SetCommandable(int, object)

Makes NPC available for new instructions.

void SetCommandable(
    int bCommandable,
    object oTarget = OBJECT_SELF
);

Parameters

bCommandable

TRUE/FALSE boolean argument.

oTarget

Object to set commandable. (Default: OBJECT_SELF)

Description

Set whether oTarget's action queue can be modified.

Note that any actions assigned with AssignCommand, of course, will also not work as they try and add actions to the action queue when SetCommandable(FALSE, oTarget) is used, see remarks and the Code.

Remarks

PC's cannot actually add more actions, however, if actions with icons (EG: Casting Magic Missile) are queued and not cancled, then the PC will still cast them (Same for NPC's) but more importantly, can cancle them.

Therefore, making them do an action, and using SetCommandable to force it, is not sure-fire. The state of a PC (Dead/dying) has no effect on weather SetCommandable can be set or not.

Using SetCommandable with AssignCommand without proper use is a big way to not get results - see the code in the sample box for a detailed explaination.

Known Bugs

ActionMoveToLocation ignores the commandable state of the creature given the action. Thus, the ActionMoveToLocation action is added to the end of non-commandable creatures' action queues.

Version

1.62

Example

// this first clears oUser's action queue, 
// then assigns them an animation to play.  
// then, to insure that they do not just 
// click to move away and cancel the animation, 
// we take their ability to modify their 
// action queue away from them.  4.8 seconds 
// later, we return command of their action 
// queue to them again, allowing them to do 
// what they want or their AI dictates.

object oUser = GetLastUsedBy();
AssignCommand(oUser,ClearAllActions());
AssignCommand(oUser,ActionPlayAnimation(ANIMATION_LOOPING_GET_LOW,1.0,5.0));
DelayCommand(0.2,SetCommandable(FALSE,oUser));
DelayCommand(4.8,SetCommandable(TRUE,oUser));


// Issues with using SetCommandable and AssignCommand - 
// these are intended behaviour, but usually unknown about!
// Thanks to Matthew Doulgeris for the examples and notes.

// Note 1: Incorrect way to do code:
// This is a timing issue. When you AssignCommand stuff it gets
// executed AFTER the end of the current script. On the other
// hand the SetCommandable(FALSE, oNPC) line is being called
// within the script, and therefore is being executed FIRST. So in
// other words you are locking their action queue and then trying
// to fill it with actions (which will do nothing).

void main()
{
    // EG: A lever
    object oNPC = GetLastUsedBy();

    // These SomeAction's won't actually be added as they are 
    // actions, and by the time the AssignCommand()'s work, the
    // creature, oNPC, cannot have new actions assigned.
    AssignCommand(oNPC, SomeAction1());
    AssignCommand(oNPC, SomeAction2());
    AssignCommand(oNPC, SomeAction3());
    AssignCommand(oNPC, ActionDoCommand(SetCommandable(TRUE)));
    SetCommandable(FALSE, oNPC);
}

// Note 2: Correct way:
// So basically you need to AssignCommand the 
// SetCommandable as well, so that it is executed after the 
// other assigned stuff. ie:

void main()
{
    // EG: A lever
    object oNPC = GetLastUsedBy();

    // In this case, we do everything with AssignCommand() which
    // means all the things get executed in order which they are
    // here.
    AssignCommand(oNPC, SomeAction1());
    AssignCommand(oNPC, SomeAction2());
    AssignCommand(oNPC, SomeAction3());
    AssignCommand(oNPC, ActionDoCommand(SetCommandable(TRUE)));
    AssignCommand(oNPC, SetCommandable(FALSE));
}

// Note 3: Alternative and MUCH better way to do this:
// Alternately, if you are assigning a lot of stuff it is more
// efficient to put it all in a custom function and assign the whole
// thing, such as:

// Put before main function. It is a normal declared function if you
// know about them.
void DoActions()
{
    // Note that OBJECT_SELF is now the assigned object (oNPC)
    SomeAction();
    SomeAction();
    SomeAction();
    ActionDoCommand(SetCommandable(TRUE));
    SetCommandable(FALSE);
}

// And in the main function...
void main()
{
    // EG: A lever
    object oNPC = GetLastUsedBy();

    // Assign the function to the NPC. This will work fine, really.
    // As it is one call of AssignCommand(), it is a lot less CPU
    // intensive, and a lot easier to debug!
    AssignCommand(oNPC, DoActions());
}

functions:	AssignCommand \| GetCommandable
categories:	Miscellaneous Functions