Newbie script: turn lights on and off by touching them

I hate to see that in this year of 2005, there are still people using voice commands for the simplest little things, like turning a light on and off.
This simple little script illustrates how you can turn lights on and off without an open listener.
Please try to avoid open listeners when they're not necessary, as they will lag the sim for everyone even when you're not around to use them - and if you use them for simple everyday objects like pose balls and lights, then people will put 50 of them in the same parcel!

default
{
    touch_start(integer total_number)
    {
        llSetPrimitiveParams([PRIM_MATERIAL, PRIM_MATERIAL_WOOD]);
        state unlit;
    }
}

state unlit
{
    touch_start(integer total_number)
    {
        llSetPrimitiveParams([PRIM_MATERIAL, PRIM_MATERIAL_LIGHT]);
        state default;
    }
}

Even simpler..

integer on=FALSE;

default
{
    touch_start(integer total_number)
    {
       if(on==TRUE)
        {
             llSetPrimitiveParams([PRIM_MATERIAL, PRIM_MATERIAL_WOOD]);
             on=FALSE;
         }

       else 
        {
             llSetPrimitiveParams([PRIM_MATERIAL, PRIM_MATERIAL_LIGHT]);
             on=TRUE;
         }
      
    }
}

I like Eggy's solution better. Very elegant, with the state change. Never seen a toggle built like that before.

is it safe to assume that sensors use the same amount of resources as a listener?


I thought about having somebody script me something that changes state based on the proximity of the owner. The idea was to save on light polution during the day and even at night by limiting the light phase to something like 50m from the owner (or any other avi)

does the presence of a sensor negate the effects of sving on light?

~Lefty

No. The presence of a sensor loop does.

If it has a timer or uses llSensorRepeat, it's still lagging a sim. If you simply must do this, use a long timer (like 60 - 120 seconds), and consolidate as many lights as possible into one timer.

i add my two cents

default
{
    state_entry()
    {
     llSetColor(<0,0,0>,0);
    }
}

For those who may not understand Kyrah's post, here's a quote from the wiki:

Additionally, in Eggy's solution, there's absolutely no logic necessary, so it saves further resources. Each state can only do one thing, whereas with an "if (on)" check, the script must spend time checking to see what it's supposed to do, then setting the global variable for next time.

Thanks all

O.k. I'm reading this wiki thing on the prelight and I don't really understand.

Why would you want to use an invisible light source that still takes up framerate over emiting a regular light?

Well, if you have local lighting turned off everything light looks prelit.
Meaning, shading is turned off and the object always appears at its maximum brightness, but it does not cast light on surrounding objects.
Larger objects cast light on a wider radius, which can be very bothersome to your neighbors
If you have a large purple sign, "prelighting" will make it just as visible as real lighting, but without the added effect of tinting half a sim purple

Ahh good to know.. I do find my building being turned purple by the neighbors quite annoying..

Okay, if anyone's seen my question about why light sources are bad at the end of this thread:
/54/75/48415/1.html

Don't worry about answering it there, because I'm getting some useful answers here.


Gydeon.

Hey Eggy,

I'm going to have some light sources at my place, but I'm going to be using your script for most of them. I like my nights dark because I dig the shadows and such, but if other people don't then they don't need the light sucking up their frame rate. Thanks for the easy option.


Gydeon.

I am NEW I confess that

How do I upload scripts to me and how do I place them - and where do I place them))

Please dont hit me pls help me. *smiles*

Copy paste them into a script in your inventory in world

Then place them inside the object you want to use that script.

Ignorance is fine, we all share (with the exception of the guru's) our ignorance here, as well as eventually some hard learnt truths.

Stupidity is more likely to get you hit - so don't ask the same question next week! But seriously, welcome to SL and the scripting tips forum. We are usually pretty nice here. And Zap's already answered your serious question.

I must test it I to... when can we expect studio flashes in SL??? Like Broncolour or Profoto?