Calling a button only after conditions have been met?

[knightwriter]

I'm new to VB and writing a text based rpg using many forms. In one of my forms I want the npc to give information to the player, but only after the player has gone to the town square.

I was going to put this npc information in a button that the player clicks and a message box shows up.

The problem I'm having is that the player could go to the npc before they go to the town square. I would like to have the npc information button hidden on the form until the player has gone to the town square. Then and only then can the player see the button that would allow the player to get the information.

Is it even a possibility to hide the button until certain conditions have been met?

[LaVolpe]

Unsure what version of VB you are using, but controls have Visible property that can be set during runtime. Suggest setting it to False initially, then when player goes to town center, set property to true? If that doesn't work, you may need to show us some relevant code you are using

[knightwriter]

Thanks. I'm using VS 2010 with VB. I will try using the properties and changing the value of the property if the player has been to the town square or not. Thanks for the help!!

[Jacob Roman]

You would need the npc to have a flag. Not just him but all of em.

Public Structure NPC_Type
     Dim X As Integer 'X Position of NPC on map
     Dim Y As Integer 'Y Position of NPC on map
     Dim Met_Flag As Boolean
End Structure
 
Private NPC(Your_Number_of_NPCs_Here) As NPC_Type

Then in your button you would do an if statement checking if you met the NPC. If the flag is true, then your message will pop up. Also if you need help coding the battle engine part for encounters, let me know

[knightwriter]

Thanks Jacob. I have seen some of your very impressive combat engines like the world of warcraft combat system. I'm going to research flagging my npcs and the visible and not visible button, but after that is the combat section. I am sure I will have questions.

[knightwriter]

Ok, next part in this question.

I've figured out how to change a button from invisible to visible by btnWhatever.Visible = True, after clicking on the button.

This only works if both buttons are in the same Class. I want the first button in class 1 to trigger the code above and allow the button in class 2 to now be visible.

I've tried playing with the public/private indicator of each button but that doesn't seem to be working. Can a button in one class trigger an event for a button in another class, so that it can become visible?

[incidentals]

surely if you can identify a button you can set its properties

use the fullname of the button

like when a button is on form1 its called form1.button

here to talk

[knightwriter]

surely if you can identify a button you can set its properties

use the fullname of the button

like when a button is on form1 its called form1.button

I do know how to change the properties of the buttons. What I'm confused on is if a button in one class can change the property of invisible to visible of another button in another class?

[Jacob Roman]

It's possible to change the properties of a Button from one class to another, But are you using the 2 classes are 2 separate form windows? Or are you using a standard class to change the property of a button through a form class? Heres a standard class changing the property of a button in a form class:

'Class1.vb file
'-------------------------------
Option Explicit On
Option Strict On
 
Public Class Class1
 
    Private Flag As Boolean = True
 
    Public Sub Change_Visible()
 
        If Flag = False Then
            Flag = True
            Form1.Button1.Visible = True
        Else
            Flag = False
            Form1.Button1.Visible = False
        End If
 
    End Sub
 
End Class
 
'Form1.vb file
'---------------------------------------------
Option Explicit On
Option Strict On
 
Public Class Form1
 
    Private Test As New Class1
 
    Private Sub Button2_Click(ByVal sender As System.Object, ByVal e As System.EventArgs) Handles Button2.Click
 
        Test.Change_Visible()
 
    End Sub
 
End Class

2 separate forms as another way:

'Form2.vb
'--------------------------
Option Explicit On
Option Strict On
 
Public Class Form2
 
    Private Flag As Boolean = True
 
    Public Sub Change_Visible()
 
        If Flag = False Then
            Flag = True
            Form1.Button1.Visible = True
        Else
            Flag = False
            Form1.Button1.Visible = False
        End If
 
    End Sub
 
    Private Sub Button1_Click(ByVal sender As System.Object, ByVal e As System.EventArgs) Handles Button1.Click
 
        Change_Visible()
 
    End Sub
 
    Private Sub Form2_Load(ByVal sender As System.Object, ByVal e As System.EventArgs) Handles MyBase.Load
        Me.Focus()
    End Sub
End Class
 
'Form1.vb
'-------------------------------------
Option Explicit On
Option Strict On
 
Public Class Form1
 
    Private Sub Form1_Load(ByVal sender As System.Object, ByVal e As System.EventArgs) Handles MyBase.Load
        Form2.Show()
    End Sub
End Class

[knightwriter]

Thanks Jacob. The second code I think would work. I was using two buttons each in different classes and in different Forms.
BTW I just finished the design logic for my combat class, so I suspect I might be asking you for a hand if my design doesn't work.