Trying to under stand Director Class

[joyful]

Hi,

I am new to corona and this is my first game.
In my “main_menu.lua” file, I want the “play_button” to transition to my “level_menu.lua”. Or the “level_menu.lua” to transition to “level_1.lua”. As for the transition, I would like to use “moveFromRight” from the director class.

Now, this is my “main_menu.lua” file:

  
module(..., package.seeall)  
  
local imagelookup = require("\_imagelookup")  
local animlookup = require("\_animlookup")  
  
function newmain\_menu ()  
 local this = display.newGroup()  
  
 local backmenu\_4 = display.newImage(imagelookup.table["Backmenu"])  
 backmenu\_4.x = 320  
 backmenu\_4.y = 480  
 backmenu\_4.xScale = 1  
 backmenu\_4.yScale = 1  
 backmenu\_4.isVisible = true  
  
--  
  
 local ui = require("ui")  
 local play\_button = ui.newButton{  
 default = imagelookup.table["Buttonplay"],  
 over = imagelookup.table["Buttonplayover"]  
 }  
 play\_button.x = 342.8999999999999  
 play\_button.y = 303.825  
 play\_button.isVisible = true  
  
 this:insert(play\_button)  
 this.play\_button = play\_button  
  
--  
  
 local level\_menu = require("level\_menu")  
  
 local handleStartTouch = function ( event )  
 if (event.phase == "ended") then  
 local level\_menu = level\_menu:newlevel\_menu()  
 level\_menu:setReferencePoint(display.CenterReferencePoint)  
 level\_menu.x = 320  
 level\_menu.y = 480  
 level\_menu.rotation = 0  
 end  
 end  
  
 this.play\_button:addEventListener("touch", handleStartTouch)  
  
return this  
end  

Now, when you press “play_button” I want it to transition using “moveFromRight” to “level_menu”
I have added “director.lua”. Also, this is the code I added to my “main.lua”

-- Import director class  
local director = require("director")  
  
-- Create a main group  
local mainGroup = display.newGroup()  

Also, on all the pages that I want a transition (director class), do I just add:

function new() local localGroup = display.newGroup()

and for my image/objects:

 localGroup:insert(my\_image/object) 

to each one?
Also, how to I specify what transition I what for a button? (play_button)

Sorry if it’s confusing! I am new to all this!

Thanks in advance.

–
[import]uid: 15281 topic_id: 6219 reply_id: 306219[/import]

[ricardorauber]

@joyful

I think the best to do now is watch the video tutorial that I talk about a lot of your doubts. If you still have issues, then post it to see what is wrong.

http://rauberlabs.blogspot.com/2010/12/director-video-tutorial.html [import]uid: 8556 topic_id: 6219 reply_id: 21392[/import]

[joyful]

Hi,

Thank you for the reply.

I have seen your video. I know my post was confusing. What I was trying to understand is why I get a runtime error with director.lua in my main folder useing this code:

-- main\_menu.lua 2011-02-06T19:38:59.069-05:00  
  
-- Stub class for \_main\_menu.lua. All modifications will be preserved.  
  
module(..., package.seeall)  
  
-- Main function - MUST return a display.newGroup()  
function new()  
 local localGroup = display.newGroup()  
  
function newmain\_menu ()  
 local super = require("\_main\_menu")  
 local this = super:newmain\_menu()  
  
 local level\_menu = require("level\_menu")  
  
 local handleStartTouch = function ( event )  
 if (event.phase == "ended") then  
 local level\_menu = level\_menu:newlevel\_menu()  
 level\_menu:setReferencePoint(display.CenterReferencePoint)  
 level\_menu.x = 320  
 level\_menu.y = 480  
 level\_menu.rotation = 0  
 end  
 end  
  
 this.play\_button:addEventListener("touch", handleStartTouch)  
  
 --  
  
 local credits\_menu = require("credits\_menu")  
  
 local handleStartTouch = function ( event )  
 if (event.phase == "ended") then  
 local credits\_menu = credits\_menu:newcredits\_menu()  
 credits\_menu:setReferencePoint(display.CenterReferencePoint)  
 credits\_menu.x = 320  
 credits\_menu.y = 480  
 credits\_menu.rotation = 0  
 end  
 end  
  
 this.credits\_button:addEventListener("touch", handleStartTouch)  
  
 --  
  
 local instructions\_menu = require("instructions\_menu")  
  
 local handleStartTouch = function ( event )  
 if (event.phase == "ended") then  
 local instructions\_menu = instructions\_menu:newinstructions\_menu()  
 instructions\_menu:setReferencePoint(display.CenterReferencePoint)  
 instructions\_menu.x = 320  
 instructions\_menu.y = 480  
 instructions\_menu.rotation = 0  
 end  
 end  
  
 this.instructions\_button:addEventListener("touch", handleStartTouch)  
  
  
 return this  
  
 -- MUST return a display.newGroup()  
 return localGroup  
end  

I know I have not put any of the objects in the group, but I should not be getting a runtime error.
Exactly what Director Class code should be in my main.lua?

Thank you, sorry I really am new to all this! [import]uid: 15281 topic_id: 6219 reply_id: 21486[/import]

[ricardorauber]

@joyful

I know that normally people think that the error is with Director but 99% is on their own code. Let’s take a look at your code, there are a lot of things to do to work properly (even without Director).

1 - Put al your require() functions at the first lines of the code, just after the module specification, like this:

module(..., package.seeall)  
-- Are the file names correct?  
local super = require("\_main\_menu")  
local level\_menu = require("level\_menu")  
local credits\_menu = require("credits\_menu")  
local instructions\_menu = require("instructions\_menu")  

2 - Your new() function is open, an END is missing

function new()  
 local localGroup = display.newGroup()  
   
function newmain\_menu ()  
  
...  
   
 return this  
  
 -- MUST return a display.newGroup()  
 return localGroup  
end  

3 - This newmain_menu() function is really inside the new() function? It’s confusing.
That’s it for now, take a look at the points I said and if you think that the problem is with Director, try to use yout file alone as a main.lua file in other project.

After the changes, let’s talk again. [import]uid: 8556 topic_id: 6219 reply_id: 21492[/import]

[joyful]

Ok, I fixed issue 1. About issue 2, were should the “end” go? after “return localGroup” at the bottom? (if so I have it) I don’t under stand issue 3. is it a question?
Here is the new code:

module(..., package.seeall)  
  
 local super = require("\_main\_menu")  
 local level\_menu = require("level\_menu")  
 local credits\_menu = require("credits\_menu")  
 local instructions\_menu = require("instructions\_menu")  
  
function new()  
 local localGroup = display.newGroup()  
   
function newmain\_menu ()  
 local this = super:newmain\_menu()  
  
 local handleStartTouch = function ( event )  
 if (event.phase == "ended") then  
 local level\_menu = level\_menu:newlevel\_menu()  
 level\_menu:setReferencePoint(display.CenterReferencePoint)  
 level\_menu.x = 320  
 level\_menu.y = 480  
 level\_menu.rotation = 0  
 end  
 end  
  
 this.play\_button:addEventListener("touch", handleStartTouch)  
  
 --  
  
 local handleStartTouch = function ( event )  
 if (event.phase == "ended") then  
 local credits\_menu = credits\_menu:newcredits\_menu()  
 credits\_menu:setReferencePoint(display.CenterReferencePoint)  
 credits\_menu.x = 320  
 credits\_menu.y = 480  
 credits\_menu.rotation = 0  
 end  
 end  
  
 this.credits\_button:addEventListener("touch", handleStartTouch)  
  
 --  
  
 local handleStartTouch = function ( event )  
 if (event.phase == "ended") then  
 local instructions\_menu = instructions\_menu:newinstructions\_menu()  
 instructions\_menu:setReferencePoint(display.CenterReferencePoint)  
 instructions\_menu.x = 320  
 instructions\_menu.y = 480  
 instructions\_menu.rotation = 0  
 end  
 end  
  
 this.instructions\_button:addEventListener("touch", handleStartTouch)  
  
  
 return this  
  
 -- MUST return a display.newGroup()  
 return localGroup  
end  

Once again thank you for your time. [import]uid: 15281 topic_id: 6219 reply_id: 21540[/import]

[ricardorauber]

@joyful

You have to put the END between the returns of the functions, like this:

return this  
  
end -- THIS  
  
-- MUST return a display.newGroup()  
return localGroup  

With that your new() function will return the localGroup to Director [import]uid: 8556 topic_id: 6219 reply_id: 21845[/import]

[joyful]

Ok, this worked:

  
module(..., package.seeall)  
   
 local super = require("\_main\_menu")  
 local level\_menu = require("level\_menu")  
 local credits\_menu = require("credits\_menu")  
 local instructions\_menu = require("instructions\_menu")  
   
function newmain\_menu ()  
 local this = super:newmain\_menu()  
  
function new()  
 local localGroup = display.newGroup()  
  
--  
  
 return localGroup -- MUST return a display.newGroup()  
  
end  
  
 return this  
  
end  

Is it ok to but the local group inside “newmain_menu”?
Also, what code should I now add to my main.lua?
Is this good?:

  
-- Import director class  
local director = require("director")  
  
-- Create a main group  
local mainGroup = display.newGroup()  
  
-- Main function  
local function main()  

Thanks.
– [import]uid: 15281 topic_id: 6219 reply_id: 21873[/import]

[ricardorauber]

No no, your are doing it wrong. The new() function must not be inside anything. Please take a look at the demo that came with Director, there are a file called tutorial.lua where you can see how to make your own file. Besides, there are a main.lua file too, you just need to take a quick look at it and try to understand that. It’s very easy and simple. [import]uid: 8556 topic_id: 6219 reply_id: 21931[/import]

[magnuskrona]

REMOVED. Posted in wrong topic… [import]uid: 36300 topic_id: 6219 reply_id: 22059[/import]

[joyful]

Ok,
I am going to use your template.lua to try it!
My only question is: what code do I “have” to add to my main.lua?
Is it just this:

-- Import director class  
local director = require("director")  
  
-- Create a main group  
local mainGroup = display.newGroup()  

If I add this code (to my main.lua) and use your template will it work?

Thanks. [import]uid: 15281 topic_id: 6219 reply_id: 22063[/import]

[ricardorauber]

No, you need a few more commands. Use this:

[code]
– Import director class
local director = require(“director”)

– Create a main group
local mainGroup = display.newGroup()

– Main function
local function main()

– Add the group from director class
mainGroup:insert(director.directorView)

– Go to the first scene
director:changeScene( “tutorial”, “fade” )

return true
end

– Call main
main()
[/code] [import]uid: 8556 topic_id: 6219 reply_id: 22064[/import]