Snippet Emulating Pick Every X Functions

[GFreak45]

Emulating Pick Every Functions​

This is a brief introduction on picking every player/unit/w.e u want to pick without using the actual functions
Essentially what the pick every unit function does, is it goes down a list of the units in a group doing a set of actions for each one. What we will do here is emulate this effect through the use of integer loops and variables, here is an example of a very basic one:

Spoiler

• Emulated Pick Every unit
  • Events
    • A Unit casts an ability
  • Conditions
    • Ability being cast is equal to Stomp (a triggered spell that deals damage in an aoe)
  • Actions
    • Set Damaged_Units (our unit group) = Units within 300 range of casting unit matching conditions (Owner of matching unit is an enemy of Owner of casting unit)
    • For each Integer A from 1 to (number of units in Damaged_Units) do actions.
      • Loop Actions
        • Set Picked_Unit = Random Unit from Damaged_Units
        • Unit Group - Remove Picked_Unit from Damaged_Units
        • Unit - Cause Casting Unit to damage Picked_Unit for X damage
    • Custom Script: Calldestroygroup(UDG_Damaged_Units)

As you can see there, what I did was set the group that i would have used in the Pick every unit function and instead used an Integer Loop, setting the "Picked unit" to a random unit in that group and then removing it until all units have been removed

This is best for use with picking every unit inside a picked unit function IE: a spell that deals damage to the enemies around your nearby allies, a spell like earthshaker's ult (a seismic wave that hits enemies in an aoe hit then hits nearby enemies for a lesser ammount)

Here is an example of this:

Spoiler

• Echo-Slam
  • Events
    • A unit finishes casting an ability
  • Conditions
    • Ability being cast is equal to Echo-Slam
  • Actions
    • Set Temp_GRP[1] = Units within 300 range of casting unit matching conditions (owner of matching unit is an enemy of owner of casting unit)
    • Unit Group - Pick every unit in Temp_GRP[1] and do actions
      • Loop Actions
        • Unit - Cause Casting unit to damage Picked unit for 150 damage
        • Set Temp_GRP[2] = Units within 300 range of picked unit matching conditions (Owner of matching unit is an enemy of owner of casting unit)
        • For Each Integer A from 1 to (Number of units in Temp_GRP[2]) do actions
          • Loop Actions
            • Set Picked_Unit = Random unit in Temp_GRP[2]
            • Unit Group - Remove Picked_Unit from temp_GRP[2]
            • Unit - Cause Casting Unit to damage Picked_Unit for 75 Damage
        • Custom Script: Calldestroygroup(UDG_Temp_GRP[2])
    • Custom Script: Calldestroygroup(UDG_Temp_GRP[1]

In this example the caster deals damage to enemies in 300 range for 150 damage, then deals damage to enemies within 300 range of them for 75 damage, creating a sort of chain aoe effect. The nice thing about using an effect like this with an Integer A loop is that you if you want to have a picked unit in a picked unit in a picked unit, you can do it as many times as you want with just the A loop, changing indexes for the stored units every level or dimension, this is because you dont actually use Integer A in your actions.

Any questions/comments you can pm or post here

 

[Dirac]

Well i have one question:
Speaking in GUI terms how is this useful? you can always pick groups inside group picking, i've done it several times before back when i did GUI coding.
Looks like much more overhead for GUI users to go this way, however in JASS it's the easiest way to do it

 

[GFreak45]

i did some reasearch and it appeared that using that method causes glitches with what unit is the picked unit, is that incorrect?

 

[Sgqvur]

Hm looks like the gui version of first of group iteration except both number of units and random unit call ForGroup/Pick unit =).

It's kinda strange that unit groups don't know their size...

 

[Dirac]

Here's an example of me doing it without bugs.
http://www.thehelper.net/forums/showthread.php/119550-ChainHook

I guess it works out if you assign the first group's "picked unit" to a variable and use it to reach the unit.

 

[tooltiperror]

This isn't really a tutorial on its own.

You could submit a tutorial on all kinds of group management, or make a demo map showing a bunch of stuff about using groups well or whatever. This itself does not merit a tutorial.

 

[GFreak45]

i guess i labelled it wrong sorry