i want to put random pieces (panels) on my screen.

panel1
{}
panel2
{}
.....

then i have - let's say 10 - numbers, each for a panel.
i.e. 1 2 1 1 1 2 2 2 3 3

then i want that a panel1 is created for each "1" in my numbers, a panel2 is created for each "2" in my numbers and so on....

or another approach:

Code:

---

strCoord[1]="img1.pcx";
strCoord[2]="img2.pcx";
strCoord[3]="img3.pcx";

i = int(random(3))+1;

panel coord00
{
bmap=strCoord[i];
}

---

i can't create an array of strings, can i? how can i solve it in another way?

you cannot creat an array of strings neither can you put something like
bmap = strCoord[ i ]; into a panel definition.
insead define the panel without a bmap, if this isnt possible either replace it with the first panel of yours.
then write a function which does this random stuff and gives the coord00 panel the right bmap:
Code:

---

string file_name = "img";
string file_type = ".pcx";
string file;
string file_number;

function set_panels
{
  var i;
  i = int(random(3))+1;
  str_cpy(file,file_name);
  str_for_num(file_number,i);
  str_cat(file,file_number);
  str_cat(file,file_type);
  
  coord00.bmap = file;
}

//another way to have a high number of panels and assign them all a random bmap:

var max_panels = 10;
var panel_handle[10]; //array to store the panel pointers

coord00 { ... }
coord01 { ... }
//and so on

panel* coord_ptr;

string file_name = "img";
string file_type = ".pcx";
string file;
string file_number;

function set_panels
{
  panel_handle[0] = handle(coord00);
  panel_handle[1] = handle(coord01);
  //and so on

  var i;
  var a = 0;
  
  while(a < max_panels)
  {
    i = int(random(3))+1;
    str_cpy(file,file_name);
    str_for_num(file_number,i);
    str_cat(file,file_number);
    str_cat(file,file_type);
  
    coord_ptr = ptr_for_handle(panel_handle[a];
    coord_ptr.bmap = file;
    a += 1;
    wait(1);
  }
}

---

well i guess this is a pretty komplex way. You should
check out the pan_create instruction. That would be the easy way.

i read through your post and i don't get it completely.

can you give me one example of i.e. 4 panels that are created randomly with your second attempt (with the handles)? i think that's the one that fits my needs, but i don't get it.
what should be in
Code:

---

coord00 { ... }

---

?
and what does "panel*" mean? i didn't find anything about it in the manual.

thanks!

ok, with coord00 { ... } I meant the panel definition:
Code:

---

panel coord00
{
  bmap = ...
  pos_x = ...
  pos_y = ...
//and so on
}

---

panel* is a panel pointer, its used to store the recent pointer.
I need this caus I read the handle (a number) out of an array. So I've to convert this number by using ptr_for_handle(number); into a pointer and this pointer is stored in pointer* coord_ptr. So now coord_ptr refers to the recent panel which i want to edit i.e. give it another bmap or change the x,y pos or whatever is possible.

i can't get it to work

here's my code:

Code:

---

var max_panels = 12;
var panel_handle[12]; //array to store the panel pointers
panel* coord_ptr;
string file_name = "t";
string file_type = ".pcx";
string file;
string file_number;

function random_panel()
{
  panel_handle[0] = handle(transform_l01_normal);
  panel_handle[1] = handle(transform_l02_normal);
  panel_handle[2] = handle(transform_l03_normal);
  panel_handle[3] = handle(transform_l04_normal);
  panel_handle[4] = handle(transform_l05_normal);
  panel_handle[5] = handle(transform_l06_normal);
  panel_handle[6] = handle(transform_l07_normal);
  panel_handle[7] = handle(transform_l08_normal);
  panel_handle[8] = handle(transform_l09_normal);
  panel_handle[9] = handle(transform_l10_normal);
  panel_handle[10] = handle(transform_l11_normal);
  panel_handle[11] = handle(transform_l12_normal);

  var i;
  var a = 0;
  
  while(a < max_panels)
  {
    i = int(random(3))+1;
    str_cpy(file,file_name);
    str_for_num(file_number,i);
    str_cat(file,file_number);
    str_cat(file,file_type);
  
    coord_ptr = ptr_for_handle(panel_handle[a]);
    coord_ptr.bmap = file;
    a += 1;
    wait(1);
  }
}

in another function i have i.e. this line:

transform_l01_normal.visible=on;

---

i have some bmps (t1.pcx, t2.pcx, t3.pcx, t4.pcx)

as soon as the panel should get visible, the game crashes.
i can't find the error. please help!