[Scripting Question] Check is a valid Pokémon species

[desbrina]

So for some debug testing I'm setting up wild battles from user input, but the game crashes if The Pokemon species isn't valid, what's the best way to check if its valid before progressing

$game_variables[108] = Kernel.pbMessageFreeText(_INTL("Please enter a pokemon."), _INTL("{1}", $game_variables[108]),false,256,Graphics.width)
    $game_variables[108] = $game_variables[108].upcase
   pbWildBattle($game_variables[108],5)

 

[StCooler]

I used a similar function in my game.

Spoiler:

def pbSearchSpecies
  species = 0 
  researched = ""
  
  loop do 
    researched = pbMessageFreeText("What Pokémon do you want?", researched, false, 20)
    begin 
      species = getConst(PBSpecies, researched.upcase) # We can convert strings to symbols
      # Break the loop if it's a valid Pokémon.
      break 
    rescue 
      pbMessage(_INTL("Invalid Pokémon: {1}.", researched))
      return 0 if pbConfirmMessage("Cancel?")
    end 
  end 
  
  return species
end

Then you have to call the pbWildBattle function on the result, if the result isn't 0 (it will be 0 in case of cancellation).

 

[desbrina]

turns out there's an easier built in way of doing it I found from the compiler scripts.

$game_variables[108] = Kernel.pbMessageFreeText(_INTL("Please enter a pokemon."), _INTL("{1}", $game_variables[108]),false,256,Graphics.width)
spec = GameData::Species.try_get($game_variables[108])
if(spec)
    # Does exist
else 
    # Doesn't exist
end