42 replies to this topic

[Liraal]

Okay, so you have come here to look for a quick way to set up a menu? Good. Before we start, please note that I will first show an algorithm, then the code and finally an explanation. Now we can begin.

1. Yes/No Menu

First and easiest type of menu is a yes/no menu. We need it to act like:

1. Print "Yes No" with one option highlighted, like ">Yes< No"
2. Wait for key pressed.
3. If pressed enter return yes (true) or no (false) and end program
4. If pressed arrow left/right highlight the correct option and go to Step 1.

okay, here is the code:

Spoiler

function yN()
local n=1
while true do
local x, y=term.getCursorPos()
term.clearLine()
if n==1 then write(">YES<   NO") else write (" YES   >NO<") end
term.setCursorPos(x, y)
a, b=os.pullEvent()
while a~="key" do a, b=os.pullEvent() end
if b==203 and n==2 then n=1 end
if b==205 and n==1 then n=2 end
if b==28 then print("") break end
end
if n==1 then return true end
if n==2 then return false end
return false
end

what it does is:

Spoiler

function yN()									--declare a function (note that I am not actually runningit anywhere)
local n=1										  --declares the starting selected option (a 'yes')
while true do									 -- a loop, necessary for going from step4 to step 1
term.clearLine()								--clears one line for writing
if n==1 then write("[YES]   NO") else write (" YES   [NO]") end --writes options with one highlighted
a, b=os.pullEvent("key")				   --waits for a key press
if b==203 and n==2 then n=1 end	--if pressed arrow left and selected option is 'no' then select 'yes'
if b==205 and n==1 then n=2 end	--if pressed arrow right and selected option is 'yes' then select 'no'
if b==28 then print("") break end	  --if pressed enter then break the loop and execute the code outside it
end												   --close the loop code
if n==1 then return true end			 --if chosen 'yes' then return true
if n==2 then return false end			--if chosen 'no', return false
end												   --close the function

2. Customizable Menu


Okay, it's now time for the more advanced stuff. Say, you don't want all your menus to only have yes/no options, right? Now I will show you how to make a better version.

1. Get the list of options, preferably a table.
2. Print those options.
3. Select the first one.
4. If pressed arrow up go one option up and go to step#2.
5. If pressed arrow down do the reverse and go to step#2.
6. If pressed enter end and return selected option.

Code:

function CUI(m)
n=1
l=#m
while true do
term.clear()
term.setCursorPos(1,2)
for i=1, l, 1 do
if i==n then print(i, " ["..m[i].."]") else print(i, " ", m[i]) end
end
print("Select a number[arrow up/arrow down]")
a, b= os.pullEventRaw()
if a == "key" then
if b==200 and n>1 then n=n-1 end
if b==208 and n<=l then n=n+1 end
if b==28 then break end
end
end
term.clear() term.setCursorPos(1,1)
return n
end

And explanation:

function CUI(m) --declare function
n=1 --declare selected option
while true do --start a loop for the 'go to step#2' part
term.clear() term.setCursorPos(1,2) --clear the sceen and position the cursor
for i=1, #m, 1 do --traverse the table of options
if i==n then print(i, " ["..m[i].."]") else print(i, " ", m[i]) end --print them
end
a, b= os.pullEvent("key") --wait for keypress
if b==200 and n>1 then n=n-1 end --arrow up pressed, one option up
if b==208 and n<=l then n=n+1 end --arrow down pressed, one option down
if b==28 then break end --enter pressed, break the loop
end
term.clear() term.setCursorPos(1,1) --clear screen
return n --return the value
end

Please note that the above function requires to be called with a table, like this:

local options={
"option1",
"option2",
"option3"
}
local n=CUI(options)
print(n)

and returns the number of the option chosen.

Do you want me to make some other types of menus as well? If so, post them below.

[jtdavis99]

How did you know what codes were equivalent to the keys?

[Espen]

jtdavis99, on 18 March 2012 - 11:41 PM, said:

How did you know what codes were equivalent to the keys?

http://www.minecraft.../wiki/Key_Codes

[Liraal]

Posted another version of menu. Hope this will be enough.

And for key codes I actually used trial and error, but espen solution is much more elegant />

[Wesnc]

I was messing around with your code a bit here, and its only showing option #2, I'll post snippets of the code.

for i=1, l, 1 do
if i==selection then print("["..options[i].."]" .. " " .. options[i]) else print(options[i] .. " ["..options[i].."]") end
end


local optionsTable = {
"OPEN",
"CLOSE"
}

Those are pretty much the only edits, besides keys. Issue is it only shows option 2 ex:

Quote

CLOSE [CLOSE]

What have I did wrong here?


EDIT: I fixed it, I think. kinda defeats the purpose of the whole thing though, just a quick fix, not a proper one.

if i==selection then print("["..options[1].."]" .. " " .. options[2]) else print(options[1] .. " ["..options[2].."]") end

It was throwing the selection numbers off too, so I fixed that for now

 return selection-1 

EDIT: a stupid mistake, a mis-arrangement of print, fixed.

Help still needed, if this is NOT the correct way of doing it(obviously)

I'm also looking into having multiple selections, by that I mean something like this:

Quote

Door1 - OPEN CLOSE
Door2 - OPEN CLOSE
Door3 - OPEN CLOSE

and even making use of nested tables for a selection menu such as that.
Not sure how I would get into the nested table and the table itself. Was thinking for the table to look like this:

optionsTable = {
["Door1"] = {
"OPEN"
"CLOSE"
},
["Door2"] = {
"OPEN"
"CLOSE"
}
}

Mainly, I need to get the string within ["Door1"] and the nested table, unsure how to do this in LUA.

and I know there are easier ways to do this, this is just the way I would prefer. less code clutter

[Ian-Moone]

really helpful thanks />
this will speed up development of my programs so much
ps.ill give you a mention in the credits when and where i use it

[fuj1n]

jtdavis99, on 18 March 2012 - 11:41 PM, said:

How did you know what codes were equivalent to the keys?

Espen, on 19 March 2012 - 12:00 AM, said:

jtdavis99, on 18 March 2012 - 11:41 PM, said:

How did you know what codes were equivalent to the keys?

http://www.minecraft.../wiki/Key_Codes

What I Do Is Simply Create A Computer Program Where It Does The Following:

Spoiler

term.clear()
term.setCursorPos(1,1)
print("Key Testing Utility 1.0")
while true do
act, key = os.pullEvent("key")
print("Your Keycode Is: " ..key)
end

Simple And Easy

[Alex_]

Thank You />

[Aerik]

Loved it, thanks a lot!

Is it possible to create a menu where it asks you to enter several variables, for things such as, say, a set of coodinates, or the depth, width and heigth of a room to dig/build?

[Wolvan]

Aerik, on 06 April 2012 - 06:43 PM, said:

Loved it, thanks a lot!

Is it possible to create a menu where it asks you to enter several variables, for things such as, say, a set of coodinates, or the depth, width and heigth of a room to dig/build?

Sure that's possible! Just use read() />

[Aerik]

Lol, yeah, I'd just figured that out myself />
Thanks anyway!

[Liraal]

I may do a menu for this later on as well.

[libraryaddict]

Created a menu API featuring unlimited menu selections here : http://www.computerc...enu-scrollable/

Its scrollable :
However it deletes everything else on the screen atm >.>

[giangigzu]

Hello, i was hoping you could help me with a little menu that i've been trying to learn how to do. its suppossed to have three options: Pump-Tank, Tank-Gen., Gen-MFE.
when one of them is selected then it should open a sub-menu that actualy asks me if i want to turn the feature on. i only need this base and i will later add the bundled cable outputs myself. Please send me a message with the finished code, if i figure it out first ill tell u. THANK YOU!

[Graypup]

My only use for a menu is an installer, but this is well explained enough for me to bother with a menu at all.

[Brodur]

How do you add an action to the options? I tried

local options={
"Launch VaulTec",
"Continue to CraftOS 1.3"
}
local n=CUI(options)
print(n)
if n=1 then
sleep(0.1)
shell.run "vault"
else
shell.run "shell"
end

and this doesn't work, so how do I add an action to the option? Please help!

[Cranium]

Another REALLY simple menu is just this:

function newMenu()
term.setCursorPos(1,1)
print("Please make your selection now")
term.setCursorPos(1,9)
write("Selection: ")
end
function selection()
print("1. Selection1")
print("2. Selection2")
--you can add more selections if you want
term.setCursorPos(11,9) -- Resets the cursor back to the end of the selection line. Can be changed to any cursor position.
end
-- Now, the actual code
term.clear()
newMenu()
selection()
local input = read() --can add (*) if using passwords
if input == "1" then --can also be anything else to designate the selection
-- Do stuff here
elseif input == "2" then
--Do other stuff here
else
  print("INVALID SELECTION. PLEASE TRY AGAIN")
  sleep(1)
  os.reboot() --only necessary if using this as a startup code.
end

Nothing fancy, but easily modified to add as manyy selections as you can fit onto a screen.

[BigSHinyToys]

well seeing as I have released programs with this menu Open Source I am throwing down. You may recognize it from some of my progs (probably not)

Spoiler

local function menu(...) -- ver 0.1
    local sel = 1
    local list = {...}
    local offX,offY = term.getCursorPos()
    local curX,curY = term.getCursorPos()
    while true do
	    if sel > #list then sel = 1 end
	    if sel < 1 then sel = #list end
	    for i = 1,#list do
		    term.setCursorPos(offX,offY+i-1)
		    if sel == i then
			    print("["..list[i].."]") -- very customisible example print(">"..list[i])
		    else
			    print(" "..list[i].." ") -- very customisible
		    end
	    end
	    while true do
		    local e,e1,e2,e3,e4,e5 = os.pullEvent()
		    if e == "key" then
			    if e1 == 200 then -- up key
				    sel = sel-1
				    break
			    end
			    if e1 == 208 then -- down key
				    sel = sel+1
				    break
			    end
			    if e1 == 28 then
				    term.setCursorPos(curX,curY)
				    return list[sel],sel
			    end
		    end
	    end
    end
end
-- Example Usage
print("Please select Option")
local selection = menu("Redstone","Hardware","WiFi","Event Monitor","Turtle Driver","Infomation/Help","Exit")
if selection == "Redstone" then
    RedstoneControl()
elseif selection == "Hardware" then
    Hardware()
elseif selection == "WiFi" then
    wifi()
elseif selection == "Event Monitor" then
    EventMonitor()
elseif selection == "Turtle Driver" then
    TurtleDriver()
elseif selection == "Infomation/Help" then
    help()
elseif selection == "Exit" then
    bRunning = false
end

This menu will display on the screen from where ever the cursor is last at.

[Xhisor]

BigSHinyToys, on 02 August 2012 - 04:16 PM, said:

well seeing as I have released programs with this menu Open Source I am throwing down. You may recognize it from some of my progs (probably not)

Spoiler

local function menu(...) -- ver 0.1
	local sel = 1
	local list = {...}
	local offX,offY = term.getCursorPos()
	local curX,curY = term.getCursorPos()
	while true do
		if sel > #list then sel = 1 end
		if sel < 1 then sel = #list end
		for i = 1,#list do
			term.setCursorPos(offX,offY+i-1)
			if sel == i then
				print("["..list[i].."]") -- very customisible example print(">"..list[i])
			else
				print(" "..list[i].." ") -- very customisible
			end
		end
		while true do
			local e,e1,e2,e3,e4,e5 = os.pullEvent()
			if e == "key" then
				if e1 == 200 then -- up key
					sel = sel-1
					break
				end
				if e1 == 208 then -- down key
					sel = sel+1
					break
				end
				if e1 == 28 then
					term.setCursorPos(curX,curY)
					return list[sel],sel
				end
			end
		end
	end
end
-- Example Usage
print("Please select Option")
local selection = menu("Redstone","Hardware","WiFi","Event Monitor","Turtle Driver","Infomation/Help","Exit")
if selection == "Redstone" then
	RedstoneControl()
elseif selection == "Hardware" then
	Hardware()
elseif selection == "WiFi" then
	wifi()
elseif selection == "Event Monitor" then
	EventMonitor()
elseif selection == "Turtle Driver" then
	TurtleDriver()
elseif selection == "Infomation/Help" then
	help()
elseif selection == "Exit" then
	bRunning = false
end

This menu will display on the screen from where ever the cursor is last at.

Oh i've been looking for a good way to make a nice menu, can i use (and modify) your menu in my turtle program? You will get credited of course!

[BigSHinyToys]

Xhisor, on 06 August 2012 - 04:04 PM, said:

-- snip --
Oh i've been looking for a good way to make a nice menu, can i use (and modify) your menu in my turtle program? You will get credited of course!

You can use,modify,set fire too,detonate or anything else you can think of to that program. While i would appreciate crediting a simple note in the code will suffice but is not required.

I take it a compliment that out of all the above menu systems you chose mine so Thank you.