Small programming questions - API

[LtFlash 374]

Ohi,

that's me again. I'd like to ask you, LMS, if you could add a possibility to set custom PersonaData for the newly created ped, eg. as a param for an additional constructor. Correct me if I'm wrong but it seems that ped's data is impossible to change atm. Having a chance to control it would let me create a couple of interesting features 

[LtFlash 374]

I failed in finding a solution so I gotta ask for a consult:

 

I want to display an image on the screen. I can't use a native since it seems to handle only build-in GTA files and PerFrameDrawing from a newly created class that inherits from GTA.Script doesn't work within LCPD:FR plugin. Is there any way to call e.Graphics.DrawXYZ() from the plugin or I need to recreate d3D function from SHDN?

Edited September 6, 2014 by LtFlash

[LMS 2054]

Ohi,

that's me again. I'd like to ask you, LMS, if you could add a possibility to set custom PersonaData for the newly created ped, eg. as a param for an additional constructor. Correct me if I'm wrong but it seems that ped's data is impossible to change atm. Having a chance to control it would let me create a couple of interesting features 

 

Sure, you're not the first to ask and I can understand why people want to be able to change it, so the next version will have it.

 

I failed in finding a solution so I gotta ask for a consult:

 

I want to display an image on the screen. I can't use a native since it seems to handle only build-in GTA files and PerFrameDrawing from a newly created class that inherits from GTA.Script doesn't work within LCPD:FR plugin. Is there any way to call e.Graphics.DrawXYZ() from the plugin or I need to recreate d3D function from SHDN?

 

To redirect events from a newly GTA.Script, add a static event PerFrameDrawing to the script and invoke that in the class event. Then you can subscribe to the static event from everywhere and it gets invoked locally.

[LtFlash 374]

If I understand that correctly, a new static event ("helper") would only let to redirect an internal event of GTA.Script. The problem is that after creating a new instance of a class TestPerFrameDraw : GTA.Script inside the *.dll of lcpdfr mod (which is not located in .scripts obviously) the PerFrameDrawing isn't raised at all. I can only guess that SH doesn't "handle" the class and that's the reason of the issue because exactly the same TestPerFrameDraw as *.cs/*.net.dll located in .scripts works perfectly fine.

[LMS 2054]

Correct, you'd have to add a helper dll and drop it into the scripts folder and then reference that from your LCPDFR script.

[LtFlash 374]

I've been thinking lately about recurrence and lack of unpredictability while only using callouts as a core-element of gameplay. I've got some nice ideas for world events and I'd love to use 'em but the technical details (eg. ownership of objects; when to create, when to dispose) discourage me to touch it, especially when I've got so little free time. It would be great if you could add one example of a world event to the "API Example", eg hand-to-hand drug trade to 1.0d version.

Edited December 10, 2014 by LtFlash

[LMS 2054]

That's a good idea. I'm currently working on migrating all examples to GitHub and adding a few scenarios as well. Stay tuned.

[LtFlash 374]

I'm more than happy, thanks a lot!

[LtFlash 374]

I've been thinking about existence check of resources we create. Do you think is it sufficient check it only once in the beginning of Process() or it's safer to check Exists() on every call of a ped/veh? If the first option is OK - what about RegisterState()?

 

Let me use examples:

1)

public override void Process()
{
    if (!CheckExistance(ref ped))
    {
        FailureEnd();
    }

    //code   

    ped.Task.WanderAround();
 
    //code    

    ped.Task.Wait(-1);
}

2)

public override void Process()
{
    //code
    
    if (CheckExistence(ref ped))
    {
        ped.Task.WanderAround();       
    }
    else FailureEnd();
   
    //code 

    if (CheckExistence(ref ped))
    {
        ped.Task.Wait(-1);        
    }
    else FailureEnd();
}

[LMS 2054]

It is, unless you delete the resource elsewhere during the same tick. For example, our ped intelligence class performs an existence check at the very beginning of a tick before processing all assigned tasks and AI logic. If it succeeds, there is no need to check for the ped's existence in any of its tasks. To solve the "deleted" issue, I have overriden the function and let all assigned tasks and scenarios know when a ped is deleted so they can safely shut down. So yes, if you have a good design, it is totally fine if you only call it once every tick.

[LtFlash 374]

Great, it'll save me many lines of code and make it more readable. Thanks! 

[LtFlash 374]

For all of those who would ever want to display an image from the level of LCPD:FR plugin:

you need to use GTA.Forms.Imagebox as a Control of GTA.Forms.Form. Setting the Transparency property of the main form to 100 and it's TitleSize to 0 will make your image the only visible object except of a mouse cursor (which can be used to Close() the form by imagebox_Click event). Happy programming!

 

 

[FinKone 1304]

I've been thinking lately about recurrence and lack of unpredictability while only using callouts as a core-element of gameplay. I've got some nice ideas for world events and I'd love to use 'em but the technical details (eg. ownership of objects; when to create, when to dispose) discourage me to touch it, especially when I've got so little free time. It would be great if you could add one example of a world event to the "API Example", eg hand-to-hand drug trade to 1.0d version.

 

I'd be really excited for this.  This past week I've started playing with scripting for GTA IV - and while I'm starting to get the hang of some basic native stuff, I've got no real idea how to tie them into LCPDFR as a plugin off that (like callouts ++).

 

Didn't mean to high-jack.  I've been keeping up with all your questions Flash because I know I'll be asking them shortly myself.

[LtFlash 374]

I'd be really excited for this.  This past week I've started playing with scripting for GTA IV - and while I'm starting to get the hang of some basic native stuff, I've got no real idea how to tie them into LCPDFR as a plugin off that (like callouts ++).

 

Didn't mean to high-jack.  I've been keeping up with all your questions Flash because I know I'll be asking them shortly myself.

 

 

Ohi FinKone, "API Example" with world events is already available in LCPD:FR release package (GTAIVLCPDFRAPI Example) and @GitHub: https://github.com/LMSDev/LCPDFR-API

 

Feel free to ask, I might know answers to some simple question about 'cooperating' with GTA by script  

[FinKone 1304]

Ohi FinKone, "API Example" with world events is already available in LCPD:FR release package (GTAIVLCPDFRAPI Example) and @GitHub: https://github.com/LMSDev/LCPDFR-API

 

Feel free to ask, I might know answers to some simple question about 'cooperating' with GTA by script  

 

Ty for the Github.  Do you mind if I also ask related API / scripting questions in this thread as compared to making a new one?

[LtFlash 374]

Feel free to post here. I think it's a good idea to use this topic, everything will be in one place.

[FinKone 1304]

Great!

 

For starters, not really API related, but does someone have a good read for accessing/creating/altering a INI file using 4.5 frame in VS C# - mostly in regards to letting players set their own keys.

I found a few examples with the Settings.Get's - but some of the args are often unclear (I hate it when I find a tutorial about something and the only thing they don't comment is the lines I'm really interested in learning about!)  Found decent reading on it.

 

Secondly I've got a few things I'd be interested in making, but I am not sure if I can even access the methods for them.  I'll explain.  One of my callout ideas was to have a corner thats got 3 or so guys hustlin' drugs.  The game already has a great method I'd like to hijack for this purpose - the one at which a Joe pulls up to pick up a random hooker, could be used so very little coding would have to be done...

So is there a way for me to hijack that native series of events, and jump off it when I need to?  (Once the drug dealer goes up to the Joes window, the Joe pulls off with drugs in his Car/Person, and the drug dealer either has some more drugs on him or has sold out.  Rather then spawn the AI on foot, spawn the car,the guy in the car, deal with the pathfinding, making the animations, and having it all reset while making sure the player doesn't see the next car spawn in for the new deal (if he chooses to sit and watch the dealer) I could just spawn the drug dealer "as a hooker", and add drugs to the buyer once done - yanno?  I'm not asking for code just asking if this type of hooking is already a thing.  I've yet to look into what behaviors I can trigger in the peds themselves.

 

Third is there any type of already made ragdoll rope like object in the game?  Or is there a way to apply a kind of ragdoll state to a series of objects chained together that anyone can think of?

 

Ok' I'll stop for now!... ;)

 

 

Edited January 31, 2015 by FinKone

[LtFlash 374]

If I were you I'd read ScripHook.NET help file, then API documentation and then make plans. Eg. you don't have to create peds/vehicles for your callout, you can claim ownership of one of existing entities so player won't ever see a creation of a car that pulls over to buy drugs.

 

The sequence with dealers is doable but I'd reduce it to one ped and a car. You can browse animation you can use with OpenIV.

[LtFlash 374]

LMS,

I've got two issues I need your help with:

 

1) RegisterStateCallback + State

I thought it work like an improved version of switch..case but the State property of my script changes without my "help". I guess it works on basis of if() scanning them in all registered functions am I right? I'd like to decide myself when I want to change State and do it in the predefined order, is there a way to do it without additional bools?

 

2) Functions.GetAreaStringFromPosition()

It returns "Cervaza Heights" instead of "Cerveza Heights".

[LMS 2054]

LtFlash,

 

from a quick check I can tell that the State property is not changed by LCPDFR. I'd recommend having a look at your code again and verify you didn't miss a reference. State is only changed when you assign it, internally we just have a loop comparing its value against all registered states. In fact, State also supports flags, so you could have more than one state at the same time (not that this is always a wise design choice...). Let me know if issues persist.

 

2.) Not sure how I can help you with that, just a typo. Will change.