Hi,
I´ve played around with the demo for a couple of hours now (and ordered the CD Version of MMF2 Dev.) - I´m wondering now if the CD version comes with a (printed?) manual or is the help file which is also installed with the demo version the only help that comes with the program? I find the help file a bit disappointing since it doesn´t seem to be complete (e.g. I don´t find a single word about fastloops in the help file)
thanks a lot in advance,
mdk
1. Search for "fast loops" in the help file, not "fastloop".
2. MMF2 comes with an 80-page A6 printed manual, with fast loops being in Appendix 3. The demo might have a digital copy, if so it'd be called Manual.pdf and be located in the main MMF2 directory.
3. Check out http://www.clickteam.com/eng/learning_resources.php for learning resources (e.g. there is a video tutorial on fastloops)
4. I recommend that an action to start a fast loop is given its own event.
------ Multimedia Fusion 2 Developer Manual (© Clickteam) ------
Appendix 3. Fast loops
Many times in your program of events, you need to repeat the same action a certain number of times. There are a number of ways of achieving this: you can use the “Repeat” condition from the special object menu, or use a counter to count the number of repeats.
Multimedia Fusion provides you with a safe and very fast way of repeating the same actions: the fast loops.
What is a fast loop?
A fast loop is a system that will repeat the same events a given number of times, at fast speed.
How to create a fast loop?
First of all you need to initialise the loop. Open the action pop-up menu of the special object, and open the Fast loop submenu. You will find an action called “Start loop”. This action asks for two parameters:
• The name of the loop. This must be a string depicting the name of your loop, choose it
short and easy to recognise.
• The number of times to loop. Enter the number you wish here.
Now you need to create a new “On loop” condition. Click on New condition, and open the condition pop-up menu of the special object. In the bottom of the menu you will find an “On loop” entry. Choose it. The program now asks for the name of the loop, enter the same name as before. You now have a new line of condition.
Now enter the actions you want to execute after this condition.
How does it work?
When Multimedia Fusion encounters the Start loop action, it searches for the On loop conditions of the program. If it finds one, it compares the name of the loop, if it is the same, it executes the actions of the event (if not it continues the search). Once the actions are executed, it increments the loops counter and repeats the actions: the actions are called at high speed the exact number of times you entered.
• You can have more than one “On loop” conditions in the program for the same loop.
• You can retrieve the number of the loop in an expression: a “Get loop count” function
exists in the special object functions menu.
• You can also create a loop within a loop creating a nested loop. But be careful about
the processing time of such nested loops as they it can be very long.
.:::.Joshtek.:::.
Thank you, Joshtek.
The demo doesn´t seem to have a pdf manual. There is no pdf or anything like that in the installation directories of the demo version. And the help file doesn´t give any results even if I only search for the word "fast". (But those fastloops were only an example of something I was curious about, I guess there are some more things which are not explained in the help file)
So I´m looking forward to getting my full version and the manual! Since I´m from Germany this might take some days I guess. I hope I may bore you with some more newbie question until I get my package
Thanks again,
mdk
PS: Of course I already knew your link to the clickteam tutorial site. It seems to be the only real help at the moment (in addition to this willing to help community here)
I not going to be negative but although the Clickteam products get better and better from STOS to MMFD. The printed manuals are going into the opposite direction from Excellent (STOS), Good (Klik and Play), Excellent - (GF) - None (MMF 1) to bad (MMF). I would rather say 80 page booklet instead of a 80 page manual.
On the other hand one has the forum and a second to none support from Clickteam.
Maybe a power user would publish his own manual.
Jason´s books are excellent I have bought them all and I highly recommend them.
I myself would pay a little bit extra for a good printed manual. It is also something to read in bed!
Keli
Searching the file archive section of the forum is a good way to learn.
In my opinion though it only really requires 2 things to get started.
1. Learning the layout.
2. Understanding the concepts of "Conditions", "Actions" and "Expressions".
Once you know these things theres no objects you can't use.
The rest is just experience and learning MMF's odd quirks.
Also what happened to the knowlege base? It had quite a few good articles and example files.
I still have my TGF 2.1 Manual and I'm very proud of it. Back then Clickteam as it is today existed (I don't think) and therefore neither did the website, so the product HAD to have a decent manual in order for users to have any easy way of picking the software up. Now people can just as easily log onto this website and grab some tutorials, which obviously cuts down on printing costs.
If these don't do it for you, I recommend picking up any one of JasonDarby's books.
I´ve just ordered "Make Amazing Games in Minutes" - I´m looking forward to it.Originally Posted by DizzyDoo
thanks to all again,
mdk
Thanks for ordering the book
Hope you enjoy reading it.
Jason
Oh, the author himself is around here?!That´s cool.
I´ve ordered it at Amazon Germany. The shipping date is yet unknown - it´s not in stock. I hope they send it soon
thanks,
mdk
Just to confirm. The maual is well written and has helped me a lot expecially the appendixes.
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