Lua Programming Help Thread

[Anti-QuickJay]

You mean to unencrypt?

[%chrono trigger%]

thats what i meant srry really tired

[Aphonia]

Just keep a spare, unencrypted script.

[%chrono trigger%]

yeah i forgot to cause i was tired and just clicked it. now remembered i didnt have an extra

[myschoo]

why do you encrypt lua codes? o_O

[eldiablov]

So nobody can copy his hard work. Although i don't encrypt my scripts.

[HaxxBlaster]

So nobody can copy his hard work. Although i don't encrypt my scripts.

The actual characters within the document also becomes fewer, and LuaPlayer reads the code faster as well.

[emericaska8r]

The actual characters within the document also becomes fewer, and LuaPlayer reads the code faster as well.

you're saying that if i encrypt my code that my game will run faster?

[Access_Denied]

you're saying that if i encrypt my code that my game will run faster?

Yes. It'll save space too.

[pspaquaforce]

what do you use to encrypt it?

[emericaska8r]

i'm searching for it, i'll let you know when i find it

[Access_Denied]

The Luac binary.
Make a new text file. Inside of it write:

Luac yourscriptname.lua outputname.lua
pause

Then rename it to Luac.bat and run it.

[emericaska8r]

seems like there is a thing called luac which precompiles your code into binary files which will load faster, and protect your code.
-= Double Post =-
and XtreamLua Compiler

[Access_Denied]

LuaC is different than XtreamLua Compiler. XtreamLua Compiler is harder to decrypt.

[pspaquaforce]

ok i need some more help here i got my animation to work I acutally didn't use animation lib but soulkiller's aniamtion instead :Punk: but i have a scrolling bg and when i move the whole animation comes with me here's my script if anyone wants to give a crack at it



[code]
--///////////////// Aquateen Created By : pspaquaforce, Thanks To Evilmana Tutorials\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ \\
--///////////////// Special Thanks : Jason215, soulkiller, Evilmana Forums



green = Color.new(0,255,0)
white = Color.new(255,255,255)
red = Color.new(255,0,0)
black = Color.new(0,0,0)

--// Player, Enemy, Ground , bullet

splash = Image.load("splashScreen. png")
--OPENING SPLASH SCREEN
screen:clear()
screen:blit(0,0,splash)
screen.flip()
screen.waitVblankStart(10 0)

backgroundCache = Image.load("image.png")
backgroundCache2 = Image.load("image2.png")
backgroundCache3 = Image.load("image3.png")


bullet = Image.createEmpty(4,4)
bullet:clear(red)

player1 = Image.load("figure.png")

Player = {}
Player[1] ={ x = 50, y = 200, gravity = 200, jumpspeed = 10, jumpstate= "ground"}

enemy1 = Image.load("shake.png") --// enemy image

Enemy= {}
Enemy[1] ={x = 400, y = 150, gravity = 200, jumpspeed = 10, jumpstate= "ground"}

BulletInfo = {}
for a = 1,5 do
BulletInfo[a] = { pic = bullet , firing = false, direction = "right", x = Player[1].x + 32,
y = Player[1].y + 16 }
end

Back1 = {} --------first scrolling background ( standard image 480 x 272)
Back1.x = 0 ----positioned at the start
Back1.y = 0

Back1.img = backgroundCache --- first background

Back2 = {} --------Second scrolling background ( standard image 480 x 272)
Back2.x = 480 ---- positioned precisely after the first background
Back2.y = 0

Back2.img = backgroundCache2 --- second background to scroll after first

Back3 = {} --------Third scrolling background ( standard image 480 x 272)
Back3.x = 960 ---- positioned precisely after the second background
Back3.y = 0
Back3.img = backgroundCache3 --- second background to scroll after second

ground = Image.load("ground.png")

frame1 = Image.load("frame1.png")
frame2 = Image.load("frame2.png")
frame3 = Image.load("frame3.png")
currentFrame = 1 --this represents which frame is displaying
counter = 0 --this is the frame counter which is used to determine when to change frames

--// Variable

oldpad = Controls.read()
currentBullet = 0
direction = "right"

--// Functions

function bulletFire()
for i = 1,5 do
if BulletInfo[i].firing == true then
if BulletInfo[i].direction == "right" then BulletInfo[i].x = BulletInfo[i].x + 10 end
if BulletInfo[i].direction == "left" then BulletInfo[i].x = BulletInfo[i].x - 10 end
screen:blit(BulletInfo[i].x,BulletInfo[i].y,BulletInfo[i].pic)
end
if BulletInfo[i].x < 0 or BulletInfo[i].x > 480 or BulletInfo[i].y < 0 or BulletInfo[i].y > 272 then BulletInfo[i].firing = false end
end
end

function bulletSetup()
--Increase the current bullet by one, or reset it to 1
if currentBullet < 5 then
currentBullet = currentBullet + 1
else
currentBullet = 1
end
if direction == "left" then
BulletInfo[currentBullet].x = Player[1].x
BulletInfo[currentBullet].y = Player[1].y + 16
end
if direction == "right" then
BulletInfo[currentBullet].x = Player[1].x + 32
BulletInfo[currentBullet].y = Player[1].y + 16
end

BulletInfo[currentBullet].direction = direction
BulletInfo[currentBullet].firing = true
end

function movePlayer()
pad = Controls.read()
if pad:left() then
Player[1].x = Player[1].x - 1.5
Back1.x = Back1.x + 3 ------ moves the background to scroll in the direction you are going
Back2.x = Back2.x + 3 ------ moves the background to scroll in the direction you are going
Back3.x = Back3.x + 3 ------ moves the background to scroll in the direction you are going
direction = "left"
end
if pad:right() then
Player[1].x = Player[1].x + 1.5
Back1.x = Back1.x - 3 ------ moves the background to scroll in the direction you are going
Back2.x = Back2.x - 3 ------ moves the background to scroll in the direction you are going
Back3.x = Back3.x - 3 ------ moves the background to scroll in the direction you are going
direction = "right"
end
if pad:up() then
Player[1].y = Player[1].y - 1
direction = "up"
end
if pad:down() then
Player[1].y = Player[1].y + 1
direction = "down"
end
end

function chasePlayer()
stallchase = math.random(2)
if stallchase == 1 then
if Enemy[1].x > Player[1].x then
Enemy[1].x = Enemy[1].x - 1.5
elseif Enemy[1].x < Player[1].x then
Enemy[1].x = Enemy[1].x + 2
end
end
end

function Jump() --// Function to jump

if pad:cross() and Player[1].jumpstate == "ground" then Player[1].jumpstate = "jumping"
end
if Player[1].jumpstate == "jumping" then
Player[1].jumpspeed = Player[1].jumpspeed - 0.5
Player[1].gravity = Player[1].gravity - Player[1].jumpspeed
end

if Player[1].gravity < 0 then
Player[1].jumpstate = "falling"
end

if Player[1].gravity < 200 and Player[1].jumpstate == "falling" then
Player[1].gravity = Player[1].gravity + (Player[1].jumpspeed + 3)
end

if Player[1].gravity == 200 then
Player[1].jumpspeed = 10
Player[1].jumpstate = "ground"
end

if Player[1].gravity > 200 then Player[1].gravity = 200
end

Player[1].y = Player[1].gravity
end


while true do
pad = Controls.read()
screen:clear()

counter = counter + 1
screen:clear()
if counter > 60 then --if 60 frames have passed
if currentFrame == 3 then --if we are on the last frame
currentFrame = 1 --go back to first frame (loops animation)
else
currentFrame = currentFrame + 1 --else goto the next frame
end
counter = 0 --reset the counter
end

if pad:circle() and oldpad:circle() ~= pad:circle() then
bulletSetup()
end
--// Loads Functions
movePlayer()
chasePlayer()

Jump()
--


--// blitting Image to screen and text

screen:blit(Back1.x, Back1.y, Back1.img) --- blits first background to the screen
screen:blit(Back2.x, Back2.y, Back2.img) --- blits second background to the screen
screen:blit(Back3.x, Back3.y, Back3.img) --- blits third background to the screen

screen:blit(Player[1].x, Player[1].y, player1)
screen:blit(Enemy[1].x, Enemy[1].y, enemy1)
screen:blit(0,262,ground)

bulletFire()

screenrint(10,10,"X: "..Player[1].x.." Y: "..Player[1].y,green)
screenrint(10,20,"Jumps tate: "..Player[1].jumpstate,green)
screenrint(400,10,"You Suck",green)
--
if currentFrame == 1 then --draw first frame
screen:blit(370,50,frame1 )
elseif currentFrame == 2 then --draw second frame
screen:blit(370,50,frame2 )
elseif currentFrame == 3 then --draw third frame
screen:blit(370,50,frame3 )
end

screen.waitVblankStart()
screen.flip()
end[code]

[Merick]

I'm trying to make a function that will load all the images in the sub directory "tiles" into a table. The code I've put together so far doesn't work, lua player quits with this error message:

error: tileloader.lua:15 attempt to index global 'files' (a nil value)

or

error: tileloader.lua:15 Image.load: error loading image

it depends on whether or not I use ".tiles/" or "tiles/"

loop1 = true
loop2 = true
tilenum = 1
files = {}
tiles = {}
white=Color.new(255,255,255)


-- load all images from tiles folder
function loadtiles(tiles)
	loop1 = true
	files = System.listDirectory("tiles/")
		while loop1 do
		tiles[tilenum] = Image.load(files[tilenum].name)
		tilenum = tilenum +1
		if files[tilenum].name == nil then loop1 = false end
	end
end		

loadtiles(tiles)

-- display images one at a time
loop1 = true
tilenum = 1

while loop1 do
	loop2 = true
	screen:blit (10,10, tiles[tilenum])
	screen:flip()
	while loop2 do
		pad = Controls.read()
		if pad:start() then loop2=false oldpad = pad end
	end
	tilenum = tilenum +1
	if pad:start() and pad ~= oldpad then loop1 = false end

end

can anyone tell me what I'm doing wrong?

[dracule]

I just had a inquiry

which is more efficient, doing 3 if statements or using one if and 2 else if?

[Access_Denied]

I just had a inquiry

which is more efficient, doing 3 if statements or using one if and 2 else if?

I would think they would be exactly the same. If not, it can't make that much of a difference.

[pspaquaforce]

I like the "if" statment its fun and understandable
example "if Homo.x == 69.x then
Gay = true

[Anti-QuickJay]

Dont use Gay on these forums.
Some people find it offensive.

[Grimfate126]

I just had a inquiry

which is more efficient, doing 3 if statements or using one if and 2 else if?

the second one. and it does make a big difference. suppose you did this:

if x == 5 then
-- do whatever --
end
if x == 6 then
-- do whatever -- 
end
if x == 7 then
-- do whatever -- 
end

when you ran the script, the program would first check if x was 5. suppose it was. then the code that is inside executes. BUT, after the code is done, the computer AGAIN checks if x is 6 or 7, when it has already matched 5. thus, it wastes some time. this can make a huge difference in programs.

NOW, suppose you did this:

if x == 5 then
-- do whatever --
elseif x == 6 then
-- do whatever -- 
elseif x == 7 then
-- do whatever -- 
end

NOW, the compuet again checks if x is 5. suppose it is again. NOW, the code inside executes. after the code has been completed, the program sees the else if and IGNORES the other two if statements, because it knows that a match was made. thus, it saves some time.

[pspaquaforce]

Dont use Gay on these forums.
Some people find it offensive.

how about saying Homosexuals or lezibions that is the proper way to call them. Gay is just a slang term for the meaning homosexual
I don't think they would find it that offensive, unless your affended by it

[andyauff]

Lezibions..hmm interesting. Sounds like a relative of the lion. JK.

[TacticalPenguin]

I'm trying to make a function that will load all the images in the sub directory "tiles" into a table. The code I've put together so far doesn't work, lua player quits with this error message:

error: tileloader.lua:15 attempt to index global 'files' (a nil value)

or

error: tileloader.lua:15 Image.load: error loading image

it depends on whether or not I use ".tiles/" or "tiles/"

loop1 = true
loop2 = true
tilenum = 1
files = {}
tiles = {}
white=Color.new(255,255,255)


-- load all images from tiles folder
function loadtiles(tiles)
	loop1 = true
	files = System.listDirectory("tiles/")
		while loop1 do
		tiles[tilenum] = Image.load(files[tilenum].name)
		tilenum = tilenum +1
		if files[tilenum].name == nil then loop1 = false end
	end
end		

loadtiles(tiles)

-- display images one at a time
loop1 = true
tilenum = 1

while loop1 do
	loop2 = true
	screen:blit (10,10, tiles[tilenum])
	screen:flip()
	while loop2 do
		pad = Controls.read()
		if pad:start() then loop2=false oldpad = pad end
	end
	tilenum = tilenum +1
	if pad:start() and pad ~= oldpad then loop1 = false end

end

can anyone tell me what I'm doing wrong?

imagetable = {}

tiledir = System.listDirectory("./
tiles")

for i = 3, table.getn(tiledir) do
imagetable[i-2] = Image.load("./tiles/"..tiledir[i].name)
end

Try something like that. If you need to know why its for i = 3 and imagetable[i-2] its because listdirectory tables also contain two extra items, . and ..
That'll load every image in the directory into the table.

[Merick]

Thanks a lot, that fixed it right up! Now I get get to work on the rest of the program.

[pspaquaforce]

any idea about mine

[Aphonia]

I'll post the code I made for you a couple of days ago. It has notes (mine have !!! before and after), and it improves blitting, too (but it could still be better).

Spoiler for script:

--///////////////// Aquateen Created By : pspfreak101, Thanks To Evilmana Tutorials\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\
--///////////////// Special Thanks : Jason215, Evilmana Forums



green = Color.new(0,255,0)
white = Color.new(255,255,255)
red = Color.new(255,0,0)
black = Color.new(0,0,0)

--// Player, Enemy, Ground , bullet
backgroundCache = Image.load("image.png")
backgroundCache2 = Image.load("image2.png")
backgroundCache3 = Image.load("image3.png")


bullet = Image.createEmpty(4,4)
bullet:clear(green)

player1 = Image.load("figure.png")

Player = {}
Player[1] ={ x = 50, y = 200, gravity = 200, jumpspeed = 10, jumpstate= "ground"}

enemy1 = Image.load("shake.png") --// enemy image

Enemy= {}
Enemy[1] ={x = 300, y = 150, gravity = 200, jumpspeed = 10, jumpstate= "ground"}

BulletInfo = {}
for a = 1,5 do
BulletInfo[a] = { pic = bullet , firing = false, direction = "right", x = Player[1].x + 32,
y = Player[1].y + 16 }
end

Back1 = {} --------first scrolling background ( standard image 480 x 272)
Back1.x = 0 ----positioned at the start 
Back1.y = 0

Back1.img = backgroundCache --- first background
	
Back2 = {}  --------Second scrolling background ( standard image 480 x 272)
Back2.x = 480 ---- positioned precisely after the first background
Back2.y = 0
	
Back2.img = backgroundCache2 --- second background to scroll after first
	
Back3 = {}  --------Third scrolling background ( standard image 480 x 272)
Back3.x = 960 ---- positioned precisely after the second background	
Back3.y = 0
Back3.img = backgroundCache3 --- second background to scroll after second

ground = Image.createEmpty(480,14)
ground:clear(green)


--// Variable

oldpad = Controls.read()
currentBullet = 0
direction = "right"

--// Functions

function bulletFire()
for i = 1,5 do
if BulletInfo[i].firing == true then
if BulletInfo[i].direction == "right" then BulletInfo[i].x = BulletInfo[i].x + 10 end
if BulletInfo[i].direction == "left" then BulletInfo[i].x = BulletInfo[i].x - 10 end
screen:blit(BulletInfo[i].x,BulletInfo[i].y,BulletInfo[i].pic)
end
if BulletInfo[i].x < 0 or BulletInfo[i].x > 480 or BulletInfo[i].y < 0 or BulletInfo[i].y > 272 then BulletInfo[i].firing = false end
end
end


function bulletSetup()
--Increase the current bullet by one, or reset it to 1
if currentBullet < 5 then
currentBullet = currentBullet + 1
else
currentBullet = 1
end
if direction == "left" then
BulletInfo[currentBullet].x = Player[1].x
BulletInfo[currentBullet].y = Player[1].y + 16
end
if direction == "right" then
BulletInfo[currentBullet].x = Player[1].x + 32
BulletInfo[currentBullet].y = Player[1].y + 16
end
BulletInfo[currentBullet].direction = direction
BulletInfo[currentBullet].firing = true
end

function movePlayer()
if pad:left() then
Back1.x = Back1.x + 1.5 ------ moves the background to scroll in the !!!opposite!!! direction you are going
Back2.x = Back2.x + 1.5 ------ moves the background to scroll in the !!!opposite!!! direction you are going
Back3.x = Back3.x + 1.5 ------ moves the background to scroll in the !!!opposite!!! direction you are going
direction = "left"
if Player[1].x >= 70 then -------!!!only if x is more than or = to 70 do you want to move, so you don't go offscreen. Change 70 to 150 or 0 and see what happens!!!
Player[1].x = Player[1].x - 1.5
end     -------- !!!END the if pad left part
end     -------- !!! now END the if x >= 70 part, so it'll only check player[1].x if pad is left, too !!!
if pad:right() then
Back1.x = Back1.x - 1.5 ------ moves the background to scroll in the !!!opposite!!! direction you are going
Back2.x = Back2.x - 1.5 ------ moves the background to scroll in the !!!opposite!!! direction you are going
Back3.x = Back3.x - 1.5 ------ moves the background to scroll in the !!!opposite!!! direction you are going
direction = "right"
if Player[1].x <= 300 then  -------!!!only if x is less than or = to 300 do you want to move, so you don't go offscreen. Change 300 to 450 or 100 and see what happens!!!
Player[1].x = Player[1].x + 1.5
end      -------- !!!END the if pad left part
end     -------- !!! now END the if x <= 300 part, so it'll only check player[1].x if pad is right, too !!!
if pad:up() then
Player[1].y = Player[1].y - 1.5
direction = "up"
end
if pad:down() then
Player[1].y = Player[1].y + 1.5
direction = "down"
end
end

function chasePlayer() 
stallchase = math.random(2) 
if stallchase == 1 then 
if Enemy[1].x > Player[1].x then
Enemy[1].x = Enemy[1].x - 1
elseif Enemy[1].x < Player[1].x then
Enemy[1].x = Enemy[1].x + 1.5
end
end
end

function Jump() --// Function to jump

if pad:cross() and Player[1].jumpstate == "ground" then Player[1].jumpstate = "jumping"
end
if Player[1].jumpstate == "jumping" then
Player[1].jumpspeed = Player[1].jumpspeed - 0.5
Player[1].gravity = Player[1].gravity - Player[1].jumpspeed
end

if Player[1].gravity < 0 then
Player[1].jumpstate = "falling"
end

if Player[1].gravity < 200 and Player[1].jumpstate == "falling" then
Player[1].gravity = Player[1].gravity + (Player[1].jumpspeed + 3)
end

if Player[1].gravity == 200 then
Player[1].jumpspeed = 10
Player[1].jumpstate = "ground"
end

if Player[1].gravity > 200 then Player[1].gravity = 200
end

Player[1].y = Player[1].gravity
end


while true do
pad = Controls.read()
screen:clear()



if pad:circle() and oldpad:circle() ~= pad:circle() then
bulletSetup()
end
--// Loads Functions
movePlayer()
chasePlayer()
Jump()
--

--// blitting Image to screen and text !!!first is the bottom layer, last is the top layer!!!
if Back1.x  <= 480 and Back1.x >= -480 then   ----!!!if it should be visible, blit it, otherwise you're blitting stuff offscreen and slowing down the game!!!
screen:blit(Back1.x, Back1.y, Back1.img) --- blits first background to the screen
end
if Back2.x  <= 480 and Back2.x >= -480 then  ----!!!if it should be visible, blit it, otherwise you're blitting stuff offscreen and slowing down the game!!!
screen:blit(Back2.x, Back2.y, Back2.img) --- blits second background to the screen
end
if Back3.x  <= 480 and Back3.x >= -480 then  ----!!!if it should be visible, blit it, otherwise you're blitting stuff offscreen and slowing down the game!!!
screen:blit(Back3.x, Back3.y, Back3.img) --- blits third background to the screen
end

bulletFire()   ----!!!Blits bullets after background, but before player,enemy,text and ground-switch it up however you like !!!

screen:blit(Player[1].x, Player[1].y, player1)
screen:blit(Enemy[1].x, Enemy[1].y, enemy1)
screen:blit(0,262,ground)



screen:print(10,10,"X: "..Player[1].x.." Y: "..Player[1].y,green)
screen:print(10,20,"Jumpstate: "..Player[1].jumpstate,green)
screen:print(400,10,"You Suck",green)
--


screen.waitVblankStart()
screen.flip()
end

EDIT:
I have a question:
Can someone send me a copy of Wedge Racer? I can't seem to download it, and I need the source as an example.
EDIT Again:
Nevermind. After six attempts on dial-up, I got it.

[Merick]

hmm, I'm having some trouble with tables in tables. In my tile loader, how would I make my "tiles" into a two-part table, one part with the image and the second part with the filename of the image?

*edit*

I think I've got it worked out now

[pspaquaforce]

thanks aphonia but you still didn't solve my problem. I wanted the animation to stay in one place instead of it moving with me. But thanls for fixing of some my errors

[eldiablov]

Use animlib to make it easier.