Scripting question

I've been wondering if someone knows a way of learning how to script in a bit more advanced way? (looking at scripts won't work for me -.-)
Like as example I have no idea how to make those Commands boxes such as in the mainmenu as example in PokemonLoad script.
I am just a beginner at all this stuff, and wants to learn it from known scripters.
Maybe anyone has tips, website or anything that makes scripting much less complicated than it is for me already? :laugh:
Much appreciated :3

The best method for learning about scripting honestly is looking at pre-existing scripts. When I was new, I thought I would never understand scripting at all either, just by looking at them.

Nowdays, I can make much better sense of scripts than I used too, and minus a few questions I asked some better scripters along the way, it's all self-learned.

So for now, I recommend you try tinkering around with some stuff, and seeing what they do; that's how I learned.

The best website for learning about how to code in Ruby would have to be Google. Seriously, search for tutorials yourself. If you cannot (or won't) learn from playing with the code in Essentials, then just read as many tutorials as possible. Although I would have to say that if you're incapable of learning at least a little something from just looking at the code, then you're definitely not cut out to be a coder anyway.

I've mentioned before that the two easiest sections of Essentials are the Trainer Card and the Pokégear menu. You don't need to understand every single command; just see what's in there and see if you can figure out which parts do what.

It makes sense to start with the actual code you want to play with, rather than reading some generalised tutorials which won't actually explain anything about how Essentials actually works. There are no tutorials on the coding in Essentials.

well if i had time to learn ruby i would start with the basics...
these links could be useful:
http://pine.fm/LearnToProgram/
http://www.troubleshooters.com/codecorn/ruby/basictutorial.htm
http://www.tutorialspoint.com/ruby/

after you learned the basics you need to learn how to use Ruby in RMXP...
its called RGSS (Ruby Game Scripting System)
as much as i know its the same as Ruby but there is the bar on the left side...
the bar contains the individual lines of code for each part of your game or something like that... ^^
here are some tutorials for RGSS:
http://www.rpgrevolution.com/tutorial/rgss-and-ruby-lesson-chapter-1_21.html
http://www.rpgrevolution.com/tutorial/rgss-and-ruby-lesson-chapter-2_20.html
http://www.rpgrevolution.com/tutorial/rgss-and-ruby-lesson-chapter-3_19.html

http://www.rpgrevolution.com/tutorial/rgss-for-dummies-tutorial-1:-the-basics_25.html
http://www.rpgrevolution.com/tutorial/rgss-for-dummies-tutorial-2:-variables_26.html
http://www.rpgrevolution.com/tutorial/rgss-for-dummies-tutorial-3:-control-flow_27.html
http://www.rpgrevolution.com/tutorial/rgss-for-dummies-tutorial-4:-containers-and-methods_28.html
http://www.rpgrevolution.com/tutori...-object-oriented-programming-and-more_29.html
http://www.rpgrevolution.com/tutorial/rgss-for-dummies-tutorial-6:-game-programming-101_30.html
http://www.rpgrevolution.com/tutorial/rgss-for-dummies-tutorial-7:-windows-for-dummies_31.html

http://www.rpgrevolution.com/tutorials/ruby-game-scripting-system.html

and i have some tutorials where the websites aren't online anymore...
here is the download link:
http://www.mediafire.com/download.php?v39c9h4bjl454em

hope the links are helpful...
i still didn't learned ruby but i plan to...
and that's how i would start... :)

Honestly, I learned how to program a bit in Ruby by just looking at each method, and what is going on in the methods. With simple programming knowledge (Not coding it, but understanding) you will be able to survive. Right now I am doing hardcore C++, and java. These two languages are very similar, but they are not the same, and they require a great understanding of what is going on, and how to program everything in each function. To know what I am talking about better look some basic terminology for programming. Start simple first, then work your way up.

Some definitions to look for:
Compiler
Interpreter
Function
Method
Variables
Constants
Operators
Data Types
Array

Trust me it may seem stupid at first, but they help in the long run. Here is a link so some tutorials.

Quite not amused...

First of all, this topic wasn't meant to bash eachother into the grounds.
(Reffering to post #3 and post #4(KirakonGxi has sneaky deleted his post))

From Post #3(Deleted Post):

KirakonGxi said:

U Want To Make a new Pokemon right?
Hermmm

Click to expand...

er... what else is there to say about this post?
In my eyes, someone who's got bored and probably willing to post such a non-sence message like this... (something that doesn't inspire anyways, or not even helping Coders in common.)

From Post #4 (Now set as post number #3 since the original Post #3 has been deleted probably by the user himself):

Maruno said:

Seriously, search for tutorials yourself. If you cannot (or won't) learn from playing with the code in Essentials, then just read as many tutorials as possible. Although I would have to say that if you're incapable of learning at least a little something from just looking at the code, then you're definitely not cut out to be a coder anyway.

Click to expand...

^also not a nice thing to say, atleast from a Lead Developer.
I have tried to play with the existing codes, but instead of learning I was only making the bug worse followed up by crashes.
If you find my PMs about coding questions "annoying", say it in the PM instead of in public.
I kinda lost your respect in this post to be honest...

Atleast there are some 'kind' users that keeps themself into the topic and gives atleast tiny hints/tips how to learn it a bit better.
And as last notice: I only know VB/VB.net in quite an advanced way by learned via Google + Youtube videos that does makes things clear since it's Drag and Drop work and some small coding here in there. (but is a looooooot different than any other languages)
Outside of that, I am still a beginner at scripting in Ruby yes... But that's not a reason of derailing a Topic + bashing Beginner scripters into the grounds. Atleast i am trying to make scripts myself, but didn't come out as i wanted it to do. That is the main reason why I was asking others(In the hope of kind coders) for some tips...

Thank you so much for making me willing to stop with PKMN Essentials


To Mods: May I can ask a Moderator to close this, before it's getting even more derailed? (I don't care of things such as bans could follow by this post, but it's quite logical that i am a bit of pissed/not amused at these 2 posts, (in my eyes) attempting to derail the whole topic)

Elyssia said:

^also not a nice thing to say, atleast from a Lead Developer.
I have tried to play with the existing codes, but instead of learning I was only making the bug worse followed up by crashes.
If you find my PMs about coding questions "annoying", say it in the PM instead of in public.
I kinda lost your respect in this post to be honest...

Click to expand...

There's a difference between being bluntly honest, and mean. Maruno was being honest. In order to make it at all as a coder, it requires a certain type of mindset. You can't just read a bunch of tutorials and know everything, you have to experiment a little. And sometimes, you will make mistakes, that's exactly what I did. I made mistakes, and learned how to fix them. I don't believe I've ever read a single to tutorial (I rarely learn that way anyway).

Oh, an while I'm at it:

I have tried to play with the existing codes, but instead of learning I was only making the bug worse followed up by crashes.

Click to expand...

The first step to learning how to fix it is learning how to break it.

Elyssia said:

^also not a nice thing to say, atleast from a Lead Developer.
I have tried to play with the existing codes, but instead of learning I was only making the bug worse followed up by crashes.
If you find my PMs about coding questions "annoying", say it in the PM instead of in public.
I kinda lost your respect in this post to be honest...

Thank you so much for making me willing to stop with PKMN Essentials

Click to expand...

imo you overreact...
maruno didn't "bashed" you...
he just told you the truth but well sometimes honest words tend to sound rude...
and that you want to stop working with essentials because of one post and one spam message is not really mature...
if you cant deal with such matters at the beginning of your game development how have you planned to deal with it later when there are much more serious problems?
sry if this post offends you as well but you shouldn't overreact about each post that don't help you or support you as you wish...
its the internet after all so chill a little bit and dont take anything so serious... :D

My comments were made in the manner IceGod64 and the__end suggested: simple honesty, not rudeness.

I've never followed tutorials while learning Ruby (although I have of course looked up information when I needed to). My learning was due to playing around with the code in Essentials, and having the kind of mind that let me comprehend it. Ruby is an easy-to-read language, and I maintain that if you can't understand anything about some code after looking at it (e.g. even something as simple as how the Trainer Card decides which background picture to use), you don't have the kind of intuitive mind required to be a good coder. You may not know everything about RGSS syntax, but you should be starting with the basic ideas behind the code, and learning to recognise some of the often-used commands (pbMessage, pbDrawTextPositions, etc.) even if you don't know exactly how they work. You can only do that by reading/playing with the code in Essentials itself.

You implied that I didn't offer any advice in my post. I told you about two simple scripts you could start with, told you that the best way of learning Essentials is to use Essentials, and that there are no coding tutorials specifically for Essentials.

And to be honest, Google is easy to use. You're bound to find something useful with a five second search. If you're looking for basic information, then you should be looking for as many tutorials as possible to read, in order to get as much information as possible - no one tutorial tells you everything in the best way (plus reading the same things over and over helps them to stick). If you're looking for how to apply this knowledge to Essentials, then as I (and others) have said, the best way is to play. I think that's something any good coder knows.

Elyssia said:

If you find my PMs about coding questions "annoying", say it in the PM instead of in public.

Click to expand...

I have never described any of your (or anyone's) questions as annoying. I have always answered you and provided help and advice, and even made suggestions if appropriate. If you don't want my help in future, that's your business. I will answer any question asked of me to the best of my ability, even yours after your tirade.

Just in case thie trainwreck of a thread is still being observed by the OP, let me second Maruno's advice about the Trainer Card and Pokégear. Well, moreso the former than the latter, as I've not worked with the Pokégear stuff much.

But anyway, with a little advice from the guys here, and a fair amount of frustration, I managed to redefine the Trainer Card to have two sides (one with the standard details and what HMs the player has access to, and the other as an effective Badge Case with the dates they were originally obtained).

Furthermore, I then went on the use that as a base to define my own Start Selection screen. It's not perfect (and not very pretty haha) but it works well enough. I'm still not at the level of creating my own superclasses and game-defining scripts, but I'm getting there. Slowly.

Just experiment with things. If you're worried about breaking something, create a duplicate of a fresh Essentials, and work from there until it's all good, then copy it over. It's really not that hard. It just requires a lot of patience and a bit of luck.

Try to do several examples of each RGSS themes (like if/else, while, etc...). Script/programming is a practical thing. After you learning the basic, take a look in this guide: http://www.pokecommunity.com/showthread.php?t=286554

Remember also that scripting isn't vital to make a game.

Hey i've made my own script for an Item called the Codec. I put it in the Scripts.rxdata and made the item in the Items PBS. It was all made and I clicked 'Save'. It acted as if it saved. When I took out my flash drive containing both my RPG maker xp and Pokemon essentials stuff, then put it into another computer, my scripts.rxdata reverted back to the original info from the starter kit. What happened to my modified scripts? Please help

using version 10 btw

That might just be a problem with your flashdrive. I've had this happen sometimes when I pull out a flashdrive before it's actually done saving data. Check and see if there's a "safely remove hardware" thing on the taskbar of your computer (it might be hidden with the inactive icons) and use that to make sure your flashdrive can be disconnected. If nothing else, wait a few seconds after saving data to the drive before you pull it out.

Oh, and you probably should open your own thread for your own questions.

Yamiidenryuu said:

That might just be a problem with your flashdrive. I've had this happen sometimes when I pull out a flashdrive before it's actually done saving data. Check and see if there's a "safely remove hardware" thing on the taskbar of your computer (it might be hidden with the inactive icons) and use that to make sure your flashdrive can be disconnected. If nothing else, wait a few seconds after saving data to the drive before you pull it out.

Oh, and you probably should open your own thread for your own questions.

Click to expand...

Thank you for replying so fast.
I safely remove it every time since a loss of data accident a while back haha
I'm sorry for not opening my own thread, I just thought it might be an essentials issue.
I was just trying it again in different ways and came to the conclusion that I need to save it like 20 or so times repeatedly for it to be able to transfer haha

Again sorry for not opening my own thread, but thanks Yamiidenryuu :)