[RESOLVED] Display Largest Variable in an array

[sgtfarmer]

AS2.0 Flash 6

Context: Making a guessing game where up to 20 users guess times. A countdown timer script runs at the game start. As time goes by, flash compares the guess with the real time, moves a movieclip (horse1, horse2 etc) along the x axis and displays an integer (time between the guess and ever changing clock [horse1.displaybox1, horse2.displaybox2, horse3.displaybox3, etc]). This is all working.

How to I display the current closest guesser?

I TRIED to avoid arrays, but doubt I can. JUST learning about arrays and for loops, but found this elegant code to find the max number in an array (or with modification could get the min):

maxValue = function (array) {
mxm = array[0];
for (i=0; i<array.length; i++) {
if (array[i]>mxm) {
mxm = array[i];
}
}
return mxm;
};

k = new Array();
k = [1, 5, 33, 21];
trace(maxValue(k)); //I get back the expected result (33)

Hardcoding those numbers in is great in tests, but I want those numbers to be the displayboxes:

k = new Array();
k = [horse1.displaybox1, horse2.displaybox2, horse3.displaybox3, etc];
trace(maxValue(k));


The displayboxes have variable names, and I've tried giving them instance names, played with this. and _root. and to be honest it's 80% trial and error, and 20% understanding.


I have a feeling this is a simple pathway solution, but I can't find it after days of searching!

Ultimately I'd like to have a dynamic textbox display the leader's name and or picture as the game goes on, and a runner up display would make me a hero!

Best,
Farmer


FYI when I hard-code numbers in:
k = new Array();
k = [1, 5, 33, 21];
trace(maxValue(k));

I get back the expected result (33)

[basm]

Did you already trace the values that you´re putting in the array?
so where you have trace(maxValue(k)); put on the next line: trace(horse1.displaybox1); and the rest of the horses display boxes... what values do you get?

since you're moving the horses over an X-axis (and I don't quite understand your way of working with displayboxes etc.), perhaps an easy way could be:

var k:Array = new Array();
var totalhorses:Number = 20; // the amount of horses in the game
for (var i:Number = i; i <= totalhorses; i++){
    k.push = _root["horse" + i]._x;
}
trace(maxValue(k));

By the way: I like the idea for your game! is it already playable??? I'd like to play it sometime!

[basm]

P.S. I would give the displayboxes instancenames and provide them with their values in a way like:

var totalhorses:Number = 20; // the amount of horses in the game
for (var i:Number = i; i <= totalhorses; i++){
    _root["horse" + i]["displaybox" + i].text = this["horsescore"+ i];
}

where this["horsescore" + i] should be replaced with the variable you've stored the integer in...

[sgtfarmer]

Basm, Thanks for the reply! Much appreciated.

Did you already trace the values that you´re putting in the array?

This is kind of the crux of my problem, I don't really know how to plug data INTO arrays. Like I mentioned, hard-coding a series of numbers into the array in actionscript works fine and gives me the desired results, but what I want, is to plug in data that is being generated DURING the game.

The array I have in there so far is a supplementary dud for now! At best I get it to trace "00" or 'undefined'.

Take a look at the frankenstein prototype I have up so far: www.breakdownboys.com/basketball/2minutedrill

It's for making the ends of boring basketball games more exciting. The players guess how much time will ACTUALLY pass after the two-minute mark. Time-outs, fouls, and commercial breaks always extends the action.

I call them horses in the code, but the MC-s are players. What this prototype lacks, is a box at the top that says "The current leader is: (whomever)". The players move to the right of the canvas, and whomever is the closest to the right edge, is the current leader. It's a nice visual now, but with 20 players, it could get ugly, and I want to have something clear at the top that shows who's leading. And it would be REALLY cool to know who is the current runner up! (+ I love learning new tools for the toolbox!)

The 'horses' have display boxes over their heads that I will probably hide in the finished product, but currently display the difference in milisecs from the actual time and the guess. Whichever box is closest to 0 is the current leader, because they guessed the closest at that time.

Hope this is clearer. And thanks again for your brain-time!

+F

[lightspeed10]

To return the largest number of an array, surely you could just use the sort() method and then get the last element. Surely more efficient than the loop etc.

So if I had:

var arr = [12,55,8,3,97,41,2];
function maxValue(array){
    var newArr = array.sort();
    return newArr[newArr.length-1];
} 

Then trace(maxArr(arr)); would return 97 (the highest number in the array).

[sgtfarmer]

Thanks lightspeed for weighing in. We're still not on the same page though.
I had a code that would sort just fine, but only when I hard coded the
jumble of numbers, whereas I need one that sorts my variables.

Sure enough I played with the naming and pathways, and rather than worry
about the textboxes, I just took the data from the equations that were
running in the action script.

I'd love to use your more elegant solution, but I hope you meant Acionscript
and not PHP, because A) I would REALLY be out of my league with the PHP
and B) that would explain why I couldn't make it work as you laid it out.
Even in it's own test page. (I'm so new to arrays though that you have to
spell it out for me, I cut and paste what you suggested).

As it stands I got my original to work with some labeling patience.

minValue = function (array) {
mn = array[0];
for (i=0; i<array.length; i++) {
if (array[i]<mn) {
mn = array[i];
}
}
return mn;
};


k = new Array();
k = [stable.horse1.disp1,stable.horse2.disp2,stable.horse3.disp3,]; 
//the horses are now contained in an mc called stable
trace(minValue(k)); 
leader = (minValue(k));

I'm so excited... now I realize that I want the value CLOSEST to 0. So I have
to figure out some way to get Math.abs(); involved for the absolute of these
variables.

[sgtfarmer]

Well I got it all to work. Thanks for the sounding board.


+F