urmhhh... update a variable on the fly? ^^

[marmotte]

well, i was just wondering if it's possible to update a variable without using additional code?

here's the situation: i have a large numbers of values (variables) included in an array:

// LOAD EVENT
strenght=10
magic=20
life=50
whatever = xxx
//
char["power"] = [stenght, magic, life, whatever]

imagine now i hit some enemy using my strenght value:

// enemy looses life
_root.enemy.life -= char["power"][0]

here, the enemy will lose 10 points.

NOW, what if the strenght value was changed during the game?
ex: strenght +=10
if i check again with the char["power"][0], the value will still be 10, because it was calculated in a load event.

and my question is: is there a way to update that variable into the array without launching a function that reload and recalculate the entire array? (they are more complex in my game)

maybe something more or less magical, like char["power"][0].update()? ^^

note; of course, i can fix it by using some if statments, or recalculate the array with a function, but i was just wondering if such a small code exists.

thanks...

[PercyPea]

this probably isnt much help, but why store the data in an array?

why not just say '_root.enemy.life -= strength'

then u can just update strength when you want it to be more or less and ignore the array?

if u do want to store the data in an array for what ever reason

then, instead of setting the array as

char["power"] = [stenght, magic, life, whatever]

set it as

char["power"] = ["stenght", "magic", "life", "whatever"]

then use

_root.enemy.life -= this[char["power"][0]]

but.... theres no benefit to using that over '_root.enemy.life -= strength' anyhow

[BlinkOk]

you could make the values objects and then make the array "point" to the object rather than the value;

// LOAD EVENT
strenght= { v: 10 };
magic= { v: 20 };
life= { v: 50 };
whatever = { v: 76 };
char["power"] = [stenght, magic, life, whatever]

Now the elements in the array will "point" to the strentgh, magic, life and whatever objects. when you want to reference the actual value you do it like this;

// enemy looses life
_root.enemy.life -= char["power"][0].v;

hope this helps
blink

[marmotte]

thanks people

but why store the data in an array? why not just say '_root.enemy.life -= strength'

well yes, of course, but my example was a little bit dumb, sorry... in fact the arrays in my game are a lot more complex; i'm working with my fighting game now, and the arrays i wrote contain all the possible moves and chgaracteristics for each character: keys manipulations, strenght points, defense points, frame that have to be played... etc. in these kind of arrays, the changing elements where the keys presses, because they are different when the character faces left or right... the backward key becomes the forward key for example, and if the keys are stored in an array in a load event, then...
now i don't want to write something like '_root.enemy.life -= strength', simply because i want to have a clean and "universal" code, usable for every character without rewriting all the moves manipulations each time; the more it's automated, the more i'll have the opportunity to add fighters probably :-)

blinkOk
thanks a lot, it's surely the shorter solution.
> so no little magic code like update() or something ^^.
note, this one may be useful in the next flash instalment, i think.

[BlinkOk]

just remember it's a pointer so if you change char["power"][0].v you will also be changing strength and is you change strength you will also be changing char["power"][0].v.