Maximum translation?

Unity Engine
1

Hello,

I’m using the following script to move my object side to side:

var speed = 10.0;

function Update () {
	var translation = Input.GetAxis ("Horizontal") * speed;
	translation *= Time.deltaTime;
	transform.Translate (translation, 0, 0);
}

Is there a way I can restrict the translation to say only go between -2 and 2 before stopping?

Thanks,
Stuart

2

Try this:

var speed = 10.0;

function Update () {
   var translation = Input.GetAxis ("Horizontal") * speed;
   translation *= Time.deltaTime;
   transform.Translate ( Mathf.Clamp(translation,-2f,2f), 0, 0);
}
3

Thanks for the reply but Im just getting this error:

245334--8824--$picture_1_547.png

4

This is from the scripting reference of Mathf.Clamp
:

// Set the position of the transform to be that of the time
// but never less than 1 or more than 3
function Update ()
{
    transform.position.x = Mathf.Clamp(Time.time, 1.0, 3.0);
}

I dont know if your error is the result of c# syntax (2.f), or if you can do that in js also. Hope it helps :slight_smile:

5

Im using Javascript but using that method it just moves on it’s own, ignoring my input?

6

stuthemoo - that’s actually a pretty clear error message, it’s saying it doesn’t like the f (so changing 2f to 2.0 will make it work)

Admittedly the script doesn’t do what you’re after anyway because it clamps the speed, not the position. Try this one :

var speed = 10.0; 

function Update () { 
   var translation = Input.GetAxis ("Horizontal") * speed; 
   translation *= Time.deltaTime; 
   transform.position.x = Mathf.Clamp(transform.position.x + translation, -2.0, 2.0); 
}
7

Thanks Sycle, that worked. Except the movement is now really jumpy and not smooth like it was before?

8

Weird :frowning: I tested both ways and the movement looked identical to me… maybe Translate is doing something different under the hood

you could try changing the script to :

var speed = 10.0; 

function Update () { 
   var translation = Input.GetAxis ("Horizontal") * speed; 
   translation *= Time.deltaTime; 
   transform.Translate (translation, 0, 0); 
   
   if (transform.position.x < -2.0)
		transform.position.x = -2.0;
		
   if (transform.position.x > 2.0)
		transform.position.x = 2.0;
}

it uses Translate as before and just checks if it’s gone past the extremes and sets it back. Kind of clunky, but it might sidestep the jumpiness issue.

9

Hmm… Today your first script isn’t jumpy at all :sweat_smile: maybe it was just the lag of my computer having a lot of applications open at the same time.

Thanks a lot,
Stuart :smile: