You may open the Lua Console by hitting the [`] key. (Also known as the tilde [~] key, or the [¬] key) click here to view key

BEFORE YOU FRET, YOU CAN STILL USE OLD COMMANDS. JUST PLACE AN '!' (without quotes) BEFORE THE COMMAND IN THE CONSOLE

!set type dust metl

The equivalent command in TPT's Lua is tpt.set_property("type", "metl", "dust") (see https://powdertoy.co.uk/Wiki.html?id=lua#tptset_property )

But, try to learn the Lua interface. It may be a lot more useful to you than you think. (This wiki does not teach you the Lua language. This is simply an API. But, you may research Lua on your own http://www.lua.org/manual/5.1/ )

The new Lua Console now provides the ability to create scripts using Lua, a very simple scripting language.

With the ability to script with Lua, users are now able to create simple modifications to the game without editing source code easily.

Quick Introduction to Scripts

How to run a script

To run a script, place the .lua file in the root folder of powder toy (where the powder toy executable is located). Open the console (see below) and type in dofile("filename.lua") where "filename.lua" is the the script you wish to run.

Variable Types

The different variable types are:

• 'string'

Represents a word, character, or phrase. 'string' variables must begin and end with double-quotes. (")

Example: local str = "This is a string variable."

• 'number'

Represents a number. Numbers may be floating-point or fixed-point types (meaning they may have decimals [floating-point] or may be numbers with no fraction [fixed-point].)

Example: local num = 1234

• 'boolean'

Represents a switch that is either on (true) or off (false).

Example: local bool = true

• 'function'

Represents a method or function in lua.

Example: function func(arguments)

NOTE: Functions that use a 'function' as an argument do not include the () at the end. Only the name must be given.

• 'table'

Tables are a group of variables. Tables can also act as an array. Tables can carry any type of variables, and can even mix different types of variables.

Example: local tbl = {}

This creates a blank table.

Example: local tbl = {1, 2, 3, "string"}

Creates a table with the elements 1, 2, 3 and "string".

You can call these variables in this manner:

 tbl[1] --returns 1
 tbl[2] --returns 2
 tbl[3] --returns 3
 tbl[4] --returns "string"

Example:

 local tbl = {}
 tbl.x = 7
 tbl.y = 5
 tbl.str = "this is a string"
 tbl.sqr = function(v) return v * v end

Creates a table with the variables x, y, str, and the function sqr.

You can call these variables in this manner:

 tbl.x --returns 7
 tbl.y --returns 5
 tbl.str --returns "this is a string"
 tbl.sqr(2) --returns 4 (remember this is a function that takes 'v' and squares it. )

• 'object'

Acts as a wildcard. It can be represented as any of the above, but this does not mean it can be any type, it depends on the function.

General Arguments

The arguments given here are general, here are some examples:

'string property

This is to specify what property of a particle to change. REMINDER: This is a 'string' variable, meaning it is a word that must begin and end with double-quotes. (") The different available properties are:

 "type"
 "life"
 "ctype"
 "temp"
 "tmp"
 "vx"
 "vy"
 "x"
 "y"
 "dcolour"
 "id"

Any other given strings will result with an invalid property error.

'object value

What you are setting the current property to. Since this is an object variable, it's type will depend on the function.

'string type

A 'string' which is the code-name of an element "dust" "watr" "spng".

'number index

A specific particle number by it's index.

'number state

0 or 1, 0 for off, 1 for on.

'number Width and 'number Height

Represent a rectangle.

'number x and 'number y

Represents a 2-Dimensional coordinate.

'string text

Represents text

'number toggle

Represents either 1 for on or 0 for off

'number menu

Represents a menu, eg 1 = Walls, 2 = Electronics

'number display

Represents a display mode, eg 4 = Fire, 6 = Heat

Lua API

The Powder Toy exposes the following methods to the Lua API:

Game

tpt.set_pause

• Set the paused state of the game

tpt.set_pause(number state)

tpt.set_console

• Set the visibility state of the console

tpt.set_console(number state)

tpt.set_shortcuts

• Set whether keyboard shortcuts are enabled

tpt.set_shortcuts(number state)

tpt.set_gravity

• Sets values on the gravity map, 3 overloads

tpt.set_gravity(number x, number y)

tpt.set_gravity(number x, number y, number width, number height)

tpt.set_gravity(number x, number y, number width, number height, number value)

tpt.reset_gravity_field

• Resets regions on the gravity velocity map, 2 overloads

tpt.reset_gravity_field(number x, number y)

tpt.reset_gravity_field(number x, number y, number width, number height)

tpt.set_pressure

• Sets values on the pressure map, 3 overloads

tpt.set_pressure(number x, number y)

tpt.set_pressure(number x, number y, number width, number height)

tpt.set_pressure(number x, number y, number width, number height, number value)

tpt.reset_velocity

• Resets regions on the velocity map, 2 overloads

tpt.reset_velocity(number x, number y)

tpt.reset_velocity(number x, number y, number width, number height)

tpt.hud

• Toggles HUD State

tpt.hud(number toggle)

tpt.newtonian_gravity

• Toggles Newtonian Gravity State

tpt.newtonian_gravity(number toggle)

tpt.ambient_heat

• Toggles Ambient Heat State

tpt.ambient_heat(number toggle)

tpt.decorations_enable

• Toggles visibility of decorations

tpt.decorations_enable(number toggle)

tpt.heat

• Toggles Heat Simulation State

tpt.heat(number toggle)

tpt.active_menu

• Changes activated menu

tpt.active_menu(number menu)

tpt.display_mode

• Changes activated display mode

tpt.display_mode(number display)

tpt.setfpscap

• Changes the maximum FPS.

tpt.setfpscap(number fpscap)

tpt.setfire

• Changes the strength of the games glowing effects. tpt.setfire(1) is default.

tpt.setfire(number strength)

tpt.setwindowsize

• Changes the window settings. Scale is either 1 or 2. Returns a number, probably to indicate success.

tpt.setwindowsize(number scale, toggle fullscreen)

Particles

tpt.reset_spark

• Removes electrified wires from the simulation, resetting to the original material

tpt.reset_spark()

tpt.set_property

• Set various properties of particles for given criteria, 8 overloads

tpt.set_property(string property, object value)

tpt.set_property(string property, object value, string type)

tpt.set_property(string property, object value, number index)

tpt.set_property(string property, object value, number index, string type)

tpt.set_property(string property, object value, number x, number y)

tpt.set_property(string property, object value, number x, number y, string type)

tpt.set_property(string property, object value, number x, number y, number width, number height)

tpt.set_property(string property, object value, number x, number y, number width, number height, string type)

object tpt.get_property

• Get various properties of a particle. Returns an object

tpt.get_property(string property, number index)

tpt.get_property(string property, number x, number y)

tpt.create

• Create a particle at location.

tpt.create(number x, number y, string type)

tpt.delete

• Delete a specific particle, or location.

tpt.delete(number index)

tpt.delete(number x, number y)

tpt.start_getPartIndex

• Start the iterator for receiving all indecies of the particles. (Used to help get particle indecies, see tpt.next_getPartIndex)

tpt.start_getPartIndex()

boolean tpt.next_getPartIndex

• Jump to the next available particle index. Returns false if the iterator has reached the end of all particle indecies. Returns true if a new index was available. (Used to help get particle indecies, see tpt.getPartIndex)

tpt.next_getPartIndex()

number tpt.getPartIndex

• Get the current index iterator.

index code example:

    tpt.start_getPartIndex()
    while tpt.next_getPartIndex() do
       local index = tpt.getPartIndex()
       if tpt.get_property("ctype",index) == 21 then
          tpt.set_property("ctype","sing",index)
       end
    end

tpt.getPartIndex()

number tpt.get_numOfParts

• Returns the number of particles currently on the screen.

tpt.get_numOfParts()

Drawing

number tpt.textwidth

• Measures (in pixels) the width of a given string. Returns a number

tpt.textwidth(string text)

tpt.drawtext

• Draw text to the screen (for one frame, only useful in scripts), 3 overloads

tpt.drawtext(number x, number y, string text)

tpt.drawtext(number x, number y, string text, number red, number green, number blue)

tpt.drawtext(number x, number y, string text, number red, number green, number blue, number alpha)

tpt.drawpixel

• Draws a pixel on the screen (for one frame, only useful in scripts), 3 overloads

tpt.drawpixel(number x, number y)

tpt.drawpixel(number x, number y, number red, number green, number blue)

tpt.drawpixel(number x, number y, number red, number green, number blue, number alpha)

tpt.drawrect

• Draws a rectangle on the screen (for one frame, only useful in scripts), 3 overloads

tpt.drawrect(number x, number y, number width, number height)

tpt.drawrect(number x, number y, number width, number height, number red, number green, number blue)

tpt.drawrect(number x, number y, number width, number height, number red, number green, number blue, number alpha)

tpt.fillrect

• Draws a filled in rectangle on the screen (for one frame, only useful in scripts), 3 overloads

tpt.fillrect(number x, number y, number width, number height)

tpt.fillrect(number x, number y, number width, number height, number red, number green, number blue)

tpt.fillrect(number x, number y, number width, number height, number red, number green, number blue, number alpha)

Input/Output

tpt.log

• Log a message to the console

tpt.log(string text)

tpt.message_box

• Display an OK-Only message box with a title and message.

tpt.message_box(string title, string message)

string tpt.input

• Ask the user to input some text. Returns a string of what ever the user says. The argument "text" is pre-entered text (optional).

tpt.input(string title, string message)

tpt.input(string title, string message, string text)

Events

tpt.register_step

• Register a function to be run on every frame

tpt.register_step(function func)

tpt.unregister_step

• Unregister a previously registered function

tpt.unregister_step(function func)

tpt.register_mouseclick

• Register a function to be run every time the mouse clicks. Your function will also be called when the mouse is released or held
• Event is 1 is the mouse is pressed, 2 if the mouse is released, and 3 if it is held
• If your function returns false, mouse events in the normal Powder Toy will be ignored

Passes: (number mousex, number mousey, number button, number event)

tpt.register_mouseclick(function func)

tpt.unregister_mouseclick

• Unregister a previously registered function

tpt.unregister_mouseclick(function func)

tpt.register_keypress

• Register a function to be run every time a key is pressed. Your function will also be called when the mouse is released
• Event is 1 is a key is pressed, and 2 if it is released
• If your function returns false, key presses in the normal Powder Toy will be ignored

Passes: (string key, number key, number modifier)

tpt.register_keypress(function func)

tpt.unregister_keypress

• Unregister a previously registered function

tpt.unregister_keypress(function func)

Misc

string tpt.get_name

• Get the current username, returns a string

tpt.get_name()

tpt.throw_error

• Displays an error message

tpt.throw_error(string text)

tpt.setdebug

• Sets the "debug mode". Only odd numbers seem to do anything for now.

tpt.setdebug(number mode)

Mods with Lua Functions

Me4502's Mod

NOTICE: THESE FUNCTIONS ARE AVAILABLE IN VERSION 3.0b11 OR LATER

String Property Additions

"collision"
"airdrag"
"flammable"
"weight"
"falldown"
"gravity"
"explosive"
"meltable"
"hardness"
"name"
"airloss"
"loss"
"hotair"
"actas"

New Functions

tpt.throw_error(string error)

tpt.getscript(string script)

tpt.hud(number state)

tpt.newtonian_gravity(number state)

tpt.ambient_heat(number state)

tpt.decorations_enable(number state)

tpt.heat(number state)

tpt.active_menu(number menu)

tpt.display_mode(number display)

tpt.set_glow(number fireintensity)

Simple Example Code

 -- This line is a comment. Anything written after the -- is considered a Comment and will not be read by Lua.
 
 -- Set the console's state to 0. This will hide the console.
 tpt.set_console(0)
 
 -- Here we define our main function for the script
 function ClassicPowder()
    local ox = 125 -- This will be our offset for the different elements we will create.
    local y = 4 -- where on the y (vertical) axis where we will create our elements.
 
    local x = ox -- where on the x (horizontal) axis where we will create our elements. we will start the x value with what ever ox is above.
    for i=0, 10 do -- this is a for loop. everything between the do and end will loop until i hits 10. i increases by 1 every loop.
       tpt.create(x + i, y, "DUST") --create a dust particle
    end
 
    x = x + ox -- increase the x axis value by the offset x (ox) value above
    for i=0, 10 do
       tpt.create(x + i, y, "WATR") --create a water particle
    end
 
    x = x + ox
    for i=0, 10 do
       tpt.create(x + i, y, "SALT")
    end
 
    x = x + ox
    for i=0, 10 do
       tpt.create(x + i, y, "OIL")
    end
 
    return false
 end
 
 -- Register the step function ClassicPowder. This will make the ClassicPowder function run every tick of Powder Toy.
 tpt.register_step(ClassicPowder)