Javascript Noob

Unity Engine
1

Hi Y’all,

I’ve finally made time to learn Unity and am having some trouble.

Here’s the code (I’m thinking it’s the last function that I’ve written incorrectly, but I dunno):

private var boundsArray = new Array();
private var textArray = new Array();
private var curBounds = 0;
private var eye : GameObject;
private var t = 0;

function Start() {
	eye = GameObject.Find("eye");
	makeBounds();
	makeTexts();
}

function Update() {
	readArea();
}

function makeBounds() {
	var minX = renderer.bounds.min.x;
	var minZ = renderer.bounds.min.z;
	var topY = renderer.bounds.size.y;
	var unitX = renderer.bounds.size.x / 15;
	var unitZ = renderer.bounds.size.z / 10;
	var xCent = unitX / 2 + minX;
	var zCent = unitZ / 2 + minZ;
	var yCent = topY / 2;
	var c = 1;
	for (var i = 0; i < 150; i++) {
		boundsArray.Push(Bounds(Vector3(xCent,yCent,zCent),Vector3(unitX,topY,unitZ)));
		if (c == 15) {
			xCent = unitX / 2 + minX;
			zCent += unitZ;
			c = 1;
		} else {
			xCent += unitX;
			c++;
		}
	}
}

function makeTexts() {
	for (var i = 0; i < 150; i++) {
		textArray.Push("bounds" + i);
	}
}

function readArea() {
	for (i = 0; i < 150; i++) {
		if (curBounds != i) {
			if (boundsArray[i].Contains( eye.transform.position )) {
				//t++;
				//print(t);
				curBounds = i;
				print(textArray[i]);
				break;
			}
		}
	}
}

Here’s what I’m trying to do:
I have a large terrain which I want divided into regions that have individual phrases associated with them. The above script is attached to the terrain mesh. I used bounds stored in an array and test when the FPS controller (eye) enters a particular bound then print the phrase from the same index position in another array (which for now contains just dummy text).

What does work:
You’ll notice I have two lines commented out in the last function. If I uncomment them (and comment out the other print command) it appears that entering the bounds is detected because t increments and is printed faithfully whenever I move from region to region, and only when I move from region to region. It works even if I revisit bounds (see What doesn’t work, below). Also, with the code exactly as above, if I move around the terrain without visiting a bound a second time, then the associated phrases are printed correctly. I walked the perimeter of the terrain once and all was well.

What doesn’t work:
If I re-enter a bound, its associated phrase isn’t printed. If I move through a number of bounds, then revisit any of them, none of them trigger the print command.

Thanks for any help.

2

Re-reading Bounds in the script reference, I think I’ve used it inappropriately. I’ll try something else.

3

I am not really following what you are looking to do with “t”.

Regards,

– Clint

4

When uncommented it lets me know that the FPS Controller has been detected entering a different bounds, because t increments. So let’s say I move the FPS Controller (eye) back and forth between two adjacent bounds. t will increment each time the controller crosses from one to the other. In the above code, this test never fails–t increments–even though re-entering a previously visited bounds. print(textArray), on the otherhand, always fails when the Controller enters a previously entered bounds, but never when entering a bounds for the first time. So t lets me know that entering a bounds, even a previously entered one, is returning true. Understand that when I uncomment the t lines, I comment out the print(textArray_); line, and vice versa. And that print(textArray*); never indicates the test returns true when entering a previously visited bounds.*
Yow! I have no idea if I’m explaining myself clearly.
I’m doing something wrong and don’t know what. Am I not understanding variable scope or something? I’ve Googled Javascript tutorials for clues but so far can’t see what I’m doing wrong unless it’s misusing bounds._

5
6

Thank you Eric, the collapse button was the problem. Whew! Couldn’t figure out what I wasn’t understanding. Time to delve further into the docs.

Also for the trigger boxes suggestion. I’m just familiarizing myself with Unity. Enjoying it like everybody else seems to be.

7

Cool. Post some of your stuff when you have something you want to show off. :slight_smile:

–Eric