Problem with using calling values in a table

[Dopplespots]

I'm trying to use three different tables to sync up specific RBG values when setting the background color of my game.
However, when I try to use a variable to call the values, it doesn't work! What am I doing wrong?

Code: Select all

function love.load()
 
rainbowChangeRed = {237, 250, 247, 93, 81, 131, 241}
rainbowChangeGreen = {27, 162, 236, 187, 166, 118, 118}
rainbowChangeBlue = {81, 27, 47, 77, 220, 156, 166}
changeTimer = 1

end

function love.update(dt)

changeTimer = changeTimer + dt*1440

end

function love.draw()

love.graphics.setBackgroundColor(rainbowChangeRed[changeTimer], rainbowChangeGreen[changeTimer], rainbowChangeBlue[changeTimer])

end

I don't understand why I am unable to use changeTimer to call rainbowChangeRed/Green/Blue values. Please help me
(Also I have no idea what I'm doing and if there's an easier/better way to do this, please tell me. Thanks again!)

[MrFariator]

Code: Select all

changeTimer + dt*1440

Try printing the values that produces. If you're using the default love.run (ie. you haven't defined it yourself), I imagine you're getting non-integer values because of the delta time. This then gives you table indexes that don't exist, thus giving you errors when you end up passing nil values to love.graphics.setBackgroundColor.

At the very least you probably need to use math.floor on the calculated value, though I figure you want a more fool proof solution.
For example, this a very simple naive approach where instead of using changeTimer you add another variable to track the table index:

Code: Select all

function love.load()
 
  rainbowChangeRed = {237, 250, 247, 93, 81, 131, 241}
  rainbowChangeGreen = {27, 162, 236, 187, 166, 118, 118}
  rainbowChangeBlue = {81, 27, 47, 77, 220, 156, 166}
  changeTimer = 0
  -- tracker variable for the table index
  changeIndex = 1
end

function love.update(dt)

  changeTimer = changeTimer + dt

  -- If accumulated deltatime passes a certain threshold update the changeIndex
  -- Here it's 0.5 as an example
  if changeTimer >= 0.5 then
    changeTimer = 0
    changeIndex = changeIndex + 1
    -- Wrap around when changeIndex >= 8
    if changeIndex > 7 then
      changeIndex = 1
    end
  end

end

function love.draw()
  -- Change background color based on changeIndex
  love.graphics.setBackgroundColor(rainbowChangeRed[changeIndex], rainbowChangeGreen[changeIndex], rainbowChangeBlue[changeIndex])
end

As an aside, I recommend against using global variables, and instead try to use local ones instead.

[Dopplespots]

Try printing the values that produces. If you're using the default love.run (ie. you haven't defined it yourself), I imagine you're getting non-integer values because of the delta time. This then gives you table indexes that don't exist, thus giving you errors when you end up passing nil values to love.graphics.setBackgroundColor.

At the very least you probably need to use math.floor on the calculated value, though I figure you want a more fool proof solution.
For example, this a very simple naive approach where instead of using changeTimer you add another variable to track the table index:

As an aside, I recommend against using global variables, and instead try to use local ones instead.

Thank you for your help!