setVariable in multiplayer

[MichaelGER 10]

In MP, the variable space of the object is local to each client. Changes are not broadcast, except in Arma 2 via public parameter for supported types.

An object is one of these supported types but it doesnt work.

Let me describe the problem:

I spawn a object (generator, but also tested with a hummwv) local to the server. Lets name it object1.

Then i use this command on the server:

object1 setVariable ["test",true,true];

On client:

diag_log [object1 getVariable "test"]

it will write in the .rpt:

<null>

Execute setVariable on the client will also return <null> on the server.

A object like a generator or a vehicle should be a supported type of the public value, am I right?

If no, is there a workaround for it?

[shuko 59]

Does object1 return the object on clients? Meaning, do they even know what variable object1 should contain. How are you naming the object? You probably need to do something like this:

_o = createvehicle blabla

_o setvehicleinit "object1 = this"

processinitcommands

That will sync the object1 var to point to the spawned object. Thus, enabling clients to actually use it.

[MichaelGER 10]

The "name" of the object is the return value of createvehicle.

In case of creating a hummwv it will be named as

0,203b7800# 438969: hmmwv.p3d REMOTE

on the client

I will try your way to name it.

---------- Post added at 03:58 PM ---------- Previous post was at 03:22 PM ----------

Bit more difficult to implement than I thought.

I will describe it better:

I spawn an object on the server. The return value of the createVehicle is written in an array. This array is publicvariabled to all clients. The client adds an action to every element of this array. The script called by addaction uses the setVariable command.

The problem is i cant use a constant name because its a dynamic spawning system.

Tried your way of naming the object but the client is still saying the object is

0,203b7800# 438969: hmmwv.p3d REMOTE

[TRexian 0]

Can you reference the index of the array, rather than the actual object? For instance, pass the index of the object within the global/public array to your script, then have your script retrieve that array position. Indeed, it isn't as easy as a just passing the object, but it may help.

Also, I would do the diag_log differently:

_testVar = object1 getVariable "test";
diag_log text format ["setvar %1", _testVar];

Probably doesn't make much difference, though?

[MichaelGER 10]

Not sure what you mean.

Here are some significant parts of the code:

	
_com = createVehicle [comobj, position _x, [], 0, "none"];
activecoms = activecoms + [_com];
.
.
.
publicVariable "activecoms";

in the other script:

{
_x addAction [....]
}
forEach activecoms;

[shuko 59]

Copy paste from some old mission (before you could assemble weapons).

_v = "AGS_RU" createvehicle ([sHK_origo,random 360,random 5] call SHK_pos);
_v setvehicleinit "player reveal this";
_v setVehicleInit "this addaction [""Pack AGS"",""SHK_statics.sqf"",[""pack"",""AGS"",2,0],2,false,false,"""",""isnull (_target turretunit [0])""]";
processInitCommands;

[MichaelGER 10]

I added the action now via setVehicleInit. That way seems to be a little bit faster than with publicvariable and the pubvareventhandler btw. But it doesn't fix the error, the setVariable still wont be broadcasted.

[TRexian 0]

Um, can you not add the addaction when you create it?

[st_dux 26]

Any variable with an underscore in front of it is local to that script; the variable name will be meaningless outside of it. Use a global variable (no underscore) for your created vehicle instead.

[MichaelGER 10]

Um, can you not add the addaction when you create it?

The script that spawns the object is running serverside and addaction is a local command if you mean that.

But its possible to add the action global with setVehicleInit (thx @shk btw :) ) which I use directly after creating the object.

Any variable with an underscore in front of it is local to that script; the variable name will be meaningless outside of it. Use a global variable (no underscore) for your created vehicle instead.

Yeah, but the value is transferred, thats all I want :)

The other script gets the value by _this select.

E: btw I dont use the activecoms as pubvar anymore because shk's better solution of setvehicleinit.

Edited October 5, 2010 by MichaelGER

[TRexian 0]

Hey - this may be a crazy idea, but have you tried PublicVariable on the object itself?

[MichaelGER 10]

you mean something like this

_com = createVehicle [comobj, position _x, [], 0, "none"];
publicVariable "_com";

?

[TRexian 0]

hehe

Yeah, I know it sounds crazy (and it probably is). I've just never tried it before. :)

[st_dux 26]

You cannot publicVariable a local variable. That is why I said that you need to make it global. The whole reason that setVariable isn't working is that it is being attached to a vehicle that has no globally recognized name.

[shuko 59]

If the problem is still client not knowing the name of the object. You can add: "object1 = this" into the setvehicleinit.

[TRexian 0]

I'm interested in this because I'm trying to make my mine addon more MP-friendly, and I'm using setVariable quite a bit. :) So - VERY helpful discussion!

So, would using a call compile format implementation be useful? Something like

_count = count PublicVariableObjectArray;
_str = "ComObject_"+ str(_count);
call compile format ["%1 = createVehicle [comobj, position _x, [], 0, ""none""]", _str];
call compile format ["PublicVariableObjectArray = PublicVariableObjectArray + [%1]", _str];
publicVariable "PublicVariableObjectArray";

??

Edit:

Or, for the array:

call compile format ["PublicVariableObjectArray set [_count, %1]", _str];

??

Edited October 5, 2010 by TRexian

[st_dux 26]

@TRexian:

Yes, I think a dynamic variable approach like that could work out nicely.

[TRexian 0]

hehe

Good f'n luck trying something that *I* suggest, though. :) Hardly ever works out for me.... :D

[MichaelGER 10]

You cannot publicVariable a local variable. That is why I said that you need to make it global. The whole reason that setVariable isn't working is that it is being attached to a vehicle that has no globally recognized name.

Ok, misunderstood you. Yes, I know what you mean.

The name of the object on the client is something like this

0,203b7800# 438969: hmmwv.p3d REMOTE

while the name on the server is different. Both mean the same object but setVariable doesn't recognize that, am I right?

[MichaelGER 10]

I did some advanced testing (I restarted the server and the client every time because of this bug.)

First run:

server.sqf (is called via radio with [1] execVM.... or [2] execVM...)

if (!isServer) exitWith{};

private ["_obj","_method"];

_method = _this select 0;

if (_method==1) then
{
_obj = createVehicle ["HMMWV_DES_EP1", position spawnpos, [], 0, "none"];
globalvar = _obj;
publicVariable "globalvar";
_obj setVariable ["test",true,true];
};

if (_method==2) then
{
_obj = createVehicle ["HMMWV_DES_EP1", position spawnpos, [], 0, "none"];
_obj setVehicleInit "testobject = this";
processInitCommands;
globalvar = _obj;
publicVariable "globalvar";
testobject setVariable ["test",true,true];
};

The diaglog.sqf (to log everything)

while {true} do
{
diag_log text format ["the value of globalvar: %1",globalvar];
diag_log text format ["the value of testobj: %1",testobject];
diag_log text format ["the value of the setvar test: %1",globalvar getVariable "test"];
sleep 5.0;
};

The results:

With setvehicleinit

Client:

the value of globalvar: 10a3e100# 438937: hmmwv.p3d REMOTE

the value of testobj: 10a3e100# 438937: hmmwv.p3d REMOTE

the value of the setvar test: true

Server:

the value of globalvar: 17d39600# 438912: hmmwv.p3d

the value of testobj: 17d39600# 438912: hmmwv.p3d

the value of the setvar test: true

Without setvehicleinit (testobj == any because its not defined in the second way)

Client:

the value of globalvar: 20fdf000# 438946: hmmwv.p3d REMOTE

the value of testobj: any

the value of the setvar test: true

Server:

the value of globalvar: 18109600# 438912: hmmwv.p3d

the value of testobj: any

the value of the setvar test: true

The second run (without publicVariable the object and only used the first method)

changed server.sqf:

if (!isServer) exitWith{};

private ["_obj","_method"];

_method = _this select 0;

if (_method==1) then
{
_obj = createVehicle ["HMMWV_DES_EP1", position spawnpos, [], 0, "none"];
globalvar = _obj;
//publicVariable "globalvar";
_obj setVariable ["test",true,true];
};

if (_method==2) then
{
_obj = createVehicle ["HMMWV_DES_EP1", position spawnpos, [], 0, "none"];
_obj setVehicleInit "testobject = this";
processInitCommands;
globalvar = _obj;
publicVariable "globalvar";
testobject setVariable ["test",true,true];
};

results:

Client:

the value of globalvar: any

the value of testobj: any

the value of the setvar test: any

Server:

the value of globalvar: 12179600# 438912: hmmwv.p3d

the value of testobj: any

the value of the setvar test: true

I think the problem has been solved (thx @ST_Dux for the tip and of course all others that helped) and hopefully the results of the test can help other people to understand setVariable better.

E: Sorry for the double post but I thought this test shouldn't be mixed up with other stuff.

Edited October 6, 2010 by MichaelGER

[xeno 230]

I did some advanced testing (I restarted the server and the client every time because of this bug.)

That bug is completely unrelated to your problem.

First of all, try to avoid setVehicleInits for JIP MP missions wherever possible (including init lines in the editor as it is exactly the same).

SVI has some unwanted side effects (SVIs get stacked, SVIs are transferred to JIP clients even for deleted vehicles, and so on)...

Second, there are various ways to check publiced object variables on clients.

For example, after JIP let a loop run on the client over all vehicles (vehicles command) and check if the publiced variable is nil or not ({if (!isNil {_x getVariable "test"}) then {//whatever}} forEach vehicles; )

setVariable ["bla", true, true] gets tansfered to JIP clients too.

For new created vehicles on the server simply send the object reference as a publicVariable and let a publicVariable EH on the clients execute whatever code you need or use the publicVariable directly as reference.

Xeno

[MichaelGER 10]

First of all, try to avoid setVehicleInits for JIP MP missions wherever possible (including init lines in the editor as it is exactly the same).

SVI has some unwanted side effects (SVIs get stacked, SVIs are transferred to JIP clients even for deleted vehicles, and so on)...

Alright, I'll use the other way again with publicVariable and the EH to add the action.

For new created vehicles on the server simply send the object reference as a publicVariable and let a publicVariable EH on the clients execute whatever code you need or use the publicVariable directly as reference.

Yes, I'm using this for add the action to the new created objects.

Thank you, Xeno. Very helpful post!