help with selecting a subset of options

jonmulcahy · October 2014

I've been working on this for a few days, and there has be an easier way of doing this. My code should work, but it doesn't. In my game I present the user with 6 options. They can select and deselect them at will. This part works fine. The problem is, I only want 3 of the options to be selected at any time. So if the user selects options 1, 2, 4. They would have to deselect one of them to choose option 5. On top of that, I need to keep track of the values of each option.

I've tried storing the values in attributes and tables. but for whatever reason my deselect code never seems to function properly. the image will show it deselected, but the back end attribute doesn't update.

I know this is easy, but I have a feeling I'm getting too caught up with my existing code to see the answer staring me in the face.

Anyone done something similar before?

quantumsheep · October 2014

Have a 'selectable' variable - set it to 0.

When you select an option, add 1 to 'selectable'.

When you deselect an option, subtract one.

When selecting an option, have the rule:

If not selected
And
If 'selectable' is less than 3
And
Touch is pressed

Then select the option.

Hope that helps/points you in the right direction

QS =D

jonmulcahy · October 2014

for example, this is some of my code. In both examples it compares the value of the first slot with the value of the option selected. If they match, it makes the change, otherwise it moves down the list.

buttonState = 1 means option is selected
buttonState = 0 means option is not selected


if buttonState = 1  
  if game.slot1 = 0
  set game.slot1 = self.itemnumber
    otherwise
    if game.slot2 = 0
    set game.slot2 = self.itemnumber
      otherwise
      if game.slot3 = 0
      set game.slot3 = self.itemnumber

and to clear it

if buttonState = 0   
  if game.slot1 = self.itemnumber
  set game.slot1 = 0
    otherwise
      if game.slot2 = self.itemnumber
      set game.slot2 = 0
      otherwise
        if game.slot3 = self.itemnumber
        set game.slot3 = 0

jonmulcahy · October 2014

@quantumsheep said:
Have a 'selectable' variable - set it to 0.

When you select an option, add 1 to 'selectable'.

When you deselect an option, subtract one.

When selecting an option, have the rule:

If not selected
And
If 'selectable' is less than 3
And
Touch is pressed

Then select the option.

Hope that helps/points you in the right direction

QS =D

hrm, good idea. I'll have to see how it will against keeping track of the values, but it could work!

quantumsheep · October 2014

@jonmulcahy said:
hrm, good idea. I'll have to see how it will against keeping track of the values, but it could work!

Remember to save every time you select/deselect (as in, save which options are selected/deselected and save the 'selectable' value).

You should be fine

QS =D

RThurman · October 2014

@jonmulcahy‌ -- the demo found here might be useful:

http://forums.gamesalad.com/discussion/comment/496956/#Comment_496956

jonmulcahy · October 2014

@RThurman said:
jonmulcahy‌ -- the demo found here might be useful:

http://forums.gamesalad.com/discussion/comment/496956/#Comment_496956

I thought of something like that, but that acts as a first in first out selection method. I wanted the users to be able to choose 1,2,3, then deselect 2 and select 4.

jonmulcahy · October 2014

this is so frustrating. I changed my code completely, and it still is freaking out.

I now have a table with 6 rows, 1 for each option. when you touch a button, it changes it's row to 1. I have a rule that takes the sum of the table, and only allows you to select an option if it is less than 3. this works fine. however when I try to add the code to remove the option, i get a dual trigger. It adds and removes the last entry instantly.

what a PITA!

 when touch is pressed
      when tableColSum(game.table) < 3
           change table value
                table: game.Table
                row: self.optionNumber
                Col: 1
                value: (tableCellValue(game.Table,self.OptionNumber,1)+1)%2

      when tableColSum(game.table) = 3
      AND
      tableCellValue(game.Table,self.OptionNumber,1) = 1
           change table value
                table: game.Table
                row: self.optionNumber
                Col: 1
                value: (tableCellValue(game.Table,self.OptionNumber,1)+1)%2\

I've tried moving them into separate touch rules, switching to on release, putting timers in there, etc. but it keeps double firing.

the idea is that as long as the total value is under 3, they can select a new value. If the value is 3, they can toggle ONLY an option they have previously selected, changing it back to 0. but in the case above, that drops the total value to under 3, and it toggles the same value back to 1.

jonmulcahy · October 2014

well i feel stupid. one simple change and all my problems are solved:

   when touch is pressed
        when tableColSum(game.table) < 3
             change table value
                  table: game.Table
                  row: self.optionNumber
                  Col: 1
                  value: (tableCellValue(game.Table,self.OptionNumber,1)+1)%2

      OTHERWISE

       when tableCellValue(game.Table,self.OptionNumber,1) = 1
            change table value
                 table: game.Table
                 row: self.optionNumber
                 Col: 1
                 value: (tableCellValue(game.Table,self.OptionNumber,1)+1)%2

quantumsheep · October 2014

Glad you got it working

The_Gamesalad_Guru · October 2014

I was going to say use a mod function I see you did that.

RThurman · October 2014

@jonmulcahy said:
I thought of something like that, but that acts as a first in first out selection method. I wanted the users to be able to choose 1,2,3, then deselect 2 and select 4.

It has deselection stuff in there as well Give it a try! Do the exact sequence you outlined above and it will deselect 2 and then select 4.

help with selecting a subset of options

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