Custom interface component

  • #1, by yokalonaSunday, 29. November 2020, 02:03 3 years ago
    Hello all,
    Little disclaimer. I'm currently desiding "by prototyping" which of the adventure game engines would best fit my little side project.
    I want to have something like to-do list or goal list for a player. In short - it's just a list of text items, like:
    1. Pick up Paycheck
    2. Cash Paycheck
    3. Get Milk
    Items are added on several ocasions automaticly and automaticly removed from that list as well. List has a half-transparent background image, items are not interactive, just plain text(at least for startes).
    My first gues on how to implement that is to use inventory interface component, but, as far as I understand it has some limitations:
    1. Interface must have buttons
    2. Button not only has action(which can be empty of course), but also in some way is a picture
    3. Buttons can not be added programmaticly(is it true?), only enabled or dissabled.
    Second gues is to use scripting to dynamicly add and position "list-item" in some background image(if required), but this approach also have a bit of flaw i I'd like to see this list as one functional block.
    Is it possible to create a custom interface component? Something like extension for VS Engine? If possible, where can I found an example of any custom component or at least give me some direction where to look, please.
    What makes the task even harder is that it's just prototyping phase and it would be greate if solution for this would be as flexible as possible. 

    If I got wrong in my assumptions, please correct me.
    Any help appreciated.

    Newbie

    3 Posts


  • #2, by yokalonaMonday, 30. November 2020, 22:04 3 years ago
    After some digging, I came up with several lua classes, which describes the list item and list itself. After that I'm going to create few objects in scene, like "GetMilk" with text component in it, with required value and font, and discble or enable it if related list item is list.
    Is it the only way or am I missing something? I would like to have this list to be static(on every scene) and always visible, but not clicable, and transperent for mouse actions, dunno if it's even possible.
    Any ideas?

    Newbie

    3 Posts

  • #3, by afrlmeMonday, 30. November 2020, 22:57 3 years ago
    If it's just a dynamic list you want to display over the top of your screen as a GUI type thing, then use an interface & buttons & link values to them. Alternatively you could use Lua draw & a table for storing the list words/sentences into.

    Imperator

    7278 Posts

  • #4, by yokalonaMonday, 30. November 2020, 23:27 3 years ago
    Sorry, don't get it. Could you please provide a little more about "draw" function? I'm looking through site now, but cannot find any mentions of that function other than on forum. Am I missing something?

    Newbie

    3 Posts

  • #5, by afrlmeFriday, 04. December 2020, 12:01 3 years ago
    Sorry for the delay.

    --[[

usage: (via execute a script)



add_task("pick up paycheck")

remove_task("pick up paycheck")

]]--



task_list = {} -- create an empty table for storing tasks into

tl_txt = {} -- create an empty variable for storing the task list texts



function draw()



  if #task_list > 0 then -- check task_list table contains entries

    graphics.font = Fonts["example"] -- specify which font we want to use (this uses all parent properties of linked font; size, color, border, shadow, etc)

    tl_txt = ""

    -- + --

    for i = 1, #task_list do -- iterate through task_list entries

        tl_txt = tl_txt .. task_list[i] .. "\n" -- generate text to display

        graphics.drawFont(tl_txt, 100, 100, 1) -- text to display, x position, y position, opacity

    end

  end



end



graphics.addDrawFunc("draw()", 1) -- -1 = below scene, 0 = above scene, 1 = above interface



function add_task(str)



  if #task_list > 0 then

   for i = 1, #task_list do

     if task_list[i] == str then break end

     if i == #task_list and task_list[i] ~= str then

       table.insert(task_list, str)

     end

   end

  else

   table.insert(task_list, str)

  end



end



function remove_task(str)



  for i = 1, #task_list do

    if task_list[i] == str then

      table.remove(task_list, i)

    end

  end



end


    Quick note: the text you insert as arguments into the add_task() & remove_task() functions are case sensitive.

    Imperator

    7278 Posts