To explain the described terms and definitions, this section shows some source code examples and explains the important steps and commands.

Most of the examples detailed here are written in an easy and understandable form for programing beginners. Some are basic, while others are more advanced and specific for their use case. More efficient code structures and improvements are possible.

This section contains information on the following topics:

Initializing Scripts
Register Parameters
Mouse Events I (Set)
Mouse Events II (Start, Stop and Reverse)
Mouse Events III (Grow and Shrink)
Simple Gesture Recognition
Tetris
Calculate the Days of a Week and Month
Update a Scene Using a Text File

Initializing Scripts

This example declares and defines two variables with a value. In the main procedure OnInit() those two variables and their addition are output to the console using Println.

Callback procedures like OnInit() are used to initialize scripts (see ).

'Declaration of the variables 
dim a as Integer 
a = 10000 
dim b as Integer 
b = 5000 
'Start of the main procedure sub OnInit() 
'Executing the commands     
println "\n"     
	println "The variable a has the following value: " & a     
println "\n"
     println "The variable b has the following value: " & b     
println "\n"
     println "The sum of the variables is: " & a + b 
'End of the main procedure 
end sub

Result output to the Viz Engine console:

images/download/attachments/41789143/gettingstarted-scripting_oninit_console-output.png

Register Parameters

This script example creates a custom editor for filling in index and alpha values. The index value decides which container that will not receive the alpha value whereas the alpha value is set for all other containers.

images/download/attachments/41789143/scripting_parameters-scene.png

sub OnInitParameters()
     RegisterParameterInt("index", "Index", 1, 1, 7)
     RegisterParameterDouble("alpha", "Alpha", 50.0, 0.0, 100.0)
     RegisterPushButton("action", "Action", 1) 
end sub 
sub OnExecAction(buttonId as Integer)
     dim c as Container
     dim i, index as Integer
     dim a as Double
     index = GetParameterInt("index")
     a = GetParameterDouble("alpha")
     i = 1
     c = ChildContainer
     do while c <> null
         if i = index then
             c.alpha.value = 100.0
         else
             c.alpha.value = a
         end if
     i = i + 1
     c = c.NextContainer
     loop 
end sub

Mouse Events I (Set)

This script example shows how to use a ‘mouse event’” to set an object’s alpha value with OnEnter and OnLeave.

sub OnEnter()
     alpha.value = 100.0 
end sub 
sub OnLeave()
     alpha.value = 50.0 
end sub

Mouse Events II (Start, Stop and Reverse)

This script, when added to a container, allows an animation to be started with the click of a mouse button over an object (e.g. rectangle). Press again and it will stop. Press again and it will continue from the point it stopped.

dim my_dir = stage.FindDirector("Default") 
sub OnLButtonDown()
     if my_dir.IsAnimationRunning() then
          my_dir.StopAnimation()
     else
         my_dir.ContinueAnimation()
     end if 
end sub

With the script detailed below, start an animation and let it run until a stop point. Click again and it will run in reverse:

dim my_dir = stage.FindDirector("Defult") 
sub OnLButtonDown()
     menu.ContinueAnimation()
     if my_dir.reverse == true then
         my_dir.reverse = false
     else
         my_dir.reverse = true
     end if 
end sub

Mouse Events III (Grow and Shrink)

With this script added to a Container an object will grow when the mouse is hovering over the object and conversely. In this case the center of the object is set to the lower right corner to let it grow out from that center.

images/download/attachments/41789143/scripting_grow_1and2.png

dim growing as Boolean = false 
sub OnInitParameters()
     RegisterParameterDouble("min", "MinScale", 1.0, 0.0, 10.0)
     RegisterParameterDouble("max", "MaxScale", 1.5, 0.0, 10.0)
     RegisterParameterDouble("fac", "GrowFactor", 1.1, 1.0, 10.0) 
end sub 
sub OnEnter()
     growing = true 
end sub 
sub OnLeave()
     growing = false 
end sub 
sub OnExecPerField()
     dim min = GetParameterDouble("min")
     dim max = GetParameterDouble("max")
     dim fac = GetParameterDouble("fac")
     if growing then
         scaling.xyz *= fac
         if scaling.x > max then scaling.xyz = max
     else
         scaling.xyz /= fac
         if scaling.x < min then scaling.xyz = min
     end if 
end sub

Simple Gesture Recognition

This example script can be used to detect a drawn square on the screen:

dim gRecognizer as gesturerecognizer 
sub OnInit()
	gRecognizer.handlepatterns = true
	gRecognizer.addhandler(scriptplugininstance) 
end sub 
 
sub OnGesture(gesture As Gesture)
	if gesture.patternid == PATTERN_SQUARE then
		println("This is a square")
	end if 
end sub
 
sub OnTouchTrace(trace as Trace, touch as Touch)
	gRecognizer.addtrace(trace) 
end sub

Note: Some gesture patterns need to be checked for their alignment as well, for example up, down, left, and so on. For this you can activate the CheckPatternOrientation property in the gesture recognizer object.

For more information about the possible properties and procedures, please refer to .

Tetris

This script example creates the classical game of Tetris.

images/download/attachments/41789143/scripting_tetris_scene.png

dim HEIGHT, WIDTH, TOTAL, NUM_BRICKS as Integer 
dim currentBrick, currentRot, counter as Integer 
dim xpos, ypos as Integer ' position of the falling brick 
 
dim squares as Array[integer] 
dim squareContainers as Array[Container] 
dim bricks as Array[String] 
 
HEIGHT = 15 
WIDTH = 9 
TOTAL = HEIGHT * WIDTH 
 
squares.size = TOTAL 
 
sub OnInit()
	dim i, j as Integer
    ' 0100
    ' 0100
    ' 0100
    ' 0100
 
    bricks.push("0100010001000100")
    bricks.push("0000111100000000")
    bricks.push("0100010001000100")
    bricks.push("0000111100000000")
 
    ' 0000
    ' 0000
    ' 0110
    ' 0110
    bricks.push("0000000001100110")
    bricks.push("0000000001100110")
    bricks.push("0000000001100110")
    bricks.push("0000000001100110")
 
    ' 0000
    ' 0100 
    ' 0110     
	' 0010
    bricks.push("0000010001100010")
    bricks.push("0000000001101100")
    bricks.push("0000010001100010")
    bricks.push("0000000001101100")
 
    ' 0000
    ' 0010
    ' 0110
    ' 0100
 
    bricks.push("0000001001100100")
    bricks.push("0000000011000110")
    bricks.push("0000001001100100")
    bricks.push("0000000011000110")
 
    ' 0000
    ' 0110
    ' 0010
    ' 0010
 
    bricks.push("0000011000100010")
    bricks.push("0000001011100000")
    bricks.push("0100010001100000")
    bricks.push("0000011101000000")
 
    ' 0000
    ' 0110
    ' 0100
    ' 0100
 
    bricks.push("0000011001000100")
    bricks.push("0000111000100000")
    bricks.push("0010001001100000")
    bricks.push("0000010001110000")
 
    ' 0000
    ' 0000
    ' 1110
    ' 0100
 
    bricks.push("0000000011100100")
    bricks.push("0000010011000100")
    bricks.push("0000010011100000")
    bricks.push("0000010001100100")
 
	NUM_BRICKS = bricks.size / 4
 
	deleteGeometry
    update
    deleteChildren
 
    dim blocksGroup as Container
    blocksGroup = addContainer(TL_DOWN)
 
    open = false
 
    for i=0 to HEIGHT-1
		for j=0 to WIDTH-1
			dim b as Container             
				if i >= 3 then
					b = blocksGroup.addContainer(TL_DOWN)
					b.createMaterial
					b.name = "f_" & j & "_" & i
					b.createGeometry("BUILT_IN*GEOM*Cube")
					b.scaling.xyz = 0.1
					b.position.x = (j-WIDTH/2.0+0.5) * 10.0
                    b.position.y = - (i-HEIGHT/2.0-1.0) * 10.0
				end if
				squareContainers.push(b)
	        next
	    next
	initGame 
end sub 
 
sub display()
	dim i, j, index, fb as Integer
	dim fc as Container
 
    for i=3 to HEIGHT-1
        for j=0 to WIDTH-1
            index = i * WIDTH + j
            fb = squares[index]
            fc = squareContainers[index]             
			if fb = 0 then                 
				fc.active = false             
			else                 
				fc.active = true                 
				if fb = 1 then                     
					fc.material.diffuse = CColor(60.0, 60.0, 60.0)                 
				elseif fb = 3 then                     
					fc.material.diffuse = CColor(30.0, 30.0, 30.0)                 
				else                     
					fc.material.diffuse = CColor(40.0, 0.0, 80.0)                 
				end if
			end if
		next
	next 
end sub 
 
sub initGame()     
	dim i as Integer     
	for i=0 to TOTAL-1         
		squares[i] = 0     
	next     
	for i=0 to HEIGHT-1         
		squares[WIDTH*i] = 3         
		squares[WIDTH*i + WIDTH-1] = 3     
	next     
	for i=TOTAL-WIDTH to TOTAL-1         
		squares[i] = 3     
	next     
	newBrick     
	display 
end sub 
 
sub newBrick()     
	xpos = WIDTH / 2 - 2     
	ypos = -1     
	counter = 0     
	currentBrick = random(NUM_BRICKS)     
	currentRot = 0 end sub sub clear2()     
 
	' clear the squares occupied by the falling brick     
	dim i as Integer     
		for i=0 to TOTAL-1         
			if squares[i] = 2 then             
				squares[i] = 0         
			end if     
	next 
end sub 
 
function drawBrick(x as Integer, y as Integer, rot as Integer, fill as Integer) as Boolean     
	dim b as string     
	dim index, i, xb, yb, x2, y2 as Integer     
 
	clear2     
	b = bricks[currentBrick * 4 + rot]     
	for i=0 to 15         
		xb = i mod 4         
		yb = i / 4         
		if b.getChar(i) = "1" then             
			x2 = x + xb             
			y2 = y + yb             
			if y2 >= 0 then                 
				index = y2 * WIDTH + x2                 
				if x2 < 0 or x2 >= WIDTH or y2 >= HEIGHT or squares[index] <> 0 then                     
					drawBrick = false ' collision                     
					exit function                 
				elseif y2 >= 3 or fill <> 1 then                     
					squares[index] = fill                 
				end if             
			end if         
		end if     
	next     
 
	drawBrick = true ' no collision 
end function 
 
function isLineFilled(line as Integer) as Boolean
	dim i, index as Integer     
 
	index = WIDTH * line     
	for i=0 to WIDTH-1         
		if squares[index+i] = 0 then             
			isLineFilled = false             
			exit function         
		end if     
	next     
	isLineFilled = true 
end function 
 
sub eraseFullLines()     
	dim line, l2, r as Integer     
	for line = HEIGHT - 2 to 0 step -1         
		if isLineFilled(line) then             
			' move lines one line down             
			for l2 = line to 0 step -1                 
				for r=0 to WIDTH-1                     
					squares[l2*WIDTH+r] = squares[(l2-1)*WIDTH+r]                 
				next             
			next             
 
			' clear top line
            for r=1 to WIDTH-2                 
				squares[r] = 0             
			next             
			line++ ' test the same line again         
		end if     
	next 
end sub 
 
sub OnKeyDown(keyCode as Integer)     
	dim x, y, r as Integer     
		x = xpos     
		y = ypos     
		r = currentRot     
 
		if keyCode = KEY_RIGHT then         
			x++     
		elseif keyCode = KEY_LEFT then         
			x--     
		elseif keyCode = KEY_DOWN then         
			y++     
		elseif keyCode = KEY_S then         
			initGame         
			exit sub     
		elseif keyCode = KEY_CONTROL then
	        r = (r + 1) mod 4     
		end if     
 
		if r <> currentRot then         
			if drawBrick(x, y, r, 2) then             
				currentRot = r         
			elseif drawBrick(x-1, y, r, 2) then             
				xpos = x - 1             
				currentRot = r         
			elseif drawBrick(x+1, y, r, 2) then             
				xpos = x + 1             
				currentRot = r         
			else             
				drawBrick(xpos, ypos, currentRot, 2)         
			end if     
		elseif x <> xpos or y <> ypos then         
			if drawBrick(x, y, r, 2) then             
				xpos = x             
				ypos = y         
			else             
				drawBrick(xpos, ypos, currentRot, 2)         
			end if     
		end if     
	display 
end sub 
 
sub OnExecPerField()     
	counter++     
	if counter > 30 then         
		counter = 0         
		if drawBrick(xpos, ypos + 1, currentRot, 2) then             
			ypos++         
		else             
			' we hit the bottom             
			drawBrick xpos, ypos, currentRot, 1             
			eraseFullLines             
			newBrick         
		end if         
	display     
	end if 
end sub

Calculate the Days of a Week and Month

This script example calculates the day of the week and the number of days of the month:

DIM smap AS Array[String]
 
smap.size = 7
smap[0] = "Sun"
smap[1] = "Mon"
smap[2] = "Tue"
smap[3] = "Wed"
smap[4] = "Thu"
smap[5] = "Fri"
smap[6] = "Sat"
 
function CalcDayOfWeek(iYear AS Integer, iMonth AS Integer, iDay AS Integer) AS String
 
DIM dt AS DateTime
	dt.year = iYear
	dt.month = iMonth
	dt.dayofmonth = iDay
	dt.normalize()
 
	CalcDayOfWeek = smap[dt.dayofweek] 
end function 
 
function CalcNumOfDaysOfMonth(iYear AS Integer, iMonth AS Integer) AS Integer
DIM dt AS DateTime
	dt.year = iYear
	dt.month = iMonth+1
	dt.dayofmonth = 0
	dt.normalize()
	CalcNumOfDaysOfMonth = dt.dayofmonth
end function 
 
sub OnInit()
DIM dt AS DateTime
	dt.year = 2012
	dt.month = 2
	dt.dayofmonth = 23
 
	println("Date: " & CalcDayOfWeek(dt.year, dt.month, dt.dayofmonth) & ", " & dt.year & "" & dt.month & "" & dt.dayofmonth)
	println("Days: " & CalcNumOfDaysOfMonth(dt.year, dt.month)) 
end sub

Update a Scene Using a Text File

This script example updates a Scene from a text file.

dim timer,limit as integer 
timer = 0 
sub OnInitParameters()
	RegisterInfoText("Text File Grabber 1.0" & chr(10) & chr(10) 
		& "Grabs text file and puts optional prefix/suffix around the contents of the text file." & chr(10) 
		& "Filename supports paths with drive letters and UNC paths." & chr(10) & chr(10) 
		& "Text in \"Default Text\" box is used if file specified in File box cannot be opend or accessed." & chr(10) & chr(10) 
		& "Listens to scene map variable \"text_update\" -- text files will be re-read when this variable changes.")
	RegisterFileSelector("file", "File", "c:\test", "1.txt", "*.*")
	RegisterParameterString("default","Default text","",40,50,"")
	RegisterParameterString("prefix","Prefix (optional)","",40,50,"") 
	RegisterParameterBool("prefixIfNull","Include prefix if file not found",FALSE)
	RegisterParameterString("suffix","Suffix (optional)","",40,50,"")
	RegisterParameterBool("suffixIfNull","Include suffix if file not found",FALSE)
	RegisterParameterInt("updateFields","Auto-Update interval (fields)",300,60,999999999999)
	RegisterParameterBool("debug","Debug output to console",FALSE) 
end sub 
 
sub OnParameterChanged(parameterName As String)
	\qre-populate text when a parameter changes
	if parameterName <> "updateFields" then UpdateText 
	if parameterName = "updateFields" then
		limit = GetParameterInt("updateFields")
	end if 
end sub 
 
sub OnExecPerField()
	timer = timer + 1
	if timer >= limit then
		if GetParameterBool("debug") then println "Timer limit reached"
			UpdateText
            timer = 0                            
	end if 
end sub 
 
sub OnInit()
	Scene.Map.RegisterChangedCallback("text_update")
	limit = GetParameterInt("updateFields")
	UpdateText 
end sub 
 
sub OnSharedMemoryVariableChanged(map As SharedMemory, mapKey As String)
	if mapKey = "text_update" then
		UpdateText
	end if 
end sub 
 
sub UpdateText()
	geometry.text = GetTextFile() 
end sub
 
function GetTextFile() as string
	dim content, path as string
	path = GetParameterString("file")
	if GetParameterBool("debug") then println "File path: " & path
	if System.LoadTextFile( path, content ) then
		if GetParameterBool("debug") then println "Successfully loaded file"
		content.trim
		if len(GetParameterString("prefix")) > 0 then content = GetParameterString("prefix") & " " & content
		if len(GetParameterString("suffix")) > 0 then content = content & " " & GetParameterString("suffix")
	else
		if GetParameterBool("debug") then println "Could not load file; using default text"
		content = GetParameterString("default")
		if GetParameterBool("prefixIfNull") then content = GetParameterString("prefix") & " " & content
		if GetParameterBool("suffixIfNull") then content = content & " " & GetParameterString("suffix")
	end if
	GetTextFile = content
	if GetParameterBool("debug") then println "Returning '" & GetTextFile & "'" 
end function

Viz Artist

Program Examples

Initializing Scripts

Register Parameters

Mouse Events I (Set)

Mouse Events II (Start, Stop and Reverse)

Mouse Events III (Grow and Shrink)

Simple Gesture Recognition

Tetris

Calculate the Days of a Week and Month

Update a Scene Using a Text File

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