Save Settings
by Phillip O'Shea · in iTorque 2D · 03/17/2010 (3:54 am) · 9 replies
I was fumbling around with saving/loading settings and I found a few threads which hinted at doing it manually. I didn't like that approach so I opted for something a little more general:
It is a pretty simple method, but I thought I'd share it for those who didn't know how.
function LoadSettings()
{
// Load Game Defaults.
exec( "./gameDefaults.cs" );
// Have User Data?
%userDataFile = expandFilename( "./gameData.dat" );
if ( !isFile( %userDataFile ) )
{
// Nope, quit here.
return;
}
// Read the File.
%loadFile = new FileObject();
%loadFile.openForRead( %userDataFile );
while ( !%loadFile.isEOF() )
{
// Eval Contents.
eval( %loadFile.readLine() );
}
// Close & Delete Reference.
%loadFile.close();
%loadFile.delete();
}
function SaveSettings()
{
// Export $Game::* variables.
export( "$Game::*", expandFilename( "./gameData.dat" ), false );
}This method saves out all of the variables stored as $Game::*. It exports them in a format like this:$Game::MyStringVariable = "Hello World!"; $Game::MyIntVariable = 20;When the file is read, each line is evaluated using the "eval" method which basically just assigns a value to the given variable.
It is a pretty simple method, but I thought I'd share it for those who didn't know how.
About the author
Head of Violent Tulip, a small independent software development company working in Wollongong, Australia. Go to http://www.violent-tulip.com/ to see our latest offerings.
#2
But does this actually save in the writable space on the device?
03/17/2010 (12:45 pm)
The export() function is one I've never really noticed - thanks :)But does this actually save in the writable space on the device?
#3
03/17/2010 (12:47 pm)
Ronny, yeah I've tried it out. Export explicitly uses the prefs path, and so does openForRead apparently. 
#4
Thank u very much.
04/04/2011 (1:49 am)
This is just awesome!!! 10 minutes to make it run. All my prefs saved, high-scores, etc...Thank u very much.
#6
to save EVERY global script variable?
04/04/2011 (12:37 pm)
Could you use:export( "$*", expandFilename( "./gameData.dat" ), false );
to save EVERY global script variable?
#7
I have to use it in this way (pseudo-code)?
04/26/2011 (1:02 am)
function LoadSettings(){
// Load Game Defaults.
exec("./gameDefaults.cs");
// Have User Data?
%userDataFile = expandFilename("./gameData.dat");
if(!isFile(%userDataFile)){
// Nope, quit here.
return;
}
// Read the File.
%loadFile = new FileObject();
%loadFile.openForRead(%userDataFile);
while(!%loadFile.isEOF()){
// Eval Contents.
eval(%loadFile.readLine());
}
// Close & Delete Reference.
%loadFile.close();
%loadFile.delete();
}
function SaveSettings(){
// Export $* variables.
export("$*", expandFilename("./gameData.dat"), false);
}I have to use it in this way (pseudo-code)?
function exitGame(){
quit();
SaveSettings();
}
function loadGameButton(){
LoadSettings();
if($level == 10){
changeLevel();
}
}
#9
04/09/2012 (12:19 pm)
Apparantly the Code in this thread doesn't save to NSCaches and wouldn't result in an approvable app. 
Torque 3D Owner Dean Parker
Serendip Games
I need to save preferences in my game and haven't gotten around to doing it. You saved me some time and thanks for sharing.