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shorthair

Tue Feb 17, 2004 9:14 pm


[Tutorial] [Blitz] Variables

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Variables 
Variables may be of any basic data type, or a custom type. A variable's type is determined by a special character that follows its identifier.

Variable Types
These special characters are called 'type tags' and are: 

% = For integer variables 

# = For floating point variables 

$ = For string variables 

.{typename} For custom type variables


Here are some examples of valid variables: 



Score%

Lives% 

x_speed# 

y_speed# 

name$ 

title$ 

ali.Alien 

player.Player

 

The type tag only needs to be added the first time you use a variable, after that you can leave the type tag off if you wish. 

If you don't supply a type tag the first time a variable is used, the variable defaults to an integer. 


It is illegal to use the same variable name with a different type. For example, if you already have an integer variable called 'name%', it is illegal to also have a string variable called 'name$' 


Setting Variables

The '=' keyword is used to assign a value to a variable. For example: 

score%=0 

... assigns the value '0' to the integer variable 'score'.

Variable Scope


Variables may also be either 'global', or 'local'. This refers to where in a program a variable may be used.

- Global variables can be used from anywhere in the program. 

- Local variables can only be used within the function they are created in. 

The 'Global' keyword is used to define one or more global variables. For example: 

Global Score=0,Lives=3,Player_up=1 

... defines 3 global variables. 

Similarly, 'Local' is used to define local variables: 

Local temp_x=x,temp_y=y 
If you use a variable without defining it as either local or global, it defaults to being local.


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jonos

Thu Feb 19, 2004 4:07 pm



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thankyou for the tutorial. your getting me wanting to learn blitz. keep em coming.