Suggestion: Text Window Script Settings

[Shane 'ProgZmax' Stevens]

I think it would be extremely useful to be able to modify our good buddy Text Window's settings through global scripts.  Settings like whether it is a foreground or background window (does it prevent code flow while active?) and the ability to summon it at will..Something kind of like this:

TextWindow.Say(string message,BOOL type, optional int x, optional int y, optional int dur);

Also:

A game setting to choose which gui will be the text window for speech and narration, and maybe for whatever you want.

Game.SpeechGUI=GUINUM;
Game.NarrationGUI=GUINUM;

//optional direct edit variables for TextWindow

TextWindow.Transparency
TextWindow.X
TextWindow.Y
TextWindow.Dur
TextWindow.Type

Explanation:

//TextWindow would refer to whatever you named the gui in the menu

//string message is the message you want to broadcast

//type is whether this textwindow is a foreground or background operation; that is, does it prevent normal code execution while it is active?

//optional int x, optional int y are screen coordinates for the text window.  If they are ignored it places the window at some default position, like 0,0

//optional int dur would be an optional duration to display the text.  By default it would be the usual length ags handles messages (based on line length,etc).

This custom text window would still function in many ways like the current version, ie, it would allow you to supply borders and a background and autoresize the text.  The difference here is more control over how it's done.  I can think of a few immediate benefits to this method:

1.  You can now create sierra style speeches that work in the background by coupling this window with a gui that displays the current portrait.
2.  You have control over where the text window appears and for how long.
*3.  It is now easier to provide different resizable guis for different situations.  You want a speech gui unique from the narrator (and auto resizing)?  Got it.  You want a gui that you can just use for whatever you want (that also auto resizes) like a game gui with a dynamically resizing inventory window?  Got it.

*(the caveat here is resizing the controls to fit the window).


This is certainly an improvement I could make immediate- and extensive- use of.  Thanks for taking the time to read.

[Joseph DiPerla]

Sweet! I like those suggestions.

[Pumaman]

Yes, the text windows are currently not very customizable and it could do with some improvement.