function InitiateBioContact(Dist1)
  local ZZUnit = ScenEdit_GetUnit({guid='50PVO4-0HMD7C9VFQET3'});
  local Brg1 = ZZUnit.heading; -- is recht vooruit
  local pt = World_GetPointFromBearing({LATITUDE=ZZUnit.latitude,LONGITUDE=ZZUnit.longitude,BEARING=Brg1, DISTANCE=Dist1});
  ScenEdit_AddUnit({side='Nature', Type='Submarine', Name='Fish', dbid=354, lat=pt.latitude,lon=pt.longitude, Heading=030, manualSpeed=3, manualAltitude='underlayer'});
end 

function GetNumberFromUser(displaytext,minnum,maxnum,errornum)
  local retval = ScenEdit_InputBox(displaytext);
  if (retval ~=nil) and retval ~="" then -- "" is a user pressing cancel.
    retval = tonumber(retval); --attempt convert.
    if retval ==nil then return errornum; end -- not point to continue if it failed. (ie converting abc32 produces nil)
  else 
    return errornum; --was already nil or emptystring.
  end
  if retval >= minnum and retval <= maxnum then return retval; end  --valid so return the number.
  return errornum; -- if we get here it was a number but was out of range.-- failed validation
end

local trycount = 0;
local retval = 0;
while (retval == 0) do --keep looping till we get a non-zero number or hit 5 bad attempts.
  if trycount > 4 then 
    retval = 7; --person is dumb or there is numerical conversion problem, use a default or random#
    break; --break the looping after 5 attempts.
  else 
    trycount = trycount+1
    retval = GetNumberFromUser('Enter a distance number between 1 and 10',1,10,0);
  end
end  

InitiateBioContact(retval) 

quote:

ORIGINAL: Parel803
KH, works great, now gonna study on how :-)
thx again

The feeling is I understand what's happening but unable te reproduce.
Tried with a extra function to get a second InputBox were there are 3 choices for Bio units. Then that choice is incorperated in the add Bio function.
Hope you have to time to help me again.
best regards GJ

while (retval == 0) do --keep looping till we get a non-zero number or hit 5 bad attempts.
  if trycount > 4 then 
    retval = 1; --person is dumb or there is numerical conversion problem, use a default or swap this for random#
    break; --break the looping after 5 attempts.
  else 
    trycount = trycount+1
    retval = GetNumberFromUser('1: 2.0nm\r2: 4.0nm\r3: 7.0nm'\r\nEnter the number of your choice',1,3,0);
  end
  --reuse and change retval to the chosen distance based on selection
  if retval == 1 then --if the selection was valid and #1
    retval == 2.0;
  else if retval==2 then -- if the selection was valid and #2
    retval == 4.0;
  else if retval==3 then -- if the selection was valid and #3
    retval == 7.0;
  end
end 

quote:

Can I reuse the retval part to have a second Input box? and from there to the function InitiateBioContact(Dist1,BioDbid) ??

function InitiateBioContact(Dist1,BioDBID)
  local ZZUnit = ScenEdit_GetUnit({guid='50PVO4-0HMD7C9VFQET3'});
  local Brg1 = ZZUnit.heading; -- is recht vooruit
  local pt = World_GetPointFromBearing({LATITUDE=ZZUnit.latitude,LONGITUDE=ZZUnit.longitude,BEARING=Brg1, DISTANCE=Dist1});
  ScenEdit_AddUnit({side='Nature', Type='Submarine', Name='Fish', dbid=BioDBID, lat=pt.latitude,lon=pt.longitude, Heading=030, manualSpeed=3, manualAltitude='underlayer'});
end 

function GetNumberFromUser(displaytext,minnum,maxnum,errornum)
  local retval = ScenEdit_InputBox(displaytext);
  if (retval ~=nil) and retval ~="" then -- "" is a user pressing cancel.
    retval = tonumber(retval); --attempt convert.
    if retval ==nil then return errornum; end -- not point to continue if it failed. (ie converting abc32 produces nil)
  else 
    return errornum; --was already nil or emptystring.
  end
  if retval >= minnum and retval <= maxnum then return retval; end  --valid so return the number.
  return errornum; -- if we get here it was a number but was out of range.-- failed validation
end

local function firstQuestion()
 local trycount,retval = 0,0;
 while (retval == 0) do --keep looping till we get a non-zero number or hit 5 bad attempts.
   if trycount > 4 then 
     retval = 1; --person is dumb or there is numerical conversion problem, use a default or swap this for random#
     break; --break the looping after 5 attempts.
   else 
     trycount = trycount+1
     retval = GetNumberFromUser('1: 2.0nm\r2: 4.0nm\r3: 7.0nm\r\nEnter the number of your choice',1,3,0);
   end
   --reuse and change retval to the chosen distance based on selection
   if retval == 1 then retval = 2.0 --if the selection was valid and #1
   elseif retval==2 then retval = 4.0 -- if the selection was valid and #2
   elseif retval==3 then retval = 7.0 -- if the selection was valid and #3
   end
 end 
 return retval;
end

local function secondQuestion()
  local trycount,retval = 0,0;
  while (retval == 0) do 
    if trycount > 4 then retval = 354; break; --default to a dbid.
    else 
      trycount = trycount+1;
      retval = GetNumberFromUser('1: Fish School\r2: Orca\r3: Whale\r\nEnter the number of your choice',1,3,0);
    end
    --reuse and change retval to the chosen distance based on selection
    if retval == 1 then retval = 354;--if the selection was valid and #1
    elseif retval==2 then retval = 355;-- if the selection was valid and #2
    elseif retval==3 then retval = 92;-- if the selection was valid and #3
    end
  end 
  return retval;
end
InitiateBioContact(firstQuestion(),secondQuestion()) 

quote:

Wondering if the number (354) could be changed into a word like 'shallow' without penalty?

local function thirdQuestion()
  local trycount,retval = 0,0;
  while (retval == 0) do 
    if trycount > 4 then retval = 'PERISCOPE'; break; --default to periscope.
    else 
      trycount = trycount+1;
      retval = GetNumberFromUser('1: Shallow\r2: Over the layer\r3: Under the layer\r\nEnter the number of your choice',1,3,0);
    end
    --reuse and change retval to the chosen distance based on selection
    --**this assumes using presets, if you were actually using depths one would want to check elevation of location
    --first before unit creation call to validate...not needed with presets. Not sure what happens if no layerdata btw.
    if retval == 1 then retval = 'SHALLOW';--if the selection was valid and #1
    elseif retval==2 then retval = 'OVERLAYER';-- if the selection was valid and #2
    elseif retval==3 then retval = 'UNDERLAYER';-- if the selection was valid and #3
    end
  end 
  return retval;
end
InitiateBioContact(firstQuestion(),secondQuestion(),thirdQuestion()) 

quote:

But no matter how I use manualAltitude the result is the same.

quote:

ORIGINAL: Parel803

I adjusted with a 4th Q to select the ZZ unit, so the umpire needs just one Special Action instead of six.


With use of https://www.matrixgames.com/forums/tm.asp?m=4587348&mpage=1&key=check%2Cwater�
I tried to make sort of a check that the position isn't and is deep enough. Because I used the preset words/variables and can't compare that in the <. Is there a way around it, or should I best give the depths in numbers?

best regards GJ

quote:

gave me -300 and on screen -984 ft.

quote:

In an area with depth -30 ft.

--returns true if everything you want is ok, otherwise false.
function gParel.navtrain.IntroMWC.ValidateSubNavigationPoint(pt,minSeperation,dummydata)
  local oceanfloor = World_GetElevation({lat=pt.latitude,lon=pt.longitude});  local test1=false; --marker flag
  if oceanfloor < 1 then --at least 6ft of water 
    local tmp = tostring(dummydata.name); dummydata.name="dummy"; --change name
    local retval,dummy = pcall(ScenEdit_AddUnit,dummydata); --create dummy unit.
    dummydata.name = tmp;--flip name back.
    if retval == true and dummy ~=nil then --created unit successfully
      if (dummy.altitude -oceanfloor) > minSeperation then -- (-600 + -250) > 30= true there is 350 ft of water below unit.
        test1=true; print('('.. tostring(dummy.altitude) ..' - '..tostring(oceanfloor)..'): '.. (dummy.altitude -oceanfloor)..' > '.. tostring(minSeperation));
      else print("debug: location failed validation, there is less then " .. tostring(minSeperation) .. " meters between proposed unit and ocean floor");
print('('.. tostring(dummy.altitude) ..'-'.. tostring(dummy.oceanfloor) ..')'..' > '.. tostring(minSeperation));
      end
      --if somethingelse then else end; --sample second conditional
      dummy:delete(); --remove dummy unit.
    else print("debug: failed to create dummy unit err: ".. tosting(dummy));
    end
  else print("debug: ocean floor was < 1 or oceanfloor was higher then the depth of the dummy unit we were going to create."); 
  end
  return test1; 
end

function gParel.navtrain.IntroMWC.InitiateBioContact(ZZ,Dist1,BioDBID,BioDepth)
  local ZZUnit = ScenEdit_GetUnit({guid=ZZ});
  local Brg1 = ZZUnit.heading; -- Straight ahead
  local BioHeading = ZZUnit.heading - 170
  local unitaddTemplate = {side='Nature', Type='Submarine', Name='Fish', dbid=BioDBID, lat=pt.latitude,lon=pt.longitude,
    Heading=BioHeading, manualSpeed=3, depth=BioDepth, moveto=false, manualAltitude=BioDepth} 
  local pt = World_GetPointFromBearing({LATITUDE=ZZUnit.latitude,LONGITUDE=ZZUnit.longitude,BEARING=Brg1, DISTANCE=Dist1});
  if ValidateSubNavigationPoint(pt,25,unitaddTemplate) then --if that comes back true then...
    ScenEdit_AddUnit(unitaddTemplate);
    print('added')
  else
    print ('nocan')
  end
end

gParel.navtrain.IntroMWC.InitiateBioContact('b6e0fcc3-77fc-496e-84c0-9d9933c66f9c',3,354,300) 

--return nil or validated unitname that does not yet exist on side.
---@param displaytext string @  
---@param side string  @ optional When using validation the side name to check the name against.
---@param maxattempts? number @ optional max tries, 5 is the default.
---@param validate? boolean @ optional true|false to validate input or not, defaults to true.
---@return string|nil @ returns either a string or nil;
function newUnitNameFromUser(displaytext,side,maxattempts,validate)
  if validate ==nil then validate = true; end
  if (maxattempts == nil) or tonumber(maxattempts) < 1 then maxattempts = 5; end
  if (side == nil) and validate == true then print('missing side parameter with validation in use.'); return nil; end --bail.
  local retval;

  for i=1,maxattempts do
    retval = ScenEdit_InputBox(displaytext);
    if (retval ~=nil) and retval ~="" then -- "" is a user pressing cancel?
      if validate then
        local r,u = pcall(ScenEdit_GetUnit,{name=retval,side=side}); --does unit with name already exist?
        if (r) and u~=nil then 
          ScenEdit_MsgBox('That unit name is already in use. Please enter a different name.',0);
          retval = nil;
        else
          return retval;
        end
      else
        return retval;
      end
    else
      return nil; --cancel pressed or nothing entered.
    end
  end
  if (retval ==nil) or retval == "" then return nil; else return retval; end
end

--some sample usage?
function whatever.InitiateBioContact(...params...)
--...other code...
local validatedUnitname = newUnitNameFromUser('Enter the name for the new unit:','Red')
if validatedUnitname == nil then 
  --abort or set default, or do whatever here.
  --validateUnitName = "SomeDefaultName"; --default
  print('Could not obtain new unit name.'); return;  --abort
end
--.. use validateUnitname as needed.
--...other code..
end function

local function zeroQ()
  local validatedUnitname = gParel.navtrain.newUnitNameFromUser('Enter the name for the new unit:','Civilian')
  if validatedUnitname == nil then 
    --abort or set default, or do whatever here.
    --validateUnitName = "SomeDefaultName"; --default
    print('Could not obtain new unit name.'); return;  --abort
  end
end

local function zeroQ()
  local validatedUnitname = gParel.navtrain.newUnitNameFromUser('Enter the name for the new unit:','Civilian')
  if validatedUnitname == nil then 
    --abort or set default, or do whatever here.
    --validateUnitName = "SomeDefaultName"; --default
    print('Could not obtain new unit name.'); return;  --abort
  end
  return validatedUnitName;  --** add this so it returns the name **
end