Spawning an object rather than a class (modding properties 2)

[legacy-*Xx_DG_xX*]

Got it!

Thanks everyone for all yer help. Here is what I ended up with:

class'XxxXESRv2b.XxxXSparks'.default.mColorRange[0] = NewColorRange;

That's all it took. It defies all my OOP logic, but it works. You shouldn't be able to change a class property when it doesn't exist in memory! Oh well..

Thanks again!

~DG

[legacy-mrslatezb]

Yea i mean otherwise you can always store a reference to the thing and change it and put a slight delay on the emitter.. you never know

[legacy-*Xx_DG_xX*]

I don't think you can change the values of a class, since it doesn't exist in memory.

However, I'm willing to try anything. I'll post again if it works.

[legacy-mrslatezb]

What happens if you try like

//pseudo code to the EXTREME :)
class'xxxSparks'.default.Colorstuff = red;

[legacy-*Xx_DG_xX*]

I see the logic that you are using, however, I'm still not getting it to work.

First off, in case someone else reads this, the class is PreSpawned, not PreSpawn.

I don't know what my next step will be. I've tried both methods. I just can't get it to work, lately I'm losing the sparks altogether isntead of the default red sparks.

[legacy-skyshooter]

If I don't have an actual instance of the XxxXSparks class I can't change the color.

when you spawn an actor, there is an instance. And exactly this instance will get his colors from a variable of his owner, before it creates sparks.

XxxXSparks:

event PreSpawn()
{
    Color clr1, clr2;
    clr1 = XxxXBeamEffect(Owner).DesiredSparksClr1;
    clr2 = XxxXBeamEffect(Owner).DesiredSparksClr2;

    SetSparksColor(clr1, clr2);
    Super.PreSpawn();
}

defaultproperties
{
    bCallPreSpawn = true;
   //all the other stuff
}

XxxXBeamEffect

//the variables you access from the XxxXSparks instance
var DesiredSparksClr1, DesiredSparksClr2;

simulated function SpawnImpactEffects(rotator HitRot, vector EffectLoc)
{
   Spawn(class'ShockImpactRing',,, EffectLoc, HitRot);
   Spawn(class'ShockImpactScorch',,, EffectLoc, Rotator(-HitNormal));

   //here you can set the desired color of the sparks
   DesiredSparksClr1 = WhatEverYouWant1;
   DesiredSparksClr1 = WhatEverYouWant2;

   //this creates an instance, which will get the variable from his owner (an object of XxxXBeamEffect)
   Spawn(class'XxxXSparks',,, EffectLoc, HitRot);

   spawn(class'ShockExplosionCore',,, EffectLoc + HitNormal, HitRot);
}

[legacy-neoflame]

What do each of the variables you pass to Spawn do? Specifically the ones you omitted? Try making the edited instance the second parameter (Spawn(class'XxxXSparksClass', XxxXSparks,, EffectLoc, HitRot); )

[legacy-*Xx_DG_xX*]

All good ideas, the simple problem still remains. If I don't have an actual instance of the XxxXSparks class I can't change the color. It will always take the defaults.

I need to be able to do something like:

local XxxXSparks XxxXSparkCLass;
        local color clr;
	clr.R = 0;
        clr.B = 240;
	clr.G = 0;
	clr.A = 240;
	Spawn(class'ShockImpactRing',,, EffectLoc, HitRot);
        spawn(class'ShockExplosionCore',,, EffectLoc + HitNormal, HitRot);
	Spawn(class'ShockImpactScorch',,, EffectLoc, Rotator(-HitNormal));
	XxxXSparksClass = Spawn(class'XxxXSparks',,, EffectLoc, HitRot);
	XxxXSparksClass.setSparkColor(clr,clr);
//new line here:
	XxxXSparksClass.SpawnNow();

But I think the sparks show up immediately upon calling Spawn. Please someone tell me I'm wrong! :-)

[legacy-skyshooter]

well, i'm not programming OOP since today... I know the difference between classes and objects. but in uscript the only method to create ACTORS is to spawn them.

If you spawn an actor (xEmitter is an actor) it sets a variable (owner) that contains a reference to the actor that spawned this actor. then calls an event called SetInitialState().

I'm not sure when exactly the defaultproperties are applied to the new actor, but you have a good chance that it's before SetInitialState() is called.

so In setInitialState() you could set all properties like you want.

--------
only speculation
---------------------
EDIT
another "idea":
If you set bCallPreSpawn = true, the engine calls the event PreSpawn() in xEmitter. Here's another place to set the properties (color) of your sparks BEFORE you see them.

[legacy-*Xx_DG_xX*]

The problem is simply this. Since Spawn's first parameter is always a class instead of an object instance.

For those who may find this post and need to know the difference:

A class is the definition of an object.
An object instance is one that exists in memory.

To recap for this problem:

for the beam I do:

local XxxXBeamEffect beam;
beam = weapon.spawn(class'XxxXBeamEffect',,,Start,Dir)
beam.setColor("Red")
if ( ReflectNum != 0 )
      {
        Beam.Instigator = None;
      }
Beam.AimAt(HitLocation,HitNormal);

basically I create a beam instance, set it's color, and then fire it with the AimAt function.

The problem with the sparks (and I believe the spiral) is that I can't create an instance and then fire it off. Once I spawn it, it uses what ever the default properties of the class are and it instantly creates it's own instance and displays it.

:-(

I want to make Sparks and Sprial a property of the BeamEffect and spawn those instances, but I'm at a loss on how to do that.

[legacy-skyshooter]

yeah, makes sense....

unfortunately now I have no clue how to do it

------

i have no idea if this functions.... you could try to set a color variable in your beam effect class, which contains the desired spark color. Then set the color in PreBeginPlay() of the XxxXSparks class, like this:

simulated event PreBeginPlay()
{
    setSparkColor(owner.DesiredSparksColor1, owner.DesiredSparksColor2);
    super.PreBeginPlay();
}

edit:
maybe the event SetInitialState() is a better place for this...
note that this probably won't function...:cry:

[legacy-*Xx_DG_xX*]

We're going to be attempting to change the beam, the sparks, and the spiral.

We got the beam color changed with this code:

 Beam = Weapon.Spawn(Class'XxxXBeamEffect',,,Start,Dir);
	if (Beam.IsA('XxxXBeamEffect'))
	{
           BeamColor.R = 56;
	   BeamColor.G = 255;
           BeamColor.B = 255;
	   BeamColor.A = 200;
           
           //Beam.SetColorClr(BeamColor, BeamColor);
           Beam.mColorRange[0] = BeamColor;
	}

Sparks don't seem to be called to existance in the same fashion as the beam.

Since the beam isn't fired until the .AimAt() function is called, I can set the beam color and then call AimAt(). The sparks however seem to appear as soon as the following code executes:

simulated function SpawnImpactEffects(rotator HitRot, vector EffectLoc)
{

	Spawn(class'ShockImpactRing',,, EffectLoc, HitRot);
	Spawn(class'ShockImpactScorch',,, EffectLoc, Rotator(-HitNormal));
//trouble line:
	Spawn(class'XxxXSparks',,, EffectLoc, HitRot);
	spawn(class'ShockExplosionCore',,, EffectLoc + HitNormal, HitRot);
}

So I can't change any properties of XxxXSparks, I have to use the defaults.

Make sense?

[legacy-skyshooter]

I or you didn't get the idea... Do you want to change the color of the sparks or the beam? or both?

[legacy-*Xx_DG_xX*]

Unfortunately... due to my UScript noobness... I'm having trouble following.

Here are the 2 classes as they stand now:

class XxxXBeamEffect extends SuperShockBeamEffect;


simulated function SpawnImpactEffects(rotator HitRot, vector EffectLoc)
{

	Spawn(class'ShockImpactRing',,, EffectLoc, HitRot);
	Spawn(class'ShockImpactScorch',,, EffectLoc, Rotator(-HitNormal));
//trouble line:
	Spawn(class'XxxXSparks',,, EffectLoc, HitRot);
	spawn(class'ShockExplosionCore',,, EffectLoc + HitNormal, HitRot);
}

function SetColor(string SelectedColor)
{
    local XxxXSparks newSparks;
    local Color NewColorRange;
    if (SelectedColor == "Red")
    {
	NewColorRange.R = 240;
	NewColorRange.G = 0;
	NewcolorRange.B = 0;
	NewColorRange.A = 240;
        mColorRange[0] = NewColorRange;
	mColorRange[1] = NewColorRange;
    }
    else if (SelectedColor == "Blue")
    {
      	NewColorRange.R = 0;
	NewColorRange.G = 0;
	NewcolorRange.B = 240;
	NewColorRange.A = 240;
        mColorRange[0] = NewColorRange;
	mColorRange[1] = NewColorRange; 
	
    }
    else if (SelectedColor == "Green")
    {
      	NewColorRange.R = 0;
	NewColorRange.G = 240;
	NewcolorRange.B = 0;
	NewColorRange.A = 240;
        mColorRange[0] = NewColorRange;
	mColorRange[1] = NewColorRange; 
	
    }
    else if (SelectedColor == "Purple")
    {
      	NewColorRange.R = 240;
	NewColorRange.G = 0;
	NewcolorRange.B = 240;
	NewColorRange.A = 240;
        mColorRange[0] = NewColorRange;
	mColorRange[1] = NewColorRange; 
	
    }
    else
    {
	NewColorRange.R = 240;
	NewColorRange.G = 240;
	NewcolorRange.B = 240;
	NewColorRange.A = 240;
        mColorRange[0] = NewColorRange;
	mColorRange[1] = NewColorRange;  
	
    }
   
}

function SetColorRGBA(int colorR, int colorG, int colorB, int colorA)
{
    local Color NewColorRange;
   
    NewColorRange.R = colorR;
    NewColorRange.G = colorG;
    NewcolorRange.B = colorB;
    NewColorRange.A = colorA;
    mColorRange[0] = NewColorRange;    	
    mColorRange[1] = NewColorRange; 
        
}

function SetColorCLR(color NewColorRange1, color NewColorRange2)
{
    mColorRange[0] = NewColorRange1;    	
    mColorRange[1] = NewColorRange2;
}

defaultproperties
{
     CoilClass=Class'XEffects.ShockBeamCoil'
     MuzFlashClass=Class'XEffects.ShockMuzFlash'
     MuzFlash3Class=Class'XEffects.ShockMuzFlash3rd'
     mRegen=False
     mStartParticles=10
     mMaxParticles=1
     mLifeRange(0)=0.500000
     mLifeRange(1)=0.000000
     mSizeRange(0)=7.000000
     mSizeRange(1)=0.000000
     Skins(0)=Texture'XEffectMat.Ion.Ion_beam'
}

and

class XxxXSparks extends xEmitter;

simulated function PostBeginPlay()
{
  if ( PhysicsVolume.bWaterVolume )
  Super.destroy();
}

function setSparkColor(color clr1, color clr2)
{
     mColorRange[0] = clr1;
     mColorRange[1] = clr2;
}

defaultproperties
{
     mParticleType=PT_Line
     mRegen=False
     mStartParticles=20
     mMaxParticles=10
     mLifeRange(0)=0.800000
     mLifeRange(1)=1.200000
     mRegenRange(0)=0.000000
     mRegenRange(1)=0.000000
     mDirDev=(X=0.400000,Y=0.400000,Z=0.400000)
     mPosDev=(X=0.200000,Y=0.200000,Z=0.200000)
     mSpawnVecB=(X=2.000000,Z=0.060000)
     mSpeedRange(0)=250.000000
     mSpeedRange(1)=350.000000
     mMassRange(0)=1.500000
     mMassRange(1)=2.500000
     mAirResistance=0.200000
     mSizeRange(0)=1.000000
     mSizeRange(1)=2.000000
     mGrowthRate=-1.000000
     mColorRange(0)=(B=0,G=0,R=255)
     mColorRange(1)=(B=0,G=0,R=255)
     mAttenKa=0.100000
     DrawScale=10.000000
     Skins(0)=Texture'XEffects.Skins.TransTrailT'
     ScaleGlow=20.000000
     Style=STY_Additive
}

Since the Spawn() function is expecting a class and not an instance, we'd have to create a XxxXSparksRed, XxxXSparksBlue, etc.. instead of just changing the mColorRange() property. We would like to include RGB sliders so that they can really customize it and not be limited to the named colors we come up with.

I would love to see your code where you do this, so I'd have a full example.

[legacy-skyshooter]

you could override the function that spawns the particles with something like this:

var int xAmount;
simulated event SpawnParticle( int Amount )
{
    xAmount = Amount;
}

and do an own Spawn SpawnParticle function which you can call (whenever you want):

simulated function ReallySpawnParticles( )
{
    //Do here what you want... (Set colors etc...)

    int i;
    for(int i = 0; i < Emitters.Length; i++)
    {
         Emitters[i].SpawnParticle(xAmount);
    }
}

at least I did it so with an explosionclass with "dynamic" sizes, which i can set.