display multiple lines of text via for loop

Solar2D Lua Language
#1

Okay im embarrassed to even post this but Im n00b status at lua and am trying to understand for loops and pairs.

heres my code:

local myArray = {“one”, “two”, “three”}

for k,v in ipairs(myArray) do
myText1 = display.newText(v, 100, 100, native.systemFont, 46)
end

Of course, when i run this in the simulator, all the values in my array are stacked on top of each other in one text field.

My question is, how do i take my array and in the for loop, just display them in a cascading order?

My understanding is that the for loop will just loop through my array and execute whatever i specify until it reaches the end. correct?

i’ve tried writing:

myText.y = myText +10
myText.y = y +20
etc…

Thanks in advance Corona community!
[import]uid: 88004 topic_id: 24735 reply_id: 324735[/import]

#2

Try changing the new text line to something like this;

[lua]myText1 = display.newText(v, 100, 100*k, native.systemFont, 46)[/lua]

What that will do is start at 100*1 as the Y, then 100*2, 100*3, etc.

Also please try to post your code within < lua > and < /lua > tags, makes it a little easier to read :wink:

Let me know if this helps you - and don’t be embarrassed, the only bad questions are the ones you don’t ask.

Peach :slight_smile: [import]uid: 52491 topic_id: 24735 reply_id: 100264[/import]

#3

Remember that creating a new object doesn’t delete the old object even if you use the same name. In a loop like yours, though, you don’t want to use the same name like that.

Consider something like this:

[code]

local myArray = {“one”, “two”, “three”}
local myTexts = {}

for k,v in ipairs(myArray) do
myTexts[k] = display.newText(v, 100, 100, native.systemFont, 46)
myTexts[k]:translate( 0, (k-1) * 24 )
end
[/code] [import]uid: 44647 topic_id: 24735 reply_id: 100265[/import]

#4

Oooh Toby has a good point, I may have misunderstood the question. Apologies if so! [import]uid: 52491 topic_id: 24735 reply_id: 100266[/import]

#5

Thank you so much Peach and Toby2! I’ll post properly on the forums next time

Reading up on ‘translate’ right now as well. Gawd i should have been posting here a long time ago

cheers!
-kel [import]uid: 88004 topic_id: 24735 reply_id: 100400[/import]

#6

Don’t worry, at least it wasn’t 200 lines outside tags - that gives me a headache :wink:

Good luck with your project, hopefully next time I’ll understand the question first time around!

Peach :slight_smile: [import]uid: 52491 topic_id: 24735 reply_id: 100504[/import]

#7

@ peachpellen. I currently have a myText1 atleast 3 times myText2,myText3 which works. But I want to make seperate paragraphs for different steps. which text format is the best to make that happen? because I am trying with what I have and everything keeps overlapping each other. [import]uid: 69302 topic_id: 24735 reply_id: 122700[/import]

#8

Can we see some plug and play code, please? I’m having a slightly hard time envisioning your setup and goal. Will do what I can to help if you can get back to me on that :slight_smile: [import]uid: 52491 topic_id: 24735 reply_id: 122737[/import]

#9

[code]local myText1= display.newText(“How this app work!”, 0, 0, native.systemFont, 30)
screenCenterX = display.viewableContentWidth / 2
screenCenterY = display.viewableContentHeight /6

myText1:setTextColor(255, 0, 0)
group:insert(myText1)

[code]local myText2= display.newText("STEP 1. ", 0, 0, native.systemFont, 25)
–myText2.text = “Or you can change the text here”
myText2.x = display.contentWidth /2;
myText2.y = display.contentHeight /6;
myText2:setTextColor(255, 0, 0)
group:insert(myText2)

local myText3= display.newText(“whats your name”, 0, 0,200, 200, native.systemFont, 16)
myText3.x = display.contentWidth /2;
myText3.y = myText2.y + myText2.contentHeight /2 + myText3.contentHeight /2;
myText3:setTextColor(255, 255, 255)
group:insert(myText3)

local myText4= display.newText("STEP 2. ", 0, 0, native.systemFont, 25)
myText4.x = display.contentWidth /50;
myText4.y = display.contentHeight /10;
myText4:setTextColor(255, 0, 0)
group:insert(myText4)

local myText5= display.newText(“how old are you?”, 0, 0,200, 200, native.systemFont, 16)
myText5.x = display.contentWidth /2;
myText5.y = myText2.y + myText2.contentHeight /2 + myText3.contentHeight /2;
myText5:setTextColor(255, 255, 255)
group:insert(myText5)

local myText6= display.newText(“Step 3.”, 0, 0,200, 200, native.systemFont, 16)
myText6.x = display.contentWidth /2;
myText6.y = myText2.y + myText2.contentHeight /2 + myText3.contentHeight /2;
myText6:setTextColor(255, 255, 255)
group:insert(myText6)

local myText5= display.newText(“Where are you from?”, 0, 0,200, 200, native.systemFont, 16)
myText5.x = display.contentWidth /2;
myText5.y = myText2.y + myText2.contentHeight /2 + myText3.contentHeight /2;
myText5:setTextColor(255, 255, 255)
`` group:insert(myText5)

So lines 1-16 works fine. I only added the other text so that you can see what I am trying to do. So I know its not right because I just quickly copied and paste so you can get the visual. But doing it right it just kept overlapping, so Im thinking there is a better way to get it to look how I want.
[import]uid: 69302 topic_id: 24735 reply_id: 122740[/import]

#10

@ peachpellen. I currently have a myText1 atleast 3 times myText2,myText3 which works. But I want to make seperate paragraphs for different steps. which text format is the best to make that happen? because I am trying with what I have and everything keeps overlapping each other. [import]uid: 69302 topic_id: 24735 reply_id: 122700[/import]

#11

Can we see some plug and play code, please? I’m having a slightly hard time envisioning your setup and goal. Will do what I can to help if you can get back to me on that :slight_smile: [import]uid: 52491 topic_id: 24735 reply_id: 122737[/import]

#12

[code]local myText1= display.newText(“How this app work!”, 0, 0, native.systemFont, 30)
screenCenterX = display.viewableContentWidth / 2
screenCenterY = display.viewableContentHeight /6

myText1:setTextColor(255, 0, 0)
group:insert(myText1)

[code]local myText2= display.newText("STEP 1. ", 0, 0, native.systemFont, 25)
–myText2.text = “Or you can change the text here”
myText2.x = display.contentWidth /2;
myText2.y = display.contentHeight /6;
myText2:setTextColor(255, 0, 0)
group:insert(myText2)

local myText3= display.newText(“whats your name”, 0, 0,200, 200, native.systemFont, 16)
myText3.x = display.contentWidth /2;
myText3.y = myText2.y + myText2.contentHeight /2 + myText3.contentHeight /2;
myText3:setTextColor(255, 255, 255)
group:insert(myText3)

local myText4= display.newText("STEP 2. ", 0, 0, native.systemFont, 25)
myText4.x = display.contentWidth /50;
myText4.y = display.contentHeight /10;
myText4:setTextColor(255, 0, 0)
group:insert(myText4)

local myText5= display.newText(“how old are you?”, 0, 0,200, 200, native.systemFont, 16)
myText5.x = display.contentWidth /2;
myText5.y = myText2.y + myText2.contentHeight /2 + myText3.contentHeight /2;
myText5:setTextColor(255, 255, 255)
group:insert(myText5)

local myText6= display.newText(“Step 3.”, 0, 0,200, 200, native.systemFont, 16)
myText6.x = display.contentWidth /2;
myText6.y = myText2.y + myText2.contentHeight /2 + myText3.contentHeight /2;
myText6:setTextColor(255, 255, 255)
group:insert(myText6)

local myText5= display.newText(“Where are you from?”, 0, 0,200, 200, native.systemFont, 16)
myText5.x = display.contentWidth /2;
myText5.y = myText2.y + myText2.contentHeight /2 + myText3.contentHeight /2;
myText5:setTextColor(255, 255, 255)
`` group:insert(myText5)

So lines 1-16 works fine. I only added the other text so that you can see what I am trying to do. So I know its not right because I just quickly copied and paste so you can get the visual. But doing it right it just kept overlapping, so Im thinking there is a better way to get it to look how I want.
[import]uid: 69302 topic_id: 24735 reply_id: 122740[/import]

#13

If you are trying to display texts one after one from a text array then try to maintain a table for the text views (display.newText). I am just modifying your code here.

[lua]_w = display.contentWidth;
_h = display.contentHeight;
local texts = {“How this app work”, "STEP 1. ", “Whats your Name”, “STEP 2”, “How old are you”, “STEP 3”, “Where are you from”};
local fontSize = {30, 25, 16, 25, 16, 16, 16};
local initY = _h * 0.3;
local displayTexts = {};

for i=1,#texts do
local text = display.newText(texts[i], _w/2, initY + (i-1) * 35, native.systemFont, fontSize[i]);
if(fontSize[i] == 16)then
text:setTextColor(255,255,255);
else
text:setTextColor(255,0,0);
displayTexts[i] = text;
group:insert(text);
end[/lua]

I think this procedure will help you. Here Text gaps are 35 pixels.
[import]uid: 104777 topic_id: 24735 reply_id: 124424[/import]

#14

If you are trying to display texts one after one from a text array then try to maintain a table for the text views (display.newText). I am just modifying your code here.

[lua]_w = display.contentWidth;
_h = display.contentHeight;
local texts = {“How this app work”, "STEP 1. ", “Whats your Name”, “STEP 2”, “How old are you”, “STEP 3”, “Where are you from”};
local fontSize = {30, 25, 16, 25, 16, 16, 16};
local initY = _h * 0.3;
local displayTexts = {};

for i=1,#texts do
local text = display.newText(texts[i], _w/2, initY + (i-1) * 35, native.systemFont, fontSize[i]);
if(fontSize[i] == 16)then
text:setTextColor(255,255,255);
else
text:setTextColor(255,0,0);
displayTexts[i] = text;
group:insert(text);
end[/lua]

I think this procedure will help you. Here Text gaps are 35 pixels.
[import]uid: 104777 topic_id: 24735 reply_id: 124424[/import]