Setting values in global variables

Ok, so I've been trying to piece together some scripting knowledge over the last few days, but I've hit a wall.

The script in question listens for a link_message with a UUID, and also listens for the commands "lock" or "unlock". On hearing the UUID, it sets global variable TARGET to that value. On hearing "lock" or"unlock", it enters states "on" or "off" respectively.

On state starts the particles flowing on entry. Off state clears the particles.

Or, at least, it SHOULD do. In fact, what it does is just sit there grinning at me for three days. I've discovered that if I put a linked message listen event in the "on" state and wait for the TARGET key there, the particles flow just fine. But only for five seconds.

Now, this says to me that TARGET isn't updating or being read properly.

Here's the full script; I hope someone can spot an obvious mistake I'm making

key TARGET;

default
{
    link_message(integer sender_num, integer num, string str, key id)
    {   
       if (num==5) TARGET=(key)str;
        
        if (num==1)
                {
                if (str=="lock") state on ;
        
                if (str=="unlock") state off ;
                }
    }
}


state on {
    state_entry()
    {
        integer flags;
            flags | PSYS_PART_FOLLOW_VELOCITY_MASK;
            if (TARGET != "") flags = flags | PSYS_PART_TARGET_POS_MASK;
        
            llParticleSystem([  PSYS_PART_MAX_AGE,3.0,
                                PSYS_PART_FLAGS,flags,
                                PSYS_PART_START_COLOR, <1,1,1>,
                                PSYS_PART_END_COLOR, <1,1,1>,
                                PSYS_PART_START_SCALE,<.075,.075,.075>,
                                PSYS_PART_END_SCALE,<.075,.075,.075>, 
                                PSYS_SRC_PATTERN, PSYS_SRC_PATTERN_ANGLE,
                                PSYS_SRC_BURST_RATE,.05,
                                PSYS_SRC_ACCEL, <0,0,0>,
                                PSYS_SRC_BURST_PART_COUNT,25,
                                PSYS_SRC_BURST_RADIUS,0.0,
                                PSYS_SRC_BURST_SPEED_MIN,0.0,
                                PSYS_SRC_BURST_SPEED_MAX,0.0,
                                PSYS_SRC_TARGET_KEY,TARGET,
                                PSYS_SRC_INNERANGLE,1.55, 
                                PSYS_SRC_OUTERANGLE,1.55,
                                PSYS_SRC_OMEGA, <0,0,10>,
                                PSYS_SRC_MAX_AGE, 10.0,
                                PSYS_SRC_TEXTURE, "chain",
                                PSYS_PART_START_ALPHA, 1.0,
                                PSYS_PART_END_ALPHA, 1.0                                                        ]);
    }        
}
            
            state off {
                 state_entry(){llParticleSystem([]);}
                }

Minimally, each state in which you might recieve a message must have a listener. Alternatively, you must transition from each non-listening state to a state (in this case, default) that has a listener. Otherwise, you'll be stuck in the new state, and no be able to to listen.

Something else to consider...make yourself a global "DebugSay" method, and have each state_entry have an llOwnerSay telling you what state you're in. When you're done with the debugging, you can just comment out the llOwnerSay statement in your DebugSay method.

Good Luck!

Good tips - having debugged, it look like I'm entering and exiting states as I was hoping.

Still no luck getting the global variable TARGET to work between states though. Am I right in thinking that you can change a global variable within a scope, and have it at that value in all scopes until the next change? Or does the change only stay within that scope?

Your problem is the link messages.

Once you get the link message 1, you're going into a state with no link message handler (no matter whether it's "on" or "off", so you won't ever get any more link messages.

aaaaaah - I see what you mean.

Thanks guys