any way for objects to not be tied to numbers at all?

Author

Message

PAGAN_old

20

Years of Service

User Offline

Joined: 28th Jan 2006

Location: Capital of the Evil Empire

Posted: 29th Apr 2011 07:38

Link

i was thinking. I know objects have to be somehow tied to numbers even if object cube= deathcube the deathcube needs to be tied to a number to be worth anything. the whole numbering of objects / variables that equal to object numbers gets very confusing when you have a lot. it would be better if objects were defined as independent variables to which you can assighn numbers if you want.

so you like have

+ Code Snippet

lump1.x= ter_obj_1, lump2.x=ter_obj_2, lump3.x=ter_obj_3 etc

and have another group of objects at the same time also have variable numbered 1,2,3 etc. it really sucks, when hypothetically i have object 1-100 for terrain, objects 200-350 for stuff decorating terrain, objects 365-382 for 3rd person camera control nad the player. you see where i am getting at?

Is there like a plugin that eliminates objects tie to a number? and lets me define them as variables instead? like i said above?

dont hate people who rip you off,cheat and get away with it, learn from them

Back to top

Profile PM Email

Grog Grueslayer

Valued Member

21

Years of Service

User Offline

Joined: 30th May 2005

Playing: Green Hell

Posted: 29th Apr 2011 09:28

Link

I don't do a lot of 3D stuff but wouldn't it be easier to make a UDT to store the object data so you could mix the different object types (terrain = 1, decoration = 2, camera control = 3). So you won't have to worry about the object numbers they actually use. Like if you wanted to hide all decorations you could go through the entire array and hide only objects with a type 2 setting.

Back to top

Profile PM Email

Quel

17

Years of Service

User Offline

Joined: 13th Mar 2009

Location:

Posted: 29th Apr 2011 09:29

Link

Clonning them or instancing i don't remember i guess does this. But that makes an object inaccessible for the future.

Also, i do the exact same thing if you meant what i understood. I have a bunch of variables at the beginning declaring the objects in the game, and if i increase any of these, all the objects above that are increased too, so i don't have to worry about the stupid numbering.

Yes, it can become a big pain for decent sized projects.

-In.Dev.X: A unique heavy story based shoot'em ~12%
-CoreFleet: An underground commander unit based RTS ~15%
-TailsVSEggman: An Sonic themed RTS under development for idea presentation to Sega ~15%

Back to top

Profile PM

PAGAN_old

20

Years of Service

User Offline

Joined: 28th Jan 2006

Location: Capital of the Evil Empire

Posted: 29th Apr 2011 09:54

Link

yeah all this stuff makes it more complicated than needed.

Quote: "I have a bunch of variables at the beginning declaring the objects in the game"

yes but those variables do need top be traced back to an object numbers that defines those variables. Makes my options pretty limited. If only the object variables didnt depend on the numbering system in theory, i will have the possiblity to create unlimited objects and it would make my life a lot easier and better ogonised.

for example lets say i made a terrain editor which makes huge terrains, splits them into smaller pieces and procedually loads the right piecesaround your charecter based on the charecters position. Well it would be much easier to load them in the game based on their variables (and less limiting) rather than having to convert them to work with the numbering system.

dont hate people who rip you off,cheat and get away with it, learn from them

Back to top

Profile PM Email

Jimmy

22

Years of Service

User Offline

Joined: 20th Aug 2003

Location: Back in the USA

Posted: 29th Apr 2011 13:08 Edited at: 29th Apr 2011 13:09

Link

I don't know if I'm understanding you completely, but what I, and a lot of others, do to avoid managing object numbers is use a function to scan for the next available object number and assign that to a variable for an object.

Like-a so:

+ Code Snippet

Type myObject
    obj As Integer
EndType

Dim objects(2) As myObject

objects(1).obj = LoadObject("face.x")
objects(2).obj = LoadObject("leg.x")

Function LoadObject(file$ As String)
    objNum = NextFreeObject(1)
    Load Object file$, objNum
EndFunction objNum

Function NextFreeObject(start)
    For i = start To 65535
        If Object Exist(i) = 0 Then ExitFunction i
    Next i
EndFunction -1

Something tells me, though, that you're already aware of this, and it is not the solution you have in mind...

May 10th / Geek Culture / Jerico2day-OBese87 / VOTE

Back to top

Profile PM Website

IanM

Retired Moderator

23

Years of Service

User Offline

Joined: 11th Sep 2002

Location: In my moon base

Posted: 29th Apr 2011 19:32

Link

I'm pretty sure that I don't understand what they are getting at - you have to have some way to refer to an object, and whether you use numbers or handles for this, you have to 'remember' these, and the way to remember them is to store them within variables.

Perhaps someone can post a 'for example...' here. If I see code and an explanation of that code, then I can usually understand

Get the latest Matrix1Utility plug-ins (20-APR-2011)

Back to top

Profile PM Email Website

Daniel wright 2311

User Banned

Posted: 29th Apr 2011 19:39

Link

Not to be rude here god forbid but I look at it like this, If you dont like to code all the numbers in to define all the objects you dont like to code at all. If this is the case then why even do it?? Did you know that writing most all programs you have to define images or any objects to a number so the pc can know what is what.

I say, if you dont like defining everything, most of everything will be a mees in the end.And this is a part of coding we all have to do in the end.

my signature keeps being erased by a mod So this is my new signature.

Back to top

Profile

PAGAN_old

20

Years of Service

User Offline

Joined: 28th Jan 2006

Location: Capital of the Evil Empire

Posted: 29th Apr 2011 22:42

Link

Quote: "Something tells me, though, that you're already aware of this, and it is not the solution you have in mind...
"

yeah. so far this might be the best soution but i am afraid it will cause problems in the long run like i will have to make this check every time a new object is spawned into existance and running trought all the object numbers to find a free one will just make the code slower.

yes i know you have to define the objects somehow but defining them as just variables is so much easier than numbers. Right now you can do that but the object variables have to be defined with numbers anyway so in the end i am right back where i started and the code became even more unnecesearly complicated.

just to make it clear again this is what i am getting at

+ Code Snippet

load object cube.x, var_cube1

make object var_cube1 do stuff

usually the variable var_cube1 is defined by a number like var_cube1=32 or something. If i am working with a lot of objects. a lot of numbers that define the objects and variables will just get very messy. Even if objects are all defined by variables and its all neat and orgonised and easy to remember. it will be a complete mess with all the numbers that define these variables.

if getting rid of object numbers is impossible, i was hoping there is some plugin, .dll or function that manages and recycles the object numbers so i just dont even have to worry about them at all and let me work just with variables instead.

dont hate people who rip you off,cheat and get away with it, learn from them

Back to top

Profile PM Email

janbo

17

Years of Service

User Offline

Joined: 10th Nov 2008

Location: Germany

Posted: 29th Apr 2011 22:43

Link

If I understand what you mean, you could do something like that:

Rem Project: Dark Basic Pro Project
Rem Created: Friday, April 29, 2011

Rem ***** Main Source File *****

autocam off
Start()

do
    control camera using arrowkeys 0,1,0.3
    
    Object_Box(50,50,50)
    Position_Object(0,50,50)
    Rotate_Object(45,45,0)
    
    Object_Box(50,50,50)
    Position_Object(0,0,0)
    
    Object_Box(50,70,50)
    Position_Object(-80,0,0)
    Rotate_Object(60,0,0)

Update()
loop

function Start()
    global ActiveObj
    global PosX#
    global PosY#
    global PosZ#
    global AngX#
    global AngY#
    global AngZ#
endfunction

function Object_Box(Width#,Height#,Depth#)
    inc ActiveObj
    if object exist(ActiveObj)=0
        ActiveObj=find_free_object()
        make object box ActiveObj,Width#,Height#,Depth#
    endif
    scale object ActiveObj,Width#/object size x(ActiveObj)*100,Height#/object size y(ActiveObj)*100,Depth#/object size z(ActiveObj)*100
endfunction

function Position_Object(PosX#,PosY#,PosZ#)
    position object ActiveObj,PosX#,PosY#,PosZ#
endfunction

function Rotate_Object(AngX#,AngY#,AngZ#)
    rotate object ActiveObj,AngX#,AngY#,AngZ#
endfunction

function Update()
    ActiveObj=0
endfunction

function Find_free_Object()
    repeat
        inc obj
    until object exist(obj)=0
endfunction obj

+ Code Snippet

Rem Project: Dark Basic Pro Project
Rem Created: Friday, April 29, 2011

Rem ***** Main Source File *****

autocam off
Start()

do
    control camera using arrowkeys 0,1,0.3
    
    Object_Box(50,50,50)
    Position_Object(0,50,50)
    Rotate_Object(45,45,0)
    
    Object_Box(50,50,50)
    Position_Object(0,0,0)
    
    Object_Box(50,70,50)
    Position_Object(-80,0,0)
    Rotate_Object(60,0,0)

    Update()
loop

function Start()
    global ActiveObj
    global PosX#
    global PosY#
    global PosZ#
    global AngX#
    global AngY#
    global AngZ#
endfunction

function Object_Box(Width#,Height#,Depth#)
    inc ActiveObj
    if object exist(ActiveObj)=0
        ActiveObj=find_free_object()
        make object box ActiveObj,Width#,Height#,Depth#
    endif
    scale object ActiveObj,Width#/object size x(ActiveObj)*100,Height#/object size y(ActiveObj)*100,Depth#/object size z(ActiveObj)*100
endfunction

function Position_Object(PosX#,PosY#,PosZ#)
    position object ActiveObj,PosX#,PosY#,PosZ#
endfunction

function Rotate_Object(AngX#,AngY#,AngZ#)
    rotate object ActiveObj,AngX#,AngY#,AngZ#
endfunction

function Update()
    ActiveObj=0
endfunction

function Find_free_Object()
    repeat
        inc obj
    until object exist(obj)=0
endfunction obj

Back to top

Profile PM Email Website

Daniel wright 2311

User Banned

Posted: 29th Apr 2011 23:10

Link

you could inc the object numbers with inc object# and put it into an array some how.this is what I am about to ask myself, not for object numbers but kind of similar.

my signature keeps being erased by a mod So this is my new signature.

Back to top

Profile

PAGAN_old

20

Years of Service

User Offline

Joined: 28th Jan 2006

Location: Capital of the Evil Empire

Posted: 29th Apr 2011 23:23

Link

i tried that that at one point i think it worked but as far as i remember with all the inc object# i had it was a pain to get it to work with all the 256 objects i had i had little room for further expansion and flexibility.

dont hate people who rip you off,cheat and get away with it, learn from them

Back to top

Profile PM Email

Kevin Picone

23

Years of Service

User Offline

Joined: 27th Aug 2002

Location: Australia

Posted: 29th Apr 2011 23:57

Link

I'm not entirely following you either. Perhaps you should post what you've got, as hiding the 'object number' is straight forward.

Hmm, I wonder what's coming in 2011?

Back to top

Profile PM Website

Brendy boy

20

Years of Service

User Offline

Joined: 17th Jul 2005

Location: Croatia

Posted: 30th Apr 2011 00:07

Link

i think he wants something like this:

hBox1=makeObjectBox(1,1,1)
positionObject hBox1,100,10,0
scaleObject hBox1,120,100,100

hImage1=loadImage("image.bmp")
textureObject hBox1,hImage1

BBB GUI Plugin
Landscape & Map Creator

Back to top

Profile PM Email

Neuro Fuzzy

19

Years of Service

User Offline

Joined: 11th Jun 2007

Location:

Posted: 30th Apr 2011 00:39

Link

Handles?

+ Code Snippet

type myobject
 health as float
 handle as integer
endtype

dim objarr(-1) as myobject

function makeNewObjectCube(size as float)
 array insert at bottom objarr()
 index=array count(objarr())
 objarr(index).handle=getObjHandle()
 make object cube objarr(index).handle,size
endfunction

function getObjHandle()
    For i = start To 65535
        If Object Exist(i) = 0 Then ExitFunction i
    Next i
endfunction

buuuut generally what I do is have a start and end range for each object type. So, if I have 250 good guys, 250 bad guys, and 500 scene objects, I have a variable, say:

sceneobj.size=500
goodguy.size=250
badguy.size=250

aaaand then you can calculate what new object number to make, or whatever.

Tell me if there's a broken link to images in a thread I post, and I'll fix 'em.

Back to top

Profile PM Email

WLGfx

18

Years of Service

User Offline

Joined: 1st Nov 2007

Location: NW United Kingdom

Posted: 30th Apr 2011 01:37 Edited at: 30th Apr 2011 01:38

Link

It sounds like a reference similar to a c class object and a blitz basic type of object.

The easy way to do this is:

+ Code Snippet

my_new_object = Find_Free_Object()

Load Object "file",my_new_object
Rotate Object my_new_object,x_angle,y_angle,z_angle
Move Object my_new_object,10

The bit that is different is this:

+ Code Snippet

function Find_Free_Object()
c=1
while object exist(c)
  inc c
endwhile
endfunction c

DBP uses numbers...

Warning! May contain Nuts!

Back to top

Profile PM Email Website

IanM

Retired Moderator

23

Years of Service

User Offline

Joined: 11th Sep 2002

Location: In my moon base

Posted: 30th Apr 2011 02:06

Link

... or you could use my FIND FREE OBJECT function that keeps track of what object id's are not in use, and so does not search at all, and because of that it is lightning fast.

Get the latest Matrix1Utility plug-ins (20-APR-2011)

Back to top

Profile PM Email Website

Jimmy

22

Years of Service

User Offline

Joined: 20th Aug 2003

Location: Back in the USA

Posted: 30th Apr 2011 05:16

Link

SOLVED[img][/img]

May 10th / Geek Culture / Jerico2day-OBese87 / VOTE

Back to top

Profile PM Website

PAGAN_old

20

Years of Service

User Offline

Joined: 28th Jan 2006

Location: Capital of the Evil Empire

Posted: 30th Apr 2011 08:00 Edited at: 30th Apr 2011 08:07

Link

+ Code Snippet

my_new_object = Find_Free_Object() Load Object "file",my_new_object Rotate Object my_new_object,x_angle,y_angle,z_angle Move Object my_new_object,10

so this Find_Free_Object() is a dbp command?
Well i guess in terms of simplified code this is the best solution

dont hate people who rip you off,cheat and get away with it, learn from them

Back to top

Profile PM Email

Neuro Fuzzy

19

Years of Service

User Offline

Joined: 11th Jun 2007

Location:

Posted: 30th Apr 2011 09:54

Link

find free object() is an IanM matrixutil command.

Tell me if there's a broken link to images in a thread I post, and I'll fix 'em.

Back to top

Profile PM Email

PAGAN_old

20

Years of Service

User Offline

Joined: 28th Jan 2006

Location: Capital of the Evil Empire

Posted: 30th Apr 2011 23:22

Link

Quote: "IanM matrixutil command"

is that like a plugin?

dont hate people who rip you off,cheat and get away with it, learn from them

Back to top

Profile PM Email

Goz3rr

16

Years of Service

User Offline

Joined: 27th Mar 2010

Location:

Posted: 30th Apr 2011 23:37 Edited at: 30th Apr 2011 23:43

Link

I didn't read the whole thread, but you can tie variabled to objects.

All you gotta do is this:

+ Code Snippet

global object = 8 // FREE_OBJECT() Starts at 8.

function FREE_OBJECT()
	repeat
	inc object
	until object exist(object) = 0
endfunction object

derpobject = FREE_OBJECT()

make object cube derpobject,2
move object derpobject,0,0,-20

etc.

...

Back to top

Profile PM

PAGAN_old

20

Years of Service

User Offline

Joined: 28th Jan 2006

Location: Capital of the Evil Empire

Posted: 30th Apr 2011 23:44

Link

I i guess thats also a good way. Its actually sortof expands on what other people reccomended here, but yeah thanks its great help!

Question about the IanM matrixutil. where can i download it?

dont hate people who rip you off,cheat and get away with it, learn from them

Back to top

Profile PM Email

IanM

Retired Moderator

23

Years of Service

User Offline

Joined: 11th Sep 2002

Location: In my moon base

Posted: 1st May 2011 00:08

Link

Follow the link in my signature - the download is about 2 thirds of the way down the first post and highlighted in bold.

The help files are included, and are also available online.

If you need any example of how to use any of the commands, just ask.

Get the latest Matrix1Utility plug-ins (20-APR-2011)

Back to top

Profile PM Email Website

PAGAN_old

20

Years of Service

User Offline

Joined: 28th Jan 2006

Location: Capital of the Evil Empire

Posted: 1st May 2011 05:17 Edited at: 1st May 2011 09:04

Link

nice. Well i guess this is the best solution out there. Its n ot quitle like what i wanted but it will have to do. thanks guys!
and thanks IanM

dont hate people who rip you off,cheat and get away with it, learn from them

Back to top

Profile PM Email

Sorry your browser is not supported!

DarkBASIC Professional Discussion / any way for objects to not be tied to numbers at all?