Manipulate with generated controls for setting each bar in a bar chart

Question

I would like to create a list of parameters, then create a Manipulate with these parameters. Similar to this piece of code:

(* code that generates manipulate parameters *)
bars = Array[b, 5];
(* code that generates manipulate *)
Manipulate[
 BarChart[bars, PlotRange -> {0, 2}],
 Evaluate[Sequence @@ ({#, 0, 2} & /@ bars)]]

Manipulate displays 5 controls for b[1]..b[5], but the BarChart always stays empty - I think bars isn't evaluated, but I couldn't figure out how to make Manipulate evaluate it.

This works, but isn't dynamic any more:

bars = Array[b, 5];
Manipulate[
 BarChart[{b[1], b[2], b[3], b[4], b[5]}, PlotRange -> {0, 2}],
 Evaluate[Sequence @@ ({#, 0, 2} & /@ bars)]]

(i.e. if the code above decides to create 4 or 6 entries in bars it won't work any more)

Answer 1

You can inject the evaluated bars with With:

With[{bars = bars},
 Manipulate[BarChart[bars, PlotRange -> {0, 2}], 
  Evaluate[Sequence @@ ({#, 0, 2} & /@ bars)]]
 ]

Or with a function:

manFN = Function[bars, 
   Manipulate[BarChart[bars, PlotRange -> {0, 2}], 
    Evaluate[Sequence @@ ({#, 0, 2} & /@ bars)]]
   ];

manFN[Rest@bars] (* Rest@.. to show dependence on argument *)