Zugg Software :: View topic - Newbie needs a little help with functions

Newbie Joined: 29 Sep 2002 Posts: 4

I am trying to get functions to work, and I need a little help.

I have read the help files in zMud and tried to enter an example directly from them as follows:

#VARIABLE kk {kill %1;stun %1}

Then tried to execute this:

@kk(parrot)

And the mud gives me back "Try typing that again". I have tried both commands separate from the function, and they both work. I have opened up the function in the GUI, and it looks exactly like the help file shows it, so I don't know what I am doing wrong.

Any help is appreciated.

Duck

GURU Joined: 15 Jun 2001 Posts: 654 Location: USA

It appears that you may be confusing functions and aliases. Functions in zMUD return values, aliases execute commands.

So, a sample function that calculates the factorial of a number would be like:

#FUNC factorial {%if(%1 > 1, %eval(%1*@factorial((%1-1))), 1)}

Then #SAY @factorial(5)

Outputs:
120

What it appears you want is an alias:

#ALIAS kk {kill %1;stun %1}

Links:
Introduction to Aliases
#FUNCTION command

- Charbal

Novice Joined: 22 Jun 2004 Posts: 48

What if I want an alias that returns something?

Wizard Joined: 03 Mar 2001 Posts: 1127 Location: London

for the alias example you used
#VARIABLE kk {kill %1;stun %1}

You would then need to type (for example)
kk bigbadmonster

zmud would then send
kill bigbadmonster
stun bigbadmonster

so it does return something
the function is completely different from the alias, so unless you want to make something similar to the factorial example that Charbal mentioned I'd put it out of your mind for now and just focus on the aliases

Hope it helps

Novice Joined: 22 Jun 2004 Posts: 48

So a function that sends stuff to the mud and the returns an integer is not possible today?

SubAdmin Joined: 18 Nov 2001 Posts: 5182

Getting a function to do both is a very complex business. More often then not zScript provides 6 different ways to do any given thing. In the exact example you gave:
#VARIABLE kk {kill %1;stun %1}
The kk variable should be stored as "kill ;stun ". If done from the command line it may keep the %1's though. A small oddity, that I am not about to test and check. In any case, if kk actually contained "kill %1;stun %1" then the use of '@kk(parrot) ' in a single line within a script will send to the mud "kill parrot;stun parrot". It is more in how it is used then anything else. Functions may not be the best thing to use, so I would suggest you let us know what you want to do and we can suggest some good methods that will work.