compiled vertex arrays question?

If you want to create a compiled vertex array, does the array have to be declared at the coding start, or can the array be read into memory, and then locked for use from then on?? I want to load a map into memory from a txt file, then lock the vertex information into a compiled array, is this possible, or do I need to put the array into hardcode before compiling??

Yes of course… just create an array on the fly… simplest being way in c being

float *myvertexrange = malloc(sizeof(float) * num_text_array_elements);

then just spool your text data into the array whenever you like. dont forget to set the vertex pointer to myvertexrange