function closest_contact_to(name)
    local close_c = false
    local unit = ScenEdit_GetUnit({name=name, guid=guid})
    local side = ScenEdit_PlayerSide()
    local contacts = ScenEdit_GetContacts(unit.side)

    local myTempTable = {}
    if (contacts ~=nil) then
        for k,v in pairs(contacts) do
            table.insert(myTempTable, {name=v.name, guid=v.guid})
        end
    end
    contacts = nil;

    if (#myTempTable >0) then
        local min_range = 99999
        local con;
        for k,v in pairs(myTempTable) do
            con = VP_GetUnit({guid=v.guid});
            if ((con ~=nil) and (con.type == 'Aircraft')) then
                range = Tool_Range(unit.guid, v.guid)
                print(string.format( 'Range from %s to unit %s is %.2f nm', tostring(v.name), tostring(unit.name), tostring(range))); --test by printing to console
            end   
            -- something needs to go here...!   
            --
            con = nil;
        end
    myTempTable = nil
    end
    return close_c
end

-- Wrapper for returning range or 99999 as invalid\error.
function getRangeToContact(u,c)
    local retval,range = pcall(Tool_Range,u, c)
    if (retval == true) and range ~=nil then return range; else return 99999; end
end

---@name: name 
---@type: optional unit\contact "type" as a string. If empty all contacts will be evaluated.
---@returnall true|false|nil if true returns full table sorted by range low to high.
---@returns: contact table entry of the closest unit. or fully sorted table
function closest_contact_to(name,thetype,returnall)
    local  fn = "closest_contact_to(): ";
    if (returnall ==nil) or type(returnall) ~= "boolean" then returnall =false;end
    local contacts,side,unit,retval;
    retval,side = pcall(VP_GetSide,{side=ScenEdit_PlayerSide()});
    if (retval==false) or side ==nil then print(fn .. "Could not obtain side, aborting.") return nil;end 
    retval,unit = pcall(ScenEdit_GetUnit,{name=name, side=side.name});
    if (retval==false) or unit ==nil then print(fn .. "Could not obtain unit, aborting.") return nil;end 
    if (thetype==nil) or thetype == "ALL" then
        contacts = side.contacts; -- no filter on contacts.
    else
        contacts = side:contactsBy(thetype); --prefilter contacts by type.
    end

    local myTempTable = {};
    if (contacts ~=nil) then
        local range=99999;
        for _,v in pairs(contacts) do
            range = getRangeToContact(unit.guid,v.guid);
            if (range ~=nil) and range < 99999 then -- if valid range then add otherwise skip.
              --print(string.format('%sRange from %s to unit %s is %.2f nm', fn,tostring(v.name), tostring(unit.name), range)); --test by printing to console
              table.insert(myTempTable, {contactname=v.name, contactguid=v.guid,range=range});
            end;
            range=99999;
        end
    end
    contacts = nil;
    if #myTempTable > 1 then
        if returnall ==false then 
            table.sort(myTempTable, function(a,b) return (a.range < b.range); end); --sort the table descending by range.
            return myTempTable[1]; --return table entry with closest range
        else
            table.sort(myTempTable, function(a,b) return (a.range < b.range); end); --sort the table descending by range.
            return myTempTable; --return table entry with closest range
        end
    end
    return nil;
end

--Sample usage return only closest.
local sometable = closest_contact_to("testunit") --unit "testunit" on the active playerside.
if sometable ~=nil then 
    print(string.format('Closest contact was %s @ %.2f nm', tostring(sometable.contactname), sometable.range));
else
  print("Something went very wrong.");
end;


--Sample usage filter only on aircraft and return the full list sorted by range.
local sometable = closest_contact_to("testunit","Aircraft",true) --unit "testunit" on the active playerside.
if (sometable ~=nil) and #sometable > 0 then 
    for k,v in ipairs(sometable) do
      if k == 1 then
        print(string.format('Closest contact was %s @ %.2f nm', tostring(v.contactname), v.range));
      else 
        print(string.format('The next closest contact was %s @ %.2f nm', tostring(v.contactname), v.range));
      end
    end
else
  print("Something went very wrong.");
end;

quote:


Closest contact was F-15EX Eagle II #3 @ 89.81 nm

Closest contact was F-15EX Eagle II #3 @ 89.81 nm
The next closest contact was F-15EX Eagle II #1 @ 110.68 nm
The next closest contact was F-15EX Eagle II #2 @ 115.56 nm

quote:

Thanks KnightHawk, that works really nicely. I appreciate the way you wrapped up the initial code using pcall, that's really clean.

If I then wanted to use the function to direct a unit to engage the closest contact (and closest contact only), would it be as simple as using ScenEdit_AssignUnitAsTarget with, for example an associated counter-air mission, instead of printing to console? It's a bit unclear in the Command Lua docs how to call that function, ie does it only require the contact guid as a parameter?

        local range=99999;
        local ct;
        for _,v in pairs(contacts) do
            retval,ct = pcall(ScenEdit_GetContact,{side=side.name,guid=v.guid}); --get actual contact wrapper.
            if (retval ==true) and ct ~=nil then 
                range = getRangeToContact(unit.guid,v.guid);
                if (range ~=nil) and range < 99999 then -- if valid range then add otherwise skip.
                  --print(string.format('%sRange from %s to unit %s is %.2f nm', fn,tostring(v.name), tostring(unit.name), range)); --test by printing to console
                  table.insert(myTempTable, {contactname=v.name, contactguid=v.guid,range=range,contactwrap=ct}); 
                end;
            end
            retval,ct,range=nil,nil,99999;
        end

--Sample usage return only closest.
local u = SE_GetUnit({name="testunit",side="a"}) --just a sample. 
local sometable = closest_contact_to(u.name) -- just a sample...I'd actually change the func just to take-in a unitguid but i digress. 
local retval; --holds return val from SE commands in case you want to check it.
--these are just sample attackcontact option tables to give idea of syntax\options.
local sampleAttackTypes = {
[1]={mode=0},
[2]={mode=1,weapon=3567,qty=1},
[3]={mode=1,weapon=2442,qty=1,latitude='N 41.45.0',longitude='W 87.37.0'},
[4]={mode=1,mount=3017,weapon=2442,qty=1,latitude='N 41.45.00',longitude='W 87.37.0',course={{latitude='N 39.30.0',longitude='W 93.13.43'},
{latitude='N 39.51.0',longitude='W 92.34.17'}, {latitude='N 41.26.28',longitude='W 88.38.48'}}},
[5]={mode=1,mount=3017,weapon=2941,qty=2,course={{latitude='N 39.30.0',longitude='W 93.13.43'},{latitude='N 39.51.0',longitude='W 92.34.17'},
 {latitude='N 41.26.28',longitude='W 88.38.48'}}}
}

if sometable ~=nil then 
    print(string.format('Closest contact was %s @ %.2f nm known altitude(m): %.2f', tostring(sometable.contactname), sometable.range, tostring(sometable.contactwrap.altitude)));
    if sometable.contactwrap.typed==0 or sometable.contactwrap.typed == 1 then --"Air" or "Missile" might want to have others here.
      retval = ScenEdit_AssignUnitAsTarget(sometable.contactguid,"SomeAirInterceptMission")
    --Samples to attack the contact right away with the unit doing the range checking.
    --retval = ScenEdit_AttackContact(u.guid,sometable.contactguid,sampleAttackTypes[1]) --automatic [like f1] use system logic
    --retval = ScenEdit_AttackContact(u.guid,sometable.contactguid,sampleAttackTypes[2]) --manual [like shift-f1] using loadout wpns
    else --ship,mobile or fixed facility do something else? 
      retval = ScenEdit_AssignUnitAsTarget(sometable.contactguid,"SomeStrikeMission")
    --Samples to attack the contact right away with the unit doing the range checking.
    --retval = ScenEdit_AttackContact(u.guid,sometable.contactguid,sampleAttackTypes[5]) --manual [like shift-f1] launched from specific mount and with a course specified.
    --retval = ScenEdit_AttackContact(u.guid,"BOL",sampleAttackTypes[3]) --BOL manual [like ctrl-f1] using loadout wpns.
    --retval = ScenEdit_AttackContact(u.guid,"BOL",sampleAttackTypes[4]) --BOL manual [like ctrl-f1] launched from specific mount and with a course specified.
    end
else
  print("Something went very wrong.");
end;

quote:

but I think it's now easily done using Tool_Bearing if the unit and contact guids are defined.

quote:

Is it possible to roll this code into the existing range function?

table.insert(myTempTable, {contactname=v.name, contactguid=v.guid,range=range,contactwrap=ct,azimuth=get_rel_bearing(unit,ct)})

if sometable ~=nil then ...
local az = get_rel_bearing(u,sometable.contactwrap);
--or if passing the table to another system to evaluate can just add it to the existing table
-- sometable.az= get_rel_bearing(u,sometable.contactwrap)
someOtherFunction(sometable);
...

function ActivateFlow()
    local OCAList = {
    'RHINO1',
    'RHINO2'
    -- more fighters in this list
    }

    local contacts = SE_GetContacts('Blue')

    for x=1,#OCAList do
        unit = SE_GetUnit({name=OCAList[x]})

        for i=1,#contacts do
            c = contacts[i]
            c_attackers = {}
            if c.type == 'Air' then
                for k=1,counter(c.targetedBy) do -- 'counter' function defined earlier [[-- this line is where the code falls over! --]]
                    atk = SE_GetUnit({guid=c.targetedBy[tostring(k-1)]})
                    table.insert(c_attackers,atk.name)
                end
                for j=0,#c_attackers do
                    if c_attackers[j] == unit.name then
                        if isin(unit.name,OCAList) then --'isin' function defined earlier
                            FlowFighter(unit)
                            print('Flow Activated')
                        end
                    end
                end
            end
        end
    end
end 

function FlowFighter(u)
  print("FlowingFighter " ..tostring(u.name)); return true;
end

function getTableCount(tbl)
    local c = 0;
    if tbl == nil then return 0; end
    for k,v in pairs(tbl) do
      c=c+1;
    end
    return c;
end

function isin(name,tList)
  --do something.  
  for k,v in pairs(tList) do
    if name == v then return true; end
  end
  return false;
end

function ActivateFlow()
    print(" ");
    local OCAList = {
    'RHINO1',
    'RHINO2'
    -- more fighters in this list
    }
    local contacts = VP_GetSide({side="Blue"}):contactsBy("Aircraft"); --
    --local contacts = ScenEdit_GetContacts('Blue') --uncomment and put the if =='Air'back in.

    for x=1,#OCAList do
        local unit = SE_GetUnit({side="Blue",name=OCAList[x]})
        for i=1,#contacts do
            local c = ScenEdit_GetContact({side="Blue",guid=contacts[i].guid})
            local c_attackers = {}
            local tblcount = getTableCount(c.targetedBy); --cache this

            for k=1,tblcount do -- 'counter' function defined earlier [[-- this line is where the code falls over! --]]
                local atk = SE_GetUnit({guid=c.targetedBy[tostring(k-1)]})
                table.insert(c_attackers,atk.name);
            end
            for j=1,#c_attackers do
                if c_attackers[j] == unit.name then
                    if isin(unit.name,OCAList) then --'isin' function defined earlier
                        FlowFighter(unit)
                    end
                end
            end
        end
    end
end 

quote:

I'll play around with the code tonight. Do you know where the 'action point' is for a contact being 'targeted' without being engaged?