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Forum Index : Microcontroller and PC projects : polygons
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stanleyella Guru  Joined: 25/06/2022 Location: United KingdomPosts: 2566 |
Hi, in the manual it says under polygons- For example, this will draw 3 triangles in yellow, green and red: DIM c%(2)=(3,3,3) DIM x%(8)=(100,50,150,100,50,150,100,50,150) DIM y%(8)=(50,100,100,150,200,200,250,300,300) DIM fc%(2)=(rgb(yellow),rgb(green),rgb(red)) POLYGON c%(),x%(),y%(),fc%(),fc%() But it only draws 2 triangles, yellow and green. |
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TassyJim Guru Joined: 07/08/2011 Location: AustraliaPosts: 6283 |
You didn't say what size screen you are using but I guess it is too small for the coordinates so the last triangle is off screen. If using a 320 by 240 display try: DIM c%(2)=(3,3,3) DIM x%(8)=(100,50,150,100,50,150,200,150,250) DIM y%(8)=(50,100,100,150,200,200,150,200,200) DIM fc%(2)=(RGB(YELLOW),RGB(GREEN),RGB(RED)) CLS POLYGON c%(),x%(),y%(),fc%(),fc%() VK7JH MMedit |
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| stanleyella Guru Joined: 25/06/2022 Location: United KingdomPosts: 2566 |
@TassyJim, thanks. My first polygon test. What resolution was the manual referring to as mode 2 320x240 is the only colour vga mode? I don't understand the code dim x%(8) 9 elements so arrays start at 0? Very hard to understand code without comments as to what each line does. cheers, stan Edited 2023-02-24 07:07 by stanleyella |
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| TassyJim Guru Joined: 07/08/2011 Location: AustraliaPosts: 6283 |
arrays can start at a base of zero (the default) in which case the 9 values are from zero to 8 If you use OPTION BASE 1, the 9 values would be from 1 to 9, in which case they wouldn't fit. You didn't say what version of picomite you were using so I had no idea that 320 x 240 was the only option. The standard pico can have many different display resolutions. I think the manual probably should be changed to fit 320 x 240. The help file does explain each line of the code. This sort of command does need playing around with to learn what it can do. Jim VK7JH MMedit |
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| stanleyella Guru Joined: 25/06/2022 Location: United KingdomPosts: 2566 |
Hi Jim, I'm using rpi picomite vga beta v7,7,b18. afaik mode 2 320x240 16 colour is only colour mode, 8 colour with simpler vga circuit. the latest manual for vga has errors like only 8 sprites when there are 32. Lots of other errors that probably refer to pre rpi picomite yet it goes into rpi-picomite gpio programming so is for rpi picomite. The manual is very important. Should not need forum help. I don't know where the help file is that explains each line of the code, using opera as pdf viewer where it shows as microsoft word doc. stan |
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Mixtel90 Guru Joined: 05/10/2019 Location: United KingdomPosts: 7937 |
There aren't all that many fully worked lines of code in the manual - it would be huge if everything was covered like that. Instead every command and function is listed, together with the possible options. If you would like to write a more in-depth manual that shows a worked example of every command and function I'm sure no-one would mind. :) There are errors in the manual. Geoff does a great job but the manual only gets updated on each full release, *not on alpha or beta releases*, so a lot of what we see as familiar stuff isn't in the manual. They are always out of step. It would be far too much work to update it continually. Consequently, if you want to depend on the manual then only run that particular release of MMBasic - and (I don't think Geoff will mind me saying this) there's still no guarantee that it'll be error free. :) Mick Zilog Inside! nascom.info for Nascom & Gemini Preliminary MMBasic docs & my PCB designs |
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| TassyJim Guru Joined: 07/08/2011 Location: AustraliaPosts: 6283 |
My apologies Stan. I was trying to help you, not get into an argument. Sorry again. I won't make that mistake again. Good luck. VK7JH MMedit |
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| matherp Guru Joined: 11/12/2012 Location: United KingdomPosts: 10310 |
Geoff and I are clearly not competent to write a manual that is good enough for you so please use another platform. I'm sure you would find the Arduino documentation much better -NOT |
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| stanleyella Guru Joined: 25/06/2022 Location: United KingdomPosts: 2566 |
I'm sorry. It Is a great manual. Jim said "I think the manual probably should be changed to fit 320 x 240." Yes because rpi picomite seems to be the focus and that's it's colour vga res. Referring to sprites, or blits in non vga mmbasic, both manuals say only 8 sprites or blits. polygons- Jim said " This sort of command does need playing around with to learn what it can do." Compared to box,circle,triangle,arc yes. It comes together after study. DIM n(1)=(3,3) would define that 2 polygons are to be drawn with three vertices each. So DIM c%(2)=(3,3,3) makes sense now... 3 polygons are to be drawn with three vertices each. I thought arrays default to 1 as 1st element. I should have worked out the demo problem myself but assumed it would work. Still don't know what res it was for. @Mixtel90 said "Consequently, if you want to depend on the manual then only run that particular release of MMBasic" ??? I'm using rpi picomite vga second version manual. I do depend on the manual and am using that. Don't know what you mean "Consequently, if you want to depend on the manual then only run that particular release of MMBasic" I seemed to have pissed people off, not my intention. I'm using beta 18 and 9 pages on the forum people reporting what's wrong but I say about errors in the manual and get slated?? |
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| stanleyella Guru Joined: 25/06/2022 Location: United KingdomPosts: 2566 |
You posted when I was replying. That is not the case. I never used arduino just picaxe and gcbasic. Their manuals are not brill, they use an ide with help button but results can be minimum of help for new user. Actually now prodded, ESP32 fabgl has 2 basic interpreters and is supposed to be a retro 80,s computer and looks better spec than rpi picomite and I have a board so I may take your advice. |
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thwill Guru Joined: 16/09/2019 Location: United KingdomPosts: 4311 |
I wouldn't worry about it Stan, the written word on the internet is a poor substitute for face to face communication and one of its worse aspects is is tendency to exaggerate critique. I think Mick's point was that if you are running an alpha or a beta then the manual is by definition out of date as Geoff only issues versions (and corrections) corresponding to release versions off the firmware. Best wishes, Tom Edited 2023-02-24 10:20 by thwill MMBasic for Linux, Game*Mite, CMM2 Welcome Tape, Creaky old text adventures |
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phil99 Guru Joined: 11/02/2018 Location: AustraliaPosts: 2640 |
Most Beta Zip packages include "PicoMite_readme.txt" which contains brief descriptions of what has changed. If you need more info on particular changes search the forum using key words from that file. In your browser search area type:- site:thebackshed.com searchterms eg. site:thebackshed.com stanleyella AND polygon shows all the the posts with those words with this thread at the top, including this from 2015 (not PicoMite but interesting anyway):- https://www.thebackshed.com/forum/uploads/darthmite/2015-10-28_214154_polygon.pdf . Edited 2023-02-24 15:12 by phil99 |
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Turbo46 Guru Joined: 24/12/2017 Location: AustraliaPosts: 1642 |
Stan, If you find what you think is a bug in the program or the manual I think you should report it in the post where the program was presented after checking that it has not already been reported. We are blessed to have such great software, manuals and support. I don't know how they do it for the price!  On that note, before you joined the forum, the suggestion was made several times that Geoff and Peter should have a donate button somewhere but that was always ignored so we just gave up. Like you I heavily rely on the manual so unfortunately there are a couple of MMBasic ports that I struggle with (no Manual)  and therefore don't use. But that's my loss. Sometimes I struggle a bit trying to understand some command or function but can usually nut it out with a bit of testing.Bill Keep safe. Live long and prosper. |
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| Mixtel90 Guru Joined: 05/10/2019 Location: United KingdomPosts: 7937 |
My approach is that, if I'm having trouble with a particular command, save where I'm up to, NEW, and write a trivial program just to test that command on a clean system. Once I have it figured out I can reload my program and carry on. (This is one of the reasons I love flash slots - I can keep my test program in another). As I said previously, you can't really do a worked example of every command and function in a sensibly-sized manual. It has been done - I have a book on MSX BASIC that has one page per command. It's a thick book! The old Sinclair computer manuals were also great in this respect, particularly that for the Spectrum. If you need *real* command detail - often with enhancements not included in MMBasic - then the GW Basic manual is excellent. It doesn't include MMBasic-only stuff of course. Tom hit the nail on the head, Stan. You won't find any specific info on alpha or beta releases (those where the release ends in something like a5 or b19) in the manual as they may still change before the next firmware release. The manual is only valid for the exact release written on the cover. (At this point I hang my head in shame as my current printed manual, in regular use, is for 5.07.03 and has scribbled pencil mark-ups in some places). Alpha releases are experimental. If they work and are reasonably stable then they may become beta releases. If they don't work or Peter has a lot of problems with reliability then they may simply be dropped. Beta releases are runnable and are usually reasonably stable. The idea is to refine the details and improve stability through testing and reporting results. There will still be changes made though, so any documentation will be in the forum and/or in a readme file in the beta package. Mick Zilog Inside! nascom.info for Nascom & Gemini Preliminary MMBasic docs & my PCB designs |
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| JohnS Guru Joined: 18/11/2011 Location: United KingdomPosts: 4044 |
If you don't want confusing results - avoid test versions! Stick to the version the manual is for. Then if a sample in the manual doesn't work it's likely a bug. edit: Looks like it was a newly-introduced bug, now fixed (hopefully) in V5.07.07b23. The manual's first reference to arrays (under DIM etc) would be improved if it said something like dimensions by default count from zero. I suppose it might explain what an array is, too. It's hard & time-consuming writing software. Likewise manuals. (I can't do hardware but I guess the same.) John Edited 2023-02-24 19:58 by JohnS |
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| Turbo46 Guru Joined: 24/12/2017 Location: AustraliaPosts: 1642 |
Stan has had issues with arrays before, I would have though it should be clear by now. Bill Keep safe. Live long and prosper. |
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| Mixtel90 Guru Joined: 05/10/2019 Location: United KingdomPosts: 7937 |
The "Programming In Basic" appendix in the manual covers arrays, including stating that the default base for arrays is zero. That appendix is really very good. Mick Zilog Inside! nascom.info for Nascom & Gemini Preliminary MMBasic docs & my PCB designs |
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| stanleyella Guru Joined: 25/06/2022 Location: United KingdomPosts: 2566 |
I'm sorry this got weird, the forum doesn't have mind reading. The polygon error I got made me look at the code and understand it, thanks @TassyJim, the missing triangle was off screen- y% 300. I will test polygon with more sides. |
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| Mixtel90 Guru Joined: 05/10/2019 Location: United KingdomPosts: 7937 |
No matter - you found the error. :) I don't think MMBasic does bounds checking on all the graphics commands as it depends on the current screen resolution. The programmer knows (or can get with MM.INFO() ) the resolution so it's easy enough to do. Mick Zilog Inside! nascom.info for Nascom & Gemini Preliminary MMBasic docs & my PCB designs |
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| Andrew_G Guru Joined: 18/10/2016 Location: AustraliaPosts: 871 |
Stan (et al), I'm not sure if you are using MMEdit? (it is VERY good). A link to it is at the bottom of TassyJim's signature. To the right of that is another link to Jim's 'MMBasic Help'. It is a comprehensive list of MMBasic features, with many examples. I'm sure that Jim does his best to keep it up-to-date but bear in mind that ALL who contribute to MMBasic and TBS do so in their spare time and without payment. Another good source of examples is on "Fruit of the Shed". Cheers, Andrew |
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