Array of Buttons?

[ChessGredon]

How do I create a multi-dimensional array which consists buttons? This could very helpful for board games like chess or go. For example in C# I would write

Code: Select all

Button[,] square = new Button[10, 10];
for (i = 1; i <= 8; i++)
            {
                for (j = 1; j <= 8; j++)
                {
                    square[i, j] = new Button();
                    square[i, j].Size = new Size(70, 70);
                    square[i, j].Anchor = AnchorStyles.Right;
                    square[i, j].Location = new Point(12 + (i - 1) * 68, 600 - 68 * (j - 1));
                    square[i, j].BackgroundImage = empty;
                    square[i, j].Visible = true;
                    this.Controls.Add(square[i, j]);
                    square[i, j].Click += new System.EventHandler(ClickButton);
                }
            }

and then I could write a common EventHandler for all buttons (in Livecode I think it's only Handler) and then change a button only by knowing his place in the array. I fail to find information, I googled "Livecode array of Buttons" "Livecode array of objects" and so on but I couldn't find how. Would appreciate some help

[dunbarx]

Hi.

If I understand what you are trying to do, know that an array is a type of variable, and can only hold data. This data can reference any characteristics of an "array" (group?) of buttons, including their properties. And then you can write handlers to populate or extract data as needed...

Or if I do not understand, might you be talking about using a dataGrid in its "form" style? This sort of gadget can "contain' buttons, and the whole thing can be accessed similarly to accessing an array.

Craig Newman

[ChessGredon]

The problem is that if I use group I think I can't have two dimensions. For example, if I want to change the image of the square 1, 1, I can't do that.

[dunbarx]

The array variable can hold data ordered as you see fit.

answer buttonArray[buttonName]["loc]["rect"]

would give you the rect of button "buttonName"

Craig

[bn]

Hi,

I don't want to spoil the party but here is a little sample stack that shows one way how to do that.

@Craig, I started this stack before your post and since chessGredon knows C# he just wants to know how to do this in LC. Anyways he either will build on it or not.


Kind regards

Bernd

[ChessGredon]

Thanks for spending time to answer me!
I think I know how to continue. I will make handler in one of the buttons with parameters i, j and then call this handler from all the others. Awesome, thanks again, bn!

[bn]

Hi ChessGredon,

if you get stuck feel free to ask here in the forum.

What is difficult for many new users of Livecode how messages are passed. The message hierarchy.

Here is a short introduction
http://www.fourthworld.com/embassy/arti ... _path.html

and here a bit about coding style in general but also LiveCode
It pays off big time to spend some time to dig into the specifics of LiveCode.

All this because

I will make handler in one of the buttons with parameters i, j and then call this handler from all the others

It may be wiser to put the handlers into the card script and handle your code there. For this you might want to check out the "Target" in the dictionary. In short it indicates which control received a message and since it did not handle the message, the messages goes up the message path. The card would be the next higher instance of all messages from buttons on a card.

This is a collection of stacks that give a very good introduction to Livecode, or Revolution as it was called at that time. They cover all the basics that still apply.
http://www.hyperactivesw.com/revscriptc ... ences.html

Kind regards
Bernd




http://www.fourthworld.com/embassy/arti ... style.html

[ChessGredon]

Thanks, I will check these thing out.

I made a similar to chess game with another idea (my creation). I use the automatical numbers of buttons - button 1 button 2 button 3 and so on. Let's think that the board is 8x8 (button at the bottom left is button 1, button at the top right is button 64).
Then when some of them is clicked, for example button 10 (which would usually be 1; 2) I find it's coordinates by dividing to 8 (x coordinate) and take it's remainder (x coordinate). For example button 19 (2; 3):
19:8 = 2 (remains 3)

Now I can rewrite my game (similar to chess) in Livecode, and play it with friends (on tablets). You can see the game (and some other games made by me in C# and AngelScript) here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ux4bxc9L6L4 2:04. Most labels in the video is in my native language (Bulgarian) but still I think it's enough to understand what I am trying to achieve in Livecode. Thanks everyone for the help on this topic!

P.S LiveCode rules.

[Aji]

Hi,

Have there been any improvements or new ideas on how to build "an array of buttons" in newer versions of LiveCode?

Thank you much
..Aji

[FourthWorld]

Have there been any improvements or new ideas on how to build "an array of buttons" in newer versions of LiveCode?

Bernd's chessButtonArray example above seems pretty complete. What are you looking to build, and how might we help?