How can I request a variables value from user input?

local function getVar()
  if devMode then
	var = tostring(words[1])
	value = words[1]
	Text.setText("The variable ~"..var.."~ is currently: "..value)
	sleep(resultTime)
	Text.setText("")
	return
  else
	Text.setText("This command only available in Developer Mode")
	sleep(resultTime)
	Text.setText("")
	return
  end
end

local function command()

  while true do
  
  evt, command = os.pullEvent("chat_command")
  words = {}
  i = 0

  for word in string.gmatch(command, "%S+") do
	words[i] = word
	i = i + 1
  end

	if string.lower(words[0]) == "?" then
	variables["searchString"] = string.lower(tostring(words[1]))
	printSearch()
	elseif words[0] == "reset" then
	resetScreen()
	elseif words[0] == "newZone" then
	timeZone = tostring(words[1])
	changeZone()
	elseif string.lower(words[0]) == "!" then
	chat()
	elseif words[0] == "update" then
	update()
	elseif words[0] == "newSettings" then
	settings()
	elseif words[0] == "devToggle" then
	devToggle()
	elseif words[0] == "getVar" then
	getVar()
	else
	badCommand()
  end
end

local vars = {
  devMode = true,
  currentUser = "Bubba"
}

local function getVars(var)
  return "the value of "..var.."is "..tostring(vars[var])
end

devMode=true

function getVar(var)
  return "the value of "..var.." is "..tostring(_G[var])
end

-- This version adds slight changes in the background of the code, as well as code optimization. Item list has also been changed slightly.

local itemIds = REDACTED DUE TO TABLE SIZE

-- This is the time that results and text other than clocks are displayed before clearing
resultTime = 5

-- DO NOT CHANGE ANYTHING BELOW THIS LINE

-- You no longer need to define these. The program will help you define them instead
defaultTimeZone = "notSet"
defaultTimeZoneCode = "notSet"
bridgeName = "notSet"

currentVersion = 5
updateCheck = false
devMode = false

bridge = peripheral.wrap("bottom") -- Location of Terminal Glasses Bridge
bridge.clear()

net = peripheral.wrap("back") -- Location of Wired Modem for ME Bridge
IGT = bridge.addText(2, 7, "", 0xffffff)
RLT = bridge.addText(4, 16, "", 0xffffff)
Text = bridge.addText(6, 25, "", 0xffffff)

if fs.exists("settings") then
    settingValues = nil
    filePath   = "settings"
    fileHandle = fs.open (filePath, 'r')
    settingValues = textutils.unserialize (fileHandle.readAll())
    fileHandle.close()
    defaultTimeZone = settingValues[1]
    defaultTimeZoneCode = settingValues[2]
    bridgeName = settingValues[3]
  else
    Text.setText("What time zone should I use? EX: $$America/Chicago")
    e, msg = os.pullEvent("chat_command")
    defaultTimeZone = msg
    Text.setText("What time zone code should I use? EX: $$CDT")
    e, msg = os.pullEvent("chat_command")
    defaultTimeZoneCode = msg
    Text.setText("What is the name assigned to your ME Bridge? EX: $$meBridge_0")
    e, msg = os.pullEvent("chat_command")
    bridgeName = tostring(msg)
    settingValues = {defaultTimeZone, defaultTimeZoneCode, bridgeName}
    filePath   = "settings"
    fileHandle = fs.open (filePath, 'w')
    fileHandle.write (textutils.serialize (settingValues))
    fileHandle.close()
    Text.setText("")
  end

variables = {
  ["searchString"] = "",
  ["controller"] = bridgeName,
  ["chatString"] = ""
}
displayStrings = {}

timeZone = defaultTimeZone
timeZoneCode = defaultTimeZoneCode

function printSearch()
  i = 1
  pxFromTop = 25

  tableInfo = net.callRemote(variables["controller"], "listItems")

  displayStr = bridge.addText(6, pxFromTop, "", 0xffffff)
  displayValue = string.format("ME search for '%s': ", variables["searchString"])
  displayStr.setText(displayValue)
  displayStrings[i] = displayStr
  -- key = itemId, value = amount
  for key, value in pairs(tableInfo) do
    if itemIds[key] ~= nil and string.find(string.lower(itemIds[key]), variables["searchString"]) then
	  i = i + 1
	  pxFromTop = pxFromTop + 10
	  displayStr = bridge.addText(16, pxFromTop, "", 0xffffff)
	  displayValue = string.format("- %s = %i", itemIds[key], value)
	  displayStr.setText(displayValue)
	  displayStrings[i] = displayStr
    end
  end

term.clear()
term.setCursorPos(1,1)
term.write("ME Search System")
term.setCursorPos(1,3)
term.write("Users Connected at last search:")
term.setCursorPos(1,2)
term.write("~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~")
term.setCursorPos(1,5)

tableInfo = bridge.getUsers()
for key, value in pairs(tableInfo) do
  print(key .. " = " .. tostring(value))
end

  sleep(resultTime)

  for key, displayStr in ipairs(displayStrings) do
    displayStr.delete()
    displayStr = nil
  end
end

local function update()
    http.request("http://pastebin.com/raw.php?i=ek9NSCpd")
    requesting = true
    while requesting do
	 event, url, sourceText = os.pullEvent()
	 if event == "http_success" then
	  result = sourceText.readAll()
	  onlineVersion =  tonumber(result)
	  requesting = false
	    if currentVersion < onlineVersion then
		  Text.setText("An update is available, would you like to update? EX: $$yes or $$no")
		  e, msg = os.pullEvent("chat_command")
		  msg = string.lower(msg)
		    if msg == "yes" then
			  bridge.clear()
			  shell.run("update")
			  error()
		    elseif msg == "no" then
			  Text.setText("Update aborted.")
			  sleep(resultTime)
			  Text.setText("")
			  return
		    else
			  Text.setText("Unknown reply, update aborted.")
			  sleep(resultTime)
			  Text.setText("")
			  return
		    end
	    else
		  Text.setText("Your AetherVision is up-to-date.")
		  sleep(resultTime)
		  Text.setText("")
		  return
	    end
	 else
	  Text.setText("Server didn't respond, check aborted.")
	  sleep(resultTime)
	  Text.setText("")
	  requesting = false
	  return
	 end
    end
end

local function autoUpdateCheck()
  while true do
    if updateCheck then
	  update()
	  updateCheck = false
    end
  sleep(0.5)
  end
end

local function chat()
  message = ""
  chatMessage = bridge.addText(6, 25, "", 0xffffff)
    for i=1,#words do
	  message = message.." "..words[i]
    end
    chatMessage.setText(message)
    
    sleep(resultTime)

    chatMessage.delete()
    chatMessage = nil
end

local function resetScreen()
  timeZone = defaultTimeZone
  timeZoneCode = defaultTimeZoneCode
  bridge.clear()
  IGT.delete()
  RLT.delete()
  IGT = nil
  RLT = nil
  IGT = bridge.addText(2, 7, "", 0xffffff)
  RLT = bridge.addText(4, 16, "", 0xffffff)
end

local function badCommand()

  failure = bridge.addText(16, 24, "", 0xffffff)
  failure.setText("Unknown Command")
  sleep(resultTime)
  failure.setText("")
end

local function changeZone()
			    displayStr = bridge.addText(16, 24, "", 0xffffff)
			    displayStr.setText("What is the new zone code? EX: $$CDT")
			    while true do
					    local e, msg = os.pullEvent("chat_command")
					    timeZoneCode = msg
					    displayStr.setText("Clock updated!")
					    sleep(resultTime)
					    displayStr.setText("")
					    return
			    end
end

function getTime()
  while true do
    if not http then error("no http") end
    httpResponseHandle = http.get("http://artemix.hu/cctime.php?timezone="..timeZone)
	  if not httpResponseHandle then error("error fetching time") end
	    timeTable = textutils.unserialize(httpResponseHandle.readAll())
	    httpResponseHandle.close()
	    hour = timeTable.h
	    minute = timeTable.m
	    second = timeTable.s
	    empty = ""
 
    if not (second < 60) then
	    second = second - 60
	    minute = minute + 1
    end
    if not (minute < 60) then
	    minute = minute - 60
	    hour = hour + 1
    end
    if not (hour < 24) then
	    hour = hour - 24
    end
    if (hour > 12) then
	    hour = hour - 12
	    AP = "PM"
	  else
	    AP = "AM"
	    end
	  realTime = string.format("%02d:%02d %s %s", hour, minute, AP, timeZoneCode)

	  time = os.time()
	  time = textutils.formatTime(time, false)

	  if devMode then
	  time = time.." ~Dev Mode~"
	  end

	  IGT.setText("")
	  RLT.setText("")

	  IGT.setText(time)
	  RLT.setText(realTime)

	  if (hour==3) or (hour==6) or (hour==9) or (hour==12) then
	   if (minute==00) and (second==00) then
		 updateCheck = true
		 end
	  end
  sleep(0.5)    
  end
end

local function settings()
    Text.setText("What time zone should I use? Current: "..defaultTimeZone)
    e, msg = os.pullEvent("chat_command")
    defaultTimeZone = msg
    Text.setText("What time zone code should I use? Current: "..defaultTimeZoneCode)
    e, msg = os.pullEvent("chat_command")
    defaultTimeZoneCode = msg
    Text.setText("What is the name assigned to your ME Bridge? EX: $$meBridge_0")
    e, msg = os.pullEvent("chat_command")
    bridgeName = tostring(msg)
    settingValues = {defaultTimeZone, defaultTimeZoneCode, bridgeName}
    filePath   = "settings"
    fs.delete("filePath")
    fileHandle = fs.open (filePath, 'w')
    fileHandle.write (textutils.serialize (settingValues))
    fileHandle.close()
    Text.setText("")
end

local function devToggle()
  if devMode then
    Text.setText("Currently in Developer Mode. Turn off Developer Mode? $$Y/N")
    e, msg = os.pullEvent("chat_command")
	  if msg == "Y" then
	    Text.setText("Developer Mode disabled")
	    devMode = false
	    sleep(resultTime)
	    Text.setText("")
	    return
	  elseif msg == "N" then
	    Text.setText("Staying in Developer Mode")
	    sleep(resultTime)
	    Text.setText("")
	    return
	  else
	    Text.setText("Unknown reply. Staying in Developer Mode")
	    sleep(resultTime)
	    Text.setText("")
	    return
	  end
  else
    Text.setText("Currently not in Developer Mode. Turn on Developer Mode? $$Y/N")
    e, msg = os.pullEvent("chat_command")
	  if msg == "Y" then
	    Text.setText("Input developer password")
	    e, pass = os.pullEvent("chat_command")
		  if pass == "AV2248" then
		    Text.setText("Developer Mode enabled")
		    devMode = true
		    sleep(resultTime)
		    Text.setText("")
		    return
		  else
		    Text.setText("Incorrect password")
		    sleep(resultTime)
		    Text.setText("")
		    return
		  end
	  elseif msg == "N" then
	    Text.setText("Staying out of Developer Mode")
	    sleep(resultTime)
	    Text.setText("")
	    return
	  else
	    Text.setText("Unknown reply. Command aborted")
	    sleep(resultTime)
	    Text.setText("")
	    return
	  end
  end
end

local function getVar()
  if devMode then
    var = tostring(words[1])
    Text.setText("The variable ~"..var.."~ is currently: "..tostring(_G[var]))

    sleep(resultTime)
    Text.setText("")
    return
  else
    Text.setText("This command only available in Developer Mode")
    sleep(resultTime)
    Text.setText("")
    return
  end
end

local function command()

  while true do
 
  evt, command = os.pullEvent("chat_command")
  words = {}
  i = 0

  for word in string.gmatch(command, "%S+") do
    words[i] = word
    i = i + 1
  end

    if string.lower(words[0]) == "?" then
    variables["searchString"] = string.lower(tostring(words[1]))
    printSearch()
    elseif words[0] == "reset" then
    resetScreen()
    elseif words[0] == "newZone" then
    timeZone = tostring(words[1])
    changeZone()
    elseif string.lower(words[0]) == "!" then
    chat()
    elseif words[0] == "update" then
    update()
    elseif words[0] == "newSettings" then
    settings()
    elseif words[0] == "devToggle" then
    devToggle()
    elseif words[0] == "getVar" then
    getVar()
    else
    badCommand()
  end
end
end

parallel.waitForAny(getTime, command, autoUpdateCheck)

CaptainAether, on 14 September 2013 - 10:18 AM said:

Any suggestions?

ZudoHackz, on 14 September 2013 - 12:58 PM said:

CaptainAether, on 14 September 2013 - 10:18 AM said:

Any suggestions?

I am not a mod, but I detest bumping.

CaptainAether, on 12 September 2013 - 05:49 PM said:

Spoiler

local function getVar()
  if devMode then
	var = tostring(words[1])
	Text.setText("The variable ~"..var.."~ is currently: "..tostring(_G[var]))

	sleep(resultTime)
	Text.setText("")
	return
  else
	Text.setText("This command only available in Developer Mode")
	sleep(resultTime)
	Text.setText("")
	return
  end
end

 var=tostring(words[1])

1. No matter the name of your variable, _G[var] returns empty or blank
2. applying tostring to that makes it return nil
3. Apparently there is NO _G table

kreezxil, on 14 September 2013 - 08:51 PM said:

CaptainAether, on 12 September 2013 - 05:49 PM said:

Spoiler

local function getVar()
  if devMode then
	var = tostring(words[1])
	Text.setText("The variable ~"..var.."~ is currently: "..tostring(_G[var]))

	sleep(resultTime)
	Text.setText("")
	return
  else
	Text.setText("This command only available in Developer Mode")
	sleep(resultTime)
	Text.setText("")
	return
  end
end

So I'm looking at this code and I realize that the line

 var=tostring(words[1])

appears unnecessary considering the words table is comprised of strings to begin with; ie words[1] is already a string.

Now I've fired up my lua interpreter in computer craft and began testing the code on the line that returns nil. Explicitly I noticed these things happening

1. No matter the name of your variable, _G[var] returns empty or blank
2. applying tostring to that makes it return nil
3. Apparently there is NO _G table

So I strongly suggest using that vars = {} table method that Bubba suggested.

CaptainAether, on 14 September 2013 - 10:03 PM said:

I am tostring'ing it just incase I ever have a number used. I like to cover my bases to play it safe. Its a bad habit of mine. Yeah. I was thinking I may have to convert my variables to a table. I was just hoping I could avoid it, as It means rummaging through the code and I wanted to be a bit lazy. xD Oh well. guess it cant be helped. I'll try this out and see if that fixes it!

Engineer, on 15 September 2013 - 04:00 AM said:

kreezxil, on 14 September 2013 - 08:51 PM said:

CaptainAether, on 12 September 2013 - 05:49 PM said:

Spoiler

local function getVar()
  if devMode then
	var = tostring(words[1])
	Text.setText("The variable ~"..var.."~ is currently: "..tostring(_G[var]))

	sleep(resultTime)
	Text.setText("")
	return
  else
	Text.setText("This command only available in Developer Mode")
	sleep(resultTime)
	Text.setText("")
	return
  end
end

So I'm looking at this code and I realize that the line

 var=tostring(words[1])

appears unnecessary considering the words table is comprised of strings to begin with; ie words[1] is already a string.

Now I've fired up my lua interpreter in computer craft and began testing the code on the line that returns nil. Explicitly I noticed these things happening

1. No matter the name of your variable, _G[var] returns empty or blank
2. applying tostring to that makes it return nil
3. Apparently there is NO _G table

So I strongly suggest using that vars = {} table method that Bubba suggested.

The _G table exists no matter what. _G[ 'os' ] is for example the os API

_G["devMode"]=true

Bubba, on 12 September 2013 - 08:31 AM said:

-snip-

You could also use global variablesand access them using the_G table:

devMode=true

function getVar(var)
  return "the value of "..var.." is "..tostring(_G[var])
end

Engineer, on 15 September 2013 - 03:01 PM said:

Because global variables come into the environment of the program, not into _G

-- This is the master variable list
local vars = {
  ["currentVersion"] = 5,
  ["resultTime"] = 5,
  ["defaultTimeZone"] = "notSet",
  ["defaultTimeZoneCode"] = "notSet",
  ["bridgeName"] = "notSet",
  ["updateCheck"] = false,
  ["devMode"] = false,
  ["timeZone"] = "notSet",
  ["timeZoneCode"] = "notSet",
  ["pxFromTop"] = 25
}

local function getVar()
  if vars["devMode"] then
	var = tostring(words[1])
	Text.setText("The variable ~"..var.."~ is currently: "..vars[var])
	sleep(vars["resultTime"])
	Text.setText("")
	return
  else
	Text.setText("This command only available in Developer Mode")
	sleep(vars["resultTime"])
	Text.setText("")
	return
  end
end

local function command()
  while true do
	evt, command = os.pullEvent("chat_command")
	words = {}
	i = 0
	for word in string.gmatch(command, "%S+") do
	  words[i] = word
	  i = i + 1
	end
  
	if string.lower(words[0]) == "?" then
	  variables["searchString"] = string.lower(tostring(words[1]))
	  printSearch()
	elseif words[0] == "reset" then
	  resetScreen()
	elseif words[0] == "newZone" then
	  vars[timeZone] = tostring(words[1])
	  changeZone()
	elseif string.lower(words[0]) == "!" then
	  chat()
	elseif words[0] == "update" then
	  update()
	elseif words[0] == "newSettings" then
	  settings()
	elseif words[0] == "devToggle" then
	  devToggle()
	elseif words[0] == "getVar" then
	  getVar()
	else
	  badCommand()
	end
  end
end