loading multiple mesh's with one comand

ok i have some code to load a mesh to be used at verious time during the running of the application. what can i put before the actual loadmesh statment to load the files but give them different names that can later be called by mesh modifying comands?

;loading a mesh
MFolder$="Models"

Color(255,255,255)
mydir=ReadDir(Mfolder$)
Repeat
File$=NextFile$(mydir)
If file$="" Then Exit
If FileType(folder$+"\"+file$) = 2 Then
Print "Folder:" + file$
Else
Print "File:"+ file$
End If
Forever


loadmod$= Input$("Which do you want To load?")
CloseDir mydir

selobjanim=0
**what do i put here?**=LoadMesh(MFolder$ + "\" + loadmod$)

mesh1=LoadMesh(MFolder$ + "\" + loadmod$)
mesh2=LoadMesh(MFolder$ + "\" + loadmod$)
mesh3=LoadMesh(MFolder$ + "\" + loadmod$)

Something like that?

Or use an array, or types, whichever suits your needs.
You can also copy the mesh or entity (copyentity/copymesh) so it won't be loaded from the file every time.

EDIT: ow, with one command? Not possible I think, but don't see why that would be necessary. Just load it once, and make some copies, in an array or with types.

any ideas how to possibly use array's for this sercumstances?

what i want this for is for the user of the app to be able to load as many mesh's as they want which can be called back later seperatly....

hope this helps

mesh(1)=LoadMesh(MFolder$ + "" + loadmod$) 
mesh(2)=LoadMesh(MFolder$ + "" + loadmod$) 
mesh(3)=LoadMesh(MFolder$ + "" + loadmod$) 

Dim mesh(totalmesh)
for n=0 to totalmesh
	mesh(n) = loadmesh(blah blah)
next

Or better if you use types then you can store additional info about the mesh

type nmesh
	field mesh
	field id
	field xscale#
	field yscale#
	field zscale#
	field numberoffins
	field cupsofcoffee
	field etc
end type

function loadnmesh(filename$,id=0)
	if id = 0 then id = millisecs()
	n.nmesh = new nmesh
	n\mesh = loadmesh(filename$)
	n\id = id
end function

then just use loadnmesh instead of loadmesh.
Use the id to identify the mesh uniquely. Or use a name or something.

On top of this you could make the fields into global variables:

global meshhandle
global xscale#
global yscale#
global zscale#
global numberoffins
global cupsofcoffee
global etc

The have a function:

function getmesh(id)
	for n.nmesh = each mesh
		if n\id = id
			meshhandle = n\meshhandle
			xscale# = n\xscale
			yscale# = n\yscale
			zscale# = n\zscale
			numberoffins = numberoffins
			cupsofcoffee = cupsofcoffee
			etc = etc
			return true
		endif
	next
	return false
end function

Then you'd just use

if getmesh(400) then print "Found" else print "Not Found"

And all your globals will be populated if the mesh is found.

Note: All of this code is off the top of my head untested stuff so it might not work, however, it's there to explain the principle.

Thanks it looks like it will do the trick, i wish i understood array's better but i think i'll try to use types for this. thanks rob

Arrays are much simpler than types, look at my first example:

dim mesh(5)

for n=0 to 5
mesh(n) = loadmesh("meshname_"+n+".b3d")
next

Then you just have mesh(0) mesh(1) mesh(2) etc.

sorry i still don't get array's (i don't even know where in the code to put that stuff) so i'll go with the types without the global stuff. but i'm still having trouble if i want to do some thing to the mesh what do i call it? id deosn't seem to work is their something i need with it?

eg
EntityPickMode(????,2) ;model just loaded

Does this help?
And while you're at it, check out the rest of my site.

ok thanx. that helps me understand arrays better but i still need help with my problem with the type command. and i think the last example in the link is wrong shouldn't it be Dim Array(2, 2, 2)not Dim Array(1, 1, 1)?

would i have to do something like this?

EntityPickMode(nmesh\id,2)

when i do it says "variable must be a type"

Dim Array(1, 1, 1)
Has:
Array(0, 0, 0)
Array(1, 0, 0)
Array(0, 1, 0)
...
Array(1, 1, 0)
Array(1, 1, 1)

so it has 2 elements (counting 0)


And you would have to put:

EntityPickMode(nmesh\mesh,2)

or

EntityPickMode(meshhandle,2)


not

EntityPickMode(nmesh\id,2)

"And you would have to put:

EntityPickMode(nmesh\mesh,2)

or

EntityPickMode(meshhandle,2)"

nope they don't seem to work...

Sorry I mean


EntityPickMode(n\mesh,2)


eg:

type nmesh
field mesh
end type
global n.nmesh

n.nmesh=New nmesh
n\mesh=LoadMesh("Mesh.3ds")



function SetPick()
for n.nmesh=Each nmesh


EntityPickMode(n\mesh,2)
next
end function

Still a little confused here:i'm using the type and function.. but it's not working i'm trying to use the function: setpick() but it's complaining so i was hoping someone would help me out by pointing out what information form this whole topic-thing i need to use.

Are you serious? Do you really think I can help you if you tell me that it's 'complaining'?

Be more specific.
Show us the code you are using. That's the best ticket.

You really have to learn the basics first before trying to build any games/application. Look at the examples and code something simple.

You can't really make anything bigger without understanding arrays and lot's of other basics.

Ok what i mean is i have this code at the start:

Function loadnmesh (modledir$,id=0)
If id=0 Then id = MilliSecs()
n.nmesh = New nmesh
n\mesh = LoadMesh(modledir)
n\id = id

End Function

Function Setpick()
For n.mesh=Each mesh
EntityPickMode(n\mesh,2)
Next
End Function


And then in the main loop i have:

;-----------------------------------------------
If MouseHit(1)

MFolder$="Models"

mydir=ReadDir(Mfolder$)
Repeat
File$=NextFile$(mydir)
If file$="" Then Exit
If FileType(folder$+"\"+file$) = 2 Then
Print "Folder:" + file$
Else
Print "File:"+ file$
End If
Forever

loadmod$= Input$("Which do you want To load?")
CloseDir mydir

modledir$=(MFolder$ + "\" + loadmod$)


loadnmesh(modledir$,loadmod$)

;------ok so here it loads the mesh properly but then i don't know how to assign a pickmode to it.

;EntityPickMode(n\mesh,2)
setpick

so.... how do i assign the pick mode?