1 / 39

Class-level Methods

Class-level Methods. Chapter 6. Class-level Method. Is specific to a class of objects We can give a class new abilities/methods Only involves this one class level object Examples A person walking A skater skating Unlike world class-level methods Which has access to multiple classes.

thiery
Download Presentation

Class-level Methods

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript

  1. Class-level Methods Chapter 6

  2. Class-level Method • Is specific to a class of objects • We can give a class new abilities/methods • Only involves this one class level object • Examples • A person walking • A skater skating • Unlike world class-level methods • Which has access to multiple classes

  3. Example • Skater object does not have a skate method • To create a skate method for ice skater objects • We need to: • Tell Alice to associate a new method with iceSkater class • Write a new method to animate ice skater skating

  4. Associate Animation with Skater • Select iceSkater tile in Object Tree • Select methods tab in details panel • Click on create new method button

  5. Storyboard for skate Method • The slide actions each require several motion instructions • Break down these two actions into smaller steps skate: Do together move skater forward 2 meters Do in order slide on left leg slide on right leg

  6. Stepwise Refinement Refinement of slideLeft Do in order Lift right leg and turn upper body forward Lower right leg and return body upright Skate: Do together 1) move forward 2 meters 2) Do in order slideLeft slideRight Refinement of slideRight Do in order Lift left leg and turn upper body forward Lower left leg and return body upright

  7. Demonstration • Concepts illustrated • Method defined for a specific type of object defines action for that object • A method can call other methods • skate method calls slideRight and slideLeft

  8. Reuse • Writing methods that make ice skater perform skating motion is complex task • Would like to reuse iceSkater skate in other worlds without writing methods again

  9. Creating A New Class • Rename iceSkater as cleverSkater either • Double click object name • Or right click name • Right click name to save as a new class • Alice saves new class as CleverSkater.a2c • Alice v2 Class

  10. Inheritance • The CleverSkater class • Inherits all properties and methods from original IceSkater class • Has newly defined methods • skate, slideLeft, slideRight • In other programming languages • Inheritance - creates new class based on previously defined class

  11. Importing CleverSkater • An instance of the CleverSkater class can be added to a new world • Use File | Import • Set File Type to A2C • Choose class to import

  12. Interacting With Other Objects • Suppose you want to write a class-level method where another object is involved? • Ex: method to make skater skate around another object, the penguin in this scene

  13. Parameters in Class-level Method • Solve skate around object by writing a class-level method with an object parameter • Allows you to pass a specific object cleverSkater.skateAround Parameter: whichObject Do in order Do together cleverSkater turn to face whichObject cleverSkater lift right leg cleverSkater move to whichObject cleverSkater turn around whichObject

  14. Guidelines • To avoid potential misuse of class-level methods follow these guidelines • Avoid references to other objects • Use parameters if referencing another object is required • Avoid calls to world-level methods • Willnot be saved with new class you created • Play a sound only if sound has been imported and saved out as part of new class

  15. Demonstration • Concept illustrated • Parameter whichObject is placeholder for the object value passed to it • Ex: penguin

  16. Class-Level Variables as Properties • Property is a variable that belongs to an object • Properties can be added to an object through the creation of class-level variables • When the object is saved as a new class the variables are saved with it • Common properties are: • color • opacity • isShowing

  17. Tutorial 6-5: Turn Monitor On/Off • Create class-level variable that keeps track of state of computer monitor: on or off On Off

  18. Storyboard turnOnOff Do in order If monitor is on set screen color to black is on set to false Else set screen color to no color isOn set to true Endif

  19. Storyboard Translated to Alice • Notice how new method is preceded by monitor not world • Means it is a class-level method not world-level • Will be saved if class is saved • If world is saved the class will not be saved for future use in other programs • Can only use this in this new method in this specific program

  20. Using turnOnOff Method • Variable monitor.isOn is set initially to true • In world.My first method • Turn off monitor using turnOnOFF • Variable monitor.isOn is now set to false • Wait 1 second to see effect • Turn on monitor using turnOnOFF

  21. Built-in Functions • We have been using built-in functions so far

  22. How a Function Works • A function • Receives value(s) as arguments in parameters • Performs computations on the value(s) • Returns (sends back) a value

  23. Types of Functions • The function type depends on the type of value it returns • Examples • Number • Specific object • Boolean (true or false) • Color • Other property values…

  24. Create Function • Click on create new function in class or world you want it to be in • Name function and choose type of function • A blank function will be created with return statement • Return statement will be returned when function is done • Place value you want returned in return statement

  25. Function Window • Since no action is performed in a function all instructions will be performed in sequential order • No need for Do in order and Do together • All will be Do in order • Notice that you can place return elsewhere in function

  26. Calorie Example • A high school jock wants to know how many calories a cookie has • He asks a lunch lady • She consults the newly created calorie function • 1 meter wide cookie = 1000 calories Number Function calories Parameter: food Local Number variable: numCalories If food = cookie numCalories = cookie’s width *1000 Return numCalories

  27. Storyboard Translated to Alice • My first method has jock as lunch lady for the calories in the cookie • The lunch lady checks how many calories with the calorie function and answers with the amount of calories

  28. Visual Effects and Animation • Billboards • Fog • Vehicles • asSceneBy • Circling Other Objects • Pose • Programming the Camera • Creating Dummy Objects

  29. Boy are you shallow, you’re only 2D! Billboards • Graphical images that have been inserted into the world • Can insert images that are JPEG, GIF, TIF • Known as “Billboard” • Images are flat, 2D with height and widthno depth • Can be used as backgrounds or scenery or used to giveinfo to the viewer!

  30. Information Billboard • Can be used as sign for instructions

  31. Creating Billboard • Can import images using Make Billboard • In File menu

  32. Fog • Alice can give a look of “mist” to the world • The entire world becomes less visible

  33. Vehicle Property • To have two objects move as one • One object will be carried by another object • Ex: person on horse • Horse is vehicle for person • Choose properties tab • In property of object being carried • In vehicle choose object doing carrying

  34. asSceneBy Argument • All objects are egocentric • To move one object in relation to another choose asSceneBy in more option of a method • Ex: To rotate fish around island • Without asSceneBy fish would go in straight line

  35. Circling Other Objects • Object’s turn method spins theobject around • The turn method can also havean object circle around anotherobject • The asSeenBy argument causes an object to turn around the asSeenBy’s objects center point • Example: the hawk turns one complete revolution, asSeenBy the tree, around the tree

  36. Pose • Once an object has been put into a position or pose, the pose can be restored during an animation • Pose is a property of an object • setPose is a method of an object

  37. Programming the Camera • Camera can be programmed just like other objects • All the same primitive methods and functions are available for it: • Point at, Move, Turn, etc. • Camera can also be a vehicle for other objects!

  38. Creating Dummy Objects • Dummy objects are invisible objects that are placed in the world • Camera then moves to the invisible object toget different perspectives

  39. Homework • Read chapter 6 sections 1,2,6,7 • Answer questions in handout • Do lab assignments after handing in answered questions • Due one week after assigned with 1 week grace

More Related