Using simple GDI + with vb.net

You need to make some design decisions first...

Do you want to draw EVERYTHING using the drawing classes?

...or represent the blocks using controls (could be a custom UserControl using GDI to draw inside it) laid out in a grid?

no, I want the blocks to be drawn all of them,

no images attached - i guess this is the most suitable thing to do in my situation.

thanks for replying to my post :-)

I had in mind a panel, with the grid displayed. sort of a checkers grid, and it will be of as much as columns and rows, for as much as I tell it to be.

for example i have a selection on the right hand of the form, and i select how many rows and columns there is to be. but that is for the near future.

right now i have got to focus on how am i to draw the board, and how to move a position on the board since i have never done this and i am looking on the internet but it is quite difficult to find suitable posts of other people.

thanks for your help!

Alrighty...I'll post something up later today then.  (sorry...have to run some errands)

Ok - thanks! :-)

Anything so far?

Sorry...ended up running around everywhere with the family yesterday.  I'll see what I can do today...

No problem about that

If you are going to post a code snippet, could you please write some comments so I could follow up what are you doing? I have never used GDI +, that's why.

I had in mind creating a form, just 1, which has space that a user could create a grid with the specified rows and columns given from textboxes, or drop down lists or anything. And then, the grid comes up.

The grid that comes up will have a destination point, and a starting point.  

The destination point always has to be on the top of the grid, and shown in red. The starting point would be generated at random - and shown in green.

That is what I had in mind - if you show me how to create the grid, and how to make addresses and how to move the cells, like from the starting point to another location on the provided grid, I guess that is basically enough, and then leave the rest to me.

Links are also fine where I could find adequate information, as I could find non relevant of what I have to make :s

Thanks for your help, really appreciated!

If you are new at GDI+, I will recommend the following link:
http://www.bobpowell.net/beginnersgdi.htm



For creating a grid control for your specific needs, you must create a user control and override the following methods to implement the basic functions in a grid:

'To handle the grid mouse events
Protected Overrides Sub OnMouseDown(ByVal mevent As System.Windows.Forms.MouseEventArgs)
   '...
End Sub

'To handle the grid keyboard events
Protected Overrides Sub OnKeyDown(ByVal kevent As System.Windows.Forms.KeyEventArgs)
   '...
End Sub

'To draw the control
Protected Overrides Sub OnPaint(ByVal pevent As System.Windows.Forms.PaintEventArgs)
      'Start drawing lines and continue adding your own styles
            Dim rowHeight As Integer = 16
            Dim rowCount As Integer = 10
            Dim columnWidth As Integer = 100
            Dim columnCount As Integer = 10
            For i As Integer = 0 To rowCount
                pevent.Graphics.DrawLine(Pens.Black, 0, rowHeight, columnCount * columnWidth, rowHeight)
            Next
            For j As Integer = 0 To columnCount
                pevent.Graphics.DrawLine(Pens.Black, (j * columnWidth), 0, (j * columnWidth), rowCount * rowHeight)
            Next
      'TIP:  To draw system controls use the ControlPaint class:
      '         ControlPaint.DrawButton(pevent.Graphics, MyBase.ClientRectangle, ButtonState.Normal)
      'If you are using VS2005 or later, you can also use:
      '         System.Windows.Forms.ButtonRenderer.DrawButton(...)
End Sub


If you don't want to create a user control, the best control for drawing is a Windows.Forms.Panel
Simply use the Paint, MouseDown and KeyDown events.

if you have a more front example could you change its extension to .doc, and attach it here please?

I have no idea of GDI + :s, its all new.

Thanks, I am trying to implement what you have shown me in the previous post!

Regards

and in your function what parameter do i pass here,

System.Windows.Forms.PaintEventArgs

?

I prefer not to use a control and to leave it as a form and everything in it

thanks for your help

Ok, I used to code below to draw a grid :-)

that was not so hard.

now how do i make a starting point, be generated at random on the grid, and for it to be highlighted in a colour?

 Private Sub Panel1_Paint(ByVal sender As Object, ByVal e As System.Windows.Forms.PaintEventArgs) Handles Panel1.Paint
        'Start drawing lines and continue adding your own styles
        Dim rowHeight As Integer = 16
        Dim rowCount As Integer = 100
        Dim columnWidth As Integer = 10
        Dim columnCount As Integer = 50
        For i As Integer = 0 To rowCount
            e.Graphics.DrawLine(Pens.Black, 0, i * rowHeight, columnCount * columnWidth, i * rowHeight)
        Next
        For j As Integer = 0 To columnCount
            e.Graphics.DrawLine(Pens.Black, (j * columnWidth), 0, (j * columnWidth), rowCount * rowHeight)
        Next
    End Sub

Select allOpen in new window

Ahh btw, and you had a small bug here in the code

fix is shown below.  

you were writing how many rows you have, on the same one.  therefore, always one row was showing.

For i As Integer = 0 To rowCount
            e.Graphics.DrawLine(Pens.Black, 0, i * rowHeight, columnCount * columnWidth, i * rowHeight)
        Next

Select allOpen in new window

Thanks!!!!

now how do I make the colored cell move? what is the best approach?

i had in mind creating a textbox, and if i example enter F1 the cell moves north 1 cell, E1, east 1 etc.

i know i have to validate the text inserted in the textbox first, but that will not give me any problems.

to be sure im on the right track, and keeping up with your code, the co ordinates for that highlighted cell is (4,3).  so if I am to move that cell, i just add to 4, or 3, right?

it should be easy now :-) hmmmmm

I haven't studied the posted code closely but basically you need to move all of the "controlling" variables OUT of the Paint() event and into the Form itself.  Then you can just update the values from somewhere and force a repaint of the PictureBox by calling its Refresh() method:

    If highlightedRow > 0 Then
        highlightedRow = highlightedRow - 1
        PictureBox1.Refresh()
    End If

With the form looking something like this:

Public Class Form1
 
    Private highlightedColumn As Integer = 4
    Private highlightedRow As Integer = 3
 
    Private rowHeight As Integer = 16
    Private rowCount As Integer = 10
    Private columnWidth As Integer = 100
    Private columnCount As Integer = 10
    Private rowSelectorWidth As Integer = 24
 
    Private Sub Panel1_Paint(ByVal sender As System.Object, ByVal e As System.Windows.Forms.PaintEventArgs) Handles Panel1.Paint
        'Start drawing lines and continue adding your own styles
        For i As Integer = 0 To rowCount + 1
            e.Graphics.DrawLine(Pens.Black, rowSelectorWidth, rowHeight * i, rowSelectorWidth + (columnCount * columnWidth), rowHeight * i)
        Next
        For j As Integer = 0 To columnCount
            e.Graphics.DrawLine(Pens.Black, rowSelectorWidth + (j * columnWidth), 0, rowSelectorWidth + (j * columnWidth), (rowCount + 1) * rowHeight)
        Next
 
        'Draw the column headers
        For i As Integer = 0 To columnCount - 1
            ControlPaint.DrawButton(e.Graphics, New Rectangle(rowSelectorWidth + (i * columnWidth), 0, columnWidth, rowHeight), ButtonState.Normal)
            e.Graphics.DrawString(String.Format("col {0}", i + 1), Panel1.Font, Brushes.Black, rowSelectorWidth + (i * columnWidth), 2)
        Next
 
        'Draw the row selectors
        For i As Integer = 0 To rowCount
            ControlPaint.DrawButton(e.Graphics, New Rectangle(0, i * rowHeight, rowSelectorWidth, rowHeight), ButtonState.Normal)
            If (Not i = 0) Then e.Graphics.DrawString(i.ToString(), Panel1.Font, Brushes.Black, 2, (rowHeight * i))
        Next
 
        'Draw the highlighted cell
        'Calculate the position
        Dim highlightPoint As Point = New Point(rowSelectorWidth + (highlightedColumn * columnWidth), (highlightedRow + 1) * rowHeight)
        'Draw the highlighted cell backcolor
        e.Graphics.FillRectangle(SystemBrushes.Highlight, New Rectangle(highlightPoint.X, highlightPoint.Y, columnWidth, rowHeight))
        'Draw the cell border again.
        e.Graphics.DrawRectangle(Pens.Black, New Rectangle(highlightPoint.X, highlightPoint.Y, columnWidth, rowHeight))
    End Sub
 
End Class

Select allOpen in new window

* Looks like you were using a Panel, so it would be:

    Panel1.Refresh()

I am trying to print randomly the boxes, as white or blue in the grid that I have created, and for some reason they are always printing a blue line diagonally, can anybody help me out here please?

I had in mind that a random boolean was created, and then a cell could be printed as a white or a blue cell at random.  all the cells in the grid are to be held like this.

can anybody show me were my code is wrong?

thanks

        For o As Integer = 0 To columnCount
            Dim point As Point = New Point(rowSelectorWidth + (o * columnWidth), (o + 1) * columnWidth)
            Dim randomBoolean As Boolean
            Dim randomDraw As New Random
            randomBoolean = randomDraw.Next
            If randomBoolean = True Then
                e.Graphics.FillRectangle(Brushes.White, New Rectangle(point.X, point.Y, columnWidth, rowHeight))
            Else

                e.Graphics.FillRectangle(Brushes.Blue, New Rectangle(point.X, point.Y, columnWidth, rowHeight))
            End If
        Next

        For i As Integer = 0 To rowCount
            Dim point As Point = New Point(rowSelectorWidth + (i * me.rowHeight), (i + 1) * rowHeight)
            Dim randomBoolean As Boolean
            Dim randomDraw As New Random
            randomBoolean = randomDraw.Next
            If randomBoolean = True Then
                e.Graphics.FillRectangle(Brushes.Blue, New Rectangle(point.X, point.Y, rowHeight, rowHeight))
            End If
        Next

    Private Sub Panel1_Paint(ByVal sender As System.Object, ByVal e As System.Windows.Forms.PaintEventArgs) Handles Panel1.Paint
        'Start drawing lines and continue adding your own styles
        For i As Integer = 0 To rowCount + 1
            e.Graphics.DrawLine(Pens.Black, rowSelectorWidth, rowHeight * i, rowSelectorWidth + (columnCount * columnWidth), rowHeight * i)
        Next
        For j As Integer = 0 To columnCount
            e.Graphics.DrawLine(Pens.Black, rowSelectorWidth + (j * columnWidth), 0, rowSelectorWidth + (j * columnWidth), (rowCount + 1) * rowHeight)
        Next
 
        'Draw the highlighted cell
        'Calculate the position
 
 
        Dim RandomClass As New Random()
        Dim RandomNumber1 As Integer
        RandomNumber1 = RandomClass.Next(columnCount)
 
        Dim RandomClass2 As New Random()
        Dim RandomNumber2 As Integer
        RandomNumber2 = RandomClass2.Next(rowCount)
 
        highlightedColumn = RandomNumber1
        highlightedRow = RandomNumber2
 
        Dim highlightPoint As Point = New Point(rowSelectorWidth + (highlightedColumn * columnWidth), (highlightedRow + 1) * rowHeight)
        'Draw the highlighted cell backcolor
        e.Graphics.FillRectangle(Brushes.Green, New Rectangle(highlightPoint.X, highlightPoint.Y, columnWidth, rowHeight))
        'Draw the cell border again.
        e.Graphics.DrawRectangle(Pens.Black, New Rectangle(highlightPoint.X, highlightPoint.Y, columnWidth, rowHeight))
 
 
        For o As Integer = 0 To columnCount
            Dim point As Point = New Point(rowSelectorWidth + (o * columnWidth), (o + 1) * columnWidth)
            Dim randomBoolean As Boolean
            Dim randomDraw As New Random
            randomBoolean = randomDraw.Next
            If randomBoolean = True Then
                e.Graphics.FillRectangle(Brushes.White, New Rectangle(point.X, point.Y, columnWidth, rowHeight))
            Else
 
                e.Graphics.FillRectangle(Brushes.Blue, New Rectangle(point.X, point.Y, columnWidth, rowHeight))
            End If
        Next
 
        For i As Integer = 0 To rowCount
            Dim point As Point = New Point(rowSelectorWidth + (i * me.rowHeight), (i + 1) * rowHeight)
            Dim randomBoolean As Boolean
            Dim randomDraw As New Random
            randomBoolean = randomDraw.Next
            If randomBoolean = True Then
                e.Graphics.FillRectangle(Brushes.Blue, New Rectangle(point.X, point.Y, rowHeight, rowHeight))
            End If
        Next
 
    End Sub

Select allOpen in new window

Try this one out...

Public Class Form1
 
    Private highlightedColumn As Integer = 4
    Private highlightedRow As Integer = 3
 
    Private rowHeight As Integer = 25
    Private rowCount As Integer = 10
    Private columnWidth As Integer = 25
    Private columnCount As Integer = 10
    Private rowSelectorWidth As Integer = 24
 
    Private randomDraw As New Random
 
    Private Sub Button1_Click(ByVal sender As System.Object, ByVal e As System.EventArgs) Handles Button1.Click
        Panel1.Refresh()
    End Sub
 
    Private Sub Panel1_Paint(ByVal sender As System.Object, ByVal e As System.Windows.Forms.PaintEventArgs) Handles Panel1.Paint
        ' draw the blocks
        For c As Integer = 0 To columnCount
            For r As Integer = 0 To rowCount
                Dim point As Point = New Point(rowSelectorWidth + (c * columnWidth), r * rowHeight)
                If randomDraw.NextDouble < 0.5 Then
                    e.Graphics.FillRectangle(Brushes.White, New Rectangle(point.X, point.Y, columnWidth, rowHeight))
                Else
                    e.Graphics.FillRectangle(Brushes.Blue, New Rectangle(point.X, point.Y, columnWidth, rowHeight))
                End If
            Next
        Next
 
        ' draw the random highlighted block
        highlightedColumn = randomDraw.Next(columnCount)
        highlightedRow = randomDraw.Next(rowCount)
        Dim highlightPoint As Point = New Point(rowSelectorWidth + (highlightedColumn * columnWidth), (highlightedRow + 1) * rowHeight)
        'Draw the highlighted cell backcolor
        e.Graphics.FillRectangle(Brushes.Green, New Rectangle(highlightPoint.X, highlightPoint.Y, columnWidth, rowHeight))
        'Draw the cell border again.
        e.Graphics.DrawRectangle(Pens.Black, New Rectangle(highlightPoint.X, highlightPoint.Y, columnWidth, rowHeight))
 
        ' draw the grid lines
        For i As Integer = 0 To rowCount + 1
            e.Graphics.DrawLine(Pens.Black, rowSelectorWidth, rowHeight * i, rowSelectorWidth + ((columnCount + 1) * columnWidth), rowHeight * i)
        Next
        For j As Integer = 0 To columnCount + 1
            e.Graphics.DrawLine(Pens.Black, rowSelectorWidth + (j * columnWidth), 0, rowSelectorWidth + (j * columnWidth), (rowCount + 1) * rowHeight)
        Next
    End Sub
 
End Class

Select allOpen in new window

Thanks!!

Now, I have a button. Which on the button event, I wish to make the highlighted cell move according to the commands that I give it.

Now, in the paint, I have the e, which I could get and fill its co ordinates by it.

But in the button click event, how can I obtain this from it?

Like when I enter F1, and press submit, I make the cell move forward one cell.

If you supply a code snippet, could you please comment, where did you increment the Y value? Or in other cases, the X value too?

thanks for your help, a life saver!

Because the problem is, that when I press the button, and I want to move the cell, I have to some way or another re paint the grid.

which in this case, it refreshes it.

you can see in the button event what i actually had in mind to do, its actually testing and it did not work.

how can i make the cell in the grid move?

Public Class LogoGame
 
    Private highlightedColumn As Integer = 0
    Private highlightedRow As Integer = 0
    Private rowHeight As Integer = 0
    Private rowCount As Integer = 0
    Private columnWidth As Integer = 0
    Private columnCount As Integer = 0
    Private rowSelectorWidth As Integer = 20
    Private randomDraw As New Random
 
    Private Yincrement As Integer = Yincrement + highlightedColumn
    Private Xincrement As Integer = Xincrement + highlightedRow
 
    Private Sub Panel1_Paint(ByVal sender As System.Object, ByVal e As System.Windows.Forms.PaintEventArgs) Handles Panel1.Paint
        ' draw the blocks
        For c As Integer = 0 To columnCount
            For r As Integer = 0 To rowCount
                Dim point As Point = New Point(rowSelectorWidth + (c * columnWidth), r * rowHeight)
                If randomDraw.NextDouble < 0.5 Then
                    e.Graphics.FillRectangle(Brushes.White, New Rectangle(point.X, point.Y, columnWidth, rowHeight))
                Else
                    e.Graphics.FillRectangle(Brushes.Blue, New Rectangle(point.X, point.Y, columnWidth, rowHeight))
                End If
            Next
        Next
 
        ' draw the random highlighted block
        Yincrement = randomDraw.Next(columnCount)
        Xincrement = randomDraw.Next(rowCount)
 
        Dim highlightPoint As Point = New Point(rowSelectorWidth + (Yincrement * columnWidth), (Xincrement + 1) * rowHeight)
        'Draw the highlighted cell backcolor
        e.Graphics.FillRectangle(Brushes.Green, New Rectangle(highlightPoint.X, highlightPoint.Y, columnWidth, rowHeight))
        'Draw the cell border again.
        e.Graphics.DrawRectangle(Pens.Black, New Rectangle(highlightPoint.X, highlightPoint.Y, columnWidth, rowHeight))
 
        ' draw the grid lines
        For i As Integer = 0 To rowCount + 1
            e.Graphics.DrawLine(Pens.Black, rowSelectorWidth, rowHeight * i, rowSelectorWidth + ((columnCount + 1) * columnWidth), rowHeight * i)
        Next
        For j As Integer = 0 To columnCount + 1
            e.Graphics.DrawLine(Pens.Black, rowSelectorWidth + (j * columnWidth), 0, rowSelectorWidth + (j * columnWidth), (rowCount + 1) * rowHeight)
        Next
    End Sub
 
    Private Sub trkColumns_ValueChanged(ByVal sender As Object, ByVal e As System.EventArgs) Handles trkColumns.ValueChanged
        Me.lblColumnCounter.Text = trkColumns.Value.ToString
    End Sub
 
 
    Private Sub trkRows_ValueChanged(ByVal sender As Object, ByVal e As System.EventArgs) Handles trkRows.ValueChanged
        Me.lblRowCounter.Text = trkRows.Value.ToString
    End Sub
 
    Private Sub Button2_Click(ByVal sender As System.Object, ByVal e As System.EventArgs) Handles Button2.Click
        rowHeight = Me.trkColumnHeight.Value * 10
        rowCount = Me.trkRows.Value
        columnWidth = Me.trkColumnWidth.Value * 10
        columnCount = Me.trkColumns.Value
        Panel1.Refresh()
    End Sub
 
    Public Sub createGrid(ByVal panel As Panel, ByVal rowHeight As Integer, ByVal rowcount As Integer, _
    ByVal columnWidth As Integer, ByVal columnCount As Integer)
 
    End Sub
 
    Private Sub trkColumnWidth_ValueChanged(ByVal sender As Object, ByVal e As System.EventArgs) Handles trkColumnWidth.ValueChanged
        Me.lblColumnWidth.Text = (trkColumnWidth.Value * 10).ToString
    End Sub
 
 
    Private Sub trkColumnHeight_ValueChanged(ByVal sender As Object, ByVal e As System.EventArgs) Handles trkColumnHeight.ValueChanged
        Me.lblColumnHeight.Text = (trkColumnHeight.Value * 10).ToString
    End Sub
 
    Private Sub Button1_Click(ByVal sender As System.Object, ByVal e As System.EventArgs) Handles Button1.Click
        If txtAlgo.Text = "F1" Then
            Yincrement = Yincrement + 1
            Panel1.Refresh()
        End If
    End Sub
End Class

Select allOpen in new window

You don't pass the "e" anywhere...

In the button event, you change the variables you want and then tell the Panel to repaint itself with the new values.

Just like the snippet I showed before:

    Private Sub Button1_Click(ByVal sender As System.Object, ByVal e As System.EventArgs) Handles Button1.Click
        If highlightedRow > 0 Then
            highlightedRow = highlightedRow - 1
            Panel1.Refresh()
        End If
    End Sub

BUT...you need to remove the RANDOM part from the Paint() event so the highlighted cell just changed randomly anymore:

    Private Sub Panel1_Paint(ByVal sender As System.Object, ByVal e As System.Windows.Forms.PaintEventArgs) Handles Panel1.Paint
        ' draw the blocks
        For c As Integer = 0 To columnCount
            For r As Integer = 0 To rowCount
                Dim point As Point = New Point(rowSelectorWidth + (c * columnWidth), r * rowHeight)
                If randomDraw.NextDouble < 0.5 Then
                    e.Graphics.FillRectangle(Brushes.White, New Rectangle(point.X, point.Y, columnWidth, rowHeight))
                Else
                    e.Graphics.FillRectangle(Brushes.Blue, New Rectangle(point.X, point.Y, columnWidth, rowHeight))
                End If
            Next
        Next
 
        ' draw the random highlighted block
        Dim highlightPoint As Point = New Point(rowSelectorWidth + (highlightedColumn * columnWidth), (highlightedRow + 1) * rowHeight)
        'Draw the highlighted cell backcolor
        e.Graphics.FillRectangle(Brushes.Green, New Rectangle(highlightPoint.X, highlightPoint.Y, columnWidth, rowHeight))
        'Draw the cell border again.
        e.Graphics.DrawRectangle(Pens.Black, New Rectangle(highlightPoint.X, highlightPoint.Y, columnWidth, rowHeight))
 
        ' draw the grid lines
        For i As Integer = 0 To rowCount + 1
            e.Graphics.DrawLine(Pens.Black, rowSelectorWidth, rowHeight * i, rowSelectorWidth + ((columnCount + 1) * columnWidth), rowHeight * i)
        Next
        For j As Integer = 0 To columnCount + 1
            e.Graphics.DrawLine(Pens.Black, rowSelectorWidth + (j * columnWidth), 0, rowSelectorWidth + (j * columnWidth), (rowCount + 1) * rowHeight)
        Next
    End Sub

Play with this:   (press the up/down/left/right arrow keys and see what happens)

Public Class Form1
 
    Private highlightedColumn As Integer = 4
    Private highlightedRow As Integer = 3
 
    Private rowHeight As Integer = 25
    Private rowCount As Integer = 10
    Private columnWidth As Integer = 25
    Private columnCount As Integer = 10
    Private rowSelectorWidth As Integer = 24
 
    Protected Overrides Function ProcessCmdKey(ByRef msg As System.Windows.Forms.Message, ByVal keyData As System.Windows.Forms.Keys) As Boolean
        Select Case keyData
            Case Keys.Up
                If highlightedRow > 0 Then
                    highlightedRow = highlightedRow - 1
                    Panel1.Refresh()
                End If
 
            Case Keys.Down
                If highlightedRow < columnCount Then
                    highlightedRow = highlightedRow + 1
                    Panel1.Refresh()
                End If
 
            Case Keys.Left
                If highlightedColumn > 0 Then
                    highlightedColumn = highlightedColumn - 1
                    Panel1.Refresh()
                End If
 
            Case Keys.Right
                If highlightedColumn < columnCount Then
                    highlightedColumn = highlightedColumn + 1
                    Panel1.Refresh()
                End If
 
        End Select
        Return MyBase.ProcessCmdKey(msg, keyData)
    End Function
 
    Private Sub Panel1_Paint(ByVal sender As System.Object, ByVal e As System.Windows.Forms.PaintEventArgs) Handles Panel1.Paint
        ' draw the highlighted block
        Dim highlightPoint As Point = New Point(rowSelectorWidth + (highlightedColumn * columnWidth), highlightedRow * rowHeight)
        'Draw the highlighted cell backcolor
        e.Graphics.FillRectangle(Brushes.Green, New Rectangle(highlightPoint.X, highlightPoint.Y, columnWidth, rowHeight))
        'Draw the cell border again.
        e.Graphics.DrawRectangle(Pens.Black, New Rectangle(highlightPoint.X, highlightPoint.Y, columnWidth, rowHeight))
 
        ' draw the grid lines
        For i As Integer = 0 To rowCount + 1
            e.Graphics.DrawLine(Pens.Black, rowSelectorWidth, rowHeight * i, rowSelectorWidth + ((columnCount + 1) * columnWidth), rowHeight * i)
        Next
        For j As Integer = 0 To columnCount + 1
            e.Graphics.DrawLine(Pens.Black, rowSelectorWidth + (j * columnWidth), 0, rowSelectorWidth + (j * columnWidth), (rowCount + 1) * rowHeight)
        Next
    End Sub
 
End Class

Select allOpen in new window

thanks for your help, you are being very generous

but how can i make it only generate a starting point at random, if it is only being loaded the first time then?

but i still need to make it generate random blocks.

see, the scope of this game is that i make a destination point, and a starting point.

white blocks are blocks which i can pass through them, blue blocks are walls.

now to make the cell move, i need to insert algorithms, like F1, R2, L3, which are logo and turtle algorithms.

so the starting point has to be randomly generated, and the blue and white blocks have to be there to make it work.

any ideas? you seem very keen on GDI, do you use it at lot at work or something similar to that?

Regards

couldnt I make a global variable - randomState as integer for example

and i declare it as null, and then in the page load i give it a value in the panel1_paint, like 1 or true if i decide to make it boolean.

then, in the panel1_paint, i make an if statement, if the variable is 0 then it means it is the first time being loaded, so randomly create them, if not, meaning it is 1, so it has already been randomly generated, so just change the co ordinates.

do you think this makes sense?

any tips on how to move the cell around, with the actual blue and white cells not changing anybody?

i cant seem to find a way out of this either :s

I understand that you want alot more out of it...just wanted to show a clean example of how to allow the user to move something around in the grid.  Think you were trying to do too much at once...  =)

So, just as we moved the highlightedColumn/highlightedRow variables, out of the Paint() event, we also need to move the blue/white blocks out.  The "state" of each block can be stored in a 2D array for example.

(...working...)

Play with this intermediate step.  This does NOT prevent movement of the highlighted block...YET.  =)
(...have to go cook some breakfast for the family...)

Start with a BLANK form:

Public Class Form1
 
    Private WithEvents gb As GameBoard
 
    Private Sub Form1_Load(ByVal sender As System.Object, ByVal e As System.EventArgs) Handles MyBase.Load
        gb = New GameBoard
 
        Dim rc As Rectangle = Me.ClientRectangle
        rc.Inflate(-10, -10)
        gb.Location = rc.Location
        gb.Size = rc.Size
        gb.Anchor = AnchorStyles.Left Or AnchorStyles.Top Or AnchorStyles.Right Or AnchorStyles.Bottom
        gb.NewMap()
        Me.Controls.Add(gb)
 
        Me.WindowState = FormWindowState.Maximized
    End Sub
 
    Protected Overrides Function ProcessCmdKey(ByRef msg As System.Windows.Forms.Message, ByVal keyData As System.Windows.Forms.Keys) As Boolean
        Select Case keyData
            Case Keys.Up
                If gb.highlightedRow > 0 Then
                    gb.highlightedRow = gb.highlightedRow - 1
                    gb.Refresh()
                End If
 
            Case Keys.Down
                If gb.highlightedRow < gb.rowCount - 1 Then
                    gb.highlightedRow = gb.highlightedRow + 1
                    gb.Refresh()
                End If
 
            Case Keys.Left
                If gb.highlightedColumn > 0 Then
                    gb.highlightedColumn = gb.highlightedColumn - 1
                    gb.Refresh()
                End If
 
            Case Keys.Right
                If gb.highlightedColumn < gb.columnCount - 1 Then
                    gb.highlightedColumn = gb.highlightedColumn + 1
                    gb.Refresh()
                End If
 
        End Select
 
        Return MyBase.ProcessCmdKey(msg, keyData)
    End Function
 
    Private Class GameBoard
        Inherits PictureBox
 
        Public Sub New()
            ' ..this gets rid of the flicker when we call Refresh()...
            Me.SetStyle(ControlStyles.OptimizedDoubleBuffer, True)
            Me.SetStyle(ControlStyles.AllPaintingInWmPaint, True)
        End Sub
 
        Public highlightedColumn As Integer = 4
        Public highlightedRow As Integer = 3
 
        Public rowHeight As Integer = 25
        Public rowCount As Integer = 25
        Public columnWidth As Integer = 25
        Public columnCount As Integer = 25
        Public LeftMargin As Integer = 20
 
        Public Grid(,) As Boolean
 
        Public Sub NewMap()
            ReDim Grid(rowCount - 1, columnCount - 1)
            Dim R As New Random
            For row As Integer = 0 To rowCount - 1
                For col As Integer = 0 To columnCount - 1
                    Grid(row, col) = (R.NextDouble < 0.5)
                Next
            Next
            Me.Refresh()
        End Sub
 
        Private Sub GameBoard_Paint(ByVal sender As Object, ByVal e As System.Windows.Forms.PaintEventArgs) Handles Me.Paint
            ' draw the blocks
            Dim rc As Rectangle
            For row As Integer = 0 To rowCount - 1
                For col As Integer = 0 To columnCount - 1
                    rc = New Rectangle(New Point(LeftMargin + (col * columnWidth), row * rowHeight), New Size(columnWidth, rowHeight))
                    e.Graphics.FillRectangle(IIf(Grid(row, col), Brushes.White, Brushes.Blue), rc)
                Next
            Next
 
            ' draw the highlighted block
            rc = New Rectangle(New Point(LeftMargin + (highlightedColumn * columnWidth), highlightedRow * rowHeight), New Size(columnWidth, rowHeight))
            e.Graphics.FillRectangle(Brushes.Green, rc)
 
            ' draw the grid lines
            For r As Integer = 0 To rowCount
                e.Graphics.DrawLine(Pens.Black, LeftMargin, rowHeight * r, LeftMargin + (columnCount * columnWidth), rowHeight * r)
            Next
            For c As Integer = 0 To columnCount
                e.Graphics.DrawLine(Pens.Black, LeftMargin + (c * columnWidth), 0, LeftMargin + (c * columnWidth), rowCount * rowHeight)
            Next
        End Sub
 
    End Class
 
End Class

Select allOpen in new window

Hi,

I am passing values through properties, as I made the gameBoard a separate class, to make things more clearer and easier to manipulate.

now, the values are passing through correctly, but I think the properties are not working properly, I seem to be missing something.

the value passes correctly, but then the property remains without value, meaning 0! So the board does not generate, I am attaching the class, and button click event.

thanks for your generous help!!!!!!!!! A++!

Private Sub Button2_Click(ByVal sender As System.Object, ByVal e As System.EventArgs) Handles Button2.Click
 
        Dim gb As New GameBoard
        gb.rowHeight = Me.trkColumnHeight.Value * 10
        gb.rowcount = Me.trkRows.Value
        gb.columnWidth = Me.trkColumnWidth.Value * 10
        gb.columnCount = Me.trkColumns.Value
        gb.leftmargin = 25
 
        Dim rc As Rectangle = Me.ClientRectangle
        rc.Inflate(-10, -10)
        gb.Location = rc.Location
        gb.Size = rc.Size
        gb.Anchor = AnchorStyles.Left Or AnchorStyles.Top Or AnchorStyles.Right Or AnchorStyles.Bottom
        gb.NewMap()
 
        Me.Controls.Add(gb)
        Me.WindowState = FormWindowState.Maximized
 
    End Sub
 
 
Public Class GameBoard
    Inherits PictureBox
 
    Public Sub New()
        ' ..this gets rid of the flicker when we call Refresh()...
        Me.SetStyle(ControlStyles.OptimizedDoubleBuffer, True)
        Me.SetStyle(ControlStyles.AllPaintingInWmPaint, True)
    End Sub
 
    Public _highlightedColumn As Integer
    Public _highlightedRow As Integer
    Public _rowHeight As Integer
    Public _rowCount As Integer
    Public _columnWidth As Integer
    Public _columnCount As Integer
    Public _LeftMargin As Integer
 
    Public Property highlightedrow() As Integer
        Get
            Return _highlightedRow
        End Get
        Set(ByVal value As Integer)
            value = _highlightedRow
        End Set
    End Property
 
    Public Property highlightedcolumn() As Integer
        Get
            Return _highlightedColumn
        End Get
        Set(ByVal value As Integer)
            value = _highlightedColumn
        End Set
    End Property
 
    Public Property columnWidth() As Integer
        Get
            Return _columnWidth
        End Get
        Set(ByVal value As Integer)
            _columnWidth = value
        End Set
    End Property
 
    Public Property rowHeight() As Integer
        Get
            Return _rowHeight
        End Get
        Set(ByVal value As Integer)
            value = _rowHeight
        End Set
    End Property
 
    Public Property rowcount() As Integer
        Get
            Return _rowCount
        End Get
        Set(ByVal value As Integer)
            value = _rowCount
        End Set
    End Property
 
    Public Property columnCount() As Integer
        Get
            Return _columnCount
        End Get
        Set(ByVal value As Integer)
            value = _columnCount
        End Set
    End Property
 
    Public Property leftmargin() As Integer
        Get
            Return _LeftMargin
        End Get
        Set(ByVal value As Integer)
            value = _LeftMargin
        End Set
    End Property
 
    Public Grid(,) As Boolean
 
    Public Sub NewMap()
        ReDim Grid(rowCount - 1, columnCount - 1)
        Dim R As New Random
        For row As Integer = 0 To rowCount - 1
            For col As Integer = 0 To columnCount - 1
                Grid(row, col) = (R.NextDouble < 0.5)
            Next
        Next
        Me.Refresh()
    End Sub
 
    Public Sub GameBoard_Paint(ByVal sender As Object, ByVal e As System.Windows.Forms.PaintEventArgs) Handles Me.Paint
        ' draw the blocks
        Dim rc As Rectangle
        For row As Integer = 0 To rowCount - 1
            For col As Integer = 0 To columnCount - 1
                rc = New Rectangle(New Point(LeftMargin + (col * columnWidth), row * rowHeight), New Size(columnWidth, rowHeight))
                e.Graphics.FillRectangle(IIf(Grid(row, col), Brushes.White, Brushes.Blue), rc)
            Next
        Next
 
        ' draw the highlighted block
        rc = New Rectangle(New Point(LeftMargin + (highlightedColumn * columnWidth), highlightedRow * rowHeight), New Size(columnWidth, rowHeight))
        e.Graphics.FillRectangle(Brushes.Green, rc)
 
        ' draw the grid lines
        For r As Integer = 0 To rowCount
            e.Graphics.DrawLine(Pens.Black, LeftMargin, rowHeight * r, LeftMargin + (columnCount * columnWidth), rowHeight * r)
        Next
        For c As Integer = 0 To columnCount
            e.Graphics.DrawLine(Pens.Black, LeftMargin + (c * columnWidth), 0, LeftMargin + (c * columnWidth), rowCount * rowHeight)
        Next
    End Sub
 
End Class

Select allOpen in new window

Wow!

let me study what you actually did here - it looks good though, very good!

thanks :-)

do you anything about logos?  Those algorithms example like

F1R2L3

Forward 1 cell, 90 degress to the right, and 135 degrees to the left?

about the blue cells, it is meant to be actually that if the user hits one of them, he looses, and then he starts again at the same starting point he started with. I will see how to manipulate that :-)

thanks for your great generousity! I

So you can move in 8 directions? (up/down/left/right and diagonals)  Each left or right turn would just adjust your current direction by 45 degrees?  You would have to introduce the concept of current direction as well as current location.  It would be simple enough to draw the current cell with an arrow showing the currently facing direction.

Can you only use those three commands?

F = Forwad
R = Turn Right
L = Turn Left

To make it easier on yourself, I would require the commands be seperated by a space like this:

F1 R2 L3 F4

Then it will be easier to parse.

Is the idea that the user has to give only ONE long command string to reach the destination?...or can they continue from where ever they left off as long as they haven't run into a wall?  (series of smaller command strings until failure)

Hi again!

I added the properties below to your class, since I want this to be generated from a button click, and the user would be able to choose how hard he wants the game to be,

here i am referring to, if you have more columns and rows, it is going to be more hard

so i am adding a couple of trackers on the form, 4 actually for coloumn count, row count, height and width of the rows and coloumns accordingly.

now in the button event, i am passing the property values.

it is not working :-(

And if i give these both random values,

  Public curCol As Integer = 4
        Public curRow As Integer = 3

would it remain ok? or these random numbers have to be in the range of (columns x rows) ?

IN THE CLASS  
   Public curCol As Integer = 4
        Public curRow As Integer = 3
 
        Public destCol As Integer
        Public destRow As Integer
 
        Public _rowHeight As Integer
        Public _rowCount As Integer
        Public _columnWidth As Integer
        Public _columnCount As Integer
        Public _LeftMargin As Integer 
 
Public Property columnWidth() As Integer
            Get
                Return _columnWidth
            End Get
            Set(ByVal value As Integer)
                _columnWidth = value
            End Set
        End Property
 
        Public Property rowHeight() As Integer
            Get
                Return _rowHeight
            End Get
            Set(ByVal value As Integer)
                _rowHeight = value
            End Set
        End Property
 
        Public Property rowcount() As Integer
            Get
                Return _rowCount
            End Get
            Set(ByVal value As Integer)
                _rowCount = value
            End Set
        End Property
 
        Public Property columnCount() As Integer
            Get
                Return _columnCount
            End Get
            Set(ByVal value As Integer)
                _columnCount = value
            End Set
        End Property
 
        Public Property leftmargin() As Integer
            Get
                Return _LeftMargin
            End Get
            Set(ByVal value As Integer)
                _LeftMargin = value
            End Set
        End Property
 
IN THE BUTTON CLICK EVENT
 
 gb.rowHeight = Me.trkColumnHeight.Value * 10
        gb.rowcount = Me.trkRows.Value
        gb.columnWidth = Me.trkColumnWidth.Value * 10
        gb.columnCount = Me.trkColumns.Value
        gb.leftmargin = 25
 
        gb.NewMap()
        gb.Refresh()
        Me.Panel1.Controls.Add(gb)
        Me.WindowState = FormWindowState.Maximized

Select allOpen in new window

no, the user will have to insert one command to reach the destination only. if he hits a wall, he will loose and restart the game.

and yes i may only use the

F, R and L

And yes I guess that arrow showing the direction would be useful, I actually had that in mind and was going to do some type of research on it.

thanks for your help! :-)

do you work with GDI + by any change?  You seem to be familiar with GDI a lot!!!!

I don't actually "work" with anything these days...haven't coded professionally (translate that as "I haven't been PAID to code") since 2002...and the company I worked for back then was still using VB6.  I'm a self-taught programmer so essentially all of my experience with VB.Net has been from personal projects and helping people here on EE.  =)

With regard to your problem of the board not reflecting changes in size...it's working fine for me.  =\

Show me your complete code and I'm sure we can spot the problem.

Do you want more help implementing changes (directions/arrows/etc) or do you want to work on it yourself.  I can spit code out till I fall asleep at the keyboard but I'm sure my vision isn't the same as yours...  ;)

Hi, about the algorithm thing, if you know how to implement that, I would sure be happy as I have no idea yet, how to do that!  If you need more information about it, I could give you as many as you want.

the user has to input an algorithm, in a logo format, like R1L3F1, and then I have to parse it I guess, but that I could do myself, all I need to know how to do is how to make the highlighted cell, move slowly so that the user could see his actions being done in the algorithm.

and when executing the algorithm, and arrow changes by each move in it, like example when executing R3, the arrow first moves 45 degrees, then another 45 degrees, and then another 45 degrees.

I am going to paste my full code here, about that problem I told you before.  

in the form i have 4 trackers, a textbox to input the algo, and two buttons which actually do the same thing, (one button does your code, and the other button passes properties of the tracker values)

thanks for your help!

Public Class Form1
 
    Private WithEvents gb As GameBoard
 
    Private Sub Form1_Load(ByVal sender As System.Object, ByVal e As System.EventArgs) Handles MyBase.Load
    
    End Sub
 
    Private Sub Button1_Click(ByVal sender As System.Object, ByVal e As System.EventArgs) Handles Button1.Click
        gb.NewMap()
        gb.Refresh()
    End Sub
 
    Protected Overrides Function ProcessCmdKey(ByRef msg As System.Windows.Forms.Message, ByVal keyData As System.Windows.Forms.Keys) As Boolean
        Select Case keyData
            Case Keys.Up
                gb.MoveUp()
 
            Case Keys.Down
                gb.MoveDown()
 
            Case Keys.Left
                gb.MoveLeft()
 
            Case Keys.Right
                gb.MoveRight()
 
        End Select
 
        Return MyBase.ProcessCmdKey(msg, keyData)
    End Function
 
    Private Sub gb_DestinationReached(ByVal sender As GameBoard) Handles gb.DestinationReached
        MessageBox.Show("Good job!", "Destination Reached", MessageBoxButtons.OK, MessageBoxIcon.Exclamation)
    End Sub
 
    Private Class GameBoard
        Inherits PictureBox
 
        Public Enum CellType
            None
            Path
            PathB
            Wall
        End Enum
 
        Public Event DestinationReached(ByVal sender As GameBoard)
 
        Public Sub New()
            ' ..this gets rid of the flicker when we call Refresh()...
            Me.SetStyle(ControlStyles.OptimizedDoubleBuffer, True)
            Me.SetStyle(ControlStyles.AllPaintingInWmPaint, True)
            Me.Dock = DockStyle.Fill
            Me.NewMap()
        End Sub
 
        Public curCol As Integer = 4
        Public curRow As Integer = 3
 
        Public destCol As Integer
        Public destRow As Integer
 
        Public _rowHeight As Integer
        Public _rowCount As Integer
        Public _columnWidth As Integer
        Public _columnCount As Integer
        Public _LeftMargin As Integer
 
        Public Property columnWidth() As Integer
            Get
                Return _columnWidth
            End Get
            Set(ByVal value As Integer)
                _columnWidth = value
            End Set
        End Property
 
        Public Property rowHeight() As Integer
            Get
                Return _rowHeight
            End Get
            Set(ByVal value As Integer)
                _rowHeight = value
            End Set
        End Property
 
        Public Property rowcount() As Integer
            Get
                Return _rowCount
            End Get
            Set(ByVal value As Integer)
                _rowCount = value
            End Set
        End Property
 
        Public Property columnCount() As Integer
            Get
                Return _columnCount
            End Get
            Set(ByVal value As Integer)
                _columnCount = value
            End Set
        End Property
 
        Public Property leftmargin() As Integer
            Get
                Return _LeftMargin
            End Get
            Set(ByVal value As Integer)
                _LeftMargin = value
            End Set
        End Property
 
        Public Grid(,) As GameBoard.CellType
 
        Public Sub NewMap()
            Dim R As New Random
            ReDim Grid(rowCount - 1, columnCount - 1)
 
            ' start with ALL walls
            For row As Integer = 0 To rowCount - 1
                For col As Integer = 0 To columnCount - 1
                    Grid(row, col) = CellType.Wall
                Next
            Next
 
            ' pick starting and destination cells
            curCol = R.Next(0, columnCount)
            curRow = R.Next(0, rowCount)
            Grid(curRow, curCol) = CellType.Path
            Do
                destCol = R.Next(0, columnCount)
                destRow = R.Next(0, rowCount)
            Loop While destCol = curCol AndAlso destRow = curRow
            Grid(destRow, destCol) = CellType.PathB
 
            ' make sure there is a path from start to finish
            ' use the "water" method to flow out from both start and finish
            ' at the same time until they meet
            Dim tmpCurCol As Integer = curCol
            Dim tmpCurRow As Integer = curRow
            Dim tmpDestCol As Integer = destCol
            Dim tmpDestRow As Integer = destRow
            Dim dir As Integer
            Dim connected As Boolean = False
            While Not connected
                dir = R.Next(0, 4)
                Select Case dir
                    Case 0 ' left
                        If tmpCurCol > 0 Then
                            tmpCurCol = tmpCurCol - 1
                            If Grid(tmpCurRow, tmpCurCol) = CellType.PathB Then
                                connected = True
                            Else
                                Grid(tmpCurRow, tmpCurCol) = CellType.Path
                            End If
                        End If
 
                    Case 1 ' right
                        If tmpCurCol < columnCount - 1 Then
                            tmpCurCol = tmpCurCol + 1
                            If Grid(tmpCurRow, tmpCurCol) = CellType.PathB Then
                                connected = True
                            Else
                                Grid(tmpCurRow, tmpCurCol) = CellType.Path
                            End If
                        End If
 
                    Case 2 ' up
                        If tmpCurRow > 0 Then
                            tmpCurRow = tmpCurRow - 1
                            If Grid(tmpCurRow, tmpCurCol) = CellType.PathB Then
                                connected = True
                            Else
                                Grid(tmpCurRow, tmpCurCol) = CellType.Path
                            End If
                        End If
 
                    Case 3 ' down
                        If tmpCurRow < rowCount - 1 Then
                            tmpCurRow = tmpCurRow + 1
                            If Grid(tmpCurRow, tmpCurCol) = CellType.PathB Then
                                connected = True
                            Else
                                Grid(tmpCurRow, tmpCurCol) = CellType.Path
                            End If
                        End If
 
                End Select
 
                If Not connected Then
                    dir = R.Next(0, 4)
                    Select Case dir
                        Case 0 ' left
                            If tmpDestCol > 0 Then
                                tmpDestCol = tmpDestCol - 1
                                If Grid(tmpDestRow, tmpDestCol) = CellType.Path Then
                                    connected = True
                                Else
                                    Grid(tmpDestRow, tmpDestCol) = CellType.PathB
                                End If
                            End If
 
                        Case 1 ' right
                            If tmpDestCol < columnCount - 1 Then
                                tmpDestCol = tmpDestCol + 1
                                If Grid(tmpDestRow, tmpDestCol) = CellType.Path Then
                                    connected = True
                                Else
                                    Grid(tmpDestRow, tmpDestCol) = CellType.PathB
                                End If
                            End If
 
                        Case 2 ' up
                            If tmpDestRow > 0 Then
                                tmpDestRow = tmpDestRow - 1
                                If Grid(tmpDestRow, tmpDestCol) = CellType.Path Then
                                    connected = True
                                Else
                                    Grid(tmpDestRow, tmpDestCol) = CellType.PathB
                                End If
                            End If
 
                        Case 3 ' down
                            If tmpDestRow < rowCount - 1 Then
                                tmpDestRow = tmpDestRow + 1
                                If Grid(tmpDestRow, tmpDestCol) = CellType.Path Then
                                    connected = True
                                Else
                                    Grid(tmpDestRow, tmpDestCol) = CellType.PathB
                                End If
                            End If
 
                    End Select
                End If
            End While
 
            ' add random paths
            For row As Integer = 0 To rowCount - 1
                For col As Integer = 0 To columnCount - 1
                    If Grid(row, col) = CellType.Wall Then
                        If R.NextDouble < 0.5 Then
                            Grid(row, col) = CellType.Path
                        End If
                    End If
                Next
            Next
        End Sub
 
        Private Sub GameBoard_Paint(ByVal sender As Object, ByVal e As System.Windows.Forms.PaintEventArgs) Handles Me.Paint
            ' draw the blocks
            Dim rc As Rectangle
            For row As Integer = 0 To rowCount - 1
                For col As Integer = 0 To columnCount - 1
                    rc = New Rectangle(New Point(LeftMargin + (col * columnWidth), row * rowHeight), New Size(columnWidth, rowHeight))
                    e.Graphics.FillRectangle(IIf(Grid(row, col) = CellType.Wall, Brushes.Blue, Brushes.White), rc)
                Next
            Next
 
            ' draw the destination block
            rc = New Rectangle(New Point(LeftMargin + (destCol * columnWidth), destRow * rowHeight), New Size(columnWidth, rowHeight))
            e.Graphics.FillRectangle(Brushes.Red, rc)
 
            ' draw the highlighted block
            rc = New Rectangle(New Point(LeftMargin + (curCol * columnWidth), curRow * rowHeight), New Size(columnWidth, rowHeight))
            e.Graphics.FillRectangle(Brushes.Green, rc)
 
            ' draw the grid lines
            For r As Integer = 0 To rowCount
                e.Graphics.DrawLine(Pens.Black, LeftMargin, rowHeight * r, LeftMargin + (columnCount * columnWidth), rowHeight * r)
            Next
            For c As Integer = 0 To columnCount
                e.Graphics.DrawLine(Pens.Black, LeftMargin + (c * columnWidth), 0, LeftMargin + (c * columnWidth), rowCount * rowHeight)
            Next
        End Sub
 
        Public Function MoveUp() As Boolean
            If Me.curRow > 0 Then
                If Me.Grid(Me.curRow - 1, Me.curCol) <> GameBoard.CellType.Wall Then
                    Me.curRow = Me.curRow - 1
                    Me.Refresh()
                    If Me.curRow = Me.destRow AndAlso Me.curCol = Me.destCol Then
                        RaiseEvent DestinationReached(Me)
                    End If
                    Return True
                Else
                    MessageBox.Show("You have lost!", "Please wait till game restarts!", MessageBoxButtons.OK)
                    Dim gb As New GameBoard
                    gb.NewMap()
                    gb.Refresh()
                End If
            End If
            Return False
        End Function
 
        Public Function MoveDown() As Boolean
            If Me.curRow < Me.rowCount - 1 Then
                If Me.Grid(Me.curRow + 1, Me.curCol) <> GameBoard.CellType.Wall Then
                    Me.curRow = Me.curRow + 1
                    Me.Refresh()
                    If Me.curRow = Me.destRow AndAlso Me.curCol = Me.destCol Then
                        RaiseEvent DestinationReached(Me)
                    End If
                    Return True
                Else
                    MessageBox.Show("You have lost!", "Please wait till game restarts!", MessageBoxButtons.OK)
                    Dim gb As New GameBoard
                    gb.NewMap()
                    gb.Refresh()
                End If
            End If
            Return False
        End Function
 
        Public Function MoveLeft() As Boolean
            If Me.curCol > 0 Then
                If Me.Grid(Me.curRow, Me.curCol - 1) <> GameBoard.CellType.Wall Then
                    Me.curCol = Me.curCol - 1
                    Me.Refresh()
                    If Me.curRow = Me.destRow AndAlso Me.curCol = Me.destCol Then
                        RaiseEvent DestinationReached(Me)
                    End If
                    Return True
                Else
                    MessageBox.Show("You have lost!", "Please wait till game restarts!", MessageBoxButtons.OK)
                    Dim gb As New GameBoard
                    gb.NewMap()
                    gb.Refresh()
                End If
            End If
            Return False
        End Function
 
        Public Function MoveRight() As Boolean
            If Me.curCol < Me.columnCount - 1 Then
                If Me.Grid(Me.curRow, Me.curCol + 1) <> GameBoard.CellType.Wall Then
                    Me.curCol = Me.curCol + 1
                    Me.Refresh()
                    If Me.curRow = Me.destRow AndAlso Me.curCol = Me.destCol Then
                        RaiseEvent DestinationReached(Me)
                    End If
                    Return True
                Else
                    MessageBox.Show("You have lost!", "Please wait till game restarts!", MessageBoxButtons.OK)
                    Dim gb As New GameBoard
                    gb.NewMap()
                    gb.Refresh()
                End If
            End If
            Return False
        End Function
 
    End Class
 
    Private Sub Button2_Click(ByVal sender As System.Object, ByVal e As System.EventArgs) Handles Button2.Click
 
 
        gb.rowHeight = Me.trkColumnHeight.Value * 10
        gb.rowcount = Me.trkRows.Value
        gb.columnWidth = Me.trkColumnWidth.Value * 10
        gb.columnCount = Me.trkColumns.Value
        gb.leftmargin = 25
 
        gb.NewMap()
        gb.Refresh()
        Me.Panel1.Controls.Add(gb)
        Me.WindowState = FormWindowState.Maximized
 
    End Sub
 
End Class

Select allOpen in new window

any process? :-)

Good morning Mezillinu...hopefully I'll be able to play with this sometime today.  If not, I'll definitely have time to work with it tomorrow morning.

Hi Mezillinu, I see that you were working hard on sunday with Idle Mind.

The panel1 paint event is good for learning because it is easier.  But the best practice is to create a user control, a good software design should implement it, because you can override all the properties and methods to fit your design requirements.
It will be easier to make changes and add new features in the future and you will have a more organized your source code.

I think I have answered your main question, and you have the basics to start with GDI+ and user controls.  You will have to practice a lot because GDI+ is beautifull and very extensive, and you can create amazing UI if you know how to use it correctly.
You will have to learn about double buffer, working with bitmap and other features.

Don't forget to split the points, and if you have more questions, you can check the KB that is full of GDI+ questions and answers, and if you don't find your answer, you can post a new question.

Sorry for not giving you a more complete example, but my work is very demanding and I don't have much time to write samples, but I will give you two usefull links:

The first one is a Microsoft Download where you can find sample vb projects with user controls:
http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/vbasic/ms789075.aspx

The second one was very usefull for me when I was learning GDI+ a few years ago:
http://www.bobpowell.net/beginnersgdi.htm


I hope that helps

thanks for your help :-)

idle mind - no problem - i am playing around with the samples you gave me last ;-)

I would use Regular Expressions to parse the command sequence:
http://www.regular-expressions.info/index.html

...and here is a quick example of RegExs in action:

Imports System.Text.RegularExpressions
Public Class Form1
 
    Private Sub Button1_Click(ByVal sender As System.Object, ByVal e As System.EventArgs) Handles Button1.Click
        Dim sequence As String = "F10R999L3"
        Dim value As Integer
        For Each m As Match In Regex.Matches(sequence, "[fFrRlL]\d*")
            If Integer.TryParse(m.ToString.Substring(1), value) Then
                Select Case m.ToString.Substring(0, 1).ToUpper
                    Case "F"
                        Debug.Print("Forward " & value)
 
                    Case "R"
                        Debug.Print("Right " & value)
 
                    Case "L"
                        Debug.Print("Left " & value)
 
                End Select
            Else
                MessageBox.Show(m.ToString, "Invalid Number", MessageBoxButtons.OK, MessageBoxIcon.Error)
            End If
        Next
    End Sub
 
End Class

Select allOpen in new window

Hmm, I was actually going to validate that in a class, I am not sure what to use, but regular expressions is a very good idea... I will probably use them.

About the algorithm, with the arrow changing on the parsed pieces of string, do you by any change have a similar code snippet about that?  I explained in 21644903, about the arrow - I have no idea how to do that, and I was looking for how to, in the links that pigtor gave me, but still couldnt find anything related to that :s

I'll post some more tomorrow...  =)

thanks :)

*** DO NOT FORGET TO SPLIT POINTS WITH PIGTOR ***

I used NumericUpDown controls for number of rows/columns and then row/column sizes.
Here is the Form code:  (GameBoard class is posted down below)

Public Class Form1

    Private WithEvents gb As GameBoard

    Private Sub Form1_Load(ByVal sender As System.Object, ByVal e As System.EventArgs) Handles MyBase.Load
        gb = New GameBoard
        Me.trkColumnHeight.Value = gb.rowHeight / 10
        Me.trkRows.Value = gb.rowcount
        Me.trkColumnWidth.Value = gb.columnWidth / 10
        Me.trkColumns.Value = gb.columnCount
        Me.Panel1.Controls.Add(gb)
        Me.WindowState = FormWindowState.Maximized
    End Sub

    Private Sub Button1_Click(ByVal sender As System.Object, ByVal e As System.EventArgs) Handles Button1.Click
        gb.rowHeight = Me.trkColumnHeight.Value * 10
        gb.rowcount = Me.trkRows.Value
        gb.columnWidth = Me.trkColumnWidth.Value * 10
        gb.columnCount = Me.trkColumns.Value
        gb.leftmargin = 25

        gb.NewMap()
        gb.Refresh()
    End Sub

    Private Sub Button2_Click(ByVal sender As System.Object, ByVal e As System.EventArgs) Handles Button2.Click
        TextBox1.Enabled = False
        Button2.Enabled = False
        gb.ExecuteCommandString(TextBox1.Text)
    End Sub

    Private Sub gb_BadCommandString(ByVal sender As GameBoard) Handles gb.BadCommandString
        MessageBox.Show(TextBox1.Text, "Bad Command String", MessageBoxButtons.OK, MessageBoxIcon.Error)
        TextBox1.Enabled = True
        Button2.Enabled = True
        TextBox1.Focus()
    End Sub

    Private Sub gb_Crashed(ByVal sender As GameBoard) Handles gb.Crashed
        MessageBox.Show("You have lost!" & vbCrLf & "Try again...", "Hit Wall or Edge of Map", MessageBoxButtons.OK)
        gb.RestartMap()
        TextBox1.Enabled = True
        Button2.Enabled = True
        TextBox1.Focus()
    End Sub

    Private Sub gb_Failed(ByVal sender As GameBoard) Handles gb.Failed
        MessageBox.Show("You have lost!" & vbCrLf & "Try again...", "Failed to reach destination", MessageBoxButtons.OK)
        gb.RestartMap()
        TextBox1.Enabled = True
        Button2.Enabled = True
        TextBox1.Focus()
    End Sub

    Private Sub gb_DestinationReached(ByVal sender As GameBoard) Handles gb.DestinationReached
        MessageBox.Show("Good job!", "Destination Reached", MessageBoxButtons.OK, MessageBoxIcon.Exclamation)
        gb.NewMap()
        gb.Refresh()
        TextBox1.Enabled = True
        Button2.Enabled = True
        TextBox1.Clear()
        TextBox1.Focus()
    End Sub

End Class



...and here is the GameBoard Class:

Imports System.Text.RegularExpressions
Public Class GameBoard
    Inherits PictureBox
 
    Public Enum CellType
        None
        Path
        PathB
        Wall
    End Enum
 
    Public Enum Direction
        North
        NorthEast
        East
        SouthEast
        South
        SouthWest
        West
        NorthWest
    End Enum
 
    Public Event BadCommandString(ByVal sender As GameBoard)
    Public Event Failed(ByVal sender As GameBoard)
    Public Event Crashed(ByVal sender As GameBoard)
    Public Event DestinationReached(ByVal sender As GameBoard)
 
    Public Sub New()
        ' ..this gets rid of the flicker when we call Refresh()...
        Me.SetStyle(ControlStyles.OptimizedDoubleBuffer, True)
        Me.SetStyle(ControlStyles.AllPaintingInWmPaint, True)
        Me.Dock = DockStyle.Fill
        Me.NewMap()
        tmr.Enabled = False
        tmr.Interval = 1000
    End Sub
 
    Public curCol As Integer
    Public curRow As Integer
    Public destCol As Integer
    Public destRow As Integer
    Public curDir As GameBoard.Direction
    Private startCol, startRow As Integer
    Private startDir As GameBoard.Direction
 
    Public _rowHeight As Integer = 30
    Public _rowCount As Integer = 10
    Public _columnWidth As Integer = 50
    Public _columnCount As Integer = 10
    Public _LeftMargin As Integer = 25
 
    Private WithEvents tmr As New Timer
    Private cmdQueue As Queue(Of String)
 
    Public Property columnWidth() As Integer
        Get
            Return _columnWidth
        End Get
        Set(ByVal value As Integer)
            _columnWidth = value
        End Set
    End Property
 
    Public Property rowHeight() As Integer
        Get
            Return _rowHeight
        End Get
        Set(ByVal value As Integer)
            _rowHeight = value
        End Set
    End Property
 
    Public Property rowcount() As Integer
        Get
            Return _rowCount
        End Get
        Set(ByVal value As Integer)
            _rowCount = value
        End Set
    End Property
 
    Public Property columnCount() As Integer
        Get
            Return _columnCount
        End Get
        Set(ByVal value As Integer)
            _columnCount = value
        End Set
    End Property
 
    Public Property leftmargin() As Integer
        Get
            Return _LeftMargin
        End Get
        Set(ByVal value As Integer)
            _LeftMargin = value
        End Set
    End Property
 
    Public Grid(,) As GameBoard.CellType
 
    Public Sub NewMap()
        Dim R As New Random
        ReDim Grid(rowcount - 1, columnCount - 1)
 
        ' start with ALL walls
        For row As Integer = 0 To rowcount - 1
            For col As Integer = 0 To columnCount - 1
                Grid(row, col) = CellType.Wall
            Next
        Next
 
        ' pick starting and destination cells along with direction
        curDir = R.Next(0, 8)
        curCol = R.Next(0, columnCount)
        curRow = R.Next(0, rowcount)
        Grid(curRow, curCol) = CellType.Path
        Do
            destCol = R.Next(0, columnCount)
            destRow = R.Next(0, rowcount)
        Loop While destCol = curCol AndAlso destRow = curRow
        Grid(destRow, destCol) = CellType.PathB
        startRow = curRow
        startCol = curCol
        startDir = curDir
 
        ' make sure there is a path from start to finish
        ' use the "water" method to flow out from both start and finish
        ' at the same time until they meet
        Dim tmpCurCol As Integer = curCol
        Dim tmpCurRow As Integer = curRow
        Dim tmpDestCol As Integer = destCol
        Dim tmpDestRow As Integer = destRow
        Dim dir As Integer
        Dim connected As Boolean = False
        While Not connected
            dir = R.Next(0, 4)
            Select Case dir
                Case 0 ' left
                    If tmpCurCol > 0 Then
                        tmpCurCol = tmpCurCol - 1
                        If Grid(tmpCurRow, tmpCurCol) = CellType.PathB Then
                            connected = True
                        Else
                            Grid(tmpCurRow, tmpCurCol) = CellType.Path
                        End If
                    End If
 
                Case 1 ' right
                    If tmpCurCol < columnCount - 1 Then
                        tmpCurCol = tmpCurCol + 1
                        If Grid(tmpCurRow, tmpCurCol) = CellType.PathB Then
                            connected = True
                        Else
                            Grid(tmpCurRow, tmpCurCol) = CellType.Path
                        End If
                    End If
 
                Case 2 ' up
                    If tmpCurRow > 0 Then
                        tmpCurRow = tmpCurRow - 1
                        If Grid(tmpCurRow, tmpCurCol) = CellType.PathB Then
                            connected = True
                        Else
                            Grid(tmpCurRow, tmpCurCol) = CellType.Path
                        End If
                    End If
 
                Case 3 ' down
                    If tmpCurRow < rowcount - 1 Then
                        tmpCurRow = tmpCurRow + 1
                        If Grid(tmpCurRow, tmpCurCol) = CellType.PathB Then
                            connected = True
                        Else
                            Grid(tmpCurRow, tmpCurCol) = CellType.Path
                        End If
                    End If
 
            End Select
 
            If Not connected Then
                dir = R.Next(0, 4)
                Select Case dir
                    Case 0 ' left
                        If tmpDestCol > 0 Then
                            tmpDestCol = tmpDestCol - 1
                            If Grid(tmpDestRow, tmpDestCol) = CellType.Path Then
                                connected = True
                            Else
                                Grid(tmpDestRow, tmpDestCol) = CellType.PathB
                            End If
                        End If
 
                    Case 1 ' right
                        If tmpDestCol < columnCount - 1 Then
                            tmpDestCol = tmpDestCol + 1
                            If Grid(tmpDestRow, tmpDestCol) = CellType.Path Then
                                connected = True
                            Else
                                Grid(tmpDestRow, tmpDestCol) = CellType.PathB
                            End If
                        End If
 
                    Case 2 ' up
                        If tmpDestRow > 0 Then
                            tmpDestRow = tmpDestRow - 1
                            If Grid(tmpDestRow, tmpDestCol) = CellType.Path Then
                                connected = True
                            Else
                                Grid(tmpDestRow, tmpDestCol) = CellType.PathB
                            End If
                        End If
 
                    Case 3 ' down
                        If tmpDestRow < rowcount - 1 Then
                            tmpDestRow = tmpDestRow + 1
                            If Grid(tmpDestRow, tmpDestCol) = CellType.Path Then
                                connected = True
                            Else
                                Grid(tmpDestRow, tmpDestCol) = CellType.PathB
                            End If
                        End If
 
                End Select
            End If
        End While
 
        ' add random paths
        For row As Integer = 0 To rowcount - 1
            For col As Integer = 0 To columnCount - 1
                If Grid(row, col) = CellType.Wall Then
                    If R.NextDouble < 0.5 Then
                        Grid(row, col) = CellType.Path
                    End If
                End If
            Next
        Next
    End Sub
 
    Public Sub RestartMap()
        curCol = startCol
        curRow = startRow
        curDir = startDir
        Me.Refresh()
    End Sub
 
    Public Sub ExecuteCommandString(ByVal cmds As String)
        cmdQueue = New Queue(Of String)
        Dim value As Integer
        For Each m As Match In Regex.Matches(cmds.ToUpper, "[FRL]\d*")
            If Integer.TryParse(m.ToString.Substring(1), value) Then
                For i As Integer = 1 To value
                    cmdQueue.Enqueue(m.ToString.Substring(0, 1))
                Next
            Else
                MessageBox.Show(m.ToString, "Invalid Number", MessageBoxButtons.OK, MessageBoxIcon.Error)
                RaiseEvent BadCommandString(Me)
                Exit Sub
            End If
        Next
        tmr.Start()
    End Sub
 
    Private Sub GameBoard_Paint(ByVal sender As Object, ByVal e As System.Windows.Forms.PaintEventArgs) Handles Me.Paint
        Const arm_length As Integer = 5
        ' draw the blocks
        Dim rc As Rectangle
        For row As Integer = 0 To rowcount - 1
            For col As Integer = 0 To columnCount - 1
                rc = New Rectangle(New Point(leftmargin + (col * columnWidth), row * rowHeight), New Size(columnWidth, rowHeight))
                e.Graphics.FillRectangle(IIf(Grid(row, col) = CellType.Wall, Brushes.Blue, Brushes.White), rc)
            Next
        Next
 
        ' draw the destination block
        rc = New Rectangle(New Point(leftmargin + (destCol * columnWidth), destRow * rowHeight), New Size(columnWidth, rowHeight))
        e.Graphics.FillRectangle(Brushes.Red, rc)
 
        ' draw the highlighted block with an arrow in it
        rc = New Rectangle(New Point(leftmargin + (curCol * columnWidth), curRow * rowHeight), New Size(columnWidth, rowHeight))
        e.Graphics.FillRectangle(Brushes.Green, rc)
        rc.Inflate(-5, -5)
        Dim x1, y1, x2, y2, dx, dy, length As Integer
        Select Case curDir
            Case Direction.North
                x1 = rc.Left + rc.Width / 2
                y1 = rc.Bottom
                x2 = x1
                y2 = rc.Top
 
            Case Direction.NorthEast
                x1 = rc.Left
                y1 = rc.Bottom
                x2 = rc.Right
                y2 = rc.Top
 
            Case Direction.East
                x1 = rc.Left
                y1 = rc.Top + rc.Height / 2
                x2 = rc.Right
                y2 = y1
 
            Case Direction.SouthEast
                x1 = rc.Left
                y1 = rc.Top
                x2 = rc.Right
                y2 = rc.Bottom
 
            Case Direction.South
                x1 = rc.Left + rc.Width / 2
                y1 = rc.Top
                x2 = x1
                y2 = rc.Bottom
 
            Case Direction.SouthWest
                x1 = rc.Right
                y1 = rc.Top
                x2 = rc.Left
                y2 = rc.Bottom
 
            Case Direction.West
                x1 = rc.Right
                y1 = rc.Top + rc.Height / 2
                x2 = rc.Left
                y2 = y1
 
            Case Direction.NorthWest
                x1 = rc.Right
                y1 = rc.Bottom
                x2 = rc.Left
                y2 = rc.Top
 
        End Select
        dx = x2 - x1
        dy = y2 - y1
        length = Math.Sqrt(dx ^ 2 + dy ^ 2)
        dx = dx / length * arm_length
        dy = dy / length * arm_length
        e.Graphics.DrawLine(Pens.Black, x1, y1, x2, y2)
        e.Graphics.DrawLine(Pens.Black, x2, y2, x2 - dx - dy, y2 - dy + dx)
        e.Graphics.DrawLine(Pens.Black, x2, y2, x2 - dx + dy, y2 - dy - dx)
 
        ' draw the grid lines
        For r As Integer = 0 To rowcount
            e.Graphics.DrawLine(Pens.Black, leftmargin, rowHeight * r, leftmargin + (columnCount * columnWidth), rowHeight * r)
        Next
        For c As Integer = 0 To columnCount
            e.Graphics.DrawLine(Pens.Black, leftmargin + (c * columnWidth), 0, leftmargin + (c * columnWidth), rowcount * rowHeight)
        Next
    End Sub
 
    Private Sub MoveForward()
        Dim deltaRow, deltaCol As Integer
 
        Select Case curDir
            Case Direction.North
                If Me.curRow > 0 Then
                    deltaRow = -1
                    deltaCol = 0
                Else
                    tmr.Stop()
                    RaiseEvent Crashed(Me)
                    Exit Sub
                End If
 
            Case Direction.NorthEast
                If Me.curRow > 0 AndAlso Me.curCol < Me.columnCount - 1 Then
                    deltaRow = -1
                    deltaCol = +1
                Else
                    tmr.Stop()
                    RaiseEvent Crashed(Me)
                    Exit Sub
                End If
 
            Case Direction.East
                If Me.curCol < Me.columnCount - 1 Then
                    deltaRow = 0
                    deltaCol = +1
                Else
                    tmr.Stop()
                    RaiseEvent Crashed(Me)
                    Exit Sub
                End If
 
            Case Direction.SouthEast
                If Me.curRow < Me.rowcount - 1 AndAlso Me.curCol < Me.columnCount - 1 Then
                    deltaRow = +1
                    deltaCol = +1
                Else
                    tmr.Stop()
                    RaiseEvent Crashed(Me)
                    Exit Sub
                End If
 
            Case Direction.South
                If Me.curRow < Me.rowcount - 1 Then
                    deltaRow = +1
                    deltaCol = 0
                Else
                    tmr.Stop()
                    RaiseEvent Crashed(Me)
                    Exit Sub
                End If
 
            Case Direction.SouthWest
                If Me.curRow < Me.rowcount - 1 AndAlso Me.curCol > 0 Then
                    deltaRow = +1
                    deltaCol = -1
                Else
                    tmr.Stop()
                    RaiseEvent Crashed(Me)
                    Exit Sub
                End If
 
            Case Direction.West
                If Me.curCol > 0 Then
                    deltaRow = 0
                    deltaCol = -1
                Else
                    tmr.Stop()
                    RaiseEvent Crashed(Me)
                    Exit Sub
                End If
 
            Case Direction.NorthWest
                If Me.curCol > 0 AndAlso Me.curCol > 0 Then
                    deltaRow = -1
                    deltaCol = -1
                Else
                    tmr.Stop()
                    RaiseEvent Crashed(Me)
                    Exit Sub
                End If
 
        End Select
 
        Me.curRow = Me.curRow + deltaRow
        Me.curCol = Me.curCol + deltaCol
        Me.Refresh()
        If Me.curRow = Me.destRow AndAlso Me.curCol = Me.destCol Then
            tmr.Stop()
            RaiseEvent DestinationReached(Me)
        ElseIf Me.Grid(Me.curRow, Me.curCol) = GameBoard.CellType.Wall Then
            tmr.Stop()
            RaiseEvent Crashed(Me)
        End If
    End Sub
 
    Private Sub TurnRight()
        If curDir = Direction.NorthWest Then
            curDir = Direction.North
        Else
            curDir = curDir + 1
        End If
        Me.Refresh()
    End Sub
 
    Private Sub TurnLeft()
        If curDir = Direction.North Then
            curDir = Direction.NorthWest
        Else
            curDir = curDir - 1
        End If
        Me.Refresh()
    End Sub
 
    Private Sub tmr_Tick(ByVal sender As Object, ByVal e As System.EventArgs) Handles tmr.Tick
        If cmdQueue.Count > 0 Then
            Select Case cmdQueue.Dequeue
                Case "F"
                    Me.MoveForward()
 
                Case "R"
                    Me.TurnRight()
 
                Case "L"
                    Me.TurnLeft()
 
            End Select
        Else
            tmr.Stop()
            RaiseEvent Failed(Me)
        End If
    End Sub
 
End Class

Select allOpen in new window

LogoGame.jpg

thanks for the help guys

"thanks for the help guys"

Not a problem!  I hope you have learned ~SOMETHING~ from this question.  Thanks for remembering to split the points with pigtor.

I enjoyed writing the code and will be using the project to help introduce my 10 year old daughter to the world of programming.  I myself started out at her age so long ago...

All I've done is help someone answer a programming related question on a PUBLIC forum.

On another completely unrelated note, if this was identified in the problem description as homework, I would have approached it with a completely different tact...in "teacher" mode as many of us at EE do.

Of course, that has nothing to do with this question...so I'll leave it at that.

Have a great day!

Hi Idle_Mind,

could i ask you one more question?

Fire away...

I have a couple of few issues on this thread which i will figure out no problems :-) Thanks a lot for your help !!

One thing, have you ever worked on differentiating from errors such as run time exception, sql exception and so on? like all the errors possible out there?

is there a way which .net framework could distinguish between them?

I'll post another thread? better i think even for assigning points

Hi Idle_mind, Could you point me out, just give me an idea - I could do it myself :-)

But if I am to like do levels of the game, for example

a beginner has a 5 x 5 grid
an intermediate has 10 x 10 grid
hard has 20 x 20 grid

And these are static boards, they never change, not with the random.

how do I reach this?

thanks for your help

You need to make a design decision then...where is the information for the layout of the board to be stored?

You could "hard code" it...meaning the information is stored INSIDE the executable.

...or you could store that information in external files in a format of your choosing.  This could easily be done using plain text files (which would make it easy for the end user to make their own boards and import them) or it could be done using Binary Serialization or even XML Serialization.  Serialization involves storing the data in a CUSTOM CLASS and then telling the .Net framework to serialize it (write out the data).

You are dealing with three types of data:
(1) Cell Data --> Either "on" or "off" (wall or pathway)
(2) Start Position
(3) End Position

Thoughts?

I was going to make three of the sub shown below.  The one below is the one you done for me all I did was change the name since it makes a random map.

I as going to do another method that will generate a difficulty level, like easy, intermediate or hard.  And they are always the same! like instead of randomly choosing the cell types.

i had in mind instead of a random, making three types of loops, one which would give me a wall every 3 times in a loop and the others will give me more or less. and then for example in easy level, i will give the loop 10 times, which will give me 3 types of cell A, and 3 types of cell B and 3 of Cell type C for each row.  How does that sound?

And If I am to add a level, instead of 10, I give it 20 or more.  But this will generate three types of maps, I was thinking like 3 of level easy, 3 of level intermediate and 3 of level type hard that are static.  

Other than this, he can then choose from the bars I created for him/her to choose the columns and rows.

What do you think about the idea? or is it redundant?

  Public Sub Random()
        Try
            Dim R As New Random
            ReDim Grid(rowcount - 1, columnCount - 1)
 
            ' start with ALL walls
            For row As Integer = 0 To rowcount - 1
                For col As Integer = 0 To columnCount - 1
                    Grid(row, col) = CellType.Wall
                Next
            Next
 
            ' pick starting and destination cells along with direction
            curDir = R.Next(0, 8)
            curCol = R.Next(0, columnCount)
            curRow = R.Next(0, rowcount)
            Grid(curRow, curCol) = CellType.Path
            Do
                destCol = R.Next(0, columnCount)
                destRow = R.Next(0, rowcount)
            Loop While destCol = curCol AndAlso destRow = curRow
            Grid(destRow, destCol) = CellType.PathB
            startRow = curRow
            startCol = curCol
            startDir = curDir
 
            ' make sure there is a path from start to finish
            ' use the "water" method to flow out from both start and finish
            ' at the same time until they meet
            Dim tmpCurCol As Integer = curCol
            Dim tmpCurRow As Integer = curRow
            Dim tmpDestCol As Integer = destCol
            Dim tmpDestRow As Integer = destRow
            Dim dir As Integer
            Dim connected As Boolean = False
            While Not connected
                dir = R.Next(0, 4)
                Select Case dir
                    Case 0 ' left
                        If tmpCurCol > 0 Then
                            tmpCurCol = tmpCurCol - 1
                            If Grid(tmpCurRow, tmpCurCol) = CellType.PathB Then
                                connected = True
                            Else
                                Grid(tmpCurRow, tmpCurCol) = CellType.Path
                            End If
                        End If
 
                    Case 1 ' right
                        If tmpCurCol < columnCount - 1 Then
                            tmpCurCol = tmpCurCol + 1
                            If Grid(tmpCurRow, tmpCurCol) = CellType.PathB Then
                                connected = True
                            Else
                                Grid(tmpCurRow, tmpCurCol) = CellType.Path
                            End If
                        End If
 
                    Case 2 ' up
                        If tmpCurRow > 0 Then
                            tmpCurRow = tmpCurRow - 1
                            If Grid(tmpCurRow, tmpCurCol) = CellType.PathB Then
                                connected = True
                            Else
                                Grid(tmpCurRow, tmpCurCol) = CellType.Path
                            End If
                        End If
 
                    Case 3 ' down
                        If tmpCurRow < rowcount - 1 Then
                            tmpCurRow = tmpCurRow + 1
                            If Grid(tmpCurRow, tmpCurCol) = CellType.PathB Then
                                connected = True
                            Else
                                Grid(tmpCurRow, tmpCurCol) = CellType.Path
                            End If
                        End If
 
                End Select
 
                If Not connected Then
                    dir = R.Next(0, 4)
                    Select Case dir
                        Case 0 ' left
                            If tmpDestCol > 0 Then
                                tmpDestCol = tmpDestCol - 1
                                If Grid(tmpDestRow, tmpDestCol) = CellType.Path Then
                                    connected = True
                                Else
                                    Grid(tmpDestRow, tmpDestCol) = CellType.PathB
                                End If
                            End If
 
                        Case 1 ' right
                            If tmpDestCol < columnCount - 1 Then
                                tmpDestCol = tmpDestCol + 1
                                If Grid(tmpDestRow, tmpDestCol) = CellType.Path Then
                                    connected = True
                                Else
                                    Grid(tmpDestRow, tmpDestCol) = CellType.PathB
                                End If
                            End If
 
                        Case 2 ' up
                            If tmpDestRow > 0 Then
                                tmpDestRow = tmpDestRow - 1
                                If Grid(tmpDestRow, tmpDestCol) = CellType.Path Then
                                    connected = True
                                Else
                                    Grid(tmpDestRow, tmpDestCol) = CellType.PathB
                                End If
                            End If
 
                        Case 3 ' down
                            If tmpDestRow < rowcount - 1 Then
                                tmpDestRow = tmpDestRow + 1
                                If Grid(tmpDestRow, tmpDestCol) = CellType.Path Then
                                    connected = True
                                Else
                                    Grid(tmpDestRow, tmpDestCol) = CellType.PathB
                                End If
                            End If
 
                    End Select
                End If
            End While
 
            ' add random paths
            For row As Integer = 0 To rowcount - 1
                For col As Integer = 0 To columnCount - 1
                    If Grid(row, col) = CellType.Wall Then
                        If R.NextDouble < 0.5 Then
                            Grid(row, col) = CellType.Path
                        End If
                    End If
                Next
            Next
        Catch ex As Exception
            Throw ex
        End Try
 
    End Sub

Select allOpen in new window

The information about the layer of the board is to be stored in a database i was thinking like a table having
Map Name, Map Difficulty, Map Type

Map Name = the name of the map
Map Difficulty = possibility of 3, easy medium and hard
Map Type = a range 3 types.  Example type 1 makes the first cell a wall, second path, third path 2. The second one makes a wall every 5 blocks, and so on...

I am going to add a folder in my application and in it an SQL database, with the tables in them.  The executable will then have the map information as stated above. There is no need for maps to be imported at the moment so the concern is only getting static maps available for the game user

what do you think about my idea? or is it a bit under rated?

"i had in mind instead of a random, making three types of loops, one which would give me a wall every 3 times in a loop and the others will give me more or less. and then for example in easy level, i will give the loop 10 times, which will give me 3 types of cell A, and 3 types of cell B and 3 of Cell type C for each row."

Sorry...having a hard time understanding what you had envisioned here.  Could you explain in more words?

The biggest issue you are going to face is ensuring that your map is SOLVEABLE.  You can't simply change the probability of walls...you may end up with more or less bricks...but can the user actually get from "start" to "finish"?...

no the map does not have to be always solvable :-) it can be sometimes not solvable so that helps in this case

I had in mind for example, using a number, like 10 for easy, 20 for intermediate, and 30 for hard,

Example

    Dim mynum As Double = 10/20/30
            If mynum Mod 2 = 0 Then
                '"Even"
            ElseIf mynum Mod 2 = 1 Then
                '"Odd"
            End If

If the number is even, make the cell a wall, if not path.  Can this come up with a solution to 9 static maps? that are always the same?

If you want the walls to "vary by distance" then you could do something like:
(pseudo code)

    Dim frequency As Integer = 2/3/4/5
    For i As Integer = 1 To 10/20/30
         If i Mod frequency = 0 Then
             ' turn wall ON
         Else
             ' leave cell OFF
         End If
    Next i

Would this do the trick?

For row As Integer = 0 To rowcount - 1
                For col As Integer = 0 To columnCount - 1
                    If Grid(row, col) = CellType.Wall Then
                        Dim frequency As Integer = 2 / 3 / 4 / 5
                        For i As Integer = 1 To 10 / 20 / 30
                            If i Mod frequency = 0 Then
                                ' turn wall ON
                                Grid(row, col) = CellType.Path
                            Else
                                ' leave cell OFF
                                Grid(row, col) = CellType.None
                            End If
                        Next i
 
                    End If
                Next
            Next

Select allOpen in new window

Hi Idle_mind, I came up with this solution and would like a suggestion if it is OK the way it is?

I call it within the method to create the map

            'create the paths
            createPaths(rowcount, columnCount, 2, 10)

Public Sub createPaths(ByVal rowcount As Integer, ByVal columncount As Integer, _
    ByVal frequency As Integer, ByVal baseNumber As Integer)
        For row As Integer = 0 To rowcount - 1
            For col As Integer = 0 To columncount - 1
                If Grid(row, col) = CellType.Wall Then
                    'Dim frequency As Integer = 2 / 3 / 4 / 5
                    'basenumber 10/20/30
                    For i As Integer = 1 To baseNumber
                        If i Mod frequency = 0 Then
                            ' turn wall ON
                            Grid(row, col) = CellType.Path
                        Else
                            ' leave cell OFF
                            Grid(row, col) = CellType.None
                        End If
                    Next i
 
                End If
            Next
        Next
    End Sub

Select allOpen in new window

Sure...it shold create a fixed pattern that has the specified "density".

Hi Idle mind, another question... wouldnt it be better if the game board would be mapped onto an array?

Huh?...

It's already an Array:

    Public Grid(,) As GameBoard.CellType

That is a two dimensional array of type GameBoard.CellType.

Could you please explain a bit further please because I'm finding a bit hard understanding the code that was inputted to build public grid(,) as gameboard.celltype

thanks for still helping me out here :-)

highly appreciated!

GameBoard.CellType is a simple Enum:

    Public Enum CellType
        None
        Path
        PathB
        Wall
    End Enum

Where by default (since I didn't specify any explicit numbering scheme):

    None = 0
    Path = 1
    PathB = 2
    Wall =3

So you could think of the "Grid" array of being a simple Integer array where the only possible values are 0, 1, 2 and 3.

Does that help conceptualize it?

By making it an Enum, the code is easier to read because the Enum values are descriptive.

Consider this:

    If Me.Grid(Me.curRow, Me.curCol) = GameBoard.CellType.Wall Then

Compared to:

    If Me.Grid(Me.curRow, Me.curCol) = 3 Then

Which conveys more information?

Hi Idle mind, I have an error, could you please help me out?

I have got a function below that returns from a database what i give it as a filter string.  I am calling the maps from the database attached. I added a combobox, that will show the name of the map, and when an item is selected i give my new method called levelmap(), the attributes of the map which are stored in the database.

Like below

  If Me.cmbMaps.Text <> "Choose Map" Then
            Dim tools As New Tools
            Dim gameCollection As DataSet = tools.Return_Access("select * from tbl_gameboards where name = '" & Me.cmbMaps.SelectedItem.ToString & "'", "C:\Documents and Settings\Database_Path\algeek.mdb")

            Dim MaxBaseNumber As Integer = gameCollection.Tables(0).Rows(0).Item(3)
            Dim frequency As Integer = gameCollection.Tables(0).Rows(0).Item(4)
            Dim rows As Integer = gameCollection.Tables(0).Rows(0).Item(5)
            Dim columns As Integer = gameCollection.Tables(0).Rows(0).Item(6)
            Dim cellWidth As Integer = gameCollection.Tables(0).Rows(0).Item(7)
            Dim cellHeight As Integer = gameCollection.Tables(0).Rows(0).Item(8)

            gb.baseNumber = MaxBaseNumber
            gb.frequency = frequency
            gb.rowcount = rows
            gb.rowHeight = cellHeight
            gb.columnWidth = cellWidth
            gb.columnCount = columns
            gb.LevelMap()

        Else
            MessageBox.Show("Please choose map from the drop down list!")
        End If

The problem is that it is giving me an arithmetic overflow here

dx = x2 - x1
        dy = y2 - y1
        length = Math.Sqrt(dx ^ 2 + dy ^ 2)
        dx = dx / length * arm_length
        dy = dy / length * arm_length
        e.Graphics.DrawLine(Pens.Black, x1, y1, x2, y2)
        e.Graphics.DrawLine(Pens.Black, x2, y2, x2 - dx - dy, y2 - dy + dx)
        e.Graphics.DrawLine(Pens.Black, x2, y2, x2 - dx + dy, y2 - dy - dx)

Somethings to add are, that maybe you do not know about, is that I added to more properties to the class which are the base number and the frequency.  The base number is the maximum number it goes through in the loop to return walls out of a number, example in a base number of 10, and with a frequency of 2, 5 walls are returned. In this case, we have 1 path, 1 wall, 1 path, 1 wall, 1 path, 1 wall and so on till 10.

How can I get around this arithmetic overflow?

Public Function Return_Access(ByVal myQuery As String, ByVal myPath As String) As DataSet
 
        Try
            Dim myConnStr As String = "Provider=Microsoft.jet.OLEDB.4.0;Data Source=" + myPath
            Dim myConn As New OleDb.OleDbConnection(myConnStr)
            Dim myAdapt As New OleDb.OleDbDataAdapter(myQuery, myConn)
 
            myConn.Open()
            Dim myReader As New DataSet
            myAdapt.Fill(myReader)
            myConn.Close()
            Return myReader
        Catch ex As Exception
            Throw ex
        End Try
 
    End Function
 
 Public Sub LevelMap()
        Try
            Dim R As New Random
            ReDim Grid(rowcount - 1, columnCount - 1)
            ' start with ALL walls
            For row As Integer = 0 To rowcount - 1
                For col As Integer = 0 To columnCount - 1
                    Grid(row, col) = CellType.Wall
                Next
            Next
 
            ' pick starting and destination cells along with direction
            curDir = R.Next(0, 8)
            curCol = R.Next(0, columnCount)
            curRow = R.Next(0, rowcount)
            Grid(curRow, curCol) = CellType.Path
            Do
                destCol = R.Next(0, columnCount)
                destRow = R.Next(0, rowcount)
            Loop While destCol = curCol AndAlso destRow = curRow
            Grid(destRow, destCol) = CellType.PathB
            startRow = curRow
            startCol = curCol
            startDir = curDir
 
            ' make sure there is a path from start to finish
            ' use the "water" method to flow out from both start and finish
            ' at the same time until they meet
            Dim tmpCurCol As Integer = curCol
            Dim tmpCurRow As Integer = curRow
            Dim tmpDestCol As Integer = destCol
            Dim tmpDestRow As Integer = destRow
            Dim dir As Integer
            Dim connected As Boolean = False
            While Not connected
                dir = R.Next(0, 4)
                Select Case dir
                    Case 0 ' left
                        If tmpCurCol > 0 Then
                            tmpCurCol = tmpCurCol - 1
                            If Grid(tmpCurRow, tmpCurCol) = CellType.PathB Then
                                connected = True
                            Else
                                Grid(tmpCurRow, tmpCurCol) = CellType.Path
                            End If
                        End If
 
                    Case 1 ' right
                        If tmpCurCol < columnCount - 1 Then
                            tmpCurCol = tmpCurCol + 1
                            If Grid(tmpCurRow, tmpCurCol) = CellType.PathB Then
                                connected = True
                            Else
                                Grid(tmpCurRow, tmpCurCol) = CellType.Path
                            End If
                        End If
 
                    Case 2 ' up
                        If tmpCurRow > 0 Then
                            tmpCurRow = tmpCurRow - 1
                            If Grid(tmpCurRow, tmpCurCol) = CellType.PathB Then
                                connected = True
                            Else
                                Grid(tmpCurRow, tmpCurCol) = CellType.Path
                            End If
                        End If
 
                    Case 3 ' down
                        If tmpCurRow < rowcount - 1 Then
                            tmpCurRow = tmpCurRow + 1
                            If Grid(tmpCurRow, tmpCurCol) = CellType.PathB Then
                                connected = True
                            Else
                                Grid(tmpCurRow, tmpCurCol) = CellType.Path
                            End If
                        End If
 
                End Select
 
                If Not connected Then
                    dir = R.Next(0, 4)
                    Select Case dir
                        Case 0 ' left
                            If tmpDestCol > 0 Then
                                tmpDestCol = tmpDestCol - 1
                                If Grid(tmpDestRow, tmpDestCol) = CellType.Path Then
                                    connected = True
                                Else
                                    Grid(tmpDestRow, tmpDestCol) = CellType.PathB
                                End If
                            End If
 
                        Case 1 ' right
                            If tmpDestCol < columnCount - 1 Then
                                tmpDestCol = tmpDestCol + 1
                                If Grid(tmpDestRow, tmpDestCol) = CellType.Path Then
                                    connected = True
                                Else
                                    Grid(tmpDestRow, tmpDestCol) = CellType.PathB
                                End If
                            End If
 
                        Case 2 ' up
                            If tmpDestRow > 0 Then
                                tmpDestRow = tmpDestRow - 1
                                If Grid(tmpDestRow, tmpDestCol) = CellType.Path Then
                                    connected = True
                                Else
                                    Grid(tmpDestRow, tmpDestCol) = CellType.PathB
                                End If
                            End If
 
                        Case 3 ' down
                            If tmpDestRow < rowcount - 1 Then
                                tmpDestRow = tmpDestRow + 1
                                If Grid(tmpDestRow, tmpDestCol) = CellType.Path Then
                                    connected = True
                                Else
                                    Grid(tmpDestRow, tmpDestCol) = CellType.PathB
                                End If
                            End If
 
                    End Select
                End If
            End While
 
            'create the paths
            createPaths(rowcount, columnCount, frequency, baseNumber)
 
        Catch ex As Exception
            Throw ex
        End Try
 
    End Sub
 
Public Sub createPaths(ByVal rowcount As Integer, ByVal columncount As Integer, _
    ByVal frequency As Integer, ByVal baseNumber As Integer)
        For row As Integer = 0 To rowcount - 1
            For col As Integer = 0 To columncount - 1
                If Grid(row, col) = CellType.Wall Then
                    'Dim frequency As Integer = 2 / 3 / 4 / 5
                    'basenumber 10/20/30
                    For i As Integer = 1 To baseNumber
                        If i Mod frequency = 0 Then
                            ' turn wall ON
                            Grid(row, col) = CellType.Path
                        Else
                            ' leave cell OFF
                            Grid(row, col) = CellType.None
                        End If
                    Next i
 
                End If
            Next
        Next
    End Sub

Select allOpen in new window

AlGeek.mdb

Yes, that makes it a bit easier to understand

so in this case the array is then generated upon the properties that I am passing through the class.

right?

The arithmetic overflow would occur if you were using a REALLY big cell size.  If the cells are too wide or tall then this line would be the likely culprit:

    length = Math.Sqrt(dx ^ 2 + dy ^ 2)

We are taknig the square of dx and dy which could possibly be exceeding the maximum range of the Integer data type.

Check the values of dx and dy by printing them out to the Immediate window.

The cell sizes are being extracted out of the database, which are
Cell Width = 10
Cell Height = 10

Are there any limitations for this? And how can I avoid this apart from putting a simple if statement?

Then it would be my guess that the values are either being stored incorrectly or coming back out of your database incorrectly making those numbers become huge.

Hi Idle_Mind

I managed to fix that problem.  I have done that part, but I wanted the maps to be static, and for some reason, when i load different maps they come up different all the time :s

this does not make sense as i am giving it always the same values, can you help me out here?

under the button click event to load the map i have this code

If Me.cmbMaps.Text <> "Choose Map" Then
            Dim tools As New Tools
            Dim gameCollection As DataSet = tools.Return_Access("select * from tbl_gameboards where name = '" & Me.cmbMaps.SelectedItem.ToString & "'", "C:\Documents and Settings\Stephen Borg\My Documents\Visual Studio 2005\Projects\VB.NET IADCS Assignment\VB.NET IADCS Assignment\Database\algeek.mdb")

            Dim MaxBaseNumber As Integer = gameCollection.Tables(0).Rows(0).Item(3)
            Dim frequency As Integer = gameCollection.Tables(0).Rows(0).Item(4)
            Dim rows As Integer = gameCollection.Tables(0).Rows(0).Item(5)
            Dim columns As Integer = gameCollection.Tables(0).Rows(0).Item(6)
            Dim cellWidth As Integer = gameCollection.Tables(0).Rows(0).Item(7)
            Dim cellHeight As Integer = gameCollection.Tables(0).Rows(0).Item(8)

            gb.baseNumber = MaxBaseNumber
            gb.frequency = frequency
            gb.rowcount = rows
            gb.rowHeight = cellHeight
            gb.columnWidth = cellWidth
            gb.columnCount = columns
            gb.LevelMap()

        Else
            MessageBox.Show("Please choose map from the drop down list!")
        End If

and level map is this code

 Public Sub LevelMap()
        Try
            Dim R As New Random
            ReDim Grid(rowcount - 1, columnCount - 1)
            ' start with ALL walls
            For row As Integer = 0 To rowcount - 1
                For col As Integer = 0 To columnCount - 1
                    Grid(row, col) = CellType.Wall
                Next
            Next

            ' pick starting and destination cells along with direction
            curDir = R.Next(0, 8)
            curCol = R.Next(0, columnCount)
            curRow = R.Next(0, rowcount)
            Grid(curRow, curCol) = CellType.Path
            Do
                destCol = R.Next(0, columnCount)
                destRow = R.Next(0, rowcount)
            Loop While destCol = curCol AndAlso destRow = curRow
            Grid(destRow, destCol) = CellType.PathB
            startRow = curRow
            startCol = curCol
            startDir = curDir

            ' make sure there is a path from start to finish
            ' use the "water" method to flow out from both start and finish
            ' at the same time until they meet
            Dim tmpCurCol As Integer = curCol
            Dim tmpCurRow As Integer = curRow
            Dim tmpDestCol As Integer = destCol
            Dim tmpDestRow As Integer = destRow
            Dim dir As Integer
            Dim connected As Boolean = False
            While Not connected
                dir = R.Next(0, 4)
                Select Case dir
                    Case 0 ' left
                        If tmpCurCol > 0 Then
                            tmpCurCol = tmpCurCol - 1
                            If Grid(tmpCurRow, tmpCurCol) = CellType.PathB Then
                                connected = True
                            Else
                                Grid(tmpCurRow, tmpCurCol) = CellType.Path
                            End If
                        End If

                    Case 1 ' right
                        If tmpCurCol < columnCount - 1 Then
                            tmpCurCol = tmpCurCol + 1
                            If Grid(tmpCurRow, tmpCurCol) = CellType.PathB Then
                                connected = True
                            Else
                                Grid(tmpCurRow, tmpCurCol) = CellType.Path
                            End If
                        End If

                    Case 2 ' up
                        If tmpCurRow > 0 Then
                            tmpCurRow = tmpCurRow - 1
                            If Grid(tmpCurRow, tmpCurCol) = CellType.PathB Then
                                connected = True
                            Else
                                Grid(tmpCurRow, tmpCurCol) = CellType.Path
                            End If
                        End If

                    Case 3 ' down
                        If tmpCurRow < rowcount - 1 Then
                            tmpCurRow = tmpCurRow + 1
                            If Grid(tmpCurRow, tmpCurCol) = CellType.PathB Then
                                connected = True
                            Else
                                Grid(tmpCurRow, tmpCurCol) = CellType.Path
                            End If
                        End If

                End Select

                If Not connected Then
                    dir = R.Next(0, 4)
                    Select Case dir
                        Case 0 ' left
                            If tmpDestCol > 0 Then
                                tmpDestCol = tmpDestCol - 1
                                If Grid(tmpDestRow, tmpDestCol) = CellType.Path Then
                                    connected = True
                                Else
                                    Grid(tmpDestRow, tmpDestCol) = CellType.PathB
                                End If
                            End If

                        Case 1 ' right
                            If tmpDestCol < columnCount - 1 Then
                                tmpDestCol = tmpDestCol + 1
                                If Grid(tmpDestRow, tmpDestCol) = CellType.Path Then
                                    connected = True
                                Else
                                    Grid(tmpDestRow, tmpDestCol) = CellType.PathB
                                End If
                            End If

                        Case 2 ' up
                            If tmpDestRow > 0 Then
                                tmpDestRow = tmpDestRow - 1
                                If Grid(tmpDestRow, tmpDestCol) = CellType.Path Then
                                    connected = True
                                Else
                                    Grid(tmpDestRow, tmpDestCol) = CellType.PathB
                                End If
                            End If

                        Case 3 ' down
                            If tmpDestRow < rowcount - 1 Then
                                tmpDestRow = tmpDestRow + 1
                                If Grid(tmpDestRow, tmpDestCol) = CellType.Path Then
                                    connected = True
                                Else
                                    Grid(tmpDestRow, tmpDestCol) = CellType.PathB
                                End If
                            End If

                    End Select
                End If
            End While

            'create the paths
            createPaths(rowcount, columnCount, frequency, baseNumber)

        Catch ex As Exception
            Throw ex
        End Try

    End Sub


and create paths is this code

Public Sub createPaths(ByVal rowcount As Integer, ByVal columncount As Integer, _
    ByVal frequency As Integer, ByVal baseNumber As Integer)
        For row As Integer = 0 To rowcount - 1
            For col As Integer = 0 To columncount - 1
                If Grid(row, col) = CellType.Wall Then
                    'Dim frequency As Integer = 2 / 3 / 4 / 5
                    'basenumber 10/20/30
                    For i As Integer = 1 To baseNumber
                        If i Mod frequency = 0 Then
                            ' turn wall ON
                            Grid(row, col) = CellType.Path
                        Else
                            ' leave cell OFF
                            Grid(row, col) = CellType.Wall
                        End If
                    Next i

                End If
            Next
        Next
    End Sub

the information stored in the database, is always static, and i am expecting to get always from what is loaded from the database, to be same maps.

is there something that im missing?

thanks for your help!

Hi Idle_mind, I can see that the problem is of me creating a random number which will set each cell randomly - how can i make it static? what do i use instead of the random number?

thanks for helping me out

hey idle_mind - can you help me out on this please?

Sorry...been busy...I'll take a look later today.

Thanks :-)