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Hi,
I want to create a screen (using just AS3 code) with a number of user input questions on it.
e.g. Question stem: What is the capital of France? Answer: Paris.
I have the code for displaying the "question stem" and the "text entry box".
But I do not know what code to use to compare the two arrays:
Array 1: correct answer, Array 2: user input answer.
User will click a Submit button once they have answered all the questions. i.e. One Submit button.
I would also like the text "Correct" or "Incorrect" to appear to the right of the text entry box.
I'm new to AS3 so any changes to the code i've provided would be welcome.
Below is the code for 3 questions. (without the Submit button code)
package
{
import flash.display.Sprite;
import flash.text.TextField;
import flash.text.TextFormat;
public class Main_questions extends Sprite
{
// DEFAULT TEXT FORMAT
var textFormat:TextFormat = new TextFormat("verdana", 9)
public function Main_questions():void
// QUESTIONS IN A LOOP
var Q_stem_array:Array = new Array();
for(var i:int = 0; i < 3; i++)
{
var Question:TextField = new TextField();
Question.defaultTextFormat = textFormat;
Question.border = false;
Question.width = 300;
Question.height = 20;
Question.x = 30;
Question.y = i * 35 + 70;
Q_stem_array.push(Question);
addChild(Question);
}
Q_stem_array[0].text = "1. What is the Capital of Ireland?";
Q_stem_array[1].text = "2. What is the Capital of France?";
Q_stem_array[2].text = "3. What is the Capital of Spain?";
// TEXT ENTRY BOXES (TEBs) IN A LOOP
for(var i:int = 0; i < 3; i++)
{
var TEBfield:TextField = new TextField();
TEBfield.defaultTextFormat = textFormat;
TEBfield.border = true;
TEBfield.width = 200;
TEBfield.height = 20;
TEBfield.x = 200;
TEBfield.y = i * 35 + 70;
TEBfield.type = "input";
textArray.push(TEBfield);
addChild(TEBfield);
}
}
}
Conceptually, this kind of applications should have entities that supplies data (data provider) and links visuals to the data.
In your case data is questions/answers while visuals are TextField instances.
I would strongly advise against using dynamic classes (that allows for adding properties dynamically at runtime via associative array notation), especially in this kind of cases. While utilizing dynamic features sometimes is useful, in the majority of cases it present major headaches down the roa
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do you know how to create and populate the two (correct answers and user input) arrays?
if yes, loop through one of them and compare their elements:
function scoreF():int{
var score:int = 0;
for(var i:int=0;i<correctAnswerA.length;i++){
if(correctAnswerA.toLowerCase()==userInputA.toLowerCase()){
score++;
}
}
return score;
}
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I know how to create and populate the "Correct Answers". i.e.
var Answers:Array = new Array("Dublin", "Paris", "Madrid");
But don't know how to create and populate the "User input answers" array.
Also where would i put the function "scoreF" you provided?
Would it be in the "buttonClick Handler".
i.e. private function buttonClickHandler(event:MouseEvent):void
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whereever you detect that the user has completed their answer to the current question, use:
userInputA.push(yourinputtextfield.text);
and you call scoreF() when the quiz is completed and you want to display the user's score.
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I want the user to answer all questions on the screen. Then click the Submit button to be assessed on whether they got each question correct or incorrect.
So not sure if your "push" code handles this or assesses just one question at a time?
Also how is the "user input array" created? Do i have to have a "var ...:Array = new Array.." somewhere?
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yes, you need:
var userInputA:Array=[];
to declare and define an array.
when the submit button is clicked (eg, in your click listener), you can use:
for(var i:int=1;i<=n;i++){
userInputA.push(this["tf_"+i].text); // where your input textfield for question 1 is tf_1, for question 2 is tf_2 etc
}
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Your "for" statement within "Click listener" displayed an output error message.
ReferenceError: Error #1069: Property TEBfield1 not found on Main_Sept13 and there is no default value. at Main_Sept13/buttonClickHandler() )
I'm assuming i have to assign a number (e.g. tf_1, tf_2 etc) to a "input textfield" when i create it
Below is the looped "input textfield" code i have. Also should the "var tf_..." line be placed here?
for(var i:int = 0; i < 3; i++) // Text Field Boxes (tf_) in a Loop
{
var tf_:TextField = new TextField();
tf_.defaultTextFormat = textFormat;
tf_.border = true;
tf_.width = 200;
tf_.height = 20;
tf_.x = 200;
tf_.y = i * 35 + 70;
tf_.type = "input";
addChild(tf_);
}
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you need to create those textfields. if you're using code to create them, use:
for(var i:int = 0; i < 3; i++) // Text Field Boxes (tf_) in a Loop
{
this["tf_"+i]= new TextField();
this["tf_"+i].defaultTextFormat = textFormat;
this["tf_"+i].border = true;
this["tf_"+i].width = 200;
this["tf_"+i].height = 20;
this["tf_"+i].x = 200;
this["tf_"+i].y = i * 35 + 70;
this["tf_"+i].type = "input";
addChild(this["tf_"+i]);
}
or save yourself some typing and use:
for(var i:int = 0; i < 3; i++) // Text Field Boxes (tf_) in a Loop
{
this["tf_"+i]= new TextField();
with(this["tf_"+i]){
defaultTextFormat = textFormat;
border = true;
width = 200;
height = 20;
x = 200;
y = i * 35 + 70;
type = "input";
}
addChild(this["tf_"+i]);
}
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I copied and pasted your code above for creating the textfields and it gave me this error.
Error #1056: Cannot create property tf_0.
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copy and paste the code you used.
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I tried both bits of code you provided.
For example - here is the code i used - your second example.
for(var i:int = 0; i < 3; i++) | // Text Field Boxes (tf_) in a Loop |
{
this["tf_"+i]= new TextField();
with(this["tf_"+i]){
defaultTextFormat = textFormat;
border = true;
width = 200;
height = 20;
x = 200;
y = i * 35 + 70;
type = "input";
}
addChild(this["tf_"+i]);
}
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make your sprite sublclass dynamic or extend the movieclip class.
p.s. please mark helpful/correct responses.
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When you say "extend the movieclip class" do you mean:
public class Main_Sept13 extends MovieClip |
(Wasn't sure how to make the Sprite subclass dynamic so I changed the Sprites to MovieClips)
It still brings up the same error.
Error #1056: Cannot create property tf_0
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you'll have to make that dynamic, too:
public dynamic class Main_Sept13 extends MovieClip |
or, if you want to use sprite:
public class Main_Sept13 extends Sprite |
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Thanks - Dynamic Movieclip worked.
But when i click the Submit button after the input fields are filled in i get this error.
Error #1010: A term is undefined and has no properties.
at MethodInfo-2()
Here is the "Click Handler" code:
// Click Submit Button
function buttonClickHandler(event:MouseEvent):void
{
for(var i:int=0;i<=3;i++){
UserInput.push(this["tf_"+i].text);
UserInput defined at the top after the class = var UserInput:Array = [];
"tf_" defined in the For loop for the Textinput fields - code you provided above.
(i'm assuming the problem relates to "tf_"?)
Once i get this working i'll also need to add the Score function you provided previously.
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if you only created 3 textfields you shouldn't be checking 4. use:
function buttonClickHandler(event:MouseEvent):void
{
for(var i:int=0;i<3;i++){
UserInput.push(this["tf_"+i].text);
p.s. you should start marking the helpful/correct responses so others can quickly find them.
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Still the same error with the Push code.
{
for(var i:int=0;i<3;i++){
UserInput.push(this["tf_"+i].text);
TypeError: Error #1010: A term is undefined and has no properties.
at MethodInfo-1()
p.s. I have now marked the helpful responses.
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is that code in your Main_questions class? is UserInput defined AND initialized. if yes, yes and yes, what does the following show:
{
for(var i:int=0;i<3;i++){
trace(UserInput.length,this)
trace(i,this["tf"_"+i])
UserInput.push(this["tf_"+i].text);
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As mentioned previously:
1. The Push code is the Click handler function - only two functions: Main, ClickHandler.
(User clicks Submit button to check answers)
function.buttonClickHandler(event:MouseEvent):void
2. UserInput is defined in the Main class:
var UserInput:Array = [];
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i don't know what you're calling your Main class.
but all the code you've been showing should be in the same class or you have a scope problem.
if all your code is in the same class, what do those trace() functions reveal?
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My class is called "Main_questions".
public dynamic class Main_questions extends MovieClip
The class consists of two functions:
1. public function Main_questions():void
2. function buttonClickHandler(event:MouseEvent):void
UserInput is defined in the "Main_questions" class:
var UserInput:Array = [];
The trace functions:
(trace(UserInput.length,this)
trace(i,this["tf"_"+i])
Return these:
0 [object global]
0 undefined
TypeError: Error #1010: A term is undefined and has no properties.
at MethodInfo-1()
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you have more than one problem with that setup. copy and paste your updated Main_questions class code.
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Conceptually, this kind of applications should have entities that supplies data (data provider) and links visuals to the data.
In your case data is questions/answers while visuals are TextField instances.
I would strongly advise against using dynamic classes (that allows for adding properties dynamically at runtime via associative array notation), especially in this kind of cases. While utilizing dynamic features sometimes is useful, in the majority of cases it present major headaches down the road and is very inefficient from performance standpoint.
Below is a fully functional class that accomplishes what you are looking for. Role of data provider is accomplished by the questions array. This is an array of objects that accomplish the linkages between questions, answers and TextFields at both configuration and user interaction phases. Read comments.
All features are dynamic except I use name “checkButton” for the submit button.
Theoretically this application asks for at least two more classes but, because you stated that you are new to AS3 – this is a sufficient beginning.
At last, you should get into a habit to declare as few variables as possible and NEVER declare variables in the loops. Declaring variables inside loop bodies is a pretty bad practice.
package
{
import flash.display.Sprite;
import flash.events.MouseEvent;
import flash.text.TextField;
import flash.text.TextFieldAutoSize;
import flash.text.TextFieldType;
import flash.text.TextFormat;
public class Main_questions extends Sprite
{
// use single object that acts as a data provider and links questions, answers and runtime object
private var questions:Array;
// DEFAULT TEXT FORMAT
private var textFormat:TextFormat = new TextFormat("Verdana", 9);
// correct feedback format
private var correctTF:TextFormat = new TextFormat("Verdana", 9, 0x008000);
// incorrect feedback format
private var incorrectTF:TextFormat = new TextFormat("Verdana", 9, 0xDF0000);
public function Main_questions():void
{
init();
}
private function init():void
{
initData();
drawQuestions();
}
/**
* This method inititate data and populates it with questions/answers
*/
private function initData():void
{
questions = [];
// questions
var question:Array = ["What is the Capital of Ireland?", "What is the Capital of France?", "What is the Capital of Spain?"];
// answers
var answer:Array = ["Dublin", "Paris", "Madrid"];
for (var i:int = 0; i < question.length; i++) {
// push new object into questions array - this uses literal object instantiation notation {}
questions.push( { question: question, answer: answer } );
}
}
/**
* This method draws text fields and adds them to their correcponding objects
*/
private function drawQuestions():void
{
// use/recycle the same variable - it is more efficient
var textField:TextField;
// var to control x positions
var nextX:Number = 30;
// var to control y position
var nextY:Number = 0;
// loop through questions and create textfileds
// for each loop is faster than for loop
// on each loop iteration object element is used from appropriate position on the array
for each(var q:Object in questions) {
// CREATE QUESTION TextField
textField = new TextField();
textField.defaultTextFormat = textFormat;
textField.width = 300;
textField.height = 20;
textField.x = nextX;
textField.y = nextY;
// get question text from the object in questions array
// ordinal inserted based on the index of question in the array
textField.text = (questions.indexOf(q) + 1) + ". " + q.question;
// change nextX
nextX += textField.width;
// add field to display list
addChild(textField);
// add text field to the object for future linkage to answer
// this step is optional because actual answer string will be used
q.questionText = textField;
// CREATE ANSWER input field
// note - the same variable textField is used again - NOT the same instance but different instance of THE SAME variable
textField = new TextField();
textField.defaultTextFormat = textFormat;
textField.border = true;
textField.width = 200;
textField.height = 20;
textField.type = TextFieldType.INPUT;
textField.x = 30;
textField.x = nextX;
textField.y = nextY;
// change nextX to accomodate feedback TextField
nextX += textField.width;
// add field to display list
addChild(textField);
// add text field to the object for future linkage to answer
q.answerText = textField;
// CREATE FEEDBACK field
// again - use the same textField variable to create new instances
textField = new TextField();
textField.defaultTextFormat = correctTF;
textField.width = 100;
textField.height = 20;
textField.x = nextX + 10;
textField.y = nextY;
// add field to display list
addChild(textField);
// add feedback field to the object for linkage to question
q.feedback = textField;
// reset positions defaults for the next loop iteration
nextX = 30;
nextY += textField.height + 10;
}
// assuming that button name is checkButton
checkButton.addEventListener(MouseEvent.CLICK, buttonClickHandler);
}
private function buttonClickHandler(e:MouseEvent):void
{
// loop through the objects in questions array and compare answers
for each(var q:Object in questions) {
// remove spaces from answers in case user types the in the beginning and the end
q.answerText.text = String(q.answerText.text).replace(/^\s+|\s+$/, "");
// compare answers in lower cases
if (q.answer.toLowerCase() == q.answerText.text.toLowerCase()) {
TextField(q.feedback).text = "correct";
TextField(q.feedback).setTextFormat(correctTF);
}
else {
TextField(q.feedback).text = "incorrect!";
TextField(q.feedback).setTextFormat(incorrectTF);
}
}
}
}
}
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Hi Andrei1,
Yes this is exactly what I was looking for. Thanks a lot!
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While waiting for Godot, I decided to show a more OOP approach to your application. It may be a bit difficult to digest at first, but if you have time and desire – look into what is happening and how things work together in the classes below.
To test – just put all the classes into the same directory as you FLA and make MainQuestions the document class.
I split functionality into 5 different classes. One of the OOP principals are to make objects very specialized. This approach presents with much better scalability.
Some of the highlights:
There are some other tricks of the trade in the code but they are secondary.
Class MainQuestions - document class
package
{
import flash.display.Sprite;
import flash.events.MouseEvent;
public class MainQuestions extends Sprite
{
// container that displays questions
private var container:QuestionsContainer;
public function MainQuestions():void
{
init();
}
private function init():void
{
// instnatiate container
container = new QuestionsContainer(new QuestionsData());
addChild(container);
container.x = container.y = 30;
// reposition button to the bottom right
checkButton.x = container.x + container.width - checkButton.width;
checkButton.y = container.y + container.height + 10;
checkButton.addEventListener(MouseEvent.CLICK, buttonClickHandler);
}
private function buttonClickHandler(e:MouseEvent):void
{
container.checkAnswers();
}
}
}
Class QuestionsData
package
{
public class QuestionsData extends Object
{
public var questions:Array;
public function QuestionsData()
{
init();
}
private function init():void
{
// array of questions
var q:Array = ["What is the Capital of Ireland?", "What is the Capital of France?", "What is the Capital of Spain?", "What is the Capital of Malaysia?", "What is the Capital of New York?", "What is the Capital of California?"];
// array of answers
var a:Array = ["Dublin", "Paris", "Madrid", "Kuala Lumpur", "Albany", "Sacramento"];
questions = [];
// populate array with objects that link questions and answers
for (var i:int = 0; i < q.length; i++)
{
questions.push({question: q, answer: a});
}
// randomize
shuffle();
}
/**
* Randomizes questions
*/
public function shuffle():void
{
var value:Object;
var random:int = 0;
var i:int = questions.length;
while (i--)
{
random = Math.random() * (i + 1);
value = questions[random];
questions[random] = questions;
questions = value;
}
}
}
}
Class QuestionLine
package
{
import flash.display.Sprite;
import flash.text.TextFieldAutoSize;
import flash.text.TextFieldType;
import flash.text.TextFormat;
public class QuestionLine extends Sprite
{
// text fields
private var question:QuestionTextFiled, answer:QuestionTextFiled, feedback:QuestionTextFiled;
// text formats
private var correctFormat:TextFormat = new TextFormat("Verdana", 9, 0x008000);
private var incorrectFormat:TextFormat = new TextFormat("Verdana", 9, 0xDF0000);
// x gap between fields
private var gap:Number = 10;
// related to question data
private var data:Object;
// question ordinal
private var index:int = 0;
// row background colors
private var rowColors:Array = [0xE8E8E8, 0xFFFFFF];
// internal padding
private var padding:Number = 4;
public function QuestionLine(data:Object, index:int)
{
this.data = data;
this.index = index;
init();
}
private function init():void
{
question = new QuestionTextFiled();
answer = new QuestionTextFiled();
feedback = new QuestionTextFiled();
question.x = padding;
question.y = answer.y = feedback.y = padding;
answer.width = 150
feedback.width = 60;
question.autoSize = TextFieldAutoSize.LEFT;
question.text = String(index + 1) + ". " + data.question;
answer.type = TextFieldType.INPUT;
addChild(question);
addChild(answer);
addChild(feedback);
}
/**
* Provides width of the question field - used for even alignment of
* textfields in other instances.
*/
public function get questionWidth():Number
{
return question.width;
}
/**
* Used to even up fields
*/
public function set questionWidth(value:Number):void
{
// reset autosize so that we can set precise width
question.autoSize = TextFieldAutoSize.NONE;
question.width = value;
// reposition other fields to accomodate passed value
answer.x = question.x + question.width + gap;
feedback.x = answer.x + answer.width + gap;
// draw background based on whether index is odd or even
graphics.beginFill(rowColors[index % 2]);
graphics.drawRect(0, 0, width + padding * 2, height + padding * 2);
// draw buttom line - mainly for the cases when background is white
// so there is always line that separates the instance visually
graphics.lineStyle(1, rowColors[1 - index % 2]);
graphics.moveTo(0, height);
graphics.lineTo(width, height);
}
/**
* Validates user entry and compare entry with the correct answer
*/
public function checkAnswer():void
{
// validate entries
// remove leading and double spaces
answer.text = answer.text.replace(/^\s+|\s+$/, "").replace(/\s{2,}/g, " ");
if (answer.text.toLowerCase() == data.answer.toLowerCase())
{
feedback.text = "correct";
feedback.setTextFormat(correctFormat);
// make it proper
answer.text = data.answer;
}
else
{
feedback.text = "incorrect!";
feedback.setTextFormat(incorrectFormat);
}
}
}
}
Class QuestionsContainer
package
{
import flash.display.Sprite;
public class QuestionsContainer extends Sprite
{
private var data:QuestionsData;
// array of question lines
private var qLines:Array;
// maximum width of question field among all question lines used
private var maxQWidth:Number = 0;
public function QuestionsContainer(data:QuestionsData)
{
this.data = data;
init();
}
private function init():void
{
// instance of question line that is reused
var qLine:QuestionLine;
qLines = [];
for (var i:int = 0; i < data.questions.length; i++)
{
qLine = new QuestionLine(data.questions, i);
// add line to array for further processing
qLines.push(qLine);
// grab width if it is the largest one
maxQWidth = Math.max(maxQWidth, qLine.questionWidth);
}
// now that we know the widest line - we can place objects on display list
placeQuestion();
}
/**
* Places question lines on display list and sets largest width for even alignment
*/
private function placeQuestion():void
{
// vertical distance between questions
var gap = 6;
// used to set y
var nextY:Number = 0;
for each (var q:QuestionLine in qLines)
{
addChild(q);
q.questionWidth = maxQWidth;
q.y = nextY;
nextY += q.height;
}
}
public function checkAnswers():void
{
// loop through the lines and invoke answer checking on them
for each (var q:QuestionLine in qLines)
q.checkAnswer();
}
}
}
Class QuestionTextFiled
package
{
import flash.text.TextField;
import flash.text.TextFormat;
public class QuestionTextFiled extends TextField
{
private var defaultFormat:TextFormat = new TextFormat("Verdana", 9);
public function QuestionTextFiled()
{
init();
}
private function init():void
{
defaultTextFormat = defaultFormat;
height = Number(defaultFormat.size) * 2;
multiline = wordWrap = false;
}
/**
* Overrides default behavior and adds border/background
*/
override public function set type(value:String):void
{
super.type = value;
border = true;
borderColor = 0xC0C0C0;
background = true;
}
}
}