Level NPC Server -> Client Communication?

[Astram]

As the title suggests, I'm looking to have the serverside interact with the clientside in a level npc. I'm aware of the backwards direction which I would use triggeraction for, however, I'm not sure how to go about server to the client. Thank you for taking your time to read this and possibly answer this short question!

EDIT:
Also, what I'm trying to accomplish is showing a polygon around an NPC detecting a range of 5 tiles around the NPC. This polygon should be visible to everyone.

[Jakov_the_Jakovasaur]

in the new V6 client a serverside triggeraction() in a level npc is received on the clients of all players in the level, and if you want to store data that can be retrieved on the client of a player who enters the level you can also use this.attr[#]

PHP Code:

function updatePoly(temp.polyarray){
  this.attr[1] = int(timevar2);
  this.attr[2] = temp.polyarray;
  triggeraction(this.x + 1, this.y + 1, "UpdatePoly", "");
}

//#CLIENTSIDE
function onCreated()
  this.setshape(1, 32, 32);

function onPlayerEnters()
  if(this.attr[1] != this.save_time)
    this.onActionUpdatePoly();

function onActionUpdatePoly(){
  this.save_time = this.attr[1];
  this.showpoly(200, this.attr[2].tokenize(","));
} 


[Astram]

Thank you however this doesn't appear to be working:

PHP Code:

triggeraction(this.x + .5, this.y + .5, "Test", this.owner); 


when I try and catch in it clientside doing

PHP Code:

function onActionTest(this.zowner) {
  scheduleevent(.05, "showPoly");
  this.chat = this.zowner;
} 


I even set the shape of the object doing:

PHP Code:

setshape( 0, 16 * 5, 16 * 5); 


But it still isn't working.

[Jakov_the_Jakovasaur]

im not sure that you can specify parameters as 'this.' variables like that as opposed to using 'temp.', have you tried doing 'this.chat = "test";' to ensure the trigger is at least being received?

also having the first parameter in the setshape() as 0 instead of 1 might be a problem, and is the setshape() on both clientside and serverside?

[Astram]

Originally Posted by Jakov_the_Jakovasaur

im not sure that you can specify parameters as 'this.' variables like that as opposed to using 'temp.', have you tried doing 'this.chat = "test";' to ensure the trigger is at least being received?

also having the first parameter in the setshape() as 0 instead of 1 might be a problem, and is the setshape() on both clientside and serverside?

I'm pretty sure 0 works as a setshape because that just allows no movement through the NPC. I did setshape serverside and I have debugged the triggeraction and it isn't receiving it.

Just tested using 1 as setshape and nothing changes anyways.

[Jakov_the_Jakovasaur]

have you used setshape(); on clientside as well?
when its used serverside that doesnt get synchronised to clientside in the way that some other variables do, and because the trigger is being received on the client it needs a shape to be set clientside

[Astram]

Originally Posted by Jakov_the_Jakovasaur

have you used setshape(); on clientside as well?
when its used serverside that doesnt get synchronised to clientside in the way that some other variables do, and because the trigger is being received on the client it needs a shape to be set clientside

Oh thank you, I'll try it!

EDIT: Nope, this isn't working either. Really weird.

[Jakov_the_Jakovasaur]

could you post the entire script?
it sounds like youre doing everything right based on what youve provided so it would be interesting to see it all pieced together

one guess would be that the serverside function which contains 'triggeraction();' isnt being executed, have you debugged that as well?

[Astram]

PHP Code:

function onCreated() {
  this.owner = null;
  this.ani = "grab";
  setshape( 1, 16 * 5, 16 * 5);
}

function onInitialize(playername) {
  this.owner = playername;
  triggeraction(this.x + .5, this.y + .5, "Test", null);
  onTimeOut();
}

function onPlayerChats() {
  if (player.chat == "bye") {
    destroy();
  }
}

function onActionRightMouse() {
  destroy();
}

function onTimeOut() {
  if (max(this.owner.x, this.x) - min(this.owner.x, this.x) > 5) this.x += 1;
  if (max(this.owner.y, this.y) - min(this.owner.y, this.y) > 5) this.y += 1;
  setTimer(.05);
}

//#CLIENTSIDE
function onCreated() {
  setshape( 1, 16 * 5, 16 * 5);
}

function onActionTest() {
  scheduleevent(.05, "showPoly");
  player.chat = ":D";
}

function showPoly() {
  with(findimg(200)) {
    polygon = {
      this.x - 5, this.y - 5,
      this.x + 5, this.y - 5,
      this.x + 5, this.y + 5,
      this.x - 5, this.y + 5
    };
    red = green = blue = 0;
    alpha = .6;
    layer = 3;
  }
} 


I know that onCreated is there twice but it seems to those parts seem to work fine.

[Jakov_the_Jakovasaur]

there is no default event called 'onInitialize' in level npcs, only database npcs and putnpc2s

its also worth mentioning that there is no player parameter in that onInitialize event

using the same event on clientside and serverside is perfectly fine, you can even use onCreated() within multiple classes that are joined to the same object

[Astram]

Originally Posted by Jakov_the_Jakovasaur

there is no default event called 'onInitialize' in level npcs, only database npcs and putnpc2s

its also worth mentioning that there is no player parameter in that onInitialize event

using the same event on clientside and serverside is perfectly fine, you can even use onCreated() within multiple classes that are joined to the same object

Sorry I forgot to mention that this was a class and I used putnpc2 then I did:
temp.npc.trigger("Initialize", params...);

[Jakov_the_Jakovasaur]

oh well in that case although it should still work its not a good idea to use that event name because it will be invoked every time the npc server is restarted

only other explanations i can think of is that you cant do 0.05 second timeouts serverside and trying it could be preventing the entire script, plus the npcs x and y are being altered after the triggeraction (which does get synchronised to clientside) and that could somehow be breaking it

i would suggest commenting out the timeout out and seeing if the triggeraction works

[xXziroXx]

Originally Posted by Jakov_the_Jakovasaur

oh well in that case although it should still work its not a good idea to use that event name because it will be invoked every time the npc server is restarted

You're confusing his onInitialize() with the default event onInitialized(). He should be fine.

I'm pretty sure this has something to do with the shape(s), that's always been the problem for me. Unfortunately I'm in a bit of a hurry and wasn't able to really look over your script at all, maybe I'll be able to get back too it later.

[Astram]

Originally Posted by xXziroXx

You're confusing his onInitialize() with the default event onInitialized(). He should be fine.

I'm pretty sure this has something to do with the shape(s), that's always been the problem for me. Unfortunately I'm in a bit of a hurry and wasn't able to really look over your script at all, maybe I'll be able to get back too it later.

Thank you. But I don't think the shape is the problem.

[Starfire2001]

Maybe I'm not getting the right idea here, but why don't you just put the scheduleevent(.05, "showPoly"); (which might work but should have a third param, so scheduleevent(.05, "showPoly", null) in the clientside onCreated(), as you seem to be sending the trigger right after the NPC is placed anyways.