30 replies to this topic

[ClassicRockFan]

Hello all, I'm trying to make a GUI and I want one of the functionalities of it to when an icon is clicked on, it prints a directory of all of the files on the computer. I have this part working perfectly. I want as well that the colors of the lines that the file names are printed on to have alternating colors. I also have this part working but having a bugger of a time trying to get them to work together. Here is the basic concept of the code I have for it. http://pastebin.com/339JMLMA (I know that there is an extra end at the bottom of the code, I missed this after copying the code to a new file) I also want to know if its possible to use pastebin in conjunction with the files that are created with the paint api. Any help is appreciated. Thanks all.

[surferpup]

You almost got it, but you probably didn't think about the modulus (%) operand. Try this:

local FileList = fs.list("")
term.clear()
term.setCursorPos(1,1)
local counter = 0
for _, file in ipairs(FileList) do
	if counter % 2 == 0 then
		term.setTextColor(colors.blue) -- even lines
	else
		term.setTextColor(colors.pink) -- odd lines
	end
	print(file)
	counter = counter+1
end
term.setTextColor(colors.white)

As counter increments, counter % 2 will give the remainder of counter / 2. Essentially, it will be either 0 (even) or 1 (odd). Then the conditional statement in the if control structure will allow us to change the text color accordingly. I started counter at 0, so the first line will be considered even and print in blue in my example. Odd lines will print in pink. I reset the text color to white at the end of the program.

The example I gave above makes the most sense from a the perspective of trying to wrap your brain around the logic, however, you could do the same thing without an if ... else control structure like this:

local FileList = fs.list("")
term.clear()
term.setCursorPos(1,1)
local counter = 0
local color = {colors.blue,colors.pink}
for _, file in ipairs(FileList) do
	term.setTextColor(color[(counter % 2) +1])
	print(file)
	counter = counter+1
end
term.setTextColor(colors.white)

As for the paint.api and pastebin, I got nothing. Somebody else will have to address that.

Edited by surferpup, 26 January 2014 - 02:42 AM.

[ClassicRockFan]

Thank you very much. I will be sure to give this a try and let you know how it works.

[ClassicRockFan]

Thank you, it worked perfectly. Now, for the next part of my issue, I want to be able to scroll through the files that it prints and show me a directory (if its on a cd or on the pc) and what kind of file it is (paint api file or computercraft code). Can you point me in that direction? Also, I want my startup file to check if my actual gui exists and if not to download the files from pastebin. When I tested this I got the three files I need just fine but it makes three directories, openp, openp2, and openp3. Can you tell me what this is and how to remedy it?

Edited by ClassicRockFan, 26 January 2014 - 11:04 PM.

[surferpup]

You would have need to create in your gui something like this:

• A while loop to capture up, down and enter key events
  
• On an up or down key event, you would need to know what position you are on the screen and move the highlight text accordingly, essentially reprinting the file on that line in the correct color and highlight. You could also update an informational section on the screen giving more info about that file. As for information what type of file, you would probably have to use file extensions (because all files are text based, and lua code files often aren't given the .lua extension).
  
• If enter is pressed and the highlight is on a directory, change directories and repaint the screen with the new directory.
  
• You might need to make the first file in a directory listing ".." which would indicate the user wants to go up a directory level.

As for the question on loading your API files automatically off of pastebin, that is entirely possible. You are probably not formatting the command correctly. Please post the relevant code sections.

I did a bunch of user interface work on my Tank Building Turtle code. Take a look at it and steal liberally from whatever is useful. It handles the cursor keys and enter key, changing highlights and reprinting sections of the User Interface. It would probably be helpful to you to tear it apart a bit.

If what I have posted is useful to you (here and above), please vote up each useful post.

Let me know if that gets you started.

Edited by surferpup, 26 January 2014 - 11:26 PM.

[ClassicRockFan]

Here is the pastebin for the startup for file. Just name it as such and all will be good. Let me know what you think. http://pastebin.com/u39xKi22 And I will look at your turtle code. Thanks for all of the help. (Username and pass = test so you can get into the system)

Edited by ClassicRockFan, 26 January 2014 - 11:40 PM.

[surferpup]

I ran it and it worked fine. I can see where you are going with it. I strongly recommend you follow some indent rules for yourself so you don't get lost in the functions and control statements. Keeping some structure to Code Blocks is a good habit to get into.

The startup program correctly downloaded your three files and executed your desktop correctly.

Nice start to your project!

[ClassicRockFan]

Thank you. This is one of my first major projects so all the help and TLC is appreciated. Hmmm.... very strange. I just broke the original computer and did it and the then it appeared. But when I put it in a different location it disappeared. Oh well... I also just went back and edited my code.

Edited by ClassicRockFan, 27 January 2014 - 12:01 AM.

[surferpup]

I did as you said, and I did not get the random directories. Have you deleted them and re-run your program?

ClassicRockFan, on 26 January 2014 - 11:57 PM, said:

hmmm.... very strange. I just broke the original computer and did it and the then it appeared. But when I put it in a different location it disappeared. Oh well...

Not quite sure what you are saying here.

Edited by surferpup, 26 January 2014 - 11:59 PM.

[ClassicRockFan]

What I mean is I broke the original computer that I tested it on and replaced it in the same location. I then did the pastebin get jibberish startup and it produced my random directories again. However, I made a completely separate computer and did the pastebin get jibberish startup and the random directories didn't show up.

Edited by ClassicRockFan, 27 January 2014 - 12:08 AM.

[surferpup]

Hmmm. You may have had some spurious code you were not aware of. Also, it is a good idea to occasionally reboot your turtle to clear out any erroneous globals you may have created.

Edited by surferpup, 27 January 2014 - 12:05 AM.

[ClassicRockFan]

I was looking at your turtle code and am wondering something, is it possible to make it so that I can have it do the scroll thing but if they right-click, that they are brought back to the screen with the file icon? And at this point, these are the only 4 files on the computer and there are no globals, so who knows...

[surferpup]

Some other notes on your code. Create a series of variables for your look and feel and use them throughout (even passing them to APIs if you need to). You can make them globals, just remember to clear them when you exit the OS altogether.

For ex.

defaultDesktopBackground = colors.white
defaultDesktopText = colors.blue
defaultTitleBarBackground = colors.lightBlue
defaultTitlebarText = colors.white
defaultErrorBackground = colors.black
defaultErrorText = colors.red
..and so on

Make sure to use these variables everywhere you set color. That way, if you change your color schema, you only change it in one place -- in the declarations section.

[ClassicRockFan]

I will go back and do that for sure.

[surferpup]

ClassicRockFan, on 27 January 2014 - 12:09 AM, said:

I was looking at your turtle code and am wondering something, is it possible to make it so that I can have it do the scroll thing but if they right-click, that they are brought back to the screen with the file icon? And at this point, these are the only 4 files on the computer and there are no globals, so who knows...

Sure -- just monitor a click event in addition to the key event.

For example:

while true do
  local event, arg = os.pullEvent()
  if event == "mouse_click" and arg == 2 then break
  elseif event =="key" then
	if arg == 200 or key == 208 then
	  rolllDirectory(arg)
	elseif key == 28 then
	  doEnterKeyThing()
	end
  end
end
goBackToWherever(indexNumber)

Does that make sense? The rollDirectory function would handle both up and down keys (it is essentially the same function), so you just pass it the key value as arg. The doEnterKeyThing(indexNumber) would be whatever that is for you, with indexNumber being the current line the highlight is on so it can use that line as a reference. The goBackToWherever() would be getting out of the file list and probably back to the desktop.

Edit: fixed syntax error in my example. And another one. Also, expanded on doEnterKeyThing function.

Edited by surferpup, 27 January 2014 - 12:39 AM.

[ClassicRockFan]

Most of the changes are code based.

Edited by ClassicRockFan, 27 January 2014 - 12:53 AM.

[surferpup]

Worked perfectly for me ... now with green desktop background.

This is what I did:

rm login
rm .background
rm .icon
pastebin get Svskf6By startup
startup

This was the startup code:

if fs.exists("login") then
 shell.run("login")
else
 shell.run("pastebin get 6SJkMMT4 login")
 shell.run("pastebin get KaTiSRhy .icon")
 shell.run("pastebin get HFYY1efQ .background")
 shell.run("login")
end

Edited by surferpup, 27 January 2014 - 12:52 AM.

[ClassicRockFan]

I think its my pastebin limit. Anyway to bypass? Okay it was my pastebin limit. Bypass: Create a new world Most of the changes are code based. Still bug testing and tying to implement the new feature. The line where I'm trying to do this is around line 73. Can you take a look?

Edited by ClassicRockFan, 27 January 2014 - 12:56 AM.

[surferpup]

No -- that is not the solution. Here is another idea:

Do you have access to the server in question? Is this running on your desktop? If so, just use a text editor (or ssh into a server and use nano or some other editor). Create the stuff in your text editor and save it to the saves/world/computer/<computerNumber>/<programName>

I guess what I am saying is that while you are developing, do as much of it locally as possible. Add the pastebin features last.

Edited by surferpup, 27 January 2014 - 01:00 AM.

[ClassicRockFan]

I'm not doing this on a server so I have the ability to do pretty much whatever. And I like doing it in game so I can play with it as I go along. But for some reason, now my login button doesn't work