I need help with Redpower

So, as anyone keeping an eye on general that saw my thread knows, I'm pretty new to this and still feeling my way around.

I'm working on a project and before I tie everything together I'm learning how to work all the diferent segments of what I want my program to do.

For now I'm working with Redpower.

I'm testing out making the computer make a specific color output OR reading a specific input, and doing something if it read that particular input.

Right now I'm trying to make it read inputs and I can't get my program to work at all!
What am I doing wrong?

function powertest()
	print("Listening for red input...")
	c = rs.getBundledInput( "back" )
	red = colors.test( c, colors.red )
if red == true then
	print("Receiving red.")
end
end
powertest() 

I send the output by turning on a switch, but the computer's not reading the input.

Ok so your code works fine. But there is no loop so the code is not waiting for a redstone event. try running your code while red is active.

or this might help

function powertest()
    while true do -- start of loop
	    local event,pram,pram2,pram3 = os.pullEvent("redstone") -- program stops here and waits for a redstone event to happen
	    print("Listening for red input...")
	    c = rs.getBundledInput( "back" )
	    red = colors.test( c, colors.red )
	    if red == true then
		    print("Receiving red.")
	    elseif red == false then
		    print("No red")
	    end
	    return -- ends the function and returns to main loop
    end -- end of loop
end
while true do --  this makes it re run the test MAIN LOOP
    powertest()
end -- end of loop

What specific error? Is it giving one?
Try this:
if colors.test( rs.getBundledInput( "back" ), colors.red ) then
EDIT: Above has a spam print No Red and event is un-necessary

Noodle, on 20 July 2012 - 11:24 AM said:

What specific error? Is it giving one?
Try this:
if colors.test( rs.getBundledInput( "back" ), colors.red ) then
EDIT: Above has a spam print No Red and event is un-necessary

what do you mean by that. It only prints the status of red when redstone changes. not really spaming.

BigSHinyToys, on 20 July 2012 - 11:20 AM said:

Spoiler

Ok so your code works fine. But there is no loop so the code is not waiting for a redstone event. try running your code while red is active.

or this might help

function powertest()
	while true do -- start of loop
		local event,pram,pram2,pram3 = os.pullEvent("redstone") -- program stops here and waits for a redstone event to happen
		print("Listening for red input...")
		c = rs.getBundledInput( "back" )
		red = colors.test( c, colors.red )
		if red == true then
			print("Receiving red.")
		elseif red == false then
			print("No red")
		end
		return -- ends the function and returns to main loop
	end -- end of loop
end
while true do --  this makes it re run the test MAIN LOOP
	powertest()
end -- end of loop

Mind if I ask you to break down your code? I'm still not well aquainted with loops. By that, I mean explain it bit by bit?

Noodle, on 20 July 2012 - 11:24 AM said:

What specific error? Is it giving one?
Try this:
if colors.test( rs.getBundledInput( "back" ), colors.red ) then
EDIT: Above has a spam print No Red and event is un-necessary

It wasn't giving me any error message, just wasn't doing anything if I flipped the switch.

while true do loops are quite simple here are some examples

simplest loop

while true do -- start of loop
    sleep(3)
    print("spam spam")
end -- end of loop
print("you will never see this")

running the above will loop indefinite printing "spam spam" every 3 seconds you will never see the other print as it is out side the loop

more advanced

local bRunning = true
local counter = 0
while bRunning do -- start of loop
    counter = counter+1
    print(counter)
    if counter == 4 then
	    break -- leaves and ends the loop
    end
    sleep(1)
end-- end of loop
print("five loops")

this demonstrates how you can exit a loop and how you can use a variable as the true section

next

local bRunning = true
local counter = 0
while bRunning do -- start of loop
    counter = counter+1
    print(counter)
    if counter == 4 then
	    bRunning = false
    end
    sleep(1)
end-- end of loop
print("five loops")

works same as above but we end the loop by changing a var instead.

ALL examples are untested to report any bugs.

BigSHinyToys, on 20 July 2012 - 11:46 AM said:

Spoiler

while true do loops are quite simple here are some examples

simplest loop

while true do -- start of loop
	sleep(3)
	print("spam spam")
end -- end of loop
print("you will never see this")

running the above will loop indefinite printing "spam spam" every 3 seconds you will never see the other print as it is out side the loop

more advanced

local bRunning = true
local counter = 0
while bRunning do -- start of loop
	counter = counter+1
	print(counter)
	if counter == 4 then
		break -- leaves and ends the loop
	end
	sleep(1)
end-- end of loop
print("five loops")

this demonstrates how you can exit a loop and how you can use a variable as the true section

next

local bRunning = true
local counter = 0
while bRunning do -- start of loop
	counter = counter+1
	print(counter)
	if counter == 4 then
		bRunning = false
	end
	sleep(1)
end-- end of loop
print("five loops")

works same as above but we end the loop by changing a var instead.

ALL examples are untested to report any bugs.

Thanks man~! grats on the new title. +1 to you.