Is graphics.newOutline() no longer available?

Getting Started Newbie Questions
#1

Hello!

I have the following code that was copied and pasted from https://docs.coronalabs.com/api/library/physics/addBody.html#outline-body-1. I added the physics library, started it, and set it to hybrid. However, I’m getting an error of  ERROR: main.lua:20: physics.addBody() : invalid “outline” in the console. Is the outline option no longer available?

I’ve attached a screenshot of the app and the code I’m using is pasted below.

local physics = require( "physics" ) physics.start() physics.setDrawMode( "hybrid" ) local image\_name = "star.png" local image\_outline = graphics.newOutline( 1, image\_name ) local image\_star = display.newImageRect( image\_name, 130, 130 )   image\_star.y = 200   image\_star.x = 200 physics.addBody( image\_star, {outline = image\_outline} )
#2

Hi @thatssopanda,

We didn’t remove that API. Did you try another image just for testing? Perhaps it’s not able to generate the proper outline for it?

Brent

#3

When you say you ‘copied and pasted’ the example, I assume in addition to this you provided an image called ‘star.png’?

#4

I’m attaching the star image I used for this. In this case, it’s a png graphic that I found on Google. I meant to attach it with the previous post, but all I did was choose the file without clicking on attach this file.

I’m also sending a screenshot of what I see in the app with the star.

#5

@BrentSorrentino I tried another png graphic, a panda head, and no luck with that either. 

I’m using the latest public build - Version 2017.3135 (2017.9.7).

#6

Hi @thatssopanda,

I did some testing and there appears to be something amiss. I reported it to engineering but I’m not sure when (or if) it will be fixed. TBH, this API has always been a bit fussy and buggy, so I honestly can’t advise that you use it… it might take a bit longer to create your physics body vertices as specific defined tables, but you’ll get exactly what you expect by doing so, no guess work or surprises.

Best regards,

Brent

#7

@Brent, thanks for the heads up. It’s too bad that it’s not working anymore. I used this a few times before and it’s always been a huge time saver. Do you have anything you can suggest to draw the physics body outline without having to do it by hand? 

#8

@thatssopanda,

Yeah, sorry about that… engineering is investigating, so you could wait for a potential fix, but if you need it “now” then I suggest you create the bodies manually.

Not sure how much you mean with “by hand”… Scott Harrison’s plugin here certainly makes it easier to create the bodies, and it’s free:

https://marketplace.coronalabs.com/plugin/physics-body-editor

Brent

#9

Another option to consider is using Level Director X, which I use for all my projects, this allows you to draw physic boides or autotrace.

#10

Hello!

I had never tried this API. Today I did a test is actually with some bodies running and with others no. That’s a shame, that would be very useful for me.

Is there a hope that it will be permanently updated? Or is not one of the “things planned”?

#11

The api was awesome when it was working, but I ended up using a combo of TexturePacker and PhysicsEditor to create custom sprite bodies. They are available on codeandweb.com.

#12

thank you @thatssopanda

That’s exactly what I do now. But if the API were definitively adjusted it would be a big thing.

A long time spared…

#13

Hi @thatssopanda,

We didn’t remove that API. Did you try another image just for testing? Perhaps it’s not able to generate the proper outline for it?

Brent

#14

When you say you ‘copied and pasted’ the example, I assume in addition to this you provided an image called ‘star.png’?

#15

I’m attaching the star image I used for this. In this case, it’s a png graphic that I found on Google. I meant to attach it with the previous post, but all I did was choose the file without clicking on attach this file.

I’m also sending a screenshot of what I see in the app with the star.

#16

@BrentSorrentino I tried another png graphic, a panda head, and no luck with that either. 

I’m using the latest public build - Version 2017.3135 (2017.9.7).

#17

Hi @thatssopanda,

I did some testing and there appears to be something amiss. I reported it to engineering but I’m not sure when (or if) it will be fixed. TBH, this API has always been a bit fussy and buggy, so I honestly can’t advise that you use it… it might take a bit longer to create your physics body vertices as specific defined tables, but you’ll get exactly what you expect by doing so, no guess work or surprises.

Best regards,

Brent

#18

@Brent, thanks for the heads up. It’s too bad that it’s not working anymore. I used this a few times before and it’s always been a huge time saver. Do you have anything you can suggest to draw the physics body outline without having to do it by hand? 

#19

@thatssopanda,

Yeah, sorry about that… engineering is investigating, so you could wait for a potential fix, but if you need it “now” then I suggest you create the bodies manually.

Not sure how much you mean with “by hand”… Scott Harrison’s plugin here certainly makes it easier to create the bodies, and it’s free:

https://marketplace.coronalabs.com/plugin/physics-body-editor

Brent

#20

Another option to consider is using Level Director X, which I use for all my projects, this allows you to draw physic boides or autotrace.