Is it possible in c-script to pass an object name in an argument so you can dynamically reference an object in a function?

example: Let's say I have 2 panels "message_panel" and "warning_panel". And I want to create a function called showPanel() to display...fadeup...whatever a specific panel. Either the message_panel OR the warning_panel in our example.

I'd love to pass the panel name as an argument, let's say showPanel("message_panel");

...and then have the function change the alpha of the panel to fade it up or down. Sort of like:

function showPanel(whichPanel) {
whichPanel.alpha = 50;
}

Of course, this tanks in c-script . Hopefully there's a way to do this...without a bunch of if/then statements inside the showPanel function to account for every possible panel.

Thanks,
Todd

You could try passing the Panel as a pointer? Then you can reference it and use the panel you passed..

Hope it helped!
Adoado

It is very uncommon to pass string representations as arguments to access objects. Use the pointer method instead and you can access all objects like you have asked for.

Cheers
Christian

Todd, i think, you made your panels in usual way (panel bla_bla_bla{...}). Try to use pan_create at once (see the manual) and you will understand what Heelx says to you.

Thanks again for the suggestions, I'll see if I can try them out.

Now, preparing to get flamed here, but...passing object names like my example is pretty common in Action Script 2.0. But then again, since AS 2 doesn't have pointers...they may have something to do with it.

Did I mention I'm mainly a design guy...but anyhow, my programming background goes way back, but I haven't spent any time with C or C++. Basic...like 1.0 back in '78, Logo (pointless), Pascal, Lingo (Director, and pointless), PERL, javascript and Action Script 1 and 2.

So, bring on the flames...but I do genuinely appreciate the advice.

Thanks,
Todd

p.s. and yes, I do tend to live in my own happy world...my site is www.toddworld.com

"A5 2" ?...

You have to use pointers to panels (and everything else), not the name's of their defined name...

...well...there was this one time, in band camp.

But seriously, your example looks like it should straighten things out. I was just trying to make a point that even though I'm new to c-script I have had a little experience with programming. Most "hard core" programmers I know are very...opinionated about the langauge they're currently using. As a result I get a nice set of 'eye rolls' if I mention several years of Action Script experience.

It looks like you're not of that mindset. Which is great.

My hope is, even though I'm asking a number of noob questions that things will click relativly quickly, and so far with help from the 3DGS community and other tutorials and examples online, that's pretty much been the case.

I just figured there'd be come virtual eye-rolling going on. But a brothers got to learn somehow. I'll post screens of what I'm working on pretty soon. It's just a small side-scroller/platformer.

Thanks,
Todd

p.s. now I'm just curious as to what you edited...

I think I've set up all my panel declarations correctly, but passing an argument to a function called by an event brought up another problem.

I've got a 'showMessage(whichWindow)' function that I'd like to be able to call for various messages in the game. Each with custom graphics etc. Some of these messages are shown when the player 'reads' a nearby sign so in the action of the sign I have

my.event = showMessage(warningMessage);

The problem is...since I now have included parentheses the function runs automatically as soon as the level runs.

Is there a way to stop this from autorunning....and WHY aren't functions called in a consistant way....i.e. all of them showMessage(), whether there's an arguement or not.

Thanks,
Todd