Setting an object property from a list with python

Game Engine Game Engine Support and Discussion
1

Hello, all thank you for your time.

I’m currently trying to properly learn python (one can only be a copy-paste peasant for so long) and I’m trying to assign a property from a list.

I’ve managed to use the choice …thingy… To make lists, and can properly set a variable via python, but for some reason, when I define the list, and use the variable I defined, but it never updates the actual property.

I think it’s just a syntax error somewhere, or my format is wrong, because all the tutorials I’m watching make it so simple.

I’ll include a blend to try and save someone time.
Thanks for your time so far.test script.blend (466.9 KB)

2

See any error messages on the console:
image

After adding a Text object to the scene, I’ve made the following changes to the script, showing the given list as a string property, retrieving and converting this string back to list and setting the Text object’s text to a random name in that list. I hope it helps (file below).

test script.blend (86.9 KB)

import bge
from random import choice

# Example namelist below
nameslist = ['name1', 'name2', 'name3', 'name4', 'name5']

def main():
    
    cont = bge.logic.getCurrentController()
    own = cont.owner
    
    sens = cont.sensors['mySensor']
    
    # Get Text object from the list of objects in the scene
    textobj = own.scene.objects["Text"]
    
    # Run when the sensor sends a positive pulse
    if sens.positive:
        
        # Convert the list to string, then store it in the prop
        own["myName"] = str(nameslist)
        
        # Retrieve the string and convert it back to list
        retrievedlist = eval(own["myName"])
        
        # Set text to the a random item on the evaluated list
        textobj.text = choice(retrievedlist)
        
main()

Remember that properties added through the Blender interface can store only integers, floats, booleans and strings, so storing the list only work when converting it to string first. You can also store the list without converting it to string, but you’ll not be able to preview it on the debug properties, and you cannot create it through the Blender interface.

# Store the list as a new property
own["myListProp"] = nameslist

# Get a random name from the previously stored property
textobj.text = choice(own["myListProp"])
3

you script had syntax errors in it.

corrected version

import bge
from random import choice

#Example namelist below
namelist = ['name1','name2','name3','name4','name5']

def main():
    
    cont = bge.logic.getCurrentController()
    own = cont.owner
    
    sens = cont.sensors['mySensor']
    
    
    if sens.positive:
        own["myName"] = str(namelist)
    else:
        own["myName"] = "failed_to_name"
        
main()
4

here is an alternate way to do it.

import bge
from random import choice

#Example namelist below
namelist = "name1,name2,name3,name4,name5"

def main():
    
    cont = bge.logic.getCurrentController()
    own = cont.owner
    
    sens = cont.sensors['mySensor']
    
    
    if sens.positive:
        own["myName"] = namelist
    else:
        own["myName"] = "failed_to_name"
        
    # turn comma seperated stringlist to list
    nlist = own["myName"].split(",")
    
    # prints a random word from the list to console.
    print(choice(nlist))
        
main()
5

here is an example if you want to store more complex data.

import bge
import json

from random import choice

#Example data below
data = { 
            "names" : ["name1","name2","name3","name4","name5"],
            "loot_table" : ["loot1","loot2","loot3"]
        }
        
def main():
    
    cont = bge.logic.getCurrentController()
    own = cont.owner
    
    sens = cont.sensors['mySensor']
    
    
    if sens.positive:
        own["myName"] = json.dumps(data)
    else:
        own["myName"] = "failed_to_name"
        
 
    datafromprop = json.loads(own["myName"])
    
    # prints a random data from the list to console.
    print(choice(datafromprop["names"]), choice(datafromprop["loot_table"]))
        
main()
6

So, I tried using the first corrected version of the code you provided, (which I am quite grateful for you taking the time to make,) but it applies the entire name-list to the property, instead of a single name from the list.

Also, in what scenario would one want to print a name from a list to the system console? It’s not like you can use that data, right?

To make myself more clear, I’m trying to apply a name, from a list to a property owned by an object, so I can apply that string to a universal text object that appears when you talk to NPCs. This text object must change each time you talk to different NPCs, and the generated names need to be the same each time you talk to NPC-Bob, then go back and talk to the generated NPC again.

I have all of this done; I just can’t figure out how to randomize the NPCs name in a way that I can print it to the Text object the same each time, until said object’s name is re-randomized.
That’s why I was going to try and store it as a variable owned by an object.

Am I going about this the wrong way?

7

so what you want is something like this ?

```
import bge
from random import choice

#Example namelist below
namelist = ['name1','name2','name3','name4','name5']

def main():
    
    cont = bge.logic.getCurrentController()
    own = cont.owner
        
    if own["myName"] not in namelist:
        own["myName"] = choice(namelist)
        
main()
```
8

for testing so you know it works.

9

Yeah, I think that will work… I’m really new to this, so thank you for your patience, and your time!

Cheers! I’mma work a little more on this.

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