Getting use to 7

[Jason Pate]

I was going nuts trying to get my brain around the new scripting engine in 7.0. I have used both SF 5 and 6,for large complicated projects, but I was just not getting 7's scripting engine. I was about to chuck 7 out the window, even using the Action Wizard I was simply NOT getting it. After some post I got through some of my issues, but I was still LOST, I ordered the "Programming in Lua (http://www.inf.puc-rio.br/~roberto/book/)" book from Amazon (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/8590379817/qid=1096143462/sr=8-1/ref=pd_csp_1/102-2260376-6812121?v=glance&s=books&n=507846) While I would say it was somewhat helpful I would not recommend it, for it was way too deep for what I needed and its also posted online for free.

But what I found to be very useful is IR Autoplay Menu 5 Scripting Guide (http://www.indigorose.com/files/ams50/ams50_scripting.pdf). If you don’t already know it also uses LUA for its scripting engine. Its not prefect but I am starting to see the light. Bottom line IR please make a scripting guide for SF7, and for those who are having trouble I would recommend give it a read.



http://www.indigorose.com/files/ams50/ams50_scripting.pdf


http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/8590379817/qid=1096143462/sr=8-1/ref=pd_csp_1/102-2260376-6812121?v=glance&s=books&n=507846

http://www.inf.puc-rio.br/~roberto/book/

[Corey]

Hi Jason. Quick question. Do you think it would be beneficial for you guys if I produce a Speedy Training CD (http://www.speedytraining.com) which is focused directly on SUF scripting only? Of course the price would be under $40 as always. :)

Let me know. If I can help, I will. :yes

On another note I'm really glad to hear you stuck with it. I've read your posts. You are exactly the type of person we like to have around here. :)

Corey Milner
Creative Director, Indigo Rose Software (http://www.indigorose.com)

[csd214]

Have you read the chapter 'Scripting Guide' in Setup Factory's chm file? And the same chapter in the 'User Guide'?

I'm glad you got through some of your issues (I remember your first posts). To be honest: I don't really understand your pain. I'm NOT a professional programmer (but I know a little about several script/programming languages). I have never – NEVER – experienced a script language so easy to understand like the Lua engine in Setup Factory and AMS! The wizard – with its examples – is terrific. So is the IntelliSense.

I'm NOT found on the IR's pay roll. I'm just a common user. But I have learned to love Setup Factory, AutoPlay Media Studio - and Indigo Rose... Not to the benefit of IR, but to MY benefit. Yes, IR does some mistakes. Like YOU and ME. But introducing the Lua in Setup Factory is NOT a mistake. Definitively.

[Intrigued]

Being a user that has viewed two of three of the AMS 5 Speedy Training CD-ROM suite... I would recommend the Speedy Training path (and reading the documentation that is available, of course).

I have created both for retail and for inner office use training CDs and when I fired up I.R.'s (authored by Corey) Speedy Training offerings... I found that the flow was well laid out. It is easy to understand the steps needed, because there is not a bunch of background 'fluff' that can confuse one. This is information you can use right away... not just theory training!

If you want to save your sanity... the way to go would be a SF 7.0 Action Scripting training when/if it becomes available!

My nose may be brown now... but, it's a price I am willing to pay to help others get to the knowledge they should also have!

But, that's my couple'o'pennies take on learning...

Sincerely and Best Wishes,

[Corey]

Yes I definitely prefer the no frills approach. I saw some Total Training stuff once and I was mortified at the structure. It's like TV show. I don't want to spend 4 hours learning 15 minutes worth of material so I figured no one else did either. To me when they says things like, "Over 9 hours of training on 7 DVDs!!!" that's no selling point at all, I'm all like, "9 Hours?!! 7 DVDs?!! I don't have that kind of time slash attention span..."

Anyhow the Setup Factory training CD is decent I think. It's a usability CD, not a theory CD. Here's what I can promise about this CD. If you spend one full serious-sit-down-no-TV-in-the-background-learning day going through it and trying out the examples, you will have a very decent basis for working in Setup Factory 7.0. That was my goal anyhow. :yes

Corey Milner
Creative Director, Indigo Rose Software (http://www.indigorose.com)

[Jason Pate]

I have not seen any of the speedtraning, but it sounds like it would help. Some things in LUA drive me nuts like the "==" vs a single = and double // I understand their are reasons for these things, but for a novice these things are CONFUSING and make no sense until you dig deeper. and the Action wizard does not automatically add these things making it I hate to say it but less that useful. I totally understand why it does not for there a reasons and times for putting things in a specific way. I would LOVE a check box or something in the action wizard to insert or suggest proper coding changes. For using a Wizard suggest that it does all the hard work for you so you cant forget the little things.

[Intrigued]

There are a few things that one just needs folks to tell them about, no doubt. We all found out that instead of just one '\'.. you need two '\\' in a file path.

As a matter of fact, I believe having a 'sticky' thread with a section like such:

AutoPlay Media Studio 5 (Setup Factory 7) - Things to watch out for

Would be very useful for all and especially the new users coming on board. I would have greatly appreciated such!

Sincerely,

[eric_darling]

That's a great idea, Intrigued! An FAQ would be beneficial for all those questions that keep coming up.

[Corey]

How about a FAQ forum where those sorts of things can get archived? Would that work? At least that way it's fully searchable...

Corey Milner
Creative Director, Indigo Rose Software (http://www.indigorose.com)

[Intrigued]

Corey, that sounds good to me!

[Corey]

OK well that's definitely something we can do, just let me discuss it with the Big Cheese on Moonday and we'll get it goooooing. :)

Corey Milner
Creative Director, Indigo Rose Software (http://www.indigorose.com)

[JimS]

Welcome aboard Jason,
I’m happy to see you turn the corner. I agree that SUF7 is a major upgrade to SUF6. As major of an upgrade as moving from AMS4 to AMS5. The changes aren’t trivial to get your head around.

The biggest change is the LUA scripting language. AMS5 uses the same scripting language, so many of your first questions are likely to be similar to the first questions those of us who moved to AMS5 had. Tables, paths, Concat strings and data, proper use of “”. I would suppose that those and a few others, make up the bulk of the questions.

So, ask away! Don’t worry if your questions are stupid. If they banned people for stupid questions, I’d of been out a long time ago. Besides, Corey made us all promise we wouldn’t snicker at anyone until after they had posted 64 stupid questions. Actually, he was kind enough to up that to 64 stupid questions ‘in a row’, during my first month of membership. Don’t laugh, if I was attractive, you wouldn’t expect me to ask intelligent questions. :lol

Seriously, this forum is frequented by users of several different skill levels, and areas of expertise. We have all asked our questions, and all have benefited from having another set of eyes check our code.

Hopefully, your first couple of questions will be easy ones. That gives more of us a chance to answer them. When you see a question that you know the answer to, don’t be bashful about posting a reply. Thanks in advance.

Buy training disks, or don’t buy training disks, that’s up to you. None of us will ever know unless you mention it.

I guarantee that if any of your questions are answered by material covered on the training disk, you will also be able to get the question answered here in the Forum for free. They don’t withhold information in order to sell more training disks. Of course, you have to be willing to do your part, ask a serious question, and be willing to give it as much effort as the person who helps find the answer.

I figure the question on the training disks come down to what you figure your time is worth. Unless you have a live tutor sitting next to you, I think that training disks probably provide the quickest route to getting your head around the new concepts.

On the other hand, if you’re not in a hurry to get up to speed, trawl these forums, and ask lots of questions. Either way, it’s nice to have a new member.

I do have one tip that SUF7 users might find useful. If you have a question concerning scripting, expand your search to include the AMS5 forums. Same scripting engine, so they’ll probably have quite a bit of overlap.

Cheers.

[Jason Pate]

I do appreciate everyone's help in the Forum not just for SF7 but all the IR products I have used over the years. The forum is one of the best assets as users that we have. I have yet to upgrade to Autoplay 5, still using 3, after I get more proficient in LUA I will push to order it. A FAQ or even a whole forum for the scripting engine would be great!! Get questions posted to a more specific forum will help everyone short out the type of questions. I am also thrilled that everyone has taken the time to read my original posting this is truly the Forum at its best thanks all.