Scrolling Dialog Options

[StarLite]

Hello Everyone:

My name is StarLite and I just joined today. Happy to be here. Before I joined I've spent the past week searching the forums and I don't like to ask for help unless I'm totally desparate. I was wondering if someone could direct to a thread or part of the manual that will help me with a Dialogue Box. What I am trying to accomplish  is have a box with arrows to scroll the text up and down for when people talk to each other. It is going to be a back and forth conversation between two people. There won't be a choice like 1, 2 or 3. But rather than have the whole screen filled with words I would like to confine the conversations to a box at the bottom of the screen. Please keep in mind that this is my first attempt at any game and using AGS, so I am totally clueless here. Oh and one other thing, I won't be using script. I hate script, if I have to use it the game won't get made. I greatly appreciate any help I can get. And if I've done something out of the norm here please accept my apologies. It is not my intentions to make people mad at me. Thank you once again. Looking forward to hearing from you. Take care

StarLite

[Ashen]

Unfortunately, the only way to accomplish what you want IS scripting, I'm sorry to say.
A major overhaul of the dialogue system is, it's fairly widely accepted, ovedue - but untill then you're stuck with scripting. However, there is Monkey_05_06's Scrolling Dialog Module, which takes care of most of the work for you. I'm not totally sure how functional it is at the moment, though.

[StarLite]

Hello Ashen

Thank you for your reply. I appreciate the info.  I will give this module a try. Thank you once again.

StarLite

[StarLite]

Hi, just wanted to ask one more question concerning this subject.

If I used script to do what I'm trying to here will I have to script the whole game or can I just use one script for this purpose only? I'm not very good at using script I tried to learn C++ but no luck. Thank you once again  for your help.

StarLite

[Khris]

Using scripts is completely optional for the rest of your game.
You can use scripts to achieve more complex things, but sticking to the interaction editor is fine if you don't need to.

[Ashen]

khrismuc's right, as far as he goes. However - as this thread shows - there are some things you might want to include in a game which simply can't be done in the Interaction Editor, or with AGS's default settings. Depending on what you want to include in your game you may find you HAVE to script more, or face limiting yourself to what can be done.

Don't let this put you off, though - you'll pick up some scripting making ANY game, so just start small and save the big ideas until you're surer of what you're capable of.

[StarLite]

Thanks for the help everyone. I'm no good with scripts. Are all the script the same? I started out using P&C DK and found that script a bit simple but Zimond and his friends had to still do it for me. I was hoping to be able to stay away from scripting. But if I've no choice I guess I'd better start learning.  Thanks again. Take care

StarLite

[monkey0506]

Ahh...the ScrollingDialog script module.  That's er...broken ATM.  I'm working on it.  I'm about 97.5% sure that I've got it figured out this time.  The next version will revoke some customization options, but should be fully functional, and will be coming within...hopefully the next couple of weeks.  It depends on time I can spend on the computer.  Right now I have to go eat some nasty crap my parents are trying to pass off as dinner (stuffed bell peppers).  But I should be able to work on it after dinner...

Just FYI, the options that will most likely be removed will include the ability to number the options and to reverse them.  I think other than that I've got it worked out in my head.

[EDIT:]

Just a little more information on the subject...At the moment I am rescripting some of the major internal functions to work out (once and for all if all goes as planned) the major underlying bugs which have left the module broken for some time.

It's not currently in any form of releaseable format (then again, neither was 0.80...that was just a really stupid move on my part), as all it's really capable of as is now, is a complicated method of setting the text on several labels.

I know what it is I have to do to fix it this time, it's just a matter of getting it done.  I can only work on it a little more tonight, but then I will have to go to bed (I hate going to school...I hate it with a passion).  I will definitely let you know when I get this finished.  It is going to take me some time, so don't expect it tomorrow or anything...but with some encouragement (encouragement, not flaming death threats ), I might feel the urge to work on it more (as lately I have been taking a lot of breaks).