Loading images by name (string) not by file format

[simonbelmont]

In my application I want to load 2 pictures (bottom_picture and top_picture) from a folder (resources) by name not by file format.
I have tried using Active Picture - New Picture - in expression calculator I have put Resources\bottom_picture.* where * can by any file format but without any luck.
P.S.: If I put the extension (bottom_picture.png) the image will appear.
Can someone help me?
Thanks!

[Danny]

Hi SimonBelmont,

Unfortunately if you don't specify a 'full and complete' filename through an expression then Active Picture won't revert to a default extension.

Instead define your extension in a global string like this:
Global String A = bmp

Then in the event editor do:
"Resources\bottom_picture."+Global String A
That will parse as Resources\bottom_picture.bmp

You can then change the Global String either at Edit time (frame editor) or during Runtime.

[simonbelmont]

Thanks for your help
I've made this.
Global String A = bmp
Global String B = png
For example I want to put bottom_picture.png in the folder resources (in that folder bottom_picture.bmp exit). Your example will work for the bmp picture.
I will rename bottom_picture.bmp (not to conflict or something) to 1.bmp.
Now the code in expression calculator will be "Resources\bottom_picture."+Global String A OR Global String B to load the png picture (bmp picture cannot be loaded because is renamed) ?

P.S. I want to add a list of extensions that my app will recognize. For example "Resource\bottom_picture." + bmp + jpg + png etc.

[LB]

Using the List object, you can load a file list on the path "C:\Some Directory\SomeFilename.*" and it will list all files with that name and any extension. Then you can loop through the list and load them. Using global values like that won't work in this case (I don't even know why it was suggested).

[simonbelmont]

Thanks LB for your suggestion.
I found the solution (it was simple).
You have to use File Object and Global Strings for this.
You must create 1 global string with a name (extension for example) but don't specify any values.
Then you must test the files, in my case bottom_picture.png, bottom_picture.jpg, bottom_picture.bmp if exist then add a new condition "Run this event once" with the special conditions Set extension to png for bottom_picture.png, jpg for bottom_picture.jpg and bmp for bottom_picture.bmp
When you have finished to test them add a new event with "Run this event once" then at the Active Picture Object add New picture with the expression "Resources\bottom."+extension (where extension is the global string, Resources is the folder with the pictures and bottom. is my pictures).
I hope that you understand how I do it.
Maybe this will help other people from the thread.