Jasshelper error: Cannot find Functions

[retupmoc258]

It's very odd, and I have had the problem a few times, but there are a few custom functions I have made that for whatever reason seem to be elusive. Sometimes I can get my map to save and compile right so that it recognizes these three functions, but even then it usually doesn't work.

I have a trigger that runs on initialization and it only runs one function called RegisterUnit. It has a unit variable that has already been assigned to use and work with (a unit that the game gave me that represented the unit). But when I compile the map, Jasshelper always says that it can't find the function. I can look for it and find it. I can move the function around in my triggers, and it still can't see it. The compilation that shows up also has everything out of order from where it is in my trigger organization (I don't know if that makes a big difference).

Then there's another function called SetAllStats, and that also seems to have problems whenever RegisterUnit does. They're virtually unrelated, other than I made them at the same time.

Sometimes I can just randomly do something and save it and they're found again (such as now when I reloaded the map and resaved it), and one time I exported the trigger data and reimported it (and that fixed it) and then it came back in both cases. It definitely sounds like there's something else wrong, but I am wondering what the problem is. Does anyone know what may be causing it? I am not a programming expert, so I imagine there might be a reason I just don't know. When everything does save and I run my game, the two triggers perform beautifully, doing exactly what they're supposed to do and run smooth as can be (don't even know if there's any noticeable lags).

The only other connection I can think of is that I created a new TimerUtils function that also sometimes doesn't register (but that tends to happen when the other two DO register).

So I am not sure what I can do, other than just ignore it and fix it once in a while so I can test my map. Any suggestions?

 

[SineCosine]

You're probably using libraries the wrong way.
Tell us, which libraries are your functions in?

 

[retupmoc258]

None. They aren't in libraries. If I stick them in libraries, then everything goes wrong . . . they're like the trigger functions--they're not in libraries.

 

[SineCosine]

Then put them in libraries already.
It's about time you started using them.

Let us say you have 3 Functions.

Function A calls Function B
Function B calls Function C

Right now, they aren't in libraries.
You try to compile.

Chances are, JassHelper will compile them randomly, ie.
B
A
C

So, when B tries to call C, there is an error because C is not above B, but below.
Functions cannot call functions below them.

However, with libraries:

library BOTTOM requires MIDDLE
    function A takes nothing returns nothing
        //Stuff
        call B()
    endfunction
endlibrary

library MIDDLE requires TOP
    function B takes nothing returns nothing
        //Stuff
        call C()
    endfunction
endlibrary

library TOP
    function C takes nothing returns nothing
        //Stuff
    endfunction
endlibrary

JassHelper will compile it such that C is on top of A and B.
And B is above A.

This way, there will be no problems.
The 'requires' keyword is what keeps the order.

If a library requires another library, it'll be put below that library.
So, use them.

 

[retupmoc258]

Well, I tried it and got the same problems I had before. It didn't like the fact that I was calling functions in other libraries. I did a little poking around with other libraries in my map, and I guess I understand what the problem is now. It has saved with no errors, so I guess that's a good sign.

So . . . do you know of any good library tutorials or forums or anything like that? I feel like there's much more that I could utilize these for, I just don't know what. And is it good to have many libraries, or is it better to have a few. For example, I have a few completely unrelated libraries, each with sets of globals, and I'm wondering if it's just smart to leave them all separate, or just combine them together?

 

[Bribe]

I recommend you import some good libraries like KeyTimers2 by Jesus4Lyf, or if you want to be more traditional TimerUtils by Vexorian.

You'll begin to notice how libraries can be useful because even if you put the library at the bottom of your map, JassHelper will shift them to the top of your map so you won't get a syntax error by calling them.

That's not to mention the seemingly unlimited uses for "private" and "public" keywords, and the ability to make one library require others/require optional others.

 

[SineCosine]

I have a few completely unrelated libraries, each with sets of globals, and I'm wondering if it's just smart to leave them all separate, or just combine them together?

Nothing wrong with separating them.

Anything within the globals and endglobals block automatically gets sent to the top of the map, above library functions.

This is the order, I believe:
01) Globals
02) Library Functions
03) Scope Functions
04) Functions
05) Function Main <--- This is where all your 'initializer' functions are combined into.

So:

//This
library ONE
    globals
        string Meh = "I Love"
    endglobals
endlibrary

function Addition takes real A, real B returns real
    return A + B
endfunction

library TWO initializer Stuff requires ONE
    globals
        string Teh = " Anime!"
    endglobals

    private function Stuff takes nothing returns nothing
        call BJDebugMsg(Meh + Teh)
    endfunction
endlibrary

//Will be compiled into:
globals
    string Meh = "I Love"
    string Teh = " Anime!"
endglobals

function Addition takes real A, real B returns real
    return A + B
endfunction

function main takes nothing returns nothing
    call BJDebugMsg(Meh + Teh)
endfunction

//I think =P

 

[retupmoc258]

I recommend you import some good libraries like KeyTimers2 by Jesus4Lyf, or if you want to be more traditional TimerUtils by Vexorian.

That's not to mention the seemingly unlimited uses for "private" and "public" keywords, and the ability to make one library require others/require optional others.

I've been using TimerUtils. I don't see much need for it, actually, other than EGUI requires it (but I don't know what functions from EGUI I'm actually using, now that I think of it). I use one timer utility from there, which is a set of functions (including one I added) that allows me to use timers to save data into a hashtable which can then be recalled later when the timer expires. Pretty handy. The rest seems really pointless (and I don't think I use anything that requires timers, yet).

 

[Bribe]

I've been tinkering in JASS since February and I only recently found a use for TimerUtils. However, soon afterwards I found KeyTimers2 to do the same thing but with more overall efficiency.

 

[tooltiperror]

Well, of course, depending on what you're doing, Timer32 might be better.

 

[Bribe]

I just realized the T32x module does not create its own timer, which was my original suspicion. It seems Jesus4Lyf conceptually tied the two libraries together, after all!

 

[kingkingyyk3]

I've been tinkering in JASS since February and I only recently found a use for TimerUtils. However, soon afterwards I found KeyTimers2 to do the same thing but with more overall efficiency.
For low frequency, TimerUtils is more efficient.
T32x is good for high frequency.

 

[Bribe]

T32x does not call a static onLoop like what I need from KeyTimers2. Plus, I'm using a 0.04 interval, which is even higher frequency but it's all I need to get the job done. At what point would you consider TimerUtils more efficient than KT2?

It's a bummer that KeyTimers is a vanilla library and not a struct, because of the inability to initialize a library before a struct. I had to hack that library to make it work.

 

[tooltiperror]

Just wondering, try adding this somewhere in your map header.

function main takes nothing returns nothing
endfunction

 

[Bribe]

That is a ghost function which initializes the map when you load it. You can kill it with a vJass command, I believe.

 

[tooltiperror]

Yeah, but sometimes when coding vJASS on my Mac, it requires that to be in there, or calling my own functions results in strange syntax errors. Thought it could be connected, apparently not, if you say so.

 

[Bribe]

If you kill the "main" function with that command, you lose access to every InitTrig and initializer and onInit staticMethod. Every program uses "main" to initialize.

 

[retupmoc258]

What about methods and structures. I don't understand those. I have looked at existing code, but it tremendously above my current understanding. I don't understand libraries with existing and why they work in the first place. I'll see some that seem to be testing what a unit's position and if it moves (one of the structures and methods in EGUI which can test if a unit is moving) and I just don't understand what makes it actually run, and what makes it run and all the .destroy type functions and things like that. Does anyone know of a good tutorial for structures or methods? I don't even know the difference, really. I wonder if I could just make a structure or method that would work for me really well.

I'm trying to make it so when a unit is attacked, my game overrides the built-in damage functions and runs its chain of commands to do the damage calculation. The function I have made works fine, and I have found ways to use "EGUI - Unit takes damage" to make it work. I have run it in a map where there are dozens of people attacking all at once, and there is no noticeable lag, either. But I'm wondering if a stucture or method might make it run faster.

Out of curiosity, does anyone know how to create an event of some sort that runs when teh "Aatk" ability effect takes place? There is the Event, "When a unit is attacked" but that triggers as soon as the attack starts, not when the damage would be dealt. I have tried "When ability starts effect" with condition being "Ability: Aatk" but that doesn't work.

 

[tooltiperror]

Methods are functions associated with structs, structs are object orientated programming tools.

//! Note: This comment serves no purpose
  struct Color
      real red
      real green
      real blue
  endstruct
  function Example takes nothing returns nothing
      local Color red=Color.create() // You create a struct with .create()
      set red.red=100 // You can set the variables that make up red.
      set red.green=0
      set red.blue=0
      call red.destroy() // You don't need them when you're done.
  endfunction

See, structs allow you to make your own types, like integers and units and locations. I mean, what is a location but two reals? Then, you have methods.

//! Note: This comment serves no purpose
  struct Color
      real red
      real green
      real blue
      method Donothing takes nothing returns nothing
          call DoNothing() 
          call BJDebugMsg("Doing nothing!")
      endmethod
  endstruct
  function Example takes nothing returns nothing
      local Color green=Color.create()
      call green.Donothing()
  endfunction

 

[kingkingyyk3]

At what point would you consider TimerUtils more efficient than KT2?
Jesus4lyf said that by himself.(For low frequency/high period)