Lua Programming Help Thread

[xXChromeXx]

I need an efficient way to change levels in my game, Arkanoid Deluxe. Ive tried functions, they don't work. Ive tried dofile, it doesn't work. All I need to do is restate

Block = {}
Block[1] = {x = 0, y = 0, visible = "true"}

For all 24 block. Because all that changes every level is the block positions.

Please Help.

[FaT3oYCG]

for i = 1, 24 do
     Block[i].visible = "true"
end

[xXChromeXx]

for i = 1, 24 do
     Block[i].visible = "true"
end

I have that. I need to restate the x and y but it doesn't.

[FaT3oYCG]

for i = 1, 24 do
     Block[i].x = 0
     Block[i].y = 0
     Block[i].visible = "true"
end

[michaelp]

for i = 1, 24 do
  Block[i].visible = "true"
  Block[i].x = 0
  Block[i].y = 0
end

??
Like that?

edit: I lost.

[dan369]

Don't worry, Ummhhh. How many people on ad-hoc could you get to play at One given Time?

[xXChromeXx]

for i = 1, 24 do
     Block[i].x = 0
     Block[i].y = 0
     Block[i].visible = "true"
end

But the Blocks Positions are different.
I would have done that.

-=Double Post Merge =-

Don't worry, Ummhhh. How many people on ad-hoc could you get to play at One given Time?

Ive tried dofile

[FaT3oYCG]

for i = 1, 24 do
     Block[i].x = something * i
     Block[i].y = something * i
     Block[i].visible = "true"
end

[xXChromeXx]

for i = 1, 24 do
     Block[i].x = something * i
     Block[i].y = something * i
     Block[i].visible = "true"
end

How does that work?? All it does is multiply 1 value by I

[FaT3oYCG]

sorry here do something like this, this is the code taken from one of my breakout games.

function display_bricks(brick_number)
	for i = 1, brick_number do
		if bricks[i].enabled == 1 then
			if i <= 6 then
				row = 1
			elseif i <= 12 then
				row = 2
			elseif i <= 18 then
				row = 3
			end
			bricks[i].x = 30 + (((i - 1) - ((row - 1) * 6)) * 70)
			bricks[i].y = 20 + ((row - 1) * 20)
			screen:blit(bricks[i].x, bricks[i].y, bricks[i].img)
		end
	end
end

[xXChromeXx]

sorry here do something like this, this is the code taken from one of my breakout games.

function display_bricks(brick_number)
	for i = 1, brick_number do
		if bricks[i].enabled == 1 then
			if i <= 6 then
				row = 1
			elseif i <= 12 then
				row = 2
			elseif i <= 18 then
				row = 3
			end
			bricks[i].x = 30 + (((i - 1) - ((row - 1) * 6)) * 70)
			bricks[i].y = 20 + ((row - 1) * 20)
			screen:blit(bricks[i].x, bricks[i].y, bricks[i].img)
		end
	end
end

Can you explain it im kind of new

[FaT3oYCG]

basically it splits the bricks up into 3 rows, depending on the number of bricks you have on each row change the numbers 6, 12, and 18 so that you do get 3 rows or add some more code in if you want more rows.

the second part displays the brick at an x and y position depending on which row and brick that it is

if you need a more detailed explanation than ill have to do it tomorrow as im going bed now unless someone else that understands it tells you (not dan369)

[TurtlesPwn]

Fatboy he wants each level to have all kinds of different positions, not just to reset for each level

What I would do is make a 3d table - a table of tables of tables. First table is of all the different level tables and each level table is a table blocks, each block being a table. Simply switch which subtable of the first table you access for all the blocks to change which level youre on and have each different subtable be a different level.

If that makes any sense....

[dan369]

if you need a more detailed explanation than ill have to do it tomorrow as im going bed now unless someone else that understands it tells you (not dan369)

Kind. Anyway, i'm not gunna bother trying to explain myself. because i don't know.
I'm wondering about using strings, is there a good tut or explanation about them?

Edit: Is it also possible to store tables in .txt files? if so he could dofile Various .txt files, which have drifferent tables. Just a Suggestion

[xXChromeXx]

Fatboy he wants each level to have all kinds of different positions, not just to reset for each level

What I would do is make a 3d table - a table of tables of tables. First table is of all the different level tables and each level table is a table blocks, each block being a table. Simply switch which subtable of the first table you access for all the blocks to change which level youre on and have each different subtable be a different level.

If that makes any sense....

???????

[TurtlesPwn]

http://lua-users.org/wiki/StringLibraryTutorial

chrome explain what you understand and what you dont and ill try to elaborate

[xXChromeXx]

http://lua-users.org/wiki/StringLibraryTutorial

chrome explain what you understand and what you dont and ill try to elaborate

The 3D table, like how to make it

[TurtlesPwn]

make a table:

levels = {}

with some tables inside it:

levels = {{},{},{}}

with some more tables inside them:

levels = {
{{},{},{}},
{{},{},{}},
{{},{},{}}
}

The very inside tables are each a block. The tables a level above those are a "level" and the whole big table is all the levels. When you want to be on level 1, use levels[1][1]-levels[1][howevermanyblocksthatleve lhas]
When you want level 5 use levels[5][1] to levels[5][howevermanyblockthatlevel has]

[lukespalding]

i was going to let luke work it out for him self but then dan posted some crap so i thought i would correct it. im sure luke wont find it too hard to elaborate on what i have shown him now.

I new what dan had put was wrong as soon as i read it lol and i new i needed listdirectory etc but i had no actual clue on how to get the name of files in a a directory and put them in a table then print that table to the screen, so the user can then select a save but you have shown me near enough how to do it so i have to create something that will let me choose a file aswell so thankyou for the example.

PS: dan before you post something that your not too sure about try your idea thats what i do, if it dont work dont post and vice versa.

[dan369]

Don't worry i'm not gunna post in here any more, i can't be bothered arguing. (well unless i need help)
Anyway back on topic, what does string.byte() do? this string function confuses me :S

[xXChromeXx]

make a table:

levels = {}

with some tables inside it:

levels = {{},{},{}}

with some more tables inside them:

levels = {
{{},{},{}},
{{},{},{}},
{{},{},{}}
}

The very inside tables are each a block. The tables a level above those are a "level" and the whole big table is all the levels. When you want to be on level 1, use levels[1][1]-levels[1][howevermanyblocksthatleve lhas]
When you want level 5 use levels[5][1] to levels[5][howevermanyblockthatlevel has]

I get the table. But would I call it by [1][1]to[1][24]

[TurtlesPwn]

"But would I call it by [1][1]to[1][24]"
If level one has 24 blocks, yes, and put all of those block tables within the first subtable of the whole big table.

dan - use google, a simple "lua string.byte" returns two complete thorough explanations for the first and second results

[xXChromeXx]

"But would I call it by [1][1]to[1][24]"
If level one has 24 blocks, yes, and put all of those block tables within the first subtable of the whole big table.

dan - use google, a simple "lua string.byte" returns two complete thorough explanations for the first and second results

Thanks. Does this take alot of CPU, or as much as a Normal Table

Edit: Also what about images would it be

levels = { {{b1.x = 0,b1.y = 0,b1.img = image},{b2 blah blah}},
{{b1.x = 0,b1.y = 0,b1.img = image},{b2 blah blah}} }

[TurtlesPwn]

.....
no. you're doing it wrong. why do you have b1.*, b2.*, etc? its being declared within the table so just do {x = whatever, y = whatever, img = whatever} for that one table and then to access it its levels[1][1].x levels[1][1].y etc

and its just tables, its like grouped variables, theres no reason it would use more cpu and its not like arkanoid needs all the cpu it can get in the first place

[xXChromeXx]

.....
no. you're doing it wrong. why do you have b1.*, b2.*, etc? its being declared within the table so just do {x = whatever, y = whatever, img = whatever} for that one table and then to access it its levels[1][1].x levels[1][1].y etc

and its just tables, its like grouped variables, theres no reason it would use more cpu and its not like arkanoid needs all the cpu it can get in the first place

Ok I get it now Thanks

[psporpcp]

EDIT: NVM fixed it! And is there a way to make a count down timer? like something thats basically a egg timer... and is there a war to implement a way to stop a timer? like after a certain "code" is pressed in(Like cross, cross, triangle circle)

Sorry for being such a newb haha, been searching for hours and i can't figure out how to make one.

[xXChromeXx]

EDIT: NVM fixed it! And is there a way to make a count down timer? like something thats basically a egg timer... and is there a war to implement a way to stop a timer? like after a certain "code" is pressed in(Like cross, cross, triangle circle)

Sorry for being such a newb haha, been searching for hours and i can't figure out how to make one.

You could just count up....

counter = Timer.new()

counter:start()

if pad:cross() then
counter:stop()
end

[psporpcp]

You could just count up....

counter = Timer.new()

counter:start()

if pad:cross() then
counter:stop()
end

Yea, thats what i have now, but i figured a countdown timer would be better because its going to be a timer for a airsoft "bomb planter" game xD

[xXChromeXx]

Yea, thats what i have now, but i figured a countdown timer would be better because its going to be a timer for a airsoft "bomb planter" game xD

You can use an up timer just as easily

[TurtlesPwn]

You're failing to see that he wants to do a countDOWN timer to display to the user so that they run out of time counting down to zero.

That can be done by using a normal counter counting up to the time they have and then when you print it out to show them how much time they have left use (totaltimetheyhave-timeonthetimer) to get countdowntimer