T2D: How to load your fxImageMapDatablock2D

As soon as I first started using Torque, I always wished there was a better way to load the massive amounts of datablocks that can be needed. In T2D, it was even more-so with all the fxImageMapDatablock2D definitions required - one for every graphic in your game. However, with a little bit of thinking, I found a simple way around that which works.

Here is some example code...

function loadMyfxImageMapDatablock2Ds()
{
  for(%count = 1; %count <= %numberOfDatablocks; %count++) 
  {
    switch(%count)
     {
       case 1: %imageMap = testA;
       case 2: %imageMap = testB;
     }
   
    datablock fxImageMapDatablock2D(newImageMap)
        {
	     mode = full;
	     textureName = %graphicsDirectory @ %imageMap;
        };
       newImageMap.setName(%imageMap);
  }
}

Simply enough, all we are doing is defining a datablock with the name newImageMap then changing the name. To explain the need for this code, you have to realize that you cannot define a datablock's name with a variable.

Which means this following code does not work:

datablock fxImageMapDatablock2D(%graphic)

That code will always cause your code to not compile. You could just toss the entire declaration into the the 'eval()' function, and that will allow the code to compile, but you can get some really weird results, especially if you are using a variable for your directory location.

So there you have it! That is how to create all your datablock fxImageMapDatablock2D datablock's with just one definition. I welcome anyone to improve upon this concept!

-Dave C.