects, and have stored the core methods for working with these objects in a directory whose name starts with @.

Now I'd like to write another method to modify my object, but it's not core to the functioning of the class, so I don't want to put it in the @ directory because it's not general purpose enough.

If x is the name of the object, I would like to modify it in place by a call to

x.myFunction(arguments)

but the only way I know how to do this without putting myFunction into the @ directory would be to write the code as

x = myfunction(x, arguments)

but this would be bad for what I think are obvious reasons.

[Jan]

"it's not general purpose enough" - in object oriented programming there is no "too general purpose". The access to data of an object have to be restricted to methods of this class.

[Walter Roberson]

modifications in place are restricted to classes derived from handle, which your class does not appear to be .

[Adam]

Either the function belongs on the class or it doesn't. If it does it needs to either be defined in the class file or in the @ directory (I never use the latter method, I always define all class functions in the class file itself, but I assume that is the case). If it doesn't then it can be anywhere but would just work with the class object and its public functions/properties like any other external function.