how to insert a group in a require

helloworld2013d · June 18, 2014, 8:05pm

I have 2 files

– main.lua

–extraStuff.lua

Normally I insert an object into a group.

when I go to another scene (in storyboard) the object is gone.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; line1 = display.newRect( 0, 0, 40, 5) &nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;group:insert(line1) -- Right Here &nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;line1.x = centerX &nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;line1.y = centerY

this in main.lua

now, let’s say I have many objects and lines…

so I put all of those inside a function

– function myNewFunction ( )

line1 = display.newRect( 0, 0, 40, 5)

group:insert(line1) – In this file extraStuff.lua the “group” it doesn’t exist

line1.x = centerX
line1.y = centerY

end

and I have this new function placed in another file.lua – let’s say extraStuff.lua

now, in my createScene of my app – in main.lua – I have created a group

– local group = self.view

if I want to use all of the stuff I have in myNewFunction

I just “require” the .lua file (extraStuff.lua) in main.lua

–local extraStuff = require( “extraStuff” ) – so main.lua knows about it

and in my createScene, in main.lua

instead of typing all the lines and images and code of myNewFunction

I just call the function

– myNewFunction ( )

and PROBLEM –

is telling me that it can not find the “group”

because the “group” is created in main.lua, not in extraStuff.lua

and if I do it like this

function myNewFunction (&nbsp; ) &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; line1 = display.newRect( 0, 0, 40, 5) &nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; line1.x = centerX &nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; line1.y = centerY end

it works, but they are not inserted into a group

so how do I get ride of all the images in main.lua

I hope you can understand it, I try my best to explain the problem

thanks for all your help

rob · June 19, 2014, 2:05am

How about changing the definition of myNewFunction to take a parameter:

function myNewFunction ( group )

line1 = …

group:insert(line1)

…

end

then when you call it:

myNewFuction( group )

assuming group is the name of the group you want to use.

Rob

helloworld2013d · June 24, 2014, 9:13pm

I did not really understand how that works, but it works perfect!

thank you Rob.

–still waiting for my app to be approved in apple.

helloworld2013d · June 24, 2014, 9:24pm

Okay Rob, please help me with this:

I have a dots.lua file

function dotsFunction (group) &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; for i=1, 6 do &nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;b1 = display.newImageRect ("images/noteCircle.png", 60, 60) &nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;group:insert(b1) &nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;b1.x = 100 + (40\*i) &nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;b1.y = 100 &nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;b1:scale(.6, .6) &nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;end end

so I create 6 images, circles – 1 to 6

in my guitar.lua file I require the dots.lua

and I have this function

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; local function reChord () &nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;local thisIsRe = "D" &nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;if thisIsRe == "D" then &nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;b1.y = 50 &nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;print("Re") &nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;end &nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;end&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;dotsFunction(group) &nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;reChord()

it works perfect, the last circle (number6) is Up and all five are aligned.

I have – b1.y = 50

but I want the circle number 3 to be 50, not the circle number 6

I have for i=1, 6

so I want to move only 3, or 2

how do I distinguish them

i think is inside the if thisIsRe == “D” then but instead of b1.y – I can not put b3.y

so how do I do that?

thanks

rob · June 24, 2014, 9:37pm

You probably need to store them in a table/array so that you can reference each dot indepenendantly

helloworld2013d · June 24, 2014, 10:06pm

Okay…would you help me understand it…

I use this Method for a table

&nbsp;local colorTable = { &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; [1] = "blue", &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; [2] = "red", &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; [3] = "yellow", &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; [4] = "green", &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; [5] = "purple" &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; } &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; print( colorTable[3] )&nbsp; -- output: "yellow"

so how would that work…

&nbsp;local dotsFunction = { &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; [1] = "dot1", &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; [2] = "dot2", &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; [3] = "dot3", &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; [4] = "dot4", &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; [5] = "dot5" --&nbsp; and so on until I get 40 dots... &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; } &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; print( dotsFunction[3] )&nbsp; -- output: "yellow"

--------- then here

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; local function reChord () &nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;if pmThisChordIs == "Em" then &nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; dotsFunction[4].alpha = .5 -- something like that .... b1.alpha = .5 &nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;print("Re") &nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;end &nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;end&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;dotsFunction(group) &nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;reChord()

but how do I create them?

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; for i=1, #dotsFunction do &nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;b1 = display.newImageRect ("images/noteCircle.png", 60, 60) &nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;group:insert(b1) &nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;b1.x = initialX + (separacion\*i) &nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;b1.y = initialY + distance\*1 &nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;b1:scale(.5, .5) &nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;end

as you can see I’m kind of confuse…

rob · June 24, 2014, 10:13pm

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; local dots = {} &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; for i=1, #dotsFunction do &nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; dots[i] = display.newImageRect ("images/noteCircle.png", 60, 60) &nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;group:insert(dots[i]) &nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; dots[i].x = initialX + (separacion\*i) &nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; dots[i].y = initialY + distance\*1 &nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; dots[i]:scale(.5, .5) &nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;end

or something like that. Replace the references to b1 with dots[] and the index to the dot you’re interested in.

Rob

helloworld2013d · June 24, 2014, 11:05pm

I create a function newDots (group) with the group

function newDots (group) &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; local dots = {} &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; for i=1, 10 do &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; dots[i] = display.newImageRect ("images/circleYes.png", 60, 60) &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; group:insert(dots[i]) &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; dots[i].x = initialX + (separacion\*i) &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; dots[i].y = initialY + distance\*1 &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; dots[i]:scale(.5, .5) &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; end end

and when I call the function it works perfect

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; newDots(group) &nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;dots[4].y = 50

but then I move the .y of the dots[4] and --ERROR

I think I’m very close Rob

thanks for your time and help…

rob · June 25, 2014, 12:31am

I’d need to see more of your code and the whole stack trace

Rob

helloworld2013d · June 25, 2014, 7:55pm

okay…

in dots.lua

function newDots (group) &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; local dots = {} &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;local separacion = 40 &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;local initialX = display.contentCenterX - 190 &nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;local initialY = display.contentCenterY - 110 &nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;local distance = 30 &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; for i=1, 10 do &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; dots[i] = display.newImageRect ("images/circleYes.png", 60, 60) &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; group:insert(dots[i]) &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; dots[i].x = initialX + (separacion\*i) &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; dots[i].y = initialY + distance\*1 &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; dots[i]:scale(.5, .5) &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; end end

in guitar.lua

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; newDots(group)

i require the dots.lua, and

I just call the function… it works perfect, I see 10 circles

now… How do write the code to make the circle no. 5 = alpha = .5

in other words, how do I acces each – dots[i] – individually?

dots[4].alpha=.5 – it doesn’t work

i hope this helps

rob · June 25, 2014, 10:27pm

I suspect the problem is that you have made dots local to the function newDots() which means you can’t access it outside of that function. I would declare:

local dots = {}

at the top of your module and take the local off inside the function.

Rob

helloworld2013d · June 26, 2014, 12:45am

I try this

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; local dots = {} function newDots (group) &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;local separacion = 40 &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;local initialX = display.contentCenterX - 190 &nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;local initialY = display.contentCenterY - 110 &nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;local distance = 30 &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; for i=1, 10 do &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; dots[i] = display.newImageRect ("images/circleYes.png", 60, 60) &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; group:insert(dots[i]) &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; dots[i].x = initialX + (separacion\*i) &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; dots[i].y = initialY + distance\*1 &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; dots[i]:scale(.5, .5) &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; end end

the table dots = { } – is outside the newDots function

then on guitar.lua I do this

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; newDots(group) &nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;dots[4].alpha=.5

still it does not work!

File: guitar.lua
Line: 154
Attempt to index upvalue ‘dots’ (a boolean value)

rob · June 26, 2014, 2:41am

I see, you have different .lua files. Then you need this:

http://coronalabs.com/blog/2013/05/28/tutorial-goodbye-globals/

Rob

helloworld2013d · June 26, 2014, 7:49pm

Thaks Rob…I have read this 2 times…

I read it right now very carefully one more time…

I still don’t get it.

--my global space local M = {} return M

I don’t get this – return M

in my case I have

local dots = { } – the same as – local M = { }

so I now should do this… return dots…but where?

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; local dots = {} &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; -- here? -- return dots function newDots (group) &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; -- or here.... &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;local separacion = 40 &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;local initialX = display.contentCenterX - 190 &nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;local initialY = display.contentCenterY - 110 &nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;local distance = 30 &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; for i=1, 10 do &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; -- or here? &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; dots[i] = display.newImageRect ("images/circleYes.png", 60, 60) &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; group:insert(dots[i]) &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; dots[i].x = initialX + (separacion\*i) &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; dots[i].y = initialY + distance\*1 &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; dots[i]:scale(.5, .5) &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; end &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; -- maybe here.....? end &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; -- or at the very end....? &nbsp; &nbsp;

and why Do I need the return dots…?

And then after that… in my other Module… or file.lua (guitar.lua)

how do I access the variable dots?

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; newDots(group) &nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;--dots[4].x = 100

you see? I don’t get it…

rob · June 26, 2014, 11:23pm

Honestly Victor, it’s hard to explain it much better than the tutorial, but I will try.

In Lua when you do:

local somemodule = require (“somemodule”)

It opens somemodule and whatever that .lua file return s at the end, becomes the value of the variable somemodule. If you do:

local facebook = require(“facebook”)

you end up with a variable facebook, which is a table that holds all of the facebook methods and attributes it needs to work like facebook.request(), etc. It’s just a lua table. In this case, mydata.lua contains an empty table:

local M = {} return M

and returns that empty table. When in your code, you do:

local mydata = require(“mydata”)

then mydata is an empty table. Of course you could pre-populate values in mydata.lua:

local M = {} M.soundOn = true M.level = 1 return M

in which case the table wouldn’t be empty but have a couple of entries already. Ergo:

local mydata = require(“mydata”)

print(mydata.level)

would print “1” to the console. In this case, mydata becomes the M table from the mydata.lua file. For this to work, you also have to understand that when you require a module, it only gets loaded once, regardless of the number of times you do it. In other words, the first time you require(“mydata”) the code in that module executes and the table is returned. In a later scene, if you do the require again, all you get is a reference to the table so you can access it from the scene, but the contents of mydata are just as they were in the other scenes.

What you would do is at the top of every module that needs dots do:

local mydata = require(“mydata”)

then you would reference dots as:

mydata.dots[4].x = 100

helloworld2013d · June 27, 2014, 12:52am

Thanks for your time Rob… with your help I will get this to work

I must be doing something wrong, but here is the entire code

I have nothing else… a black screen with 10 circles, that’s it

I want to be able to move circle 4

in myData.lua

local M = { } M.level = 1 M.soundOn = true function createCircle (group) &nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;local dots = {} &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;local separacion = 40 &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;local initialX = display.contentCenterX - 190 &nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;local initialY = display.contentCenterY &nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;local distance = 30 &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; for i=1, 10 do &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; dots[i] = display.newImageRect ("images/circleYes.png", 60, 60) &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; group:insert(dots[i]) &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; dots[i].x = initialX + (separacion\*i) &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; dots[i].y = initialY + distance\*1 &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; dots[i]:scale(.5, .5) &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; end end return M

and like you said… if I

print(myData.level)

it prints “1” in the console – so far so good

then in my storyboard, in my guitar.lua

local storyboard = require( "storyboard" ) local myData = require("myData") local scene = storyboard.newScene() ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ -- --==\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*[CREATE SCENE]\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*++-- -- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ function scene:createScene( event ) &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; local group = self.view &nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;createCircle (group) &nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;--myData.dots[4].x = 100 &nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp; end ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ -- --==\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*[ENTER SCENE]\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*++-- -- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ function scene:enterScene( event ) &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; local group = self.view &nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp; end ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ -- --==\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*[EXIT SCENE]\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*++-- -- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ function scene:exitScene() &nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;local group = self.view &nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp; end ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ -- --==\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*[DESTROY SCENE]\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*++-- -- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ function scene:destroyScene( event ) &nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;local group = self.view&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp; end ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- scene:addEventListener( "createScene", scene ) scene:addEventListener( "enterScene", scene ) scene:addEventListener( "exitScene", scene ) scene:addEventListener( "destroyScene", scene ) return scene

I have nothing there – only the function call – createCircle (group)

and it works, I see the 10 circles in a black screen…

when I type the code in comment, underneath the createCircle function

– myData.dots[4].x = 100

I get an ERROR

File: guitar.lua
Line: 11
Attempt to index field ‘dots’ (a nil value)

Something is wrong, I don’t know what…

I know you have tried in different ways, thanks you very much Rob for that…

but I guess I just need one final thing…

So you have the entire code there is nothing else in my 2 modules

Thanks for your time and your help… not only for me

but for all the people who are also reading at this

thank you

rob · June 27, 2014, 1:08am

I would actually do this a little bit different. Bear with me. Name the file dots.lua, not myData.lua.

-- dots.lua local M = { } M.dot = {}&nbsp; -- table of individual dots. function dots.createCircle (group) &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; local separacion = 40 &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;local initialX = display.contentCenterX - 190 &nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp; local initialY = display.contentCenterY &nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp; local distance = 30 &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; for i=1, 10 do &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; M.dot[i] = display.newImageRect ("images/circleYes.png", 60, 60) &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; group:insert( M.dots[i] ) &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp; M.dot[i].x = initialX + (separacion\*i) &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp; M.dot[i].y = initialY + distance\*1 &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; M.dot[i]:scale(.5, .5) &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; end end return M

then the top of your guitar.lua file:

local storyboard = require( "storyboard" ) local dots = require("dots") local scene = storyboard.newScene() ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ -- --==\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*[CREATE SCENE]\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*++-- -- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ function scene:createScene( event ) &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; local group = self.view &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; dots.createCircle (group) &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; dots.dot[4].x = 100 &nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp; end

In this case we are taking the idea from the no more globals post, but instead of creating a “global” space to store things, you’re making a module specific to your “dots” code. If you later wanted a move function, you could do something like:

function M.moveDot( dotIndex, x, y )

M.dot[dotIndex].x = x

M.dot[dotIndex].y = y

end

in your dots.lua and then when you need to move a dot in guitar.lua simply do:

dots.moveDot(4, 100, 100)

helloworld2013d · June 27, 2014, 6:20pm

Rob…I did what you said…

1-- change the name of the file, myData.lua for dots.lua

2-- I copy and paste the same code you gave me, for the dots.lua

-- dots.lua local M = { } M.dot = {}&nbsp; -- table of individual dots. function dots.createCircle (group) &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; local separacion = 40 &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; local initialX = display.contentCenterX - 190 &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; local initialY = display.contentCenterY &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; local distance = 30 &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; for i=1, 10 do &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; M.dot[i] = display.newImageRect ("images/circleYes.png", 60, 60) &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; group:insert( M.dots[i] ) &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; M.dot[i].x = initialX + (separacion\*i) &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; M.dot[i].y = initialY + distance\*1 &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; M.dot[i]:scale(.5, .5) &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; end end return M

3-- then in the guitar.lua I have only this

local storyboard = require( "storyboard" ) local dots = require("dots") local scene = storyboard.newScene() ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ -- --==\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*[CREATE SCENE]\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*++-- -- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ function scene:createScene( event ) &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; local group = self.view &nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;dots.createCircle (group) &nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;dots.dot[4].x = 100 end

and I get same ERROR

File: dots.lua
Line: 6
Attempt to index global ‘dots’ (a nil value)

if I comment this line

–dots.dot[4].x = 100

I don’t even see the circles

I notice that, as far as I understand, the “Object” is this

M.dot[i] = display.newImageRect ("images/circleYes.png", 60, 60)

so to me the variable name is

M.dot[i]

now in my other module, in guitar.lua

I have this

dots.dot[4].x = 100

to me they are 2 different variables

one is dots.dot[4]

and the other is M.dot[i]

so I try to change the dots.dot for M.dot

and it did not work either…

we’re very close…

rob · June 28, 2014, 12:17am

Sorry. Change this line:

function dots.createCircle (group)

to this line:

function M.createCircle (group)

Rob

helloworld2013d · June 28, 2014, 7:32pm

Okay… I have in dots.lua

-- dots.lua local M = { } M.dot = {}&nbsp; -- table of individual dots. function M.createCircle (group) &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; local separacion = 40 &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; local initialX = display.contentCenterX - 190 &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; local initialY = display.contentCenterY &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; local distance = 30 &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; for i=1, 10 do &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; M.dot[i] = display.newImageRect ("images/circleYes.png", 60, 60) &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; group:insert( M.dots[i] ) &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; M.dot[i].x = initialX + (separacion\*i) &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; M.dot[i].y = initialY + distance\*1 &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; M.dot[i]:scale(.5, .5) &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; end end return M

I changed the line…

in guitar.lua I have

local storyboard = require( "storyboard" ) local dots = require("dots") local scene = storyboard.newScene() ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ -- --==\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*[CREATE SCENE]\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*++-- -- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ function scene:createScene( event ) &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; local group = self.view &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; M.createCircle (group) &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp; end

------------------- I get an ERROR

File: guitar.lua
Line: 10
Attempt to index global ‘M’ (a nil value)

---------*********-------------

If I do this

local storyboard = require( "storyboard" ) local dots = require("dots") local scene = storyboard.newScene() ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ -- --==\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*[CREATE SCENE]\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*++-- -- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ function scene:createScene( event ) &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; local group = self.view &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; createCircle (group) &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp; end

I get an ERROR -----

File: guitar.lua
Line: 10
Attempt to call global ‘createCircle’ (a nil value)

there is something somewhere…

we’ll make it work