Import Paint

[Bantymom]

I am trying to make the importing of images more automatic. Once I get ahold of the image, I think I can figure out how to set the name, size, and location automatically all by myself. However, I am having trouble with getting the image.

I did look it up in the dictionary:

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import paint from file "flowers.jpeg"
import audioClip from file "/sounds/temp/bugsounds.wav"

And I wrote mine based on those:

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import paint from file "/Macintosh HD/Users/rfcoach/Desktop/coloring pages/frog-LineDrawing.gif"

but I get the following error:

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button "ChalkDrawing": execution error at line 3 (import: can't open file, mask file or display) near "/Macintosh HD/Users/rfcoach/Desktop/coloring pages/frog-LineDrawing.gif", char 1

I thought that perhaps I needed to move the folder (with the file) into the revMedia folder in my applications folder, but that did not solve the problem.

I searched the forum as well and found the two following references:

http://forums.runrev.com/phpBB2/viewtop ... ort#p25150
On this page, the poster was able to get the "import paint" thing to work just fine:

I'm trying to build a stack that imports a little BW drawing on each page; and I can import it using "import paint from file "ATB2.jpg" in the script of a button.

And:
http://forums.runrev.com/phpBB2/viewtop ... ort#p25040

Update:
This works for loading and displaying the image:
import paint from file "P1D16C2.gif"

Then I found this!!!
http://forums.runrev.com/phpBB2/viewtop ... ort#p23276

Hi Daniel
You can use this script

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on mouseup
   ImportPicture
end mouseup

on ImportPicture
   answer file "Choose an image" 
   if it = empty then
      exit ImportPicture
   end if
   put it into TheFile
   import paint from file TheFile
end ImportPicture

Best
Jean-Marc

It works great! But I don't know why or how. Specifically, I don't know:
1) how it knew which folder to go to
2) why it imported my image so easily here and I couldn't get it to work the other way.

I can get away with just using this, but I won't really learn anything that way, and so explanations will be accepted with great glee!

Thanks and Cheers,
Bantymom

[mwieder]

Try putting a "put TheFile into msg" before your "import paint" line and see what rev thinks the file path really is. My guess is that it's slightly different from what you think it is.

[Bantymom]

Yes! Thank you. That was it. It seems I don't need to specify my Hard Drive.

(my guess) /Macintosh HD/Users/rfcoach/Desktop/coloring pages/frog-LineDrawing.gif
(from msg) /Users/rfcoach/Desktop/coloring pages/frog-LineDrawing.gif

I am very happy to know what I really was on the right track and that I'm more inexperienced rather than crazy.

I am also happy that it didn't work the first time because I then went to search through the forum and found the nifty bit of script by Jean-Marc, which was where I was hoping I would be able to go with it.

*offers cookies*

Bantymom

[mwieder]

Well, there's no better way to learn than by trying things that don't work.

You might also want to look at the defaultFolder property in the documentation, especially if you need to grab a bunch of images from the same folder.

[Bantymom]

Thanks. The defaultFolder property was one of the many things I looked up as I tried to figure out how to be able to do this. It didn't work for the same reason, in that I had written the path incorrectly. For now, just being able to get access to my HD to find the pictures I want is enough for now, but using that property is high on my list of things to do once I get ready to load up everything to its fullest.

I am very happy with the Jean-Marc script. I have expanded on it to be able to easily get the three pictures I will need for the next level (as Tomas works through the levels faster than I can finish this stack, lol). The stack requires 3 versions of the same picture: a chalk drawing for the chalkboard, a line drawing that will be used for the student to color when they advance to the next level, and a colored version for when the student finishes the task but doesn't advance to the next level. I've attached a copy of the card (I made a separate stack for it as an example, the whole stack is too big right now). If you want to try it out, I've uploaded 3 different images in the next post since I can only upload 3 files at a time.

Below is the script. It gets the image for me, resizes it, positions it on the card, and locks it there before asking me for the name of the next one. If you look at the top of the file window when it opens for you to browse, you can see that it reminds you which kind of image you should be getting. I am new at this, so I am sure it is chunky. I don't mind that so much, because I can still understand it when I look at it again, but if someone were to suggest a way to remove some of the bloat, well then, I'll learn something new and become a little bit better at this because of that help. For example, I would have liked to do it as a repeat loop, but there are things that are different depending on which drawing it is. I also wondered if "case" would be better to use than the if-then statements.

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local tImage

on mouseUp
   if existence (image "ChalkDrawing") then
      delete image "ChalkDrawing"
   end if
   
   if existence (image "LineDrawing") then
      delete image "LineDrawing"
   end if
   
   if existence (image "ColoredDrawing") then
      delete image "ColoredDrawing"
   end if
   
   put 1 into tImage
   
   ImportPicture
   set name of last image to "ChalkDrawing"
   set width of image "ChalkDrawing" to 250
   set height of image "ChalkDrawing" to 500
   set location of image "ChalkDrawing" to 140, 330
   set layer of of image "ChalkDrawing" to 2
   set the lockLocation of image "ChalkDrawing" to true
   
   put 2 into tImage
   
   ImportPicture
   set name of last image to "LineDrawing"
   set width of image "LineDrawing" to 250
   set height of image "LineDrawing" to 500
   set location of image "LineDrawing" to 400, 330
   set layer of image "LineDrawing" to 3
   set the lockLocation of image "LineDrawing" to true
   
   put 3 into tImage
   
   ImportPicture
   set name of last image to "ColoredDrawing"
   set width of image "ColoredDrawing" to 250
   set height of image "ColoredDrawing" to 500
   set location of image "ColoredDrawing" to 660, 330
   set layer of image "ColoredDrawing" to 4
   set the lockLocation of image "ColoredDrawing" to true
   
end mouseUp


on ImportPicture
   if tImage = 1 then
      answer file "Choose a ChalkDrawing"
   end if
   
   if tImage = 2 then
      answer file "Choose a LineDrawing"
   end if
   
   if tImage = 3 then
      answer file "Choose a ColoredDrawing"
   end if
   
   if it = empty then
      exit ImportPicture
   end if
   put it into TheFile
   import paint from file TheFile
end ImportPicture

[Bantymom]

Three images if you want to try it out yourself:

[Klaus]

Hi Bantymom,

you could use a repeat loop to delete the images:

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...
repeat for each item i in "ChalkDrawing,LineDrawing,ColoredDrawing"
  if there is a img i then
    delete img i
 end if
end repeat
...

If someone CANCELs the import of an image, all the following scripting is amess and useless!
Know what I mean?

I would make a function from it like this:

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function importImage thenumber
 switch thenumber
   case 1
    put "Choose a LineDrawing" into tDialog
   break
  case 2
    put Choose a LineDrawing" into tDialog
  break
   case 3
  put "Choose a ColoredDrawing" into tDialog
  break
 end switch
  answer file tDialog
  if it = empty then
  return FALSE
  end if
   import paint from file it
  return TRUE
end ImportImage

Then you can check if the user has actually imported an image and stop the script or whatever.

Code: Select all

..
put ImportImage(1) into tResult
if tResult = FALSE then
  answer "I CANNOT WORK THIS WAY!"
  exit mouseup
end if
...

Best

Klaus

[Bantymom]

Oh my goodness!!! I see what you mean. I selected "Cancel" and was booted into the script. Yuck. Nope, that certainly wasn't part of the plan. I'm sure glad you brought that to my attention now.

I added a bit at the beginning (just before where I added your very lovely repeat to remove the existing images, so much tidier, thank you) to try to forestall that. It works quite nicely.

Code: Select all

on mouseUp
   answer "Do you have three images ready to import?" with "no" or "yes"
   if it = "no" then
      exit to top
   else
      repeat for each item i in "ChalkDrawing,LineDrawing,ColoredDrawing"
         if there is a img i then
            delete img i
         end if
      end repeat
   end if

(about "if there is a img i"... I like it much better than "existance." Other than the way it is formatted, is there a great difference between the two?)

I also tried putting in the function, but couldn't get it to work with the larger part of the script that renames, resizes, and places each of the three images. I haven't given up trying to understand it or use it, but it is going to take me time to figure it out, so for now, the other one is still there, except that I did use "switch" instead of "if/then".

Edit:
The trouble I was having with the Function was that I couldn't get it called (is that the right term?) in the middle of the sequence of events in the MouseUp Handler, where I wanted to intersperse the repeat of the common elements (ImportPicture) with the specifications of each different image. However, I did rewrite it to allow me to make more parts common (by using a variable for the name) and thus reduce the number of bits that had to be unique (location, and then locking it all up at the end). I used switch again and added an "exit to top" to just stop everything again if "Cancel" is chosen. Better?

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local tPicture

on mouseUp
  ... (as above through the "end if")
   
   put "ChalkDrawing" into tPicture
   importPicture   --first case of the switch in importPicture
   set location of image "ChalkDrawing" to 140, 330
   set the lockLocation of image "ChalkDrawing" to true
   
   put "LineDrawing" into tPicture
   importPicture   --second case of the switch in importPicture
   set location of image "LineDrawing" to 400, 330
   set the lockLocation of image "LineDrawing" to true
   
   put "ColoredDrawing" into tPicture
   importPicture   --third case of the switch in importPicture
   set location of image "ColoredDrawing" to 660, 330
   set the lockLocation of image "ColoredDrawing" to true
   
end mouseUp

on importPicture
   switch tPicture
      case "ChalkDrawing"
         answer file tPicture
         break
      case "LineDrawing"
         answer file tPicture
         break
      case "ColoredDrawing"
         answer file tPicture
         break
   end switch
   if it = empty then
      answer "You Didn't Choose An Image." & cr & "I Am Going to Exit Now." & cr & "I Need 3 Images To Make This Work"
      exit to top
   end if
   
   put it into TheFile
   import paint from file TheFile
   set name of last image to tPicture
   set width of image tPicture to 250
   set height of image tPicture to 500
   set layer of image tPicture to 2   
end importPicture

It seems to be working so far, but I would really like to understand the Function thing. And is there any other way I can get myself into trouble?

Thanks,
Banty
*distributes cookies*

[Klaus]

Hi Bantymom,

here some thoughts and hints that might make your life easier

Your scripts show that you always use the same dimensions and locations for your three images.
Then you could use empty and static images that you just "fill" with the images the user selects.

Do this:
1. Create three (empty) images on your card, give them the right names, layers, dimensions and locations.
2. Then set their "lockloc" (check -> Inspector -> Size and Position -> lockloc/Lock size and position) for these images
3. Put this into your stackscripts, so all images will be "cleared" when the app starts:

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on preopenstack
  ## do this and that, whatever you need to :-)
  repeat for each item i in "ChalkDrawing,LineDrawing,ColoredDrawing"
    put empty into img i 
    ## of card X if necessary
  end repeat
end preopenstack

4. Now you have three ready-to-use images on your card and do not need to think about this anymore!

Next:
A function to import your images.
I would avoid a variable to hold the name of the current image-to-be-selected, just add a parameter to your function!
So you can simply pass the name of the current image and this script can even be in the card script!

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function importPicture tName_of_image
   ## In your case this will be one of ChalkDrawing, LineDrawing or ColoredDrawing
   answer file "Please select an image for the" && tPicture

   ## Immediately store It into another variable, since IT changes whenever you least exspect it :-)
   put it into tFile

  ## User cancel-led, we return FALSe
   if tFile = empty then
      answer "You Didn't Choose An Image." & cr & "I Am Going to Exit Now." & cr & "I Need 3 Images To Make This Work"
      return FALSE
   end if

   ## Now the script that put the complete image into our pre made image object:
   put url("binfile:" & tFile) into img tName_of_image
   return TRUE
end importPicture

Now you can call this function in your mouseup script:

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on mouseup
   repeat for each item i in "ChalkDrawing,LineDrawing,ColoredDrawing"
     put importPicture(i) into tSuccess

    ## Use cancel, so we are "out"
     if tSuccess = FALSE then
       exit to top
     end if
  end repeat
end mouseup

It is even not necessary to "clear" in the meantime the images since the "put url binfile..." will overwrite the existing images.
And as you see, no more setting the loc, layer and or dimensions, when you use my concept described above!

OK, this is a lenghty post, but also food for thought, hope you like it!


Best

Klaus

[Bantymom]

Klaus,

Thank you for the wonderful suggestion. It sounds very promising. Very sneaky of you too, making me have to actually go learn about the difference between handlers and functions. I have been afraid of functions and so have been avoiding them, but now, well, *sigh* it looks like I am going to have to get brave and just sit down and do it!

I am going to have to learn about the empty Image holder Control thing too. Am I to understand that once one of these things has been set up, any image imported into it will simply fill the space available? With the commands to set the size and position each time, I haven't had to worry about making each and every image perfectly sized before uploading them, which has been nice.

I have a little question... Will this still work without running the stack on the internet? I have been using StackRunner to keep everything self-contained. You have no idea just how much trouble a 2nd-grader can get into once he or she opens Safari.

Oh boy! I'm so excited now! I like it so much better when things are neat and tidy.

Cheers,
Bantymom

[Klaus]

Hi Bantymom,

glad you like my "clean" approach!
And yes I also like it when things are neat and tidy!

And yes, the images are "re-filled" everytime with the new content (= the new images).
Think of an image just like a field that can be filled with content!

What exactly do you mean by "Will this still work without running the stack on the internet?"
This should work whenever the stack is opened, no matter how it is opened.


Best

Klaus

[Bantymom]

Using the empty image Control place holder is working like a charm! I love it! However, while working on the function, I run into a bit of confusion.

Code: Select all

function importPicture tName_of_image
   ## In your case this will be one of ChalkDrawing, LineDrawing or ColoredDrawing
   answer file "Please select an image for the" && tPicture

   ## Immediately store It into another variable, since IT changes whenever you least exspect it :-)
   put it into tFile

  ## User cancel-led, we return FALSe
   if tFile = empty then
      answer "You Didn't Choose Your Image." & cr & "I Am Going to Exit Before I Crash." & cr & "I Need 3 Images To Make This Work"
      return FALSE
   end if

   ## Now the script that put the complete image into our pre made image object:
   put url("binfile:" & tFile) into img tName_of_image
   return TRUE
end importPicture

In my plain handler, the procedure continued right along because it went along in the switch thingy, which was very nice for me as it asked for each one automatically

I am not sure if the function works the same way or if I need to make it separate for each of the three images or not. I would also really like to understand the advantage of functions over handlers, or should that be a separate topic?

Edit:
I kept working and working on it, but I kept getting tangled in some parts. That struggle did, however, lead to a script that requires no other handler or function to be called at all. Just look how much shorter it is! Not shorter than yours, true, but shorter than the one I wrote first.

Code: Select all

on mouseUp
   answer "Do you have three images ready to import?" with "no" or "yes"
   if it = "no" then
      exit to top
   else
      repeat for each item tPicture in "ChalkDrawing,LineDrawing,ColoredDrawing"
         put empty into img tPicture
         answer file tPicture
         if it = empty then
            answer "Ooops. You dropped one. I'm aborting the mission." & cr & "You need to do it again or the game will crash."
            exit to top
         end if
         put it into tFile
         put url("binfile:" & tFile) into img tPicture
      end repeat
   end if
end mouseUp

I am SO happy! But I will keep working to understand functions.

Second edit: lol, my next post will equal my age.

[Klaus]

Hi Bantymom,

the main difference between function and handlers is that functions are supposed to return a value (not necessarily),
but handlers don't (necessarily!).

Your handlers look good and effective and since everything is working fine for you there is no need for you to change
a single line

The main reasons why we tend to use extra functions and handlers are: effectiveness, re-use by all other objects and
easy maintenance!

If you "outsource" handlers and functions, they are easier to maintain: ONE (complex) script VS x different (smaller) scripts!
Know what I mean?


Best

Klaus

[Bantymom]

Thank you very much. What you have taught me here about the empty image container has been amazing! Also, using "repeat" for a string of different situations instead of using switch is liberating. I've seen it used before, but until I saw it with a string of references I recognized, I wasn't sure what was happening. Because of just those two things, I was able to reduce what used to be 52 lines to 14!

But, let me see if I understand this correctly.

Handler: when it is told "run" (is sent a message or is called upon by another handler), it performs a series of tasks, which may or may not include supplying the user with an answer of some kind ("answer tResult" or some such thing).

Function: when it is called upon to "run," it does it's work, but is also monitoring itself and what it is processing and in addition to getting its work done, embodies within itself information on whether something is there or not, something is true or not, or whether something happened or did not. That information or result can be reported to the user or used for something else if needed, without having to write other bits of code to get at it.

So, as soon as I find myself writing something into a handler that reports something to me or that is testing whether something happened or not, I should consider a function instead of a handler. Yes?

When you say that the reason we use extra functions and handlers is to to allow other objects to use the same thing and to more easily maintain the script, are you are referring to custom handlers, those things I think of as little macros (geez, I'm old) that I can put somewhere that is easy to get to and then refer other objects or handlers to them instead of rewriting the same script over and over? For example, there are 20 buttons on my game card that the student can click to get a word to solve. The script for each button is simply "clickButton." In the card script for that card is the handler "on clickButton" in which I wrote what was to happen. That way, as I tinkered with it, I only had to make the changes there, once, instead of having to make the change 20 times. That is what you meant? Is that also what you mean by "outsourcing" handlers and functions?

After I import those images, I use them in various places in the game. I am going to rewrite those bits to use the empty image container as well so I can eliminate all of the formatting and placing bits of code. More on that later. *imagines her bloated code shrinking little by little*

Now, here is a situation where I will be able to apply both the empty image container concept and the custom (outsourced?) handler to solve a problem that has recently arisen:

Tomas sometimes messes up the painting of the picture, making it all one color. Command-Z does not work on painting tools (I looked it up), so even though he knows that trick, it does him no good in that situation. I want him to be able to press a button and have a second chance at it. This means that the original picture has to be found, copied, formatted into place again, and the paint buttons reset. These things happen at different places in the stack, and setting the picture into place the first time involves all of that formatting you saw before. But now I can set up an empty image container on the Painting Card for the original image to be copied into, no formatting required! Then, instead of copying that same script and Bernd's painting script to the new "Try-The-Painting-Again" button, I will make those two different scripts into custom handlers which can be called upon at the beginning of the game for the set up, and can be called upon again if the picture needs to be reset.

*does the happy dance*

PS: To answer a previous question, I thought that maybe with the new script you had suggested, I would have to host my game on the internet because in the line that puts the image into the empty image container, I saw the word "url," which I have always associated with the internet. Now I know that "url" can also refer to the place the image resides on my computer. When I looked up "binfile" it was cleared up.

[mwieder]

But, let me see if I understand this correctly.

You got it.

Is that also what you mean by "outsourcing" handlers and functions?

You also got that one pretty much correct, although I think the "outsourcing" term may have lost a bit in the translation from the German. So in addition to what you already figured out, you can place your code somewhere low enough in the message path for all the objects that need it can get to it. That way you only have to change code in one place.

In your example you placed the "on ClickButton" code in the card script, and that way all the buttons on the card have access to it. If you needed to get to the ClickButton handler from other cards as well, you'd probably move the "on ClickButton" handler to the stack script rather than replicate it on other cards.