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andrewgies17

andrewgie..

Help saving variables...

in General Discussion • Other • 1 year ago

Hey all......

I am making a program modeled after MS Paint, and I want to add a custom color function. I already have a color selector, and I have figured out how to add, and delete the users colors. The problem is, when the user closes the application, (I am going to export it as so eventually), I want it to save the colors the user selected. I can't figure out how to save the variables, hopefully as a simple file like a txt. My program solely works with variables of the color type, when managing default, and color selected variables. Thanks in advance....

- andrewgies17

If you need other information, please ask for it. I would like to have a solution as quickly as possible and am ready to assist you in any way possible.

1

Replies(20)

Chrisir

Chrisir

Re: Help saving variables...

1 year ago

hello,

I think you'll use

saveStrings()

http://www.processing.org/reference/saveStrings_.html

and

loadstrings
http://www.processing.org/reference/loadStrings_.html

there are some examples, e.g.

http://www.processing.org/learning/topics/savefile1.html
and
for loading what has been saved:
http://www.processing.org/learning/topics/loadfile1.html

Later you could write some kind of good old INI-File emulation

Greetings, Chrisir

andrewgies17

andrewgie..

Re: Help saving variables...

1 year ago

When I tried that, I got this error.

The method saveStrings(String, String[]) in the type PApplet is not applicable for the arguments (String, int[]).

This is my code.

color[] test = new color[0];
void setup() {
append(test, color(random(255), random(255), random(255)));
saveStrings("test.txt", test);
}

Is there any way to format the color variable to let saveStrings() handle the variable. Also, processing seems to be handling the color variable as an int, is that good or bad?

Thanks again,

andrewgies17

calsign

calsign

Re: Help saving variables...

1 year ago

Behind the scenes, color is actually an int. The pre-processor changes any color datatypes to ints before compiling. This is a convenience for users...

In this case, you have to convert the array of colors (or ints) to an array of Strings. If it doesn't matter how you want the colors to be stored, you can simply convert the array to an array of Strings using str():

saveStrings("test.txt", str(test));

I'm pretty sure that this will save the values as the String representations of large negative numbers (the way colors are stored in int format)... you should be able to load the data back conveniently, as well.

andrewgies17

andrewgie..

Re: Help saving variables...

1 year ago

How would I convert it back to color after I load the data.

Thanks-

andrewgies17

andrewgies17

andrewgie..

Re: Help saving variables...

1 year ago

Just tried it... I wanted to see what the converted color variable looked like, so I had it printed to the console. This is what I got.

[Ljava.lang.String;@1412e75

When I had it saved, I got one of two results:

0, and nothing

I am quite confused.

Thanks-

andrewgies17

PhiLho

PhiLho

Re: Help saving variables...

1 year ago

If you used the code you shown, your usage of append() is incorrect. You have to use the result it provides.
Otherwise, show your new code.

andrewgies17

andrewgie..

Re: Help saving variables...

1 year ago

I fixed the append function, and was successful to an extent. I ran this code to save the file:

color[] test = new color[0];
void setup() {
test = append(test, color(0, 255, 0));
saveStrings("/Users/Andrew/Desktop/test.txt", str(test));
}

The file then read:

-16711936

And then tried this code to load and test the file:

color[] test = new color[0];
void setup() {
test = append(test, loadStrings("/Users/Andrew/Desktop/test.txt"));
print(str(test));
}

It worked all the way through until I got to trying to load the file.....It loaded correctly however did not convert back to color. I did not know of a function to convert Strings to colors, so it tried just assigning the String to the color, which returned the error:

cannot convert from Object to int[]

I also tried saving the array of multiple variables, which formatted correctly, so that is not an issue.

Also, when I export the program as an application...how will I save the file without saving it to any given user's desktop, applications folder, or any other place it might be located on their computer. My goal is to save it, where the user can't see it (at least without a lot of looking), but the program can access it, maybe, in a system or hidden folder.....

Thanks-

andrewgies17

benja

benja

Re: Help saving variables...

1 year ago

loadStrings() returns an array of strings, so of course you cant add a string-array to your color-array.
Actually colors are stored as integers, you can handle them like ints.

try this:

color[] test = new color[0];

String[] input = loadStrings("test.txt");
for(int i =0; i<input.length; i++){
test = append(test, int(input[i]));
}
println(test);

andrewgies17

andrewgie..

Re: Help saving variables...

1 year ago

Thanks so much, its working great now. How would I hide the file from the users, after it has been saved. My ultimate goal is to make this available for download online, so I need something that will work on multiple computers with multiple file layouts..

Thanks to you all-

andrewgies17

calsign

calsign

Re: Help saving variables...

1 year ago

Hide the file from users? Is it enough to place the file in the application's folder (what it will already do), or do you have to make it so that they cannot see if they go looking? Such a thing is impossible, as with the right permissions, a computer user can see anything... unless you encrypt it, but it already is rather encrypted as a large negative number...

andrewgies17

andrewgie..

Re: Help saving variables...

1 year ago

The problem is, for a computer user. A bunch of random files is annoying....And they would probably delete it. If you download a computer game...you have high scores and levels and other files come with it....but they don't pop up in the middle of everything....the seemingly don't exist, but someone could find them if they need/want to...that is my goal....

what Im looking for is how to access the folders that contain those kind of applications files....You know how there are applications with a show package contents option when right clicked (at least on a mac).

If you have a mac, try it on processing and you'l see what I mean.

andrewgies17

calsign

calsign

Re: Help saving variables...

1 year ago

Yes, but how many people will go looking in an application's files? Most people don't even know how to... If it's installed in the correct location, they'll get a warning message telling them that it's a bad idea when they try to... and, when you look at most games, their folders come packed with files absolutely necessary to run. If a user tampers with them, then they're probably trying to change the way the game works... by modding it, hacking it, etc. I don't see the problem, and, inherently, the need for a solution.

Chrisir

Chrisir

Re: Help saving variables...

1 year ago

Well, the file is within the folder of your drawing program.
You could have a subfolder there in and call it data and put the color files in this folder?
Thus they would be hidden.

andrewgies17

andrewgie..

Re: Help saving variables...

1 year ago

My problem is I don't know how to save the txt file in an application's content's.

andrewgies17

andrewgie..

Re: Help saving variables...

1 year ago

so your saying that I should save it in my program's data folder, like where images and fonts go, and when I export it, it would be sent to the package contents instead?

calsign

calsign

Re: Help saving variables...

1 year ago

Yes, exactly. If you don't specify a path before the file (just the name of the file) when you save it, it will be saved in the application's folder... and loadStrings() will work, as well.

andrewgies17

andrewgie..

Re: Help saving variables...

1 year ago

I made the changes, and exported the file to test it. When I ran it....the test.txt appeared in the same folder as where the application was exported to. My concern is that if a user places the application onto their desktop or their system's native applications folder, and finds an unidentified file, that they would delete it....also, if the program is saving files.....it loses the professional look I am going for.

Thanks

andrewgies17

PhiLho

PhiLho

Re: Help saving variables...

1 year ago

System.getProperty("user.home") will return the home path of the user. Lot of applications create a folder there to store their settings.

andrewgies17

andrewgie..

Re: Help saving variables...

1 year ago

So I just create a folder at "User.home" and the user probably wont mess it up unless they want to?

andrewgies17

andrewgie..

Re: Help saving variables...

1 year ago

Just figured It out. Thank you soo much. I would have been lost with out you. You four are just amazing! I'll send out a link if the share your work section when Im done.. I'd love to hear what you think about it. Thank You! Thank You! Thank You! Thank You! Thank You! Thank You! Thank You! Thank You!

andrewgies17

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