[squeakland] What is a parameter in etoys?

[Ricardo Moran]

On Wed, Mar 30, 2011 at 7:46 AM, Bert Freudenberg <bert at freudenbergs.de>wrote:

> Great, thank you!
>
> Btw, everyone can contribute to the manual just like Richo did! Just go
> here and create an account:
>
> http://booki.flossmanuals.net/etoys-reference-manual/edit/
>
> For example, the "add parameter" section now would benefit from some
> editing to better fit in a manual, and it's missing the images.
>

Wait, I added the images... did they miss somehow?

Richo


>
> As a reward your name will be listed in the book's authors section :)
>
> - Bert -
>
> On 30.03.2011, at 01:51, Ricardo Moran wrote:
>
> Hi,
>
> I modified the "User interface" chapter of the FLOSS manual to add Bert's
> explanation about parameters. I replaced the first paragraph of the old text
> with Bert's version. I just wanted to check with you to see if you approve
> this change. FYI, the old version was:
>
> -----------------------
> *add parameter*
>
> This option adds a parameter to the script. The parameter is passed into
> the script when it is called from another script. For example if you can
> create a script that will move an object forward based upon the number, you
> can add a parameter of type number. Then call that script from one or more
> other scripts passing in a specific value as the number. To use the
> parameter in the script simply drag the parameter from the Script Editor's
> in the top line to the right of the scripts name into your script where any
> number data type can be used.
>
> The following are the data types that can be used as parameters:
>
>
>    - Boolean (true or false)
>    - BorderStyle
>    - ButtonPhase
>    - Color
>    - Graphic
>    - ImageResolution
>    - Number
>    - Patch
>    - Point
>    - ScriptName
>    - Sound
>    - String
>    - TrailStyle
>
> -----------------------
>
> On Tue, Mar 29, 2011 at 4:12 PM, Ricardo Moran <richi.moran at gmail.com>wrote:
>
>> Ok, I'll do it tonight :)
>>
>>
>> On Mon, Mar 28, 2011 at 1:51 PM, Bert Freudenberg <bert at freudenbergs.de>wrote:
>>
>>>
>>> On 28.03.2011, at 15:58, Ricardo Moran wrote:
>>>
>>> Great explanation! I didn't know the difference between "arguments" and
>>> "parameters" :)
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parameter_(computer_programming)#Parameters_and_arguments
>>>
>>> BTW, is this written somewhere? It would be cool to add it to the
>>> manual...
>>>
>>>
>>> Go ahead and add it :)
>>>
>>> - Bert -
>>>
>>>
>>> On Mon, Mar 28, 2011 at 10:02 AM, Bert Freudenberg <bert at freudenbergs.de
>>> > wrote:
>>>
>>>> On 28.03.2011, at 14:17, Christine Murakami wrote:
>>>>
>>>> Do you have some documentation on how parameters work in Etoys and what
>>>> they can accomplish? I looked it up in your Floss manual but it was unclear
>>>> to me where to find that information.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> Many tiles in Etoys have a parameter. It is a value that influences the
>>>> behavior of that tile.
>>>>
>>>> For example, the "forward by" tile has a parameter that specifies how
>>>> far the object should move. The "make sound" parameter specifies which sound
>>>> to make. Etc.
>>>>
>>>> You can also make your own tiles. When you create a new script, a tile
>>>> for it is placed in an object's "scripts" viewer category. That tile can be
>>>> used in another script.
>>>>
>>>> The "add parameter" menu entry lets you add a parameter to your own
>>>> tile. If you use that new tile in another script, you can set a specific
>>>> value for the parameter just like with any other tile.
>>>>
>>>> Inside the script for your tile, that parameter is shown in the title
>>>> bar. It is called "number" (unless you change the parameter type). You drag
>>>> this "number" tile and use it like any variable tile in that script.
>>>>
>>>> E.g. in this script, I used the "number" tile four times:
>>>>
>>>> <PastedGraphic-1.png>
>>>>
>>>> Every time you use your new tile, you can give it another "concrete"
>>>> value. That's why in the script itself, you only have the "abstract" value
>>>> called "number". (Computer scientists call the concrete values "arguments"
>>>> and the abstract values "parameters", but even programmers get confused
>>>> about the distinction)
>>>>
>>>> <PastedGraphic-3.png>
>>>>
>>>> Note that after adding a parameter, you can not set your script to
>>>> "ticking" anymore, because it now needs a parameter. It only gets a concrete
>>>> value for the parameter from another script where your tile is used.
>>>> Additionally, you can set a value in the viewer, and hit the yellow button
>>>> to run your script with that value:
>>>>
>>>> <PastedGraphic-6.png>
>>>>
>>>> - Bert -
>>>>
>>>>
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>>>>
>>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
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>>>
>>
>
> - Bert -
>
>
>
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