How to make pulsating text?

Posted By: 4gottenname

How to make pulsating text? - 06/07/09 14:17

Hey, I'm trying to recreate a old game and thougt I was starting out easy with making the start menu. On the first page there are 5 options (buttons): New Game, Load Game, Configuration, Credits and Exit Game. Problem is that the text on these buttons need to "pulsate" (grow bigger and then smaller over and over again). I've search the forums on how to animate buttons but didn't find any good anwser to that. Also it would requier too many bmaps so next I searched for a way to change the font size and came up with a very clumsy code. I'm using a TEXT* object called newgame_txt over a background panel with a trancparent button under the text. When you mouse over the button it calls a function that changes the font size in a while loop like this:

Code:

 function pulsate ()
{
	while(1) 
	{
		newgame_txt.font = size44_font;
		wait (-0.2);
		newgame_txt.font = size50_font;
		wait (-0.2);
		newgame_txt.font = size44_font;
		wait (-0.2);
		newgame_txt.font = size38_font;
		wait (-0.2);
		if (event_type == EVENT_RELEASE) { break; }
	}
}

The brake line don't work btw. It's suposed to stop pulsating when you move the pointer away from the button... (should do so without the brake line too...)

This code looks a bit uggly and long and I need to call it for every one of my buttons (there will be a lot of them on other "pages" and later in the game). So my questions is:
1. How do i make all the diffrent buttons to call a function that makes the text (for only the button that made the call) pulsate in a efficent way? I figured they need separate functions that hold a pointer to the right text and calls an other function that holds the pulsating code, but I don't know how to do that.
2. And how do I stop the loop when pointer no longer is over the button? If I change my code it will either pulsate forever or only one time. What am I missing?
Hope I explained it in a understandable way and that it has an easy solution

Posted By: MrGuest

Re: How to make pulsating text? - 06/07/09 17:34

do you want to use text or can you create each option with bitmaps?

Posted By: 4gottenname

Re: How to make pulsating text? - 06/07/09 18:09

Using text would be the best option since i need many of these pulsating text buttons. But if you know how to make animated bmap buttons, please tell

could come in handy in other projects

Posted By: MrGuest

Re: How to make pulsating text? - 06/07/09 18:20

the way i did it with bmaps is to have them all as seperate panels, then use mouse_panel to determine if the mouse is still over the panel

store a panel pointer as active_panel

then check at the start of the function for the mouse_over if(active_panel)
if true then set this back to it's default values
active_panel.scale_x = 1 etc...

then set the new panel as the active_panel... and manipulate as you want to

Code:

while(1){

  if(active_panel){
    while(active_panel.scale_x < 1.5){
      if(active_panel == mouse_panel){
        active_panel.scale_x += 0.05;
        wait(1);
      }
    }

    while(active_panel.scale_x > 0.5){
      if(active_panel == mouse_panel){
        active_panel.scale_x -= 0.05;
        wait(1);
      }
    }
  
    wait(1);
  }else{

    wait(1);
//    loop function

}[code]

alternaltively if you want to use textsizes
store the ones you need in an array

[code]FONT* fnt_pulse[5];
  then use similar code for cycling thro the fonts

hope this helps
*untested*

Posted By: 4gottenname

Re: How to make pulsating text? - 06/07/09 19:33

Wow, thanx Mister!

Looks a bit too complicated for me to understand atm, but will try it out and study it the coming days. Realy need to figure out how those pointers work...

Posted By: 4gottenname

Re: How to make pulsating text? - 06/12/09 22:02

I'm still struggling with this pulsating text thing. I didn't get MrGuests code to work and I realy would prefer TEXT instead of bmaps. Here is the code I got so far:

Code:

 ///////////////////////////////
#include <acknex.h>
#include <default.c>
///////////////////////////////
//BMAP* backgroundpergament_tga = "backgroundpergament.jpg"; // background image 800x600
BMAP* transparentbutton_pcx = "transparentbutton.pcx"; // 210x40
FONT* normal38_font = "Arial#38"; // was using a cooler font here
FONT* medium44_font = "Arial#44"; // but it's uncommon so changed
FONT* large50_font = "Arial#50";  // it to standard boring arial...
TEXT* pulsatingtextpointer = NULL;
////////////////////////////////////////// START ///////////////////////////////////////
PANEL* start_panel = // the first panel. will show at game start up
{
	layer = 1; 
//	bmap = backgroundpergament_tga;
	flags = OVERLAY | SHOW;
	button (295, 250, transparentbutton_pcx, transparentbutton_pcx, transparentbutton_pcx, NULL, normalfont, newgame_puls);
	button (295, 290, transparentbutton_pcx, transparentbutton_pcx, transparentbutton_pcx, NULL, normalfont, loadgame_puls);
	button (295, 330, transparentbutton_pcx, transparentbutton_pcx, transparentbutton_pcx, NULL, normalfont, options_puls);
//	button (295, 370, transparentbutton_pcx, transparentbutton_pcx, transparentbutton_pcx, NULL, normalfont, credits_puls);
//	button (295, 410, transparentbutton_pcx, transparentbutton_pcx, transparentbutton_pcx, NULL, normalfont, quitgame_puls);

}
TEXT* pulsatingtextpointer2 =
{
	font = normal38_font;
}
TEXT* newgame_txt =
{
	pos_x = 400;
	pos_y = 250;
	layer = 2;
	font = normal38_font;
	red = 255;
	green = 255;
	blue = 190;
	string = "New Game";
	flags = CENTER_X | CENTER_Y | SHADOW | SHOW;
}
TEXT* loadgame_txt =
{
	pos_x = 400;
	pos_y = 290;
	layer = 2;
	font = normal38_font;
	red = 255;
	green = 255;
	blue = 190;
	string = "Load a Game";
	flags = CENTER_X | CENTER_Y | SHADOW | SHOW;
}
TEXT* options_txt =
{
	pos_x = 400;
	pos_y = 330;
	layer = 2;
	font = normal38_font;
	red = 255;
	green = 255;
	blue = 190;
	string = "Configuration";
	flags = CENTER_X | CENTER_Y | SHADOW | SHOW;
}
////////////////////////// FUNCTION MAIN /////////////////////////////////
function main()
{
	video_mode = 7; // 800x600
	mouse_mode = 1;
	wait (1);
	while (1)
   {
      mouse_pos.x = mouse_cursor.x; // need these to move the cursor
      mouse_pos.y = mouse_cursor.y;
      wait (1); 
   }
}
//////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
function normalfont ()
{
	pulsatingtextpointer2 = pulsatingtextpointer;
	pulsatingtextpointer2.font = normal38_font;
	wait (1);
}
function pulsate ()
{
	while (mouse_calm) // while pointer over button
		{
			pulsatingtextpointer.font = medium44_font;
			wait (-0.2);
			pulsatingtextpointer.font = large50_font;
			wait (-0.2);
			pulsatingtextpointer.font = medium44_font;
			wait (-0.2);
			pulsatingtextpointer.font = normal38_font;
			wait (-0.2);
			if (mouse_moving) { break; } 		
			
		}
		wait(1);
}

function newgame_puls()
{
	pulsatingtextpointer = newgame_txt;
 	pulsate();
}
function loadgame_puls()
{
	pulsatingtextpointer = loadgame_txt;
 	pulsate();
}
function options_puls()
{
	pulsatingtextpointer = options_txt;
 	pulsate();
}

I'm using a black (all pixels RGB = 000) pcx image size: 210x40 under all the text lines. You need to make one if you want to try this script and see what Im after.
If you slowly move the mouse over a button the text will pulsate the way I want, but if you move fast over all the buttons things will get messy

I need a better argument for the while() and brake line in the pulsate function. And limit the function to only be run one at a time. I've searched the manual for usefull commands but not found suitable ones for this or not figured out how to use them properly. I want the pulsate code to run while the mouse is over the button and stop when you move away from it. My current brake line with mouse_moving makes it stop when you move a bit to the side so not good enough.

The normalfont function is called when you move the mouse pointer away from a button and is suposed to reset the font back to the normal size. Might be too slow since it don't work when you move fast? Maybe need to add something that stops the pulsating and waits a bit before leting the next button/text pulsate...

Would be nice to skip all the diffrent mouse over functions and call the pulsate directly from the button lines and give it the right text pointer too. Is that possible? The thing I tried gave a error with too many arguments...

Please read my first post also If its unclear what I'm trying to do and keep in mind that I'm a beginner with programming so give easy understood advices if you have some, thx

Posted By: EvilSOB

Re: How to make pulsating text? - 06/12/09 23:02

Try this variation.
If you need to make changes, or want to know "why?", "how?" or even "WTF?!!?!",
then just ask.

Code:

///////////////////////////////
#include <acknex.h>
#include <default.c>
///////////////////////////////
//BMAP* backgroundpergament_tga = "backgroundpergament.jpg"; // background image 800x600
BMAP* transparentbutton = "#210x40x32";		//create temporary black image for button
FONT* normal38_font = "Arial#38"; // was using a cooler font here
FONT* medium44_font = "Arial#44"; // but it's uncommon so changed
FONT* large50_font = "Arial#50";  // it to standard boring arial...
////////////////////////////////////////// START ///////////////////////////////////////
PANEL* start_panel = // the first panel. will show at game start up
{
	layer = 1; 
	pos_x = 295;	pos_y  = 250;
	size_x = 210;	size_y = 440;
	button (0, 0  , transparentbutton, NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, pulsate_text);
	button (0, 40 , transparentbutton, NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, pulsate_text);
	button (0, 80 , transparentbutton, NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, pulsate_text);
//	button (0, 120, transparentbutton, NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, pulsate_text);
//	button (0, 160, transparentbutton, NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, pulsate_text);
	flags = OVERLAY | SHOW;
}
TEXT* pulsatingtextpointer2 =
{
	font = normal38_font;
}
TEXT* newgame_txt =
{
	pos_x = 400;	pos_y = 250;
	layer = 2;		font = normal38_font;
	red = 255;		green = 255;		blue = 190;
	string = "New Game";
	flags = CENTER_X | CENTER_Y | SHADOW | SHOW;
}
TEXT* loadgame_txt =
{
	pos_x = 400;	pos_y = 290;
	layer = 2;		font = normal38_font;
	red = 255;		green = 255;		blue = 190;
	string = "Load a Game";
	flags = CENTER_X | CENTER_Y | SHADOW | SHOW;
}
TEXT* options_txt =
{
	pos_x = 400;	pos_y = 330;
	layer = 2;		font = normal38_font;
	red = 255;		green = 255;		blue = 190;
	string = "Configuration";
	flags = CENTER_X | CENTER_Y | SHADOW | SHOW;
}
////////////////////////// FUNCTION MAIN /////////////////////////////////
function main()
{
	video_mode = 7; // 800x600
	mouse_mode = 1;
	wait (1);
	while (1)
   {
      mouse_pos.x = mouse_cursor.x; // need these to move the cursor
      mouse_pos.y = mouse_cursor.y;
      wait (1); 
   }
}
//////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////


function pulsate_text(var butt_over, PANEL* this_pan)
{
	proc_kill(4);
	newgame_txt.font = normal38_font;
	loadgame_txt.font = normal38_font;
	options_txt.font = normal38_font;
	wait(1);
	//
	TEXT* this_text;
	switch(butt_over)
	{	
		case 1:		this_text = newgame_txt;
		case 2:		this_text = loadgame_txt;
		case 3:		this_text = options_txt;
	}	
	//
	while(1)
	{
		this_text.font = medium44_font;
		wait (-0.2);
		if(mouse_panel!=this_pan)	break;
		this_text.font = large50_font;
		wait (-0.2);
		if(mouse_panel!=this_pan)	break;
		this_text.font = medium44_font;
		wait (-0.2);
		if(mouse_panel!=this_pan)	break;
		this_text.font = normal38_font;
		wait (-0.2);
		if(mouse_panel!=this_pan)	break;
	}
	newgame_txt.font = normal38_font;
	loadgame_txt.font = normal38_font;
	options_txt.font = normal38_font;
}

Posted By: 4gottenname

Re: How to make pulsating text? - 06/13/09 11:09

This works perfectly! Thank you so much for taking the time to help me out

I had to change my buttons panel size to only fit the buttons, before it was fullscreen background so the panel was always active and one of the texts kept pulsating.

"#210x40x32" <-- thats a intressting way to create bmaps. (Is it possible to set RGB value for it?) Could use them to make the diffrent buttons fit the diffrent text lenghts better but would need the pulsating code to react to the button bmap instead of the panel, or make all buttons as individual panels. Then the question would be how to change this_pan...?
Gona be about 30 pulsating text/buttons, spread out over diffrent "pages" and not always close to each other. And thats for start panels only... more later in the game...

Some new things for me in the code...
proc_kill(4); found this in the manual before, didn't understand how to use it. Is it realy enough with that one line?

The switch and its cases... "If it matches any of the case values, the instructions following the colon are executed" ok... so it's sorta like a if comparison? but easyer to add more stuff in...?

Pointers are still very confusing for me. Are this_pan and this_text made up pointers? How do the engine know what we'r after? I can't see any line of code that checks for where the mouse pointer is exept for in the:
if(mouse_panel!=this_pan) break; (smart to put in the brake after all font changes, why didn't I think of that...)
How is this_text set and changed? In the switch case? What's the butt_over var then...? Would make more sence if they where predefined commands but since they'r not found in the Lite-C manual they would have to be from C-script or C/C++...maybe?
So many questions...

Posted By: EvilSOB

Re: How to make pulsating text? - 06/13/09 13:42

"#210x40x32" will only create pure black maps, but you could create a few and put a
bmap_fill() on some of them with different colors at the start of main to change their color.
[EDIT] Not so simple with BMAPs used by global panel definitions.

... how to make my code react to just the buttons, not the panel itself...
Hmmmm. Let me think on that, it may be do-able.

30 separate panels? I aint going to think about that at ALL!

Proc_kill(4) kills all OTHER copies of itself current running, so only itself remains.
And "this" itself then resets the sizes of ALL the texts, thats really is enough.

Switch is a beautiful little command.
Think of it like this. It is a string of IF's, as it goes through the string,
EVERY time the CASE is a match, this little block of code executes. Then it checks the next one.
Its JUST like a group of IF's you say? But WHOA, just execute one BREAK; from anywhere in there,
and it skips the REST of the CASE's and jumps out of the whole SWITCH block. COOL!
AND, if you put the "case default:" in there, it will run this block every time,
even if NONE if the other CASE's were true.
It WILL run as long as none of the other cases executed a 'break;' command anyway.

this_text is a pointer I made up, and my switch block just "aims" the pointer at the real TEXT object
that "belongs" to that button number, which is stored into butt_over.
Now comes the tricky part.
BOTH butt_over and this_pan you will see in the "pulsate_text" parameter list,
thats where they are coming from.
"But we didnt say to send them in the button!" I hear you say. True, we didnt.
But if you look carfully through the "Button" entry in the manual, you'll find this
Several buttons may share the same function. The number of the button is
passed as the first parameter to the function (1 = first button), the panel
pointer is passed as the second parameter.
Thats how they got sent, so look at my parameter list, and you can see how to use them.

"this_text" is SET in my switch command. thats the only time it gets set in any way.
"this_text" is just a pointer, not a "real" object, and lite-c knows this.
So when we say this_text.font = large50_font;, then lite-c says
"I cant change this_text's font, cause its not an object. BUT it is POINTING
at a real TEXT object, so I'll change the font of THAT object instead!"
This is an easy way to think of pointers. They USUALLY get used this way.

Make "more" sense yet?
Feel free to ask more if you want.

PS Welcome aboard, if I havent already said so...

Posted By: 4gottenname

Re: How to make pulsating text? - 06/13/09 15:44

Now THAT'S a good explanation!

Now I understand most if not all. Will read thru a few more times, just to be sure...
Pure black bmaps is enough, but could use filled ones to check that they realy are at right places.
Hehe, not asking you to do all my panel/buttons, need to do some work myself

I can use a few other functions with the same code in it, one for each "page" to keep them in order. But if there's a way to get the pulsating to run only while over a button I could use a full screen panel with buttons spread out all over the screen, not just thight together.
I did see the "Button entry in the manual" and thought I could use it to detect if mouse pointer still on a sertain button in my previous scripts but again, did not know how to make it work. Manual could use more exampels and beter explanations imo... :p
Thank you so much again! And no need to think too much about the code reacting to just the buttons not panel if it gets too complicated, the code you already given is more then enough for me to work with

Posted By: EvilSOB

Re: How to make pulsating text? - 06/14/09 02:05

Heres a new code thats "basically" the same, but now the texts only pulsate when the mouse is over the button.
(note: my using "toggle" buttons is required, not a typo)

Any questions? Ask away, otherwise enjoy!

Click to reveal..

Code:

///////////////////////////////
#include <acknex.h>
#include <default.c>
///////////////////////////////
BMAP* backgroundpergament_tga = "backgroundpergament.jpg"; // background image 800x600
BMAP* transparentbutton = "#210x40x32";		//create temporary black image for button
FONT* normal38_font = "Arial#38"; // was using a cooler font here
FONT* medium44_font = "Arial#44"; // but it's uncommon so changed
FONT* large50_font = "Arial#50";  // it to standard boring arial...
////////////////////////////////////////// START ///////////////////////////////////////
PANEL* start_panel = // the first panel. will show at game start up
{
	layer = 1; 
	pos_x = 250;	pos_y  = 180;
	bmap = backgroundpergament_tga;	
	size_x = 300;	size_y = 300;	// just resizing so you can see where panel edges are.
	button_toggle(50, 20 , transparentbutton, NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, pulsate_text_stop, pulsate_text);
	button_toggle(50, 120, transparentbutton, NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, pulsate_text_stop, pulsate_text);
	button_toggle(50, 220, transparentbutton, NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, pulsate_text_stop, pulsate_text);
	flags = SHOW;	//OVERLAY | SHOW;   just disabled OVERLAY so you can see where panel edges are.
}
//
//
TEXT* newgame_txt =
{
	pos_x = 405;	pos_y = 200;
	layer = 2;		font = normal38_font;
	red = 255;		green = 255;		blue = 190;
	string = "New Game";
	flags = CENTER_X | CENTER_Y | SHADOW | SHOW;
}
TEXT* loadgame_txt =
{
	pos_x = 405;	pos_y = 300;
	layer = 2;		font = normal38_font;
	red = 255;		green = 255;		blue = 190;
	string = "Load a Game";
	flags = CENTER_X | CENTER_Y | SHADOW | SHOW;
}
TEXT* options_txt =
{
	pos_x = 405;	pos_y = 400;
	layer = 2;		font = normal38_font;
	red = 255;		green = 255;		blue = 190;
	string = "Configuration";
	flags = CENTER_X | CENTER_Y | SHADOW | SHOW;
}
////////////////////////// FUNCTION MAIN /////////////////////////////////
function main()
{
	video_mode = 7; // 800x600
	mouse_mode = 1;
	level_load("");	//   just to display blue background so you can see where panel edges are.
	wait (1);
	while (1)
   {
      mouse_pos.x = mouse_cursor.x; // need these to move the cursor
      mouse_pos.y = mouse_cursor.y;
      wait (1); 
      if(key_cuu)	{	loadgame_txt.pos_x -= time_step*2;	diag_var("pos_x=%.0f;\n", loadgame_txt.pos_x);	}
      if(key_cud)	{	loadgame_txt.pos_x += time_step*2;	diag_var("pos_x=%.0f;\n", loadgame_txt.pos_x);	}
   }
}
//////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
//
function pulsate_text_stop(var,PANEL*);
//
function pulsate_text(var butt_over, PANEL* this_pan)
{
	proc_kill((void*)pulsate_text);
	pulsate_text_stop(butt_over, this_pan);	//reset all text sizes for this panel
	//
	TEXT* this_text;
	switch(butt_over)
	{	
		case 1:		this_text = newgame_txt;
		case 2:		this_text = loadgame_txt;
		case 3:		this_text = options_txt;
	}	
	//
	while(1)
	{
		this_text.font = medium44_font;		wait (-0.2);
		this_text.font = large50_font;		wait (-0.2);
		this_text.font = medium44_font;		wait (-0.2);
		this_text.font = normal38_font;		wait (-0.2);
	}
}
//
function pulsate_text_stop(var butt_left, PANEL* this_pan)
{
	proc_kill((void*)pulsate_text);
	//
	TEXT* this_text;
	switch(butt_left)
	{	
		case 1:		this_text = newgame_txt;
		case 2:		this_text = loadgame_txt;
		case 3:		this_text = options_txt;
	}	
	//
	if(this_text.font==large50_font)	{	this_text.font = medium44_font;		wait (-0.2);	}
	if(this_text.font==medium44_font)		this_text.font = normal38_font;
}

NOTE :: What I said before about using bmap_fill to changes the bmap colors doesnt work so simple with panels.

Posted By: 4gottenname

Re: How to make pulsating text? - 06/14/09 10:25

Awsome, you made it work!

A bit tierd today, was gona ask something realy stupid (why they stop working when changing panel size, DUH! /facepalm). Will use your first code for my menu panels with 3-5 options that are placed under each other and this for the other cases when buttons are placed futher away from each other.

I do have a few questions... What's the purpose of this line:
function pulsate_text_stop(var,PANEL*);
I read you can have many functions with the same name and diffrent parameters but that first one don't seem to do anything. When is it called or are both pulsate_text_stop functions called at same time? /confused

Then a question about the panel pointer. Maybe you would had mentioned or added it already if it was possible but I ask anyway. Could I add a if comparison to the switch code to check if this_pan(the pointer) == start_panel(or any of my other panels) and that way have diffrent case cenarios? I tried something like that last night but engine didn't understand me

Needs more pointers?

And thanx again, you have helped me so much! The game I'm remaking as a practise project needs a LOT of these pulsating things (makers must have been obsessed with it!) and I realy was going crazy trying to make it work on my own. I'm also starting to understand how usefull the switch statments are, got some ideas where to use that later in my code...

Posted By: EvilSOB

Re: How to make pulsating text? - 06/14/09 12:39

Your first question is trick to explain, but I'll do my best.
function pulsate_text_stop(var,PANEL*); is what is called a "function prototype".
Its not a real function, its just pretending to be one, so the compiler knows its name and parameters.

Notice that my "pulsate_text" function calls on "pulsate_text_stop". It cant do this
until the compiler know about pulsate_text_stop.
BUT the real pulsate_text_stop comes AFTER pulsate_text so the compiler doesnt know it exists, and would fail.
BUT, by putting a prototype of pulsate_text_stop in before pulsate_text, then the compiler knows how to use
pulsate_text_stop, and then continues compiling.
Then, when it finds the next pulsate_text_stop, the compiler compiles it, over-writing any references to
the prototype. All Good!
Normally one would say, "just put pulsate_text_stop in front of pulsate_text!".
I cant do that, because pulsate_text_stop contains a reference to pulsate_text, and then I would
just have the same problem again. Catch-22. Thats why we use prototypes...

Second question would take a lot of explaining too, but I will tell you this following code-snippet
WILL work, if you created another panel called "options_panel" and gave it some buttons and text's.

Code:

function pulsate_text(var butt_over, PANEL* this_pan)
{
	proc_kill((void*)pulsate_text);
	pulsate_text_stop(butt_over, this_pan);	//reset all text sizes for this panel
	//
	TEXT* this_text;
	switch(this_pan)
	{
		case start_panel:
			switch(butt_over)
			{	
				case 1:		this_text = newgame_txt;
				case 2:		this_text = loadgame_txt;
				case 3:		this_text = options_txt;
			}	
		case options_panel:
			switch(butt_over)
			{	
				case 1:		this_text = set_resolution_txt;
				case 2:		this_text = set_sounds_txt;
				case 3:		this_text = set_controls_txt;
			}
	}
	//
	while(1)
	{
		this_text.font = medium44_font;		wait (-0.2);
		this_text.font = large50_font;		wait (-0.2);
		this_text.font = medium44_font;		wait (-0.2);
		this_text.font = normal38_font;		wait (-0.2);
	}
}

Does that answer the second question?

I think that will do for this post anyways...

Posted By: EvilSOB

Re: How to make pulsating text? - 06/14/09 12:44

I just noticed, the above "multi-panel" code, would actually allow multiple
panels on the screen AT ONCE, with only one "pulsating" selection between them.

Posted By: 4gottenname

Re: How to make pulsating text? - 06/14/09 18:10

Haven't had the chanse to try it out but looks like it will do exactly what I wanted. Now I realy got a lot to study and work with for the next week/s

Good explanation again. I didn't notice the functions where calling each other but now you thought me how to make that work also. No more questions (atm

), I've taken advantage of your helpfulness far too much already. I'm sure others will find this topic and your anwsers usefull/interesting also.
I will have many more questions about programming later on but they will be in new topics....

Thank you so much again!