740 replies to this topic

[gtxjoe]

Thanks for the help on COM scripting. I was able to expose the mouse cursor position for scripting use

I have modified the ball control script to use the mouse instead of the arrow keys. It is working fine but requires checks for desktop vs cab mode, and Needs some scaling to improve tracking.

Is there is a way to know the co-ordinates of the 4 corners of the playfield as they are mapped on the playfield display? If so, the ball control can be made accurate. If not general scaling down will be enough to make work well

Edited by gtxjoe, 15 September 2017 - 02:20 AM.

[fuzzel]

If you mean the screen coordinates of the 4 corners of the playfield then the answer is no. In pintable.h there are four variables m_left, m_top, m_right and m_botton which define the corners of the playfield but these are the x/y coordinates in 3D space and the playfield height is the Z value. The problem here is that you get the mouse position in window coordinates and you have to convert them into screen coordinates and then into 3D space but because you don't have any depth information you can only define the depth to be the playfield and that won't work for raised playfields.

Edited by fuzzel, 15 September 2017 - 11:58 AM.

[LynnInDenver]

Feature request, if it isn't already present: The ability to add our own table templates to the New menu?

[Shockman]

Feature request, if it isn't already present: The ability to add our own table templates to the New menu?

 

I came on to request the very same thing. The bare table still isn't bare, and the lights that exist there are in the demo table. I think for the shape, the edges are too sharp to even use the potlickers. A user set of templates would of course be better, but I just came on to ask if the "New" table could be editable. Still save-as only, but editable and save able.

 

 

Edit:

Or true bare. Like old versions, Flippers, plunger, the cluster of elements that make up the slings, a main wall and shooter lane wall, with their script routine working the sling only.

Edited by Shockman, 16 September 2017 - 10:26 PM.

[randr]

If you mean the screen coordinates of the 4 corners of the playfield then the answer is no. In pintable.h there are four variables m_left, m_top, m_right and m_botton which define the corners of the playfield but these are the x/y coordinates in 3D space and the playfield height is the Z value. The problem here is that you get the mouse position in window coordinates and you have to convert them into screen coordinates and then into 3D space but because you don't have any depth information you can only define the depth to be the playfield and that won't work for raised playfields.

[DJRobX]

One thing that's been driving me bat sh*t crazy dabbling with table development is that the script editor gets progressively slower and slower.

 

I tracked this down to a bug in the code editor stuff.  In CodeView.cpp at line 2000 change:

static int ParentLevel = 0;
 
static string CurrentParentKey = "";

to:

int ParentLevel = 0;
 
string CurrentParentKey = "";

What happens is the "CurrentParentKey" value keeps getting concatenated with different functions, and the list of subs in "Go to sub/function" fills up with more and more duplicates because it doesn't bulid unique keys.     When you do something like close the find window, it rebuilds this list.   After a while it starts to take 5-10-20 seconds just to do basic things in the editor, which gets maddening.  

 

I'm not really sure why they were static.  They are set up as if this were maybe recursive function, but from what I can tell it never calls itself.    I'm guessing nobody uses this feature since it quickly became worthless with it filling up with duplicate values.   

Edited by DJRobX, 17 September 2017 - 02:44 AM.

[hauntfreaks]

Feature request, if it isn't already present: The ability to add our own table templates to the New menu?

 

uumm... wouldnt that just be you making a template table, saving it somewhere and using that as "your" template??

also now with the new "blank" table its really not needed IMO

[LynnInDenver]

 

Feature request, if it isn't already present: The ability to add our own table templates to the New menu?

 

uumm... wouldnt that just be you making a template table, saving it somewhere and using that as "your" template??

also now with the new "blank" table its really not needed IMO

 

 

I get where you're coming from in terms of "we already have TWO templates available, what more do you want?". I'd still like to be able to save in a template of my own choosing. Doing it with an external file called "myTemplate" can lead to accidentally saving over one's own template if one's careless. And for some, even the "blank" table might need some tweaks. For instance, I'd like to set up my own apron for original tables, alongside some rudimentary scoring, and have that be available in the new table menu.

 

I work in a print shop doing prepress during the day, and there is a certain amount of "in the menu" templating that I have set up, that didn't come with the software by default. Yes, it's a convenience, but it's specifically a workflow convenience.

[hauntfreaks]

but wait.... lol
just make a template, save it as "jferio_template.vpx" .... voilà!... you have a personalised template

what you see in the NEW is an example table, showing all the basic stuff in the editor, and the blank table for scratch building

[Shockman]

Template by definition is not just another file that can be edited by the user.

 

It would be hard to argue about what we do have if the blank table was actually blank, meaning taking out the already demoed (in the other file) lights that are scripted to act in the (what should be in this file) basic sling routine.

 

As far as templates, other than "New" which should I suppose be a size thing that matches the apron used, Templates should be in the editor, everyone having the same, and should also be based on nothing other than size and at least one appropriate apron, and of course not be editable. It's arguable that it's needed but I don't think it arguable that it would be nice, and soon would seem only natural for this to be a part of the program.

 

That's not a request though, just that I think it would be nice for VP to come to that sometime in the future.

 

VPX plays a mean pinball and that's what matters most.

Edited by Shockman, 17 September 2017 - 07:14 AM.

[ClarkKent]

I didn't follow the whole thread but is there a way to hide the message "this display supports touch..." on every table start?

[fuzzel]

rev3209 is up:

 

- fix touch support detection and the corresponding message

[Thalamus]

@Jferio: I agree with Hautfreaks here - and if you are scared of overwriting you template. Why don't you make it a NOT writeable file ? Make it - right click it and protect it - done.

[jipeji16]

Hi Toxie, i have an "issue" in vpx4, in the material editor :

In the vpx3 version, there is a particular thing, that we can go over the normal values. A very interresting thing for me

In the vpx4 for some parameters, it's stil possible, but in this case it works in real time but when you launch a new time the table, it comes back to the "max value".

Is it possible to let "Edge Opacity" and Thickness free of use ???? like before for the other parameters ????

Or is it possible to change it in real time with scripting commands ? i don't have found them if they exist...

 

Thank you very much for all your impovements !!!!!

 

[LynnInDenver]

@Jferio: I agree with Hautfreaks here - and if you are scared of overwriting you template. Why don't you make it a NOT writeable file ? Make it - right click it and protect it - done.

 

It's not a matter of scared. It'd be nice to reduce from "Hit Open, navigate to Templates, open file" to "Hit New, select my template from the list". The ability to set the template in a way that forces me to save it as a new name is a secondary benefit.

[DJRobX]

It's not a matter of scared. It'd be nice to reduce from "Hit Open, navigate to Templates, open file" to "Hit New, select my template from the list". The ability to set the template in a way that forces me to save it as a new name is a secondary benefit.

 

Are you really creating new tables that often?    If you are, just pin your "tempalates" folder to your quick access list on the left of the file open dialog, and navigating to that folder becomes the same number of clicks.

 

I don't mean to poo-poo your idea, just want to be mindful of Toxie & Fuzzel's valuble time.   There tend to be a lot of devils in the details of adding UI features. 

Edited by DJRobX, 17 September 2017 - 05:21 PM.

[Shockman]

I don't see much understanding here at VPForums about what a template even is.

Edited by Shockman, 17 September 2017 - 05:57 PM.

[jpsalas]

Well, I have been making tables since 2006, and I do not use "templates". I only need an empty table, that's all, then I cut & paste what I need from my old tables, mostly script parts and standard objects (flippers, rubbers, pegs...).

Most of the tables I make are all different. They different in size, height, different script, even my original tables are all different. I have a "plain" script for the original tables, but I'm always changing it. So I don't see what I could use a template for.

Maybe you need a template if you don't know what you are doing, but if you don't know what you are doing then a template is not going to help you. You'll need to learn, and the only way to do that is to take a look at how other authors have done their tables.

You don't need templates, you need examples, and you'll find the best examples in the download section.

[BorgDog]

rev3209 is up:

 

- fix touch support detection and the corresponding message

 

thanks fuzzel, is there any way to just turn off the message? I have a touchscreen on my laptop that I do most of my table building on, and I really don't need to see those instructions every time I load a table.

 

you may also want to mention top left corner for coin.

[Shockman]

A template is not a model to start a table from, That would be a blank table or a specific template. It would be a model to start a recreation of a particular table from. Dimensions, depth, apron style, shooting style (plunge or launch or combo), etc. I think everyone would agree this is not a personal preference, JPs' template for a 90s Bally might be different than some others, if not all others, but shouldn't they all be exactly like the real thing? This is where a template comes in.

 

I never would say it is absolutely needed. I only say if VP should have this function at some point that everyone could say "naturally, of course it does".

Edited by Shockman, 18 September 2017 - 01:54 AM.