Lua Programming Help Thread

[TurtlesPwn]

But first you need to put something like this in your code:

System.playAllMp3sInASpecificDirectoryOneAfterTheOther = function(dir)
	local list = System.listDirectory(dir)
	local bgcolor = Color.new(255,255,255)
	table.remove(list,1)
	table.remove(list,1)
	for i = 1, table.getn(list) do
		if not list[i].directory and string.lower(string.sub(list[i].name,-4)) == ".mp3" then
			local path = dir.."/"..list[i].name
			Mp3.load(path)
			Mp3.play()
			screen:print(0,0,path.." is playing and has been for")
			while Mp3.eos ~= "true" do --note its a string not a boolean because some people are idiots
				screen:clear(bgcolor)
				screen:print((string.len(path)*8)+232,0,Mp3.gettime())
				screen.flip()
				screen.waitVblankStart(30)
			end
			Mp3.stop()
		end
	end
end

Also, the first letter of a function name is not capitalized (play not Play)

[_dysfunctional]

Ruining the fun, as usual, TurtlesPwn, I see.

[TurtlesPwn]

Oh come on I hate handing them code as much as you do, but im a junkie for making them go away

[_dysfunctional]

Oh snap, inside jokes suck

[TurtlesPwn]

Yea I don't think anybody except me, you, and one other person has any idea what the hell we're talking about. Let's let the noobs take back this thread.

[_dysfunctional]

Deal.

(You can't stop me)
-=Double Post Merge =-
Har har, turtle is a pretty funny guy

[TurtlesPwn]

Oh why thank you, I've always wanted to be a comedian, but whenever I do something truly epic and funny I get in trouble

[_dysfunctional]

And I thought our relationship was far past this nonsense. I forgive you <3

[TurtlesPwn]

*is confused due to confusion and unsureness of sarcasm detector*

[Slasher]

my gaydar is going craaaaazy






jk

[kevkevg]

I need help..my problem is that when I have like a menu and a submenu like this

if state="mainmenu" then
--draw code--
    if pad:cross() and oldpad ~= pad then
    state="submenu"
    end
end

if state="submenu" then
--draw code--
   if pad:cross() and oldpad ~= pad then
   --start game, etc
   end
end

The problem with this is it all happens too fast...I think it does all the code when you hold down cross because you still didnt lift it up yet. It works if I change one of them to a different button...and I tried to use system.sleep but it didnt work does anybody know how to solve this?

[Digikid13]

while true do
if state == "MainMenu" then
     if pad:cross() and oldpad:cross() ~= pad:cross() then
          state = "SubMenu"
     end
end

if state == "SubMenu" then
     if pad:cross() and oldpad:cross() ~= pad:cross() then
          --start Game
     end
end
end

-=Double Post Merge =-

On a serious note, I was looking through the docs, and found this function:

System.PlayAllMp3sInASpecificDirectoryOneAfterTheOther(dirname)

You should try that.

-.-
-=Double Post Merge =-

Oh come on I hate handing them code as much as you do, but im a junkie for making them go away

oh thanks.....-.-'

[yaustar]

Do an else if:

if state=="mainmenu" then
--draw code--
    if pad:cross() and oldpad ~= pad then
    state="submenu"
    end
elseif state=="submenu" then
--draw code--
   if pad:cross() and oldpad ~= pad then
   --start game, etc
   end
end

The reason why it wasn't working was because it could process the second if statement after the state has changed in the same frame. ie:

if state=="mainmenu" then
--draw code--
    if pad:cross() and oldpad ~= pad then
    state="submenu"
    end
end

Players presses Cross, state is now "submenu". It then processes the second if statement in the same frame so pad:cross is still false and oldpad is different to pad.

[FaT3oYCG]

also make sure you are using the right check functions

if something == "this" then
--aaaaa
end

not

if something = "this" then
--aaaaa
end

[yaustar]

Do'h, fixed.

[kevkevg]

I tried adding elseif and else if neither worked though...I get

error: index.lua: 82: 'end' expected (to close ' function' at line 28) near 'else'
Error: No script file found.

It runs without the else though..I dont get why

[FaT3oYCG]

I tried adding elseif and else if neither worked though...I get

error: index.lua: 82: 'end' expected (to close ' function' at line 28) near 'else'
Error: No script file found.

It runs without the else though..I dont get why

post the code and i will fix it for you right now.

EDIT:

nvm i just looked up and found it this has been said before but if it doesnt work then try the code below that, if that doesnt work then post your whole script and ill fix it.

if state == "mainmenu" then
--draw code--
    if pad:cross() and oldpad ~= pad then
        state = "submenu"
    end
elseif state = "submenu" then
--draw code--
   if pad:cross() and oldpad ~= pad then
       --start game, etc
   end
end

if state == "mainmenu" then
--draw code--
    if pad:cross() and oldpad ~= pad then
        state = "submenu"
        oldpad = Controls.read():cross()
    end
elseif state = "submenu" then
--draw code--
   if pad:cross() and oldpad ~= pad then
       --start game, etc
   end
end

EDIT 2:

Damn I just wasted my 1337'est post on this!

[kevkevg]

It doesnt work..Ill post my code but its pretty long. Also keep in mind this doesnt really do anything yet..im just working on the menu. Its going to be a tycoon game and I will be fixing up the graphics. Also the else ifs are spread apart alot

math.randomseed(os.time())
System.usbDiskModeActivate()
--Colors
white = Color.new(255, 255, 255)
red = Color.new(255,0,0)
green= Color.new(0,255,0)
blue=Color.new(0,0,255)
--Font
font = Font.load("Comic.ttf")
font:setPixelSizes(0,15)

--Variables
state="menu"
select=0

money=100
fans=0
skill=0

moneyearned=0
fansgained=0
expenses=0
totalearned=0


--Functions

function menu()
if state=="menu" then
   if select==0 then
   screen:fontPrint(font,20,100,"Start Day",blue)
   screen:fontPrint(font,20,120,"Location",white)
   screen:fontPrint(font,20,140,"Lessons",white)
   screen:fontPrint(font,20,160,"Equipment",white)
   end

   if select==1 then
   screen:fontPrint(font,20,100,"Start Day",white)
   screen:fontPrint(font,20,120,"Location",blue)
   screen:fontPrint(font,20,140,"Lessons",white)
   screen:fontPrint(font,20,160,"Equipment",white)
   end

   if select==2 then
   screen:fontPrint(font,20,100,"Start Day",white)
   screen:fontPrint(font,20,120,"Location",white)
   screen:fontPrint(font,20,140,"Lessons",blue)
   screen:fontPrint(font,20,160,"Equipment",white)
   end

   if select==3 then
   screen:fontPrint(font,20,100,"Start Day",white)
   screen:fontPrint(font,20,120,"Location",white)
   screen:fontPrint(font,20,140,"Lessons",white)
   screen:fontPrint(font,20,160,"Equipment",blue)
   end

   if pad:cross() and oldpad ~= pad then
      if select==0 then 
      state="startday" 
      select=0
      end

      if select==1 then
      state="locations"
      select=0
      end

      if select==2 then
      state="lessons"
      select=0
      end

      if select==3 then
      state="equipment"
      select=0
      end
   end
end

--startday
elseif state="startday" then
moneyearned=(fans*math.random(5))+10
fansgained=math.floor(moneyearned/2)
expenses=0
totalearned=moneyearned-expenses

screen:fontPrint(font,20,100,"Money Earned: ",white)
screen:fontPrint(font,140,100,moneyearned,white)

screen:fontPrint(font,20,120,"Fans Gained: ",white)
screen:fontPrint(font,140,120,fansgained,white)

screen:fontPrint(font,20,140,"Expenses: ",red)
screen:fontPrint(font,140,140,expenses,red)

screen:fontPrint(font,20,160,"Total: ",white)
screen:fontPrint(font,140,160,totalearned,white)
end

elseif state="locations" then
screen:fontPrint(font,20,80,"Choose Location",white)

   if select==0 then
   screen:fontPrint(font,20,100,"The Bronx",blue)
   screen:fontPrint(font,20,120,"Manhatten",white)
   end

   if select==1 then
   screen:fontPrint(font,20,100,"The Bronx",white)
   screen:fontPrint(font,20,120,"Manhatten",blue)
   end

   if pad:circle() and oldpad~=pad then
   state="menu"
   end
end

elseif state="lessons" then

   if select==0 then
   screen:fontPrint(font,20,100,"Take Lessons",blue)
   screen:fontPrint(font,20,120,"Leave",white)
   end

   if select==1 then
   screen:fontPrint(font,20,100,"Take Lessons",white)
   screen:fontPrint(font,20,120,"Leave",blue)
   end

   if pad:circle() and oldpad ~= pad then
   state="menu"
   end

   if pad:cross() and oldpad ~= pad then
      if select==0 then
      skill=skill+1
      money=money-skill*100
      state="menu"
      select=2
      end

      if select==1 then
      state="menu"
      select=2 
      end
   end
end


--Update Select
if pad:down() and oldpad ~= pad then
select=select+1
end
if pad:up() and oldpad ~= pad then
select=select-1
end
if select>3 then
select=0
end
if select<0 then
select=3
end


end


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

screen:fontPrint(font,5,15,"Money:",white)
screen:fontPrint(font,55,15,money,white)
screen:fontPrint(font,100,15,"Fans:",white)
screen:fontPrint(font,160,15,fans,white)

menu()

   if pad:triangle() then
   break
   end

oldpad=pad
screen.waitVblankStart()
screen.flip()
end

[Nielkie]

Aside from the fact that the menu code is horrible, and your indenting is ridiculous, elseifs work like this:

if exp then block elseif exp then block end

( http://www.lua.org/manual/5.1/manual.html#2.4.4 )

As you can see, you multiple times have:

end

elseif state=...

[kevkevg]

How can I make it easier..because it gets kind of complicated. Should I use switch statements(if lua even has them). Also are you saying I cant have multiple elses.

[_dysfunctional]

What he means is, you are doing:

if blah then
    -- something
end
elseif blah then
    -- something else
end

when you should be doing:

if blah then
    -- something
elseif blah then
    -- something else
end

[Nielkie]

To make it easier, use tables and loops.

colour1 = Color.new(128,128,128)
colour2 = Color.new(255,255,255)

options = {
	"lol1",
	"lol2",
	"lol3"
}

selection = 1
seperation = 50

while true do
	--normal int stuff
	
	if pad:up and not oldpad:up() then
		selection = selection - 1
	end
	if pad:down and not oldpad:down() then
		selection = selection + 1
	end
	
	if selection > table.getn(options) then
		selection = 1
	elseif selection < 1 then
		selection = table.getn(options)
	end
	
	for i, text in ipairs(options) do
		if selection == i then
			screen:print(50, (i - 1) * seperation, text, colour1)
		else
			screen:print(50, (i - 1) * seperation, text, colour2)
		end
	end
	
	--normal end stuff
end

Oh, and you can do multiple elseif. (I suggest you look through the lua reference manual to avoid these problems in future).

if blah then
	lolcat
elseif blah2 then
	loldog
elseif blah3 then
	lolbird
end

[j3r3mie]

Hi all.

I'm using the HM function to save date with officiel Sony Data Manager but Lua Player HM is always putting on the save a ugly ICON0 and PIC1. Does someone knoe how to fix it ?

[homemister91]

I will fix it

[wicked_fable]

Agh, my brain isn't working. I have been figuring out a whole bunch of things on my own but right now I guess I am feeling too much pressure to figure this out. This might seem simple to you all but for some reason I just can't wrap my head around ti. I am sure if I just spend some time thinking about it I will eventually get it but I would appreciate it if anyone can give me a hint as to how I would solve the following problem:

Okay, if I were making a dodging style game where the speed kept increasing after every 30 seconds how would I do that? I want all of the objects to advance in speed and make sure that the game could go on to infinity if someone were that good(or maybe if I set an AI to control the player and make it able to dodge all the objects). How would I do this? Just a rough explanation or a quick example would be nice. I do not need a full blown explanation.

Thanks,
-Daniel

[_dysfunctional]

You would do something like...

local timer = Timer()
timer:start()
 
local last = 0
 
while gameRunning do
    local delta = timer:delta()
    local diff = delta - last
    if diff > (30 seconds) then
        PlayerSpeed = PlayerSpeed + 1
    end
 
    last = delta
 
    -- Other stuff
 
end

[wicked_fable]

Thank you dysfunctional. What does "timer:delta()" get? I have not used that before.

[_dysfunctional]

Those aren't actual luaplayer functions, I just used the names of the classes I export to lua in my own 'luaplayer'. Timer:delta() is the amount of time that passed since the timer started. If you look up the documentation to whichever lib you use (I suggest PGELua), you will find the corresponding function name.

[Nielkie]

In luaplayer:

timer = Timer.new()
timer:start()
 
while gameRunning do
    if timer:time() > 30000 then
        PlayerSpeed = PlayerSpeed + 1
        timer:reset()
    end

    -- Other stuff
 
end

In PGE Lua: (Is't the delta the time since the last timer update?)

timer = pge.timer.create()

timerTime = 0

while gameRunning do
    timerTime = timerTime + timer:getdelta()
    if timerTime > 30000 then
        PlayerSpeed = PlayerSpeed + 1
        timerTime = 0
    end

    -- Other stuff
 
end

or simpler (but possabily slower):

timer = pge.timer.create()

while gameRunning do
    timer:update()
    if timer:totalTime > 30000 then
        PlayerSpeed = PlayerSpeed + 1
        timer = pge.timer.create()
    end

    -- Other stuff
 
end

[wicked_fable]

Okay, thanks Nielkie and dystfunctional. That just made me feel like an idiot. Now that I look at it it seems so obvious. Thanks guys.