Computer Science Canada

Is There A Way To Assign Values Through Different Windows?
Author:  DemonZ [ Wed Nov 08, 2006 5:59 pm ]
Post subject:  Is There A Way To Assign Values Through Different Windows?
Currently I am compiling a game that so far is over 1000 lines long and am thinking about shortening it to make it easier to read and fix. But In order to do so I want to have a menu that when you select one of the modes (1 player, 2 player, help, options, quit) it will open up a second window to your program according to what the user selected and somehow branch them together, for example.
code:

x := 0
loop
x := x + 1
if x = 20 then
bool := true
Window.Open ("Other program")
end if
end loop

And then when the other window opens you can still keep the assigned values of the first window into your second window. If this is possible then please tell me how and ill do the best I can. thanks[/code]
Author:  Tony [ Wed Nov 08, 2006 6:35 pm ]
Post subject: 
it's still the same single program you are running, different windows are just for multiple output. There's nothing to it.
Author:  DemonZ [ Wed Nov 08, 2006 6:42 pm ]
Post subject: 
No, its not, its actually more than one, but when one of the menu items is pressed, the program will activate but I still want to keep the values and be able to export them and import them into other programs.
for example:
program 1
code:

var x : int
x := 0
loop
x := x + 1
if x = 100 then
Window.Open ("Other Program")
end if
end loop

Now program 2 opens
code:

put x

Now the question is: if I output x in the second program, will it have the same value as in the first one?
Author:  neufelni [ Wed Nov 08, 2006 7:20 pm ]
Post subject: 
Tony wrote:
it's still the same single program you are running, different windows are just for multiple output. There's nothing to it.

I think what he is trying to do is compile different parts of his program into exe's, and then opening them in a separate window using Sys.Exec from his main menu.

I do not think that there is any way to pass variable values from one program to the other.
Author:  Tony [ Wed Nov 08, 2006 7:44 pm ]
Post subject: 
Nick wrote:
using Sys.Exec

based on his sample code, I highly doubt that.

DemonZ wrote:

will it have the same value as in the first one?

There's just one way to find out.
Author:  DemonZ [ Wed Nov 08, 2006 9:39 pm ]
Post subject: 
actually if sys.exec is what opens more than one program, than im trying to do it with that. I dont want to compile a 1000 line program because then there are going to be too many loops within loops and then youll have to make variable that will be able to exit some loops, while not exiting others, and that would be to much boolean variables, so yah Sys.Exec looks like a command Ill look into, especially since I can organize my program better and not get lost in the hundreds of lines in my program. Thanks for the advice, but I guess ill have to think of another way of passing variable values from one program to another. huh... oh well ..... back to the drawing board
Author:  jrblast [ Wed Nov 08, 2006 9:55 pm ]
Post subject: 
I guess you could pass them between one another by writing to a file, then having the other program read the file. This will create potential problems though, if the file is deleted etc...

Or, I'm not too sure how well this works because I don't have much experience with importing files, but you could import all the programs that you would otherwise use Sys.Exec for. have the whole program you import as a procedure/function (whichever suits your uses better) and then call the proc/fcn instead of opening the new program (the proc/fcn should be made to open a new window itself. May complicate things a bit, but I think it would work better
Author:  DemonZ [ Wed Nov 08, 2006 9:59 pm ]
Post subject: 
ok that just might work, ill give it a try, thanks for the support
Author:  Dan [ Wed Nov 08, 2006 10:13 pm ]
Post subject: 
I highly recomend not using the System.Exec method and using the bulit in window functions. However if you most use it, you can pass arugments between programs threw the comand line.

For example:

notepad.exe somefile.txt


Will open notepad and load the file somefile.txt beceus notepad takes arguments. Turing can also take arguments but i blive this has to be set up when you complie it to an exe in turing. If you use arugments you could pass values to the other turing exe with out having to use files.
Author:  Clayton [ Thu Nov 09, 2006 8:47 am ]
Post subject: 
DemonZ wrote:
actually if sys.exec is what opens more than one program, than im trying to do it with that. I dont want to compile a 1000 line program because then there are going to be too many loops within loops and then youll have to make variable that will be able to exit some loops, while not exiting others, and that would be to much boolean variables, so yah Sys.Exec looks like a command Ill look into, especially since I can organize my program better and not get lost in the hundreds of lines in my program. Thanks for the advice, but I guess ill have to think of another way of passing variable values from one program to another. huh... oh well ..... back to the drawing board


or.... you could learn to better organize your code so that you don't have that dilemma, couldn't you? By the sound of it, you are running most (if not all) of your code linearly. Instead, try to branch it into different subprograms. But, basically, what I'm trying to say is, keep your code clean and organized, and you won't run into that exact problem Wink
Author:  DemonZ [ Thu Nov 09, 2006 3:09 pm ]
Post subject: 
Now thats exactly what I did, I had it priortized with labels for different components of the program, problem is, its kind of hard to scroll down to the 700 hundredth line and then scroll all the way up, or trying to figure out how to exit this loop, and not this one, This is a basic outline of my entire program:

variables constants, and procedures, proccess on top

loop - Main game
loop - Main Menu
end loop

loop - Submenu
loop - 1 PLAYER Game Menu
loop - 1 PLAYER game
end loop
end loop
loop - 2 player game menu
loop 2 PLAYER game
end loop
end loop
end loop - SUB menu
end loop - Main game

Not only that, some of those loops are enclosed in If statements and structures, and I have to use a different screen mode for my menu than for my game, making it even more complex, plus, the game menu only flickers heavily, and not even offscreenonly can save you. And what do you propose I do about back buttons and forward buttons? I would have to make like 20 different boolean variables that would exit some loops and not exit others, and the whole entire game runs super slow, because its compiling one entire file. If you want I can post it with all the files and youll see what I mean, this program is super frustrating at 1000 lines of code, but, if I can divide these separate files up into separate programs, and then let the main menu fetch these files, that would make it so much easier. Anyway if you want I can post my entire program so you get a better view of the problem.
Author:  ericfourfour [ Thu Nov 09, 2006 5:43 pm ]
Post subject: 
DemonZ wrote:
variables constants, and procedures, proccess on top

You didn't mean to say that did you?
Author:  [Gandalf] [ Thu Nov 09, 2006 9:26 pm ]
Post subject: 
ericfourfour wrote:
DemonZ wrote:
variables constants, and procedures, proccess on top

You didn't mean to say that did you?

Actually, even though they are generally a bad solution to things, processes are still benefitial to know in the long run. As long as a differentiation is made clear between good things functions/procedures and processes, no harm is done by learning something new.
Author:  DemonZ [ Fri Nov 10, 2006 6:05 pm ]
Post subject: 
the proccess' are for music, nothing more.
Author:  Clayton [ Fri Nov 10, 2006 9:42 pm ]
Post subject: 
DemonZ wrote:

loop - Main game
loop - Main Menu
end loop

loop - Submenu
loop - 1 PLAYER Game Menu
loop - 1 PLAYER game
end loop
end loop
loop - 2 player game menu
loop 2 PLAYER game
end loop
end loop
end loop - SUB menu
end loop - Main game


perhaps you should go back to the drawing board. Planning ahead will avoid you having these problems. This is why you shouldn't be making a game in your first few months of programming...

DemonZ wrote:

this program is super frustrating at 1000 lines of code, but, if I can divide these separate files up into separate programs, and then let the main menu fetch these files,

I think you are talking about procedures here. A procedure is a sub-program, meaning you can call it and that section of code can be run again and again each time you call it (I'm sure you already know that).

DemonZ wrote:

and the whole entire game runs super slow, because its compiling one entire file


The fact that it's all one entire source file has nothing to do with the speed of the execution. Obviously you are doing something extremely unefficient if you are experiencing massive slowdowns.
Author:  DemonZ [ Sat Nov 11, 2006 1:14 pm ]
Post subject: 
now i have programming experience, a year, i know how to use arrays, procedures and proccess', all the advanced stuff, but the menu is very complex, I know how to program but I am trying to make a command and conquer generals menu interface with the boxes lighting up when the cursor is over it, If you want I can post my program for you to look at. and the coding is very organized, but those are the loops for the different directories of the program.
Author:  DemonZ [ Sat Nov 11, 2006 1:32 pm ]
Post subject: 
Ok i have fixed my program and all the menu directories work, i can go back, forward and quit game, very flexible, I will post it in an exe form. Just run it and go to 2 player game, now to select your tank click on one of the tanks and press continue at the bottom, then do that again for player 2, and test it out, and give me some thoughts of improvement. thanks for all the help, really i mean it, but i got it working, just a few glitches with the menu, but not really that big, pretty good, let me know what you think.
the controls for player 1 are :
up, down, left, right arrows to move
num 0 to shoot ( or insert )

player 2 controls:
w, s, d, a to move
space bar to shoot.
Author:  DemonZ [ Sat Nov 11, 2006 1:45 pm ]
Post subject: 
Hey what the I cant post my file because its bigger than 2mb, how do I post it?
Author:  richcash [ Sat Nov 11, 2006 1:50 pm ]
Post subject: 
Well the best thing to do is :
put it in a zip or rar
or you can :
post it on another website and link to it
Author:  DemonZ [ Sat Nov 11, 2006 1:52 pm ]
Post subject: 
now its zipped up and all, but i dont know where to post it.
Author:  richcash [ Sat Nov 11, 2006 2:34 pm ]
Post subject: 
Can't you use the 'Add an Attachment' button at the bottom? Then you just use the same filename as the zip file on your computer. Not that I have any experience doing this, I've never uploaded (and rarely downloaded!).
Author:  ericfourfour [ Sat Nov 11, 2006 3:53 pm ]
Post subject: 
Quote:
you shouldn't be making a game in your first few months of programming

I made games in my first few weeks of programming. If it wasn't for games I would have no interest in learning to program. My first game was a text based RPG. It was garbage but it worked and that made me want to program more. I wanted to improve the game. I learned how to read and write with Turing for saving and all sorts of other things. Even now I program games to keep interest and most of the things I program are for games.

If I programmed without making any games for months I would have been merely the average student in my comp sci class. The only motivation I would have had would be to complete the course.
Author:  DemonZ [ Sun Nov 12, 2006 1:06 am ]
Post subject: 
no the problem is im over upload quota, which is 2mb, but my program is 5mb, and i dont got another website to link to, is there another way to solve this?
Author:  [Gandalf] [ Sun Nov 12, 2006 1:13 am ]
Post subject: 
DemonZ wrote:
no the problem is im over upload quota, which is 2mb, but my program is 5mb, and i dont got another website to link to, is there another way to solve this?

Yes. A few ways, actually:
1. Compress the program further.
2. Eliminate any unneccessary media files from your program. The most important part is the source code.
3. Upload your file to a free file sharing site, though I don't really like these.
4. If nothing else works, ask an admin nicely for more upload space.
Author:  DemonZ [ Sun Nov 12, 2006 1:14 am ]
Post subject: 
ok ill try some of those thanks
Author:  DemonZ [ Sun Nov 12, 2006 1:41 am ]
Post subject: 
Ok I finally got it posted, its on rapidshare, heres the URL, just run the 2 player mode, choose your tank, and test the controls/gameplay and let me know what you think.

http://rapidshare.com/files/3007095/Armored_Crusade.rar.html

:


You can syndicate this boards posts using the file backend.php or view the topic map using sitemap.php.

Terms of Use | Privacy Policy