[x3d-public] inputOutput in scripts [was: ScalarSequencer proto [was internal script state]]

[Andreas Plesch]

On Thu, Nov 9, 2017 at 10:33 AM, Andreas Plesch <andreasplesch at gmail.com> wrote:
> On Wed, Nov 8, 2017 at 10:16 PM, Andreas Plesch <andreasplesch at gmail.com> wrote:
>> Responding to myself:
>>
>> On Sat, Nov 4, 2017 at 9:13 AM, Andreas Plesch <andreasplesch at gmail.com> wrote:
>>>...
>>> In theory, inputOutput type in a script should enable set_ and
>>> _changed events, so I am not sure why this splitting is necessary.
>>>
>>> For example, is it sufficient for an inputOutput key field to write
>>>
>>> function set_key(val) { key = val; }
>>>
>>> to achieve both assigning the new value to the field, and also
>>> outputting of a key_changed event ?
>>>
>>> I think in x_ite it is sufficient but I will need to test.
>>
>> The question might have been not very accessible, so I added a simple
>> test to http://ripe-taxi.glitch.me/ScalarSequencerAsProto.x3d which
>> routes a MFFloat value to the key field of the ScalarSequencer proto,
>> and then routes from the this key field to the keyValue field to see
>> if a key_changed event is generated. All stages are logged.
>>
>> Sofar I tested only x_ite and Octaga and both do what was expected,
>> eg. generate the proper output event for inputOutput fields. So sofar
>> no need to make the proto more explicit.
>>
>> freeWrl actually crashes with that test scene.
>>
>> Will check InstantPlayer and BSContact as well, and perhaps
>> view3dscene after translating to castlescript.

I can report that InstantPlayer behaves as expected with the proto
generating the expected output _changed event.

On the other hand, BSContact does not seem to even invoke the key or
set_key function and therefore also does not generate a correspond
_changed event. Rather strange.

-Andreas

> Ok, I translated from ecmascript to castlescript here:
>
> http://ripe-taxi.glitch.me/ScalarSequencerCastle.x3d
>
> and found view3dscene also generates an output event for inputOutput
> fields in scripts without having to explicitly add the _changed
> suffix, as it should be the correct behaviour.
>
> [However, I had to rename the 'set_key' function in the proto script
> to just 'key' for view3dscene to be able to invoke it after a set_key
> event. Also, the (set_)key function in the proto somehow seems to get
> called twice].
>
>>> -Andreas
>>>
>>> On Sat, Nov 4, 2017 at 12:39 AM, Andreas Plesch <andreasplesch at gmail.com> wrote:
>>>> Working on a ScalarSequencer proto ,I developed the script which
>>>> provides the functionality:
>>>>
>>>> https://ripe-taxi.glitch.me/
>>>>
>>>> It seems to work ok using x_ite. In order to maintain internal,
>>>> persisting state, the script uses an initializeOnly field:
>>>>
>>>> https://glitch.com/edit/#!/ripe-taxi?path=index.html:161:21
>>>>
>>>> Perhaps this is the intended use of such a field but I was wondering
>>>> if there are other standard ways to have such internal state storage.
>>>> For example, it may be convenient to use a javascript object for state
>>>> which could not be a field value.
>>>>
>>>> It is possible to just use a global variable, initialized in the
>>>> initialize() function. However, in an environment such as web page
>>>> this would intrude other script sharing the global context. One could
>>>> use a namespace then, say script1.globalA
>>>>
>>>> With x_ite it is possible declare a scoped variable in the script but
>>>> outside the functions which then persists and is in the scope of all
>>>> script functions but out of scope anywhere outside the script. A good
>>>> solution but likely this is not guaranteed to work in other browsers
>>>> since the spec. does not cover code execution outside the script
>>>> functions.
>>>>
>>>> Perhaps the namespaced global variable would be the most standard way
>>>> but it would be great if global variables could be avoided.
>>>>
>>>> -Andreas
>>>>
>>>> --
>>>> Andreas Plesch
>>>> Waltham, MA 02453
>>>
>>> --
>>> Andreas Plesch
>>> Waltham, MA 02453
>>
>>
>>
>> --
>> Andreas Plesch
>> Waltham, MA 02453
>
>
>
> --
> Andreas Plesch
> Waltham, MA 02453



-- 
Andreas Plesch
Waltham, MA 02453