8 replies to this topic

[Megaddd]

Hello, I've just recently finished my first 'major' project with OpenPeripheral, it was working fine and dandy for about a week until it decided that 'num' had suddenly become a function.

Problematic Function:

Spoiler

filename = "tracked_items.mhb"
  local trackedItems = {}
  local trackedItemsdat = {}

  if fs.exists(filename) then
	f = fs.open(filename,"r")
	data = f.readLine()
	if data ~= nil then
	  trackedItemsdat = textutils.unserialize(data)
	  trackedItems = textutils.unserialize(data)
	end
  else
	f = fs.open(filename,"w")
	f.close()
  end

  local offset = 10
  local MEItems = {}
  local mOffset = 10
  local tItem = {}
  local acolor = 0xFFFFFF
  local eta = 0
  local etamsg = ""
  local index = 256
  local cIndex = 256
  local avg = 0

function MManage()
	while true do
	  event, msg = os.pullEvent("chat_command")
	  data = {}
	  iter = 1
	  for i in string.gmatch(msg,"%S+") do
		data["arg"..iter] = i
		iter = iter + 1
	  end
	  arg1 = data["arg1"]
	  arg2 = data["arg2"]
	  arg3 = data["arg3"]
	
	  outcolor = 0xFF0000
	  outtext = " "
	
	  if arg1 == "add" then
		print("add detected. arg1:"..arg1.." arg2:"..arg2.." arg3"..arg3)
		local num = tonumber(arg2)
		match = nil
		for i in string.gmatch(arg2,":") do
			match = i
		end
		if match == ":" then
		  print(" a : found")
		  tmeta = {}
		  for i in string.gmatch(arg2,"%d+") do
			table.insert(tmeta,i)
		  end
		  id = tonumber(tmeta[1])
		  meta = tonumber(tmeta[2])
		  print("id: "..id.." meta: "..meta)
		  if meta and id then
			num = id + (meta * 32768)
		  end
		end
		if num then
		  str = tostring(arg3)
		  if str then
			num = tonumber(num)
			ins = {["id"] = num,["name"] = str}
			table.insert(trackedItems,ins)
			table.insert(trackedItemsdat,ins)
			for i=1,#trackedItemsdat do
			for i,o in pairs(trackedItemsdat[i]) do
			  print(o)
			end
			  print(trackedItemsdat[i])
			end
		  
			f = fs.open(filename,"w")
			wrt = textutils.serialize(trackedItemsdat)
			f.writeLine(wrt)
			f.close()
		  end
		else
		  outtext = "Error: argument#2 must be a real number."
		  outcolor = 0xFF0000
		end
	  end
	
	  if arg1 == "remove" or arg1 == "delete" then
		str = tostring(arg2)
		if str then
		  success = false
		  for i=#trackedItems,1,-1 do
			dItem = trackedItems[i]
			if dItem["name"] == str then
			  dItem["txlabel"].delete()
			  dItem["txamount"].delete()
			  dItem["txdam"].delete()
			  dItem["eta"].delete()
			  dItem["txlabel"] = nil
			  dItem["txamount"] = nil
			  dItem["txdam"] = nil
			  dItem["eta"] = nil
			  table.remove(trackedItems,i)
			  for o=i,#trackedItems do
				dItem = trackedItems[o]
				y = dItem["txlabel"].getY()
				dItem["txlabel"].setY(y-5)
				dItem["txamount"].setY(y-5)
				dItem["txdam"].setY(y-5)
				dItem["eta"].setY(y-5)
			  end
			end
		  end
		  for i=#trackedItemsdat,1,-1 do
			dItem = trackedItemsdat[i]
			if dItem["name"] == str then
			  table.remove(trackedItemsdat,i)
			  f = fs.open(filename,"w")
			  wrt = textutils.serialize(trackedItemsdat)
			  f.writeLine(wrt)
			  f.close()
			  success = true
			end
		  end
		  if success then
			outcolor = 0x00FF00
			outtext = "Item removed.."
		  else
			outcolor = 0xFFFF00
			outtext = "Item not found!"
		  end
		end
	  end
	  error.setColor(outcolor)
	  error.setText(outtext)
	  sleep(4)
	  error.setText(" ")
	end
  end

Full code:

Spoiler

local bridge = peripheral.wrap("left")
local net = peripheral.wrap("right")
os.loadAPI("m")
rednet.open("right")
bridge.clear()
local width = 70
local storageUnits = {
   {
		 ["id"] = "batbox_1",
		 ["name"] = "Main Power",
		 ["set"] = 1,
		 ["main"] = true
   },
   {
		 ["id"] = "batbox_2",
		 ["name"] = "Main2",
		 ["set"] = 1,
		 ["main"] = false
   },
   {
		 ["id"] = "batbox_3",
		 ["name"] = "Main3",
		 ["set"] = 1,
		 ["main"] = false
   },
   {
		 ["id"] = "batbox_4",
		 ["name"] = "Main4",
		 ["set"] = 1,
		 ["main"] = false
   }
}

local offset = 0
--for key, storageUnit in pairs(storageUnits) do
  storageUnit = storageUnits[1]
	pxOffset = 100 + offset * 20
	storageUnit["eu"] = bridge.addText(5,20 + pxOffset, "retrieving..", 0xFFFFFF)
	storageUnit["eu"].setScale(0.5)
	storageUnit["eu"].setZIndex(1)
	storageUnit["percent"] = bridge.addText(5, 15 + pxOffset, "connecting...", 0xFFFFFF)
	storageUnit["percent"].setScale(0.5)
	storageUnit["percent"].setZIndex(1)
	storageUnit["bar"] = bridge.addGradientBox(4, 14 + pxOffset, 0, 10, 0xCC0000, 0.7, 0xCC0000, 0.7, 2)
	storageUnit["bar"].setZIndex(0)
	storageUnit["bg"] = bridge.addBox(5, 14 + pxOffset, width, 10, 0x000000, 0.25)
	storageUnit["horline1"] = bridge.addBox(3, 13 + pxOffset, width+2, 1, 0x555555, 0.5)
	storageUnit["horline2"] = bridge.addBox(3, 24 + pxOffset, width+2, 1, 0x555555, 0.5)
	storageUnit["verline1"] = bridge.addBox(3, 14 + pxOffset, 1, 10, 0x555555, 0.5)
	storageUnit["verline2"] = bridge.addBox(4+width, 14 + pxOffset, 1, 10, 0x555555, 0.5)
	storageUnit["label"] = bridge.addText(4, 4 + pxOffset, storageUnit["name"], 0xFFFFFF)
  for key, storageUnit in pairs(storageUnits) do
	  storageUnit["last2"] = 0
	  storageUnit["last3"] = 0
	  storageUnit["last4"] = 0
	  storageUnit["last5"] = 0
	  storageUnit["last6"] = 0
	  storageUnit["last7"] = 0
	  storageUnit["last8"] = 0
	  storageUnit["last9"] = 0
	  storageUnit["last10"] = 0
	  storageUnit["last11"] = 0
	  storageUnit["last12"] = 0
	  storageUnit["last13"] = 0
	  storageUnit["last14"] = 0
	  storageUnit["last15"] = 0
	  storageUnit["last16"] = 0
	  storageUnit["last%"] = 0
	  storageUnit["curr%"] = 0
  end
  storageUnit = storageUnits[1]
	storageUnit["deltaEU"] = bridge.addText(35, 15 + pxOffset, "+~", 0xFFFFFF)
	storageUnit["deltaEU"].setScale(0.5)
	storageUnit["deltaEU"].setZIndex(1)

	offset = offset + 1
--end
local fabstate = false
rednet.broadcast("massfab_off")
local cnt = 0
function main()
  while true do
	--for i=#storageUnits,1,-1 do
		storageUnit = storageUnits[1]
		if net.isPresentRemote(storageUnit["id"]) then
			capacity = net.callRemote(storageUnit["id"], "getCapacity")
			amount = net.callRemote(storageUnit["id"], "getStored")
		end
			
		storageUnit = storageUnits[2]
		if net.isPresentRemote(storageUnit["id"]) then
			capacity2 = net.callRemote(storageUnit["id"], "getCapacity")
			amount2 = net.callRemote(storageUnit["id"], "getStored")
		end
			
		storageUnit = storageUnits[3]
		if net.isPresentRemote(storageUnit["id"]) then
			capacity3 = net.callRemote(storageUnit["id"], "getCapacity")
			amount3 = net.callRemote(storageUnit["id"], "getStored")
		end
			
		storageUnit = storageUnits[4]
		if net.isPresentRemote(storageUnit["id"]) then
			capacity4 = net.callRemote(storageUnit["id"], "getCapacity")
			amount4 = net.callRemote(storageUnit["id"], "getStored")
		end
	  
		storageUnit = storageUnits[1]
	  
		maxcap = capacity + capacity2 + capacity3 + capacity4
		curamount = amount + amount2 + amount3 + amount4
			
		cnt = curamount / maxcap
		cnt = m.round(tonumber(cnt*10),3)
		cnt = tonumber(cnt/10)
		  
		if cnt == 1 and fabstate == false then
			rednet.broadcast("massfab_on")
			storageUnit["verline1"].setColor(0xFF22FF)
			storageUnit["verline2"].setColor(0xFF22FF)
			storageUnit["horline1"].setColor(0xFF22FF)
			storageUnit["horline2"].setColor(0xFF22FF)
			fabstate = true
		end
			  
		if cnt < 0.9 and fabstate == true then
			rednet.broadcast("massfab_off")
			storageUnit["verline1"].setColor(0x555555)
			storageUnit["verline2"].setColor(0x555555)
			storageUnit["horline1"].setColor(0x555555)
			storageUnit["horline2"].setColor(0x555555)
			fabstate = false
		end
		local deu = 0
	  
		storageUnit = storageUnits[1]	  
		storageUnit["curr%"] = amount
		storageUnit = storageUnits[2]
		storageUnit["curr%"] = amount2
		sotrageUnit = storageUnits[3]
		storageUnit["curr%"] = amount3
		storageUnit = storageUnits[4]
		storageUnit["curr%"] = amount4
	  
		for i=1,4 do
		  storageUnit = storageUnits[i]			  
		  storageUnit["last16"] = storageUnit["last15"]
		  storageUnit["last15"] = storageUnit["last14"]
		  storageUnit["last14"] = storageUnit["last13"]
		  storageUnit["last13"] = storageUnit["last12"]
		  storageUnit["last12"] = storageUnit["last11"]
		  storageUnit["last11"] = storageUnit["last10"]
		  storageUnit["last10"] = storageUnit["last9"]
		  storageUnit["last9"] = storageUnit["last8"]
		  storageUnit["last8"] = storageUnit["last7"]
		  storageUnit["last7"] = storageUnit["last6"]
		  storageUnit["last6"] = storageUnit["last5"]
		  storageUnit["last5"] = storageUnit["last4"]
		  storageUnit["last4"] = storageUnit["last3"]
		  storageUnit["last3"] = storageUnit["last2"]
		  storageUnit["last2"] = storageUnit["last%"]		
		  storageUnit["last%"] = storageUnit["curr%"]
				
		  deu16 = storageUnit["last15"] - storageUnit["last16"]
		  deu15 = storageUnit["last14"] - storageUnit["last15"]
		  deu14 = storageUnit["last13"] - storageUnit["last14"]
		  deu13 = storageUnit["last12"] - storageUnit["last13"]
		  deu12 = storageUnit["last11"] - storageUnit["last12"]
		  deu11 = storageUnit["last10"] - storageUnit["last11"]
		  deu10 = storageUnit["last9"] - storageUnit["last10"]
		  deu9 = storageUnit["last8"] - storageUnit["last9"]
		  deu8 = storageUnit["last7"] - storageUnit["last8"]
		  deu7 = storageUnit["last6"] - storageUnit["last7"]
		  deu6 = storageUnit["last5"] - storageUnit["last6"]
		  deu5 = storageUnit["last4"] - storageUnit["last5"]
		  deu4 = storageUnit["last3"] - storageUnit["last4"]
		  deu3 = storageUnit["last2"] - storageUnit["last3"]
		  deu2 = storageUnit["last%"] - storageUnit["last2"]
		  deu1 = storageUnit["curr%"] - storageUnit["last%"]
				
		  deu = deu + (deu1 + deu2 + deu3 + deu4 + deu5 + deu6 + deu7 + deu8 + deu9 + deu10 + deu11 + deu12 + deu13 + deu14 + deu15 + deu16) / 16
		  deu = deu - 0
		end
	  
		deu = deu / 10
	  
		storageUnit = storageUnits[1]
	  
		deu = m.round(tonumber(deu),2)
		deu = tonumber(deu)
		deutxt = deu.."eu/t"
			  
		if deu > 0 then deutxt = "+"..deu.."eu/t" end
			  
		if storageUnit["last16"] == 0 then deutxt = "averaging.." end
	
		storageUnit["deltaEU"].setText(deutxt)
			  
		local color = 0x00FF00
		local color2 = 0x00FF00
		local colorp = 0x00FF00
		local colort = 0xFFFFFF
			  
		if cnt == 1 then
			color = 0x00FFFF  
			color2 = 0x3366FF
			colorp = 0x992299
			colort = colorp
		end
			  
		if cnt < 1 and cnt >= 0.9 then
			color = 0x00FF33
			color2 = 0x00FFFF
			colorp = 0x00FFFF
			colort = 0x00FFFF
		end
			  
		if cnt < 0.9 and cnt >= 0.6 then
			color = 0x00FF00
			color2 = 0x33FF00
			colorp = 0xFFFFFF
			colort = colorp
		end
			  
		if cnt < 0.6 and cnt >= 0.3 then
			color = 0x44FF00
			color2 = 0xFFFF00
			colorp = 0xFFFFFF
			colort = colorp
		end
			  
		if cnt < 0.3 and cnt >= 0.1 then
			color = 0xFFFF00
			color2 = 0xFF6600
			colorp = 0xFFFF44
			colort = colorp
		end
			  
		if cnt < 0.1 then
			color = 0xFF0000
			color2 = 0x440000
			colorp = 0xFF5500
			colort = colorp
		end
			  
		if fabstate == true then
			color = 0x00FFFF
			color2 = 0x3366FF
			colorp = 0x992299
			colort = 0x992299
		end
	
		storageUnit["eu"].setText(curamount.." / "..maxcap)
		storageUnit["eu"].setColor(colort)
		storageUnit["deltaEU"].setColor(colorp)
		storageUnit["bar"].setColor(color)
		storageUnit["bar"].setColor2(color2)
			  
		storageUnit["bar"].setWidth(width * cnt)
		tx = cnt * 100
		storageUnit["percent"].setText(tx.."%")
		storageUnit["percent"].setColor(colort)
		sleep(0.5)
	end
  end

  local time = 0

  function timer()
	  time = 0
	  fabtime = 0
	  fulltime = 0
	  while true do
		  term.setBackgroundColor(colors.blue)
		  term.setTextColor(colors.yellow)
		  --term.clear()
		  term.setCursorPos(1,1)
  --		print("Time running: "..time)
		  term.setTextColor(colors.purple)
  --		print("Massfab time: "..fabtime)
		  term.setTextColor(colors.orange)
		  wastage = fulltime*92*20
  --		print("Potential energy wasted: "..wastage.."eu")
		  if fabstate == true then
			  fabtime = fabtime + 1
		  end
		
		  if cnt == 1 then
			  fulltime = fulltime + 1
		  end
		
		  time = time + 1
		  sleep(1)
	  end
  end

  filename = "tracked_items.mhb"
  local trackedItems = {}
  local trackedItemsdat = {}

  if fs.exists(filename) then
	f = fs.open(filename,"r")
	data = f.readLine()
	if data ~= nil then
	  trackedItemsdat = textutils.unserialize(data)
	  trackedItems = textutils.unserialize(data)
	end
  else
	f = fs.open(filename,"w")
	f.close()
  end

  local offset = 10
  local MEItems = {}
  local mOffset = 10
  local tItem = {}
  local acolor = 0xFFFFFF
  local eta = 0
  local etamsg = ""
  local index = 256
  local cIndex = 256
  local avg = 0

  function MScan()
	  me = peripheral.wrap("back")
	  while true do
	  if time < index then
		cIndex = time
	  else
		cIndex = index
	  end
	
	  if trackedItems ~= nil then
	  increment = 0
	  for key, tItem in pairs(trackedItems) do
		print("name: "..tItem["name"])
		print("id: "..tItem["id"])
		  mOffset = 10 + increment
		  mpxOffset = mOffset * 5 + 195
		  increment = increment + 1
		  if tItem["time"] == nil then
			tItem["time"] = 0
		  end
		  if tItem["eta"] == nil then
			tItem["eta"] = bridge.addText(86, 4 + mpxOffset, etamsg, 0x3333FF)
			tItem["eta"].setScale(0.5)
		  end
		  if tItem["txlabel"] == nil then
			tItem["txlabel"] = bridge.addText(4, 4 + mpxOffset, tItem["name"],0xFFFFFF)
			tItem["txlabel"].setScale(0.5)
		  end
		  if tItem["txamount"] == nil then
			tItem["txamount"] = bridge.addText(34, 4 + mpxOffset, "loadin'",0xFFFFFF)
			tItem["txamount"].setScale(0.5)
		  end
		  if tItem["txdam"] == nil then
			tItem["txdam"] = bridge.addText(62, 4 + mpxOffset, "calculatin'",0xFFFFFF)
			tItem["txdam"].setScale(0.5)
		  end
		  if tItem["avg"] == nil then
			tItem["avg"] = 0.069
		  end
		  if tItem["am"..index] == nil then
			for i=1,index do
				tItem["am"..i] = 0
			end
		  end
		  mOffset = mOffset + 1
	  end
	  end
	  if trackedItems ~= nil then
		print("calculus part reached")
		  info = me.listItems()
		  lItems = {}
		  if info ~= nil then
			for i,o in pairs(info) do
				lItems[tostring(i)] = o
			end
		  else
			info = {["nil"] = true}
		  end
		
		  for i=#trackedItems,1,-1 do
			  tItem = trackedItems[i]
			
			  if tItem["time"] < index then
				tItem["time"] = tItem["time"] + 1
			  end
			
			  if lItems[tostring(tItem["id"])] ~= nil then
				tItem["count"] = lItems[tostring(tItem["id"])]
				tItem["am0"] = tItem["count"]
			  else
				tItem["count"] = 0
				tItem["am0"] = tItem["count"]
			  end
			  print("cIndex: "..tItem["time"])
				  for o=1,tItem["time"] do		
					b = tItem["time"] + 1 - o
					tItem["am"..b] = tItem["am"..b-1]
				  end
				  tItem["avg"] = 0
				  for u=0,tItem["time"] - 1 do
					de1 = tItem["am"..u+1]
					de2 = tItem["am"..u]
					tItem["avg"] = tItem["avg"] + de2 - de1				  
				  end
				  tItem["avg"] = tItem["avg"] / cIndex
				  tItem["txamount"].setText(tostring(tItem["count"]))
				
				  sym = "+"
				  avg = tItem["avg"]
				  avg = tonumber(avg)
				  print("avg: "..avg)
				  if avg ~= "waiting.." then
					if avg > 0 then sym = "+" else sym = "" end
					acolor = 0xFFFFFF
					if avg > 0 and avg < 1 then acolor = 0x88FF88 end
					if avg >= 1 then acolor = 0x00FF00 end
					if avg < 0 and avg > -1 then acolor = 0xFFDD88 end
					if avg <= -1 then acolor = 0xFF4400 end
				  end
				
				  etamsg = ""
				  if avg < 0 then
					eta = tItem["count"] / (-avg)
					etaa = eta
					etah = math.floor(etaa/3600)
					etaa = etaa % 3600
					etam = math.floor(etaa/60)
					etaa = etaa % 60
					etas = math.floor(etaa)
				  
					if etah > 0 then
					  etamsg = "ETA: "..etah.."h "..etam.."m "..etas.."s"
					else if etam > 0 then
						etamsg = "ETA: "..etam.."m "..etas.."s"
					  else if etas > 0 then
						  etamsg = "ETA: "..etas.."s"
						else
							etamsg = "ETA: less than 1s"
						  end
						end
					  end
					end
				
				  tItem["eta"].setText(etamsg)
				  tItem["txdam"].setColor(acolor)
				  tItem["txdam"].setText(sym .. m.round(avg,2) .. "i/s")
		  end
	  end
	  sleep(1)
	  end
	  print("MScan exit.")
  end

  error = bridge.addText(4, 190, " ",0xFF0000)

  function MManage()
	while true do
	  event, msg = os.pullEvent("chat_command")
	  data = {}
	  iter = 1
	  for i in string.gmatch(msg,"%S+") do
		data["arg"..iter] = i
		iter = iter + 1
	  end
	  arg1 = data["arg1"]
	  arg2 = data["arg2"]
	  arg3 = data["arg3"]
	
	  outcolor = 0xFF0000
	  outtext = " "
	
	  if arg1 == "add" then
		print("add detected. arg1:"..arg1.." arg2:"..arg2.." arg3"..arg3)
		local num = tonumber(arg2)
		match = nil
		for i in string.gmatch(arg2,":") do
			match = i
		end
		if match == ":" then
		  print(" a : found")
		  tmeta = {}
		  for i in string.gmatch(arg2,"%d+") do
			table.insert(tmeta,i)
		  end
		  id = tonumber(tmeta[1])
		  meta = tonumber(tmeta[2])
		  print("id: "..id.." meta: "..meta)
		  if meta and id then
			num = id + (meta * 32768)
		  end
		end
		if num then
		  str = tostring(arg3)
		  if str then
			num = tonumber(num)
			ins = {["id"] = num,["name"] = str}
			table.insert(trackedItems,ins)
			table.insert(trackedItemsdat,ins)
			for i=1,#trackedItemsdat do
			for i,o in pairs(trackedItemsdat[i]) do
			  print(o)
			end
			  print(trackedItemsdat[i])
			end
		  
			f = fs.open(filename,"w")
			wrt = textutils.serialize(trackedItemsdat)
			f.writeLine(wrt)
			f.close()
		  end
		else
		  outtext = "Error: argument#2 must be a real number."
		  outcolor = 0xFF0000
		end
	  end
	
	  if arg1 == "remove" or arg1 == "delete" then
		str = tostring(arg2)
		if str then
		  success = false
		  for i=#trackedItems,1,-1 do
			dItem = trackedItems[i]
			if dItem["name"] == str then
			  dItem["txlabel"].delete()
			  dItem["txamount"].delete()
			  dItem["txdam"].delete()
			  dItem["eta"].delete()
			  dItem["txlabel"] = nil
			  dItem["txamount"] = nil
			  dItem["txdam"] = nil
			  dItem["eta"] = nil
			  table.remove(trackedItems,i)
			  for o=i,#trackedItems do
				dItem = trackedItems[o]
				y = dItem["txlabel"].getY()
				dItem["txlabel"].setY(y-5)
				dItem["txamount"].setY(y-5)
				dItem["txdam"].setY(y-5)
				dItem["eta"].setY(y-5)
			  end
			end
		  end
		  for i=#trackedItemsdat,1,-1 do
			dItem = trackedItemsdat[i]
			if dItem["name"] == str then
			  table.remove(trackedItemsdat,i)
			  f = fs.open(filename,"w")
			  wrt = textutils.serialize(trackedItemsdat)
			  f.writeLine(wrt)
			  f.close()
			  success = true
			end
		  end
		  if success then
			outcolor = 0x00FF00
			outtext = "Item removed.."
		  else
			outcolor = 0xFFFF00
			outtext = "Item not found!"
		  end
		end
	  end
	  error.setColor(outcolor)
	  error.setText(outtext)
	  sleep(4)
	  error.setText(" ")
	end
  end

  parallel.waitForAll(main,timer,MScan,MManage)

The program is meant to compare a list of ME system items with a user-input list of items, assign names to matched items, print their quantities, calculate deltaQuantities and give an ETA based on delta and current quantity.
Issues arise when the program tries to serialize the current user-input list of tracked items (trackedItemsdat).

Logically the only items that should ever end up on the list are coming from tonumber(arg2) and tostring(arg3). Furthermore what baffles me is that it adds and saves the first tracked item fine, and were you to terminate it there, restart, and add another item - everything works as intended, but add a second and suddenly serialize finds a function somewhere in trackedItemsdat.

I'm really confused as to why this is happening, especially because it was working fine running for 5 days straight chunkloaded, until I came back from afk to this error:
parallel: 22: textutils: 166: Cannot serialize type function.
The code was not modified prior to that.
I then loaded a better Serialize program I found here as 'slize' to see if the server changed/updated the textutils in rom, but only to get the same error. So it seems somehow a function is indeed making it's way into trackedItemsdat and I can't track it down. I've even tried to iterate-print the whole list and it didn't seem to print any functions.

Please help me in my struggles, as it is my first bigger CC project I made from scratch, if anyone with a fresh perspective on the code could locate the problem, I would be deeply grateful.

Thanks for taking time to read this in advance

[Lyqyd]

Split into new topic.

Try creating a modified version of the serialize function that will tell you where it's at in the table when it finds the function value.

[LBPHacker]

If I really wanted to prevent functions from getting into trackedItems, I'd use some metatable magic... I know it's kind of advanced... But whatever.

local trackedItems = setmetatable({}, {
    __newindex = function(tbl, key, value)
        if type(value) == "function" then error(string.format("here it is! (%s)", key), 2) end
        rawset(tbl, key, value)
    end
})
local trackedItemsdat = {}

-- ...

[Megaddd]

LBPHacker, on 12 October 2013 - 02:42 PM, said:

If I really wanted to prevent functions from getting into trackedItems, I'd use some metatable magic... I know it's kind of advanced... But whatever.

local trackedItems = setmetatable({}, {
	__newindex = function(tbl, key, value)
		if type(value) == "function" then error(string.format("here it is! (%s)", key), 2) end
		rawset(tbl, key, value)
	end
})
local trackedItemsdat = {}

-- ...

This looks promising, but the thing with trackedItems is that it's a table with tables in it, inside which, I fear, the functions hide.

[LBPHacker]

Megaddd, on 12 October 2013 - 02:47 PM, said:

-snip-

Try this then:

local function functionDetector(tbl, key, value)
    if type(value) == "function" then error(string.format("here it is! (%s)", key), 2) end
    rawset(tbl, key, type(value) == "table" and setmetatable(value, {__newindex = functionDetector}) or value)
end

local trackedItems = setmetatable({}, {__newindex = functionDetector})
local trackedItemsdat = {}

-- ...

[Megaddd]

Your code ran fine in an isolated environment, however after I patched it into my code it started telling me that trackedItemsdat and trackedItems are both nil at table.insert.

ins = {["id"] = out,["name"] = str}
if trackedItems == nil then trackedItems = {[1]={["name"]="Oakwood",["id"]=17}} end
if trackedItemsdat == nil then trackedItemdat = {[1]={["name"]="Oakwood",["id"]=17}} end
table.insert(trackedItems,ins)
table.insert(trackedItemsdat,ins)

I assume it's safe to say there's a server-side issue regarding ComputerCraft?
I mean, my program runs fine for 5 days, all of a sudden functions end up where they're impossible to end up, and now this nil-proofed code still says that it has a 'bad argument: table expected, got nil'
Either that, or I need to re-write absolutely everything to clean it up, as checking for errors right now is extremely difficult.

edit:
section of function with patched function-hunter™

Spoiler

if num then
    str = tostring(arg3)
    if str then
		ins = {["id"] = out,["name"] = str}
		if trackedItems == nil then trackedItems = {[1]={["name"]="Oakwood",["id"]=17}} end
		if trackedItemsdat == nil then trackedItemdat = {[1]={["name"]="Oakwood",["id"]=17}} end
		table.insert(trackedItems,ins)
		table.insert(trackedItemsdat,ins)
		  
		local function functionDetector(tbl, key, value)
		if type(value) == "function" then error(string.format("here it is! (%s)", key), 2) end
			rawset(tbl, key, type(value) == "table" and setmetatable(value, {__newindex = functionDetector}) or value)
		end

		local trackedItemsdat = setmetatable({}, {__newindex = functionDetector})
					  
		wrt = textutils.serialize(trackedItemsdat)
	   f = fs.open(filename,"w")
		f.writeLine(wrt)
		f.close()
	end
end

[Bomb Bloke]

Quote

if trackedItemsdat == nil then trackedItemsdat = {[1]={["name"]="Oakwood",["id"]=17}} end

[Lyqyd]

In case you don't see the underlined character, he's pointing out that you missed an "s".

[Megaddd]

My original code is very messy, guess I'll dedicate a weekend to rewrite the entire script with more loops and compact code, as a lot of what I've done could've been done with less code. It's also very messy, using similar variables like trackedItemsdat and TrackedItems, which could've been mixed up in some parts of the code easily, I'll post the finished work once I'm done to the programs section and link it here eventually. Thanks for the help with list management! Appreciated .