Passing a PApplet reference to an instance of another Java class will provide that instance with access to all the publicly declared fields and methods of the PApplet--basically everything that's described here: http://processing.googlecode.com/svn/trunk/processing/build/javadoc/everything/processing/core/PApplet.html

It will not provide it with access to variables and methods that you declare in your Processing code. If you write everything in Eclipse, the reason for this becomes a little clearer, but it doesn't go away.

1. public class MyPAppletSubclass extends PApplet {
2.     public int myVar;
3.   
4.     public void setup() {
5.       size(480, 480);
6.       background(255);
7.       smooth();
8.       myVar = 0;
9.     }
10.   
11.     public static void main(String args[]) {
12.         PApplet.main(new String[] { "--present", "MyPAppletSubclass" });
13.     }
14.     
15.     public void draw() {
16.         background(255);
17.     // do some drawing
18.     }
19. }

In this barebones applet, you can see that the applet class is actually a subclass of PApplet, with a main() method that starts execution. Processing evidently does the same sort of thing behind the scenes. In effect, it handles the subclassing and the creation and calling of main() for you. But when you pass a reference to a PApplet to another class, you aren't passing it the subclass of PApplet that contains your custom variables and methods, you're just passing it a PApplet, the parent of your subclass.

That's incredibly useful, but not for informing other Java objects about your custom methods and variables. If you want to do that, the simplest way might be to create classes (in Processing or in Eclipse) separate from PApplet that contain the fields and methods you want to pass along. Then pass instances of those classes to the Comparator or whatever else needs to have the information. The Comparator or whatever can of course also have a reference to the PApplet that is running the show.

Hope I've understood your question and that this helps to clarify it.



----- |(*,+,#,=)(#,=,*,+)(=,#,+,*)(+,*,=,#)| ---

" since i have to use a java file for the comparator (or is that changed in processing 1.5)"
It never has been the case, plain old classes in .pde files work fine as Comparator...

ignotus i will meight try your methor later, i just hope phi.lho is right

I tried with a class that holds the values i need, apart from really disliking this method i'm also stuck.

Ah, this method of using enum as comparator. I have no time to try, but I am not sure the added complexity is worth the effort.
Simpler comparators work in .pde files, at least.

parent.color as type won't work. color isn't a real type, it is changed at compile time to an int. You can just use that in .java files instead.

I wanted the complexity cause i prefered a second sort later.
I stick for 1 sort option for now then.

It would be nice if you some day when you have time can look into it.

To people with the same question (how to use global variables in Eclipse) here is my solution:

1) Create a PassValues class that holds global variables
2) Create an a get method in that class to return the variable
3) Feed the PassValues in the constructor of the class that needs the variable

Here is my example, taken from Dan Shiffman that has a Stripe class that access a rot variable that holds the angle of rotation

1. package edu.mit.shape_test;
   
   import processing.core.*;
   import processing.opengl.PGraphicsOpenGL;
   
   public class MyProcessingSketch extends PApplet {
       // An array of stripes
       Stripe[] stripes = new Stripe[50];
       // Rotation test
       float rot = 0.0f;
      
       // Class that holds global variables
       PassValues global;
      
       public void setup() {
           size(200, 200, PGraphicsOpenGL.OPENGL);
           // Initialize global variables holder class
           global = new PassValues(this);
          
           // Initialize all stripes
           for (int i = 0; i < stripes.length; i++) {
               stripes[i] = new Stripe(this, global);
           }
          
          
       }
      
       public void draw() {
           background(0);
          
           for (int i = 0; i < stripes.length; i++) {
               stripes[i].move();
               stripes[i].display(this);
           }
          
           // Update global variables
           global.update();
          
           /*
           translate(100, 100);
           pushMatrix();
           rotateX(rot);
           rotateY(rot);
           box(50);
           popMatrix();
           rot = rot + 0.01f;
           */
       }
   
   }
   
2. package edu.mit.shape_test;
   
   import processing.core.PApplet;
   
   public class Stripe {
       PApplet p; // The parent PApplet that we will render ourselves onto
       PassValues g; // The class that holds our global variables
      
       float x; // Horizontal location of stripe
       float speed; // Speed of the stripe
       float w; // width of the stripe
       boolean mouse; // State of the stripe (moused over or not)
      
       Stripe(PApplet p_, PassValues g_) {
           p = p_;
           x = 0; // All stripes start at 0
           speed = p.random(1); // All stripes have a random positive speed
           w = p.random(10, 30);
           mouse = false;
           g = g_;
       }
      
       // Draw stripe
       void display(PApplet p_) {
           p.fill(255, 100);
           p.noStroke();
           p.rotateX(g.getRot());
           p.rect(x, 0, w, p.height);
       }
      
       // Move stripe
       void move() {
           x = x + speed;
           if (x > p.width + 20) {
               x = -20;
           }
       }
   
   }
   
3. package edu.mit.shape_test;
   
   import processing.core.PApplet;
   
   public class PassValues {
       PApplet p; // The parent PApplet that we will render ourselves onto
       public float rot = 0.0f; // Angle to be rotated
      
       PassValues(PApplet p_) {
           p = p_;
       }
      
       public void update() {
           rot = rot + 0.005f;
       }
   
       public float getRot() {
           return rot;
       }
   
      
      
   }
   

thanks this is helpfull,

instand of g.getRot();

you could have used g.rot aswell right?

Of course you can (I think, run the code and see if it works) but in "formal" java you are supposed to use get and set methods to retrieve and change variables.

You can write your constructor to reference the sub class that is your actual sketch.
Instead of this:

do this:

replacing "sketch_may04a" with the name of your sketch, of course. p5 should then have access to all the stuff in your main class.

Hi rbrauer I didnt know this thank you