Doubble Functions?

Hi once agian I ran into a real noobie problem, i was wondering how in the world do you get two functions to work at the same time. I need a timer to run while you are playing the game, When I put the Timer() function before the function Ball1Main() the Timer() function is the only one that will run. But when they are switched the Ball1Main() function works while the Timer() function dosen't.

An example:

If a=0

setbuffer backbuffer()

While Not Keydown(1)

Timer() ;<\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\
;They need to work together.
Ball1Main() ;<////////////////////////////

Wend
EndIf



Also I have tryed to put the two functions into one, and agian it wont work as one, it works as two. One of the scrips takes over and the other one dosent even show.

You can't (at least in Blitz, which doesn't support threads).

What people typically do is called it game loop. It goes something like this:

Repeat
    Do_a_little_bit_of_this()
    And_that()
    Redraw_everything_in_its_new_position
Forever

So you need to restructure your code. If you post more we might be able to be more specific.

do not put While or Repeat commands inside the function timer() or Ball1Main()

@Ryan,
as the other posts already spotted, you can't run two functions in the same time. To to that, you need thread support, which is not implemented in B3D.

That means that the statement you write when you code, are later executed sequentially. The trick is, they are executed so fast that it seems that they runs at the same time.

You may find out, using a sort of pseudo code, what your program should do, and divide each part of it in separated sections; for example, in a game like pong where a ball is moved and bounced, you may have these functions in your main loop:

;Main loop
while not keydown(1) ;while esc is pressed
;
Cls ;clear the screen

player_control()
move_and_bounce_ball()
draw_scenario()
draw_ball()
;... and more

Flip
wend
end

The two functions above will be executed sequentially, that is, the ball is first 'moved' - that is, you update the ball coordinates, then the ball is drawn on the screen.

You have already good knowledge about flow control and backbuffer, as I see above; but you need to sort out first some ABC of programming, so my suggestion is to read some tutorial here and @blitzcoder.

Have fun,
Sergio.

Well its nice to know im good at one thing, flow and control :p. And why can't I have While or Repeat commands in my functions? Because I do have a few While commands but I see no harm done.

Because they're stopping program execution going back to the main while loop which calls both functions, and is causing the program to not do both things.

If you have a While or Repeat inside a function, it will be stuck inside that function until the While or Repeat conditions are met. That's why you only get one thing running. I'm not sure what Timer() does in your program, I'm assuming something like this:

Function Timer()
time = Millisecs()

While Millisecs() < time + 30000 ;wait 30 seconds
 Text 10,10,(Millisecs - time)
 Flip
Wend
Text 10,10,"Time's up!!!"
End Function

problem here is that the program remains in Timer() until the complete 30 seconds is up, not executing anything else.
If you use something like this, it'll work better:

...some setup code

Global time
Global timeup = False

;main program
time = Millisecs()
While Not timeup
 Timer()

 ... Do other stuff

 Flip
Wend
Text 10,10,"Time's Up!!!!!!"

 ...Some other code

Function Timer()
If Millisec >= timer + 30000 Then timeup = True
End Function

My code is missing some elements like setting graphics mode and actually doing anything while the timer runs, just showing you the basic flow here.

well, what i have works fine with the while functions in it, and my timer is just a 30min count down.

Turkey you can use while and repeat inside your functions

Repeat
   a=a+1
Until a=100

what they mean is that you can't do things like this...

While not Keydown(1)
Wend
;or
Repeat
Forever

If you can post the code for your Timer() function, we might be able to help.

Ok I'm still having trouble getting this to work. Here are parts of my scrips so you might be able to help me get this timer going.

;This is part of the main program. I want Timer() and Ball1Main() to work as one.
While Not KeyDown(1)

If KeyDown(48) Then ;If B is pressed then...
Cls
Timer()
Dim ball1image(500)
Ball1Main()

Flip
;--------------------------------------------------------------
Function Ball1Main()

;IMAGES
ball1 = LoadImage("ball 1.bmp") ;Load Ball 1 image

Cls ;Clear the screen

SetBuffer BackBuffer() ;Set buffer to back buffer

TFormFilter 1

For a = 0 To 360
rr = CopyImage(ball1)
ball1image(a) = rr
MidHandle ball1image(a)
Next


While Not KeyDown(1)
Cls

If MouseDown (1)

r.ball1 = New ball1

r\x = Rand(1,800)
r\y = Rand(1,600)
r\angle = 0
r\speed = Rand (1,10)
r\turnrate = Rand (1,10)


End If


For h.ball1 = Each ball1


h\iangle = ATan2((MouseY()-h\y),((MouseX()-h\x)))

xmov# = Cos(h\angle) * h\speed
ymov# = Sin(h\angle) * h\speed

h\x = h\x + xmov#
h\y = h\y + ymov#


realangle_current = h\angle
realangle_intend = h\iangle

If h\angle < 1
realangle_current = 180+(180 - Abs(h\angle))
End If
If h\iangle < 1
realangle_intend = 180+(180 - Abs(h\iangle))
EndIf


If realangle_intend > realangle_current And h\iangle > 0 Then h\angle = h\angle + h\turnrate
If realangle_intend > realangle_current And h\iangle < 1 Then h\angle = h\angle + h\turnrate
If realangle_intend < realangle_current And h\iangle > 0 Then h\angle = h\angle - h\turnrate
If realangle_intend < realangle_current And h\iangle < 1 Then h\angle = h\angle - h\turnrate

If realangle_current> 360 Then realangle_current = 1
If realangle_current< 1 Then realangle_current = 360


DrawImage ball1image(realangle_current),h\x,h\y ;Draw Ball1Image

Next
Flip
Wend

End Function
;---------------------------------------------------------------------
Function Timer()

Start = MilliSecs ()
Finish = Start + HowLong

; Start Finish
; | ----> |
; v v
; , _,___,___,___,___,___,___,___,___,___,_ ,
; | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
; | |
; |<----------------->|
; 75000 ms

SetBuffer FrontBuffer()
Repeat

minutes = Floor((Finish - MilliSecs ())/60000)
seconds = Ceil(((Finish - MilliSecs ()) - minutes*60000)/1000)
If seconds < 10 Then
Text 0 , 0 , minutes + ":0" + seconds
Else
Text 0 , 0 , minutes + ":" + seconds
End If
Flip
Cls



If KeyHit(1) Then Exit

Until MilliSecs () >= Finish

End

End Function
;------------------------------------------------------------------


If you could tell me how to fix this I'd be the happiest man in the world. Also how can I get my scrips to show up in that black background with green text?

http://www.blitzbasic.com/faq/faq_entry.php?id=2

Graphics 640,480,0,2
SetBuffer BackBuffer()

Global Timer, Finish
Global GameTime = 60000 ; 1 minute
Global EndGame = False

Global ball1 = CreateImage(32,32)
	SetBuffer ImageBuffer(ball1)
		Color 255,0,0
		Oval 0,0,32,32,True
		Color 255,255,255
	SetBuffer BackBuffer()

Type player
	Field X
	Field Y
	Field XOffset#
	Field YOffset#
End Type

Global Player1.Player = New Player
	Player1\X = 100
	Player1\Y = 100
	Player1\XOffset = 0
	Player1\YOffset = 0


;Start
Flip
Cls

Text 0,0,"Press any key to start"

Flip
FlushKeys()
WaitKey


;INITIALIZE VARIABLES
Finish = MilliSecs() + GameTime

Timer = 0




;MAIN LOOP
While Not EndGame

CheckControls()
UpdatePlayer()
DrawPlayer()
Timer()

Flip ;flip the current drawing buffer to the front and set current buffer to the other (i.e. if current buffer is back then switch to front, and vice versa)
Cls  ;clear the current buffer

Wend 


;END MAIN LOOP




Flip
Cls

Text 0,0,"The game has ended, press any key to quit"

Flip
FlushKeys()
WaitKey

End 
;END PROGRAM







;FUNCTION CheckControls
Function CheckControls()


;Player1 controls
If KeyDown(200) ;up
	Player1\YOffset = Player1\YOffset -.5
	If Player1\YOffset <-10 Then Player1\YOffset= -10
EndIf

If KeyDown(208) ;down
	Player1\YOffset = Player1\YOffset + .5
	If Player1\YOffset >10 Then Player1\YOffset= 10
EndIf

If KeyDown(203) ;left
	Player1\XOffset = Player1\XOffset -.5
	If Player1\XOffset < -10 Then Player1\XOffset= -10
EndIf

If KeyDown(205) ;right
	Player1\XOffset = Player1\XOffset + .5
	If Player1\XOffset >10 Then Player1\XOffset = 10
EndIf



If KeyDown(1) Then EndGame = True

End Function



;FUNCTION DrawPlayer
Function DrawPlayer()
	For p.Player = Each Player
		DrawImage ball1, p\X, p\y
	Next
End Function



;FUNCTION UpdatePlayer
Function UpdatePlayer()
	For p.Player = Each Player

		;Check bounds
		If p\Y < 0 Then 
			p\YOffset = -p\YOffset
			p\Y = 0
		EndIf
		
		If p\Y > GraphicsHeight()-32 Then 
			p\YOffset = -p\YOffset
			p\Y = GraphicsHeight()-32
		EndIf
		
		If p\X < 0 Then 
			p\XOffset = -p\XOffset
			p\X = 0
		EndIf
		If p\X > GraphicsWidth()-32 Then
			p\XOffset= -p\XOffset
			p\X = GraphicsWidth()-32
		EndIf


		p\X = p\X + p\XOffset
		p\Y = p\Y + p\YOffset


		If p\XOffset > 0 Then 
			p\XOffset = p\XOffset - 0.1
		EndIf

		If p\XOffset < 0 Then
			p\XOffset = p\XOffset + 0.1
		EndIf

		If p\YOffset > 0 Then 
			p\YOffset = p\YOffset - 0.1
		EndIf

		If p\YOffset < 0 Then
			p\YOffset = p\YOffset + 0.1
		EndIf


	Next
End Function




;FUNCTION Timer
;---------------------------------------------------------------------
Function Timer()

minutes = Floor((Finish - MilliSecs() )/60000)
seconds = Ceil(((Finish - MilliSecs() ) - minutes*60000)/1000)

If seconds < 10 Then
	Text 0 , 0 , minutes + ":0" + seconds
Else
	Text 0 , 0 , minutes + ":" + seconds
End If

If MilliSecs() > Finish Then EndGame = True

End Function 

It's not the same code you posted, but it demonstrates the steps necessary to get it functioning correctly.