naming variables from strings

Blitz3D Forums/Blitz3D Beginners Area/naming variables from strings

B2 (Posted 2010) [#1]

Hi, I am new to this forum just have a quick question about blitz. I have been working on a project for a little while now but I have stumbled across an issue. I am creating a loading sequence for all of the content that is required in my game. An I have been using a general type to be used to cycle through over and over. But I know latter on I want to use each type again the issue is each type is named the same. So what I wanted to see is if its possible to create a type or variable handle name based off a string previously defined? ;Begin Creating The Image Types (Each one of these Images are constants Loader=ReadFile ("1024x768.Game") PROBLEM RESOLVED While Not Eof (Loader) ;Start With calculating the loading bar Loadbar=loadnum/100 ;loadbackground=LoadImage () ;breifingpic=LoadImage (breifingpic) breifingbar=LoadImage ("GUI\1024x768\Game\loadbackground.png") statusbar=LoadImage ("GUI\1024x768\Game\loadbar.png") Repeat ;Reading Images File SeekFile (Loader,A) Images.Image= New Image ImagesImageLoad$=ReadString$ ( Loader ) ImagesX=ReadInt ( Loader ) ImagesY=ReadInt ( Loader ) Imagescoverfiledir$=ReadString$ ( Loader ) Imagescovx= ReadInt ( Loader ) Imagescovy= ReadInt ( Loader ) Imagesfiledir= ReadByte ( Loader ) B= ReadByte ( Loader ) ImagesName$=Replace (ImagesImageLoad$,".png","") ;calculate offset A=A+B If Not Imagescoverfiledir=" " loadnum=loadnum+1 Else End If Select Imagesfiledir Case 1 C=LoadImage (baseimage+ImagesImageLoad) Print ImagesName$ Case 2 C=LoadImage (buttondir+ImagesImageLoad) Print ImagesName$ Case 3 C=LoadImage (icondir+ImagesImageLoad) Print ImagesName$ End Select Until A=1352 ;... In the Select Case loop where C is thats where I am looking to try to name the variable based off the string. Thank you it would be greatly appreciated. :) PROBLEM RESOLVED Last edited 2010

H&K (Posted 2010) [#2]

Dont Learn about scope Call the one you working on "temp" and store them all in a list, (or an array) http://www.blitzbasic.com/b3ddocs/command.php?name=First&ref=2d_cat Last edited 2010

B2 (Posted 2010) [#3]

Hey H&K thanks for your response. I am having a little bit of trouble trying to grasp the concept. I was wondering if you could possibly demonstrate just a simple code example. I am a novice programmer at this point but I am trying to learn. So bare with me, I am pretty sure this is something simple and I am just over thinking it. Thanks for your help, B2

Serpent (Posted 2010) [#4]

You can't name Blitz variables from strings, but you can create an array where you assign strings to variables. It looks like you only need to store integers right? (As handles to the images?) If so, something like this should work: ;Put/include this anywhere in your code ;In order to associate strings with values, we make a new 'type' of variable called StringVar: Type StringVar ;Inside this new 'type' of variable, we give it a string (Name$) and a value (Value). Field Name$ Field Value End Type ; Note: all custom variable 'types' in Blitz have the instant, automatic functionality of being stored in lists, as is done below. Function NewVar(VarName$, Value) ;Creates a new variable. Local MyStringVar.StringVar ;This creates a new variable that is of our type 'StringVar'. It is a 'Local' variable, so it can only be used in this function. ;Currently, 'MyStringVar' is empty. With custom types, variables like this one 'point' to elements in a list. MyStringVar = New StringVar ;We add a 'New StringVar' to the inbuilt list. Our 'MyStringVar' variable is set to 'point' to it. MyStringVar\Name$ = VarName$ ;We set the 'Name$' variable stored inside our type to the variable input to the function. MyStringVar\Value = Value ;We do the same for the 'Value' part of our custom 'type'. End Function Function GetVar(VarName$) ;Gets the value of an existing variable. Local MyStringVar.StringVar ;Again we create another 'pointer'. ;We can use special For loops (a For Each loop) to go through every member of the list of our custom 'StringVar' variables. ;'MyStringVar' is used again to point to the elements in the list. For MyStringVar = Each StringVar If MyStringVar\Name$ = VarName$ Then Return MyStringVar\Value ;If we find a 'StringVar' whose name matches the one the user is looking for, then return the value stored. Next ;We haven't found a variable corresponding to the name we were looking for, so just return false (aka 0). Return False End Function Function SetVar(VarName$, Value) ;Sets the value of an existing variable. Local MyStringVar.StringVar ;Again we make a pointer. ;Again the pointer is used in a loop to go through each 'StringVar' in Blitz's internal list. For MyStringVar = Each StringVar If MyStringVar\Name$ = VarName$ Then ;If we have found the 'StringVar' we are searching for... MyStringVar\Value = Value ;...set the value to the what was passed to the function... Return True ;...and return True to indicate success. EndIf Next ;We didn't find it, so return False Return False End Function Function DelVar(VarName$) ;Deletes an existing variable. Local MyStringVar.StringVar ;Create the pointer... ;Loop through the list... For MyStringVar = Each StringVar If MyStringVar\Name = VarName Then ;If we find the 'StringVar' we're looking for... Delete MyStringVar ;...delete it... Return True ;...and return True to indicate success. EndIf Next ;We didn't find it, so return False. Return False End Function It's heavily commented because I'm not sure of what (if any) experience you've had with Blitz types, and please post if you don't understand anything.

H&K (Posted 2010) [#5]

Re-link http://www.blitzbasic.com/b3ddocs/command.php?name=First&ref=2d_cat I know, I know, bit lazy of me. Please read the code, which is exactly what you asked me to post ;) Pay attention to the line ; Create 100 crafts, with the unique name of alien

B2 (Posted 2010) [#6]

Hey guys thanks for your help. I got it now and it works. I am sorry Serpent I forgot to mention that but that code with the explanations helped. The code loads now. I new this was going to be a thing to simple fix. And yea I haven't had much practice with blitz types. I am brand new to the coding world so I am just starting to learn everything. I Do feel though that I have a better understanding of Types now and feel more comfortable using them. Problem Resolved. Thanks, B2