Question about Arrays

[Bipolar_Games]

Is there any way you can pull the Save To File information from the Array Object to find out where the user saved it to?




The following was fixed, the above question is still unanswered though

I need to save a ton of strings into an array, specifically a 3D Array with dimensions 40x25x5, and each string has a max of 32 characters. I've tried using the built in Array Object, but with this many strings, the file size is much larger than I expected.

The test file I saved was around 6mb (edit: another test produced a 10.3mb file). This surprises me, because I can save a Text file with 40*25*5*32 (=160,000) characters, and the file is under 100kb. Why is the Array file so huge? And what can I do instead to save these strings and be able to recall them via the position they are saved in the 3D array?

[Algul]

That's interesting. I can't reproduce it. My 40x25x5 array of string, each 32charactes is 181kB. Can you upload example? I would like to take a look.

[Bipolar_Games]

Oops... figured out the problem. I'm using a grid, and snapping objects to the grid with (XMouse/50)*50. When setting up the array, I used that same code to define where in the array the String should be saved (so instead of - for example - 10x10, I was getting 500x500). Take out the *50 and we're good!

Duh...

But now I need to know... is there any way you can pull the Save To File information from the Array Object to find out where it saved to?

[JasonDarby]

I'm not really sure what you mean.... but i will take a guess

When i use arrays i usually use the array number index themselves as the way of identifying where things are... for example:

If i want to save 10 bits of information for each level, and there are 10 levels... i might do this

Array size = 10x10

I know (as i write it down in my design) that the first number in the array ( is the actual level for the text... while the second number (Y) is the bit of information.. so if i want to get the 7th bit of information from level 5, i can read it from X5, Y7.

I also use counters a lot to keep track of particular numbers, and then use that as the basis of reading information back from an array.

Hope that is what you meant, and hope that it makes sense

Jason

[Bipolar_Games]

Nope! Not what I meant, but good info for beginners! I just made a dumb mistake :P

Now is there any way to find out where a user has saved an array file with the Array Object, when using it's built in "Save to file via selector" action?

[Shawn]

Well if it works like the Hi Score and ini objects, pretty sure its stored by default in AppData (hidden folder).

[Bipolar_Games]

No I mean if I use the "Save to file via selector" action, where the user can pick where he wants to save his file. There doesn't seem to be a "Last file saved here" string stored in this object... this is very lame...

[Shawn]

Ooooh. Ok sorry, I misunderstood. Yeah I have no idea.

[JasonDarby]

Easiest way is to save the location to a string (you can get this location via the file selector i think). then save that to an array, and you can then recall it.

Not as straightforward as you would hope, but shouldn't be too difficult to pull off?

Jason

[Bipolar_Games]

Yeah that's what I was hoping not to do. I've done it before, I was just hoping there was a way to pull that information out of the Array Object. Thanks!