Cheat Engine

[paul44]

Via the addresslist, one can enable the 'execute asynchronous' option. This offers - at least - 3 important features:
1. CE will not "hang" during its running
2. info updated to a form (gui) will constantly be updated
3. a 'watch' icon visually shows its progress state

How can one configure/program this using lua ?

Basically: i have a form with a button, to run a particular script. If i run the script via the addresslist, everything is peachy (as per aforementioned). If i try to run this same script via the (form) button, no cigar... (ie it does execute, but CE shows "no activity", and trying to 'intervene' prompts "it being busy")

btw: if i disable the 'async' option in the addresslist, i "loose" that same featureset.
ps: createthread comes to mind, but not overly enthousiastic about using it (as no real experience with its use)
ps2: also checked celua.txt but nothing seems "appropriate"

[panraven]

Here an example to assure a memrec to be exec async, (copy and paste in the addresslist panel)

[ParkourPenguin]

All {$lua} blocks are executed in a separate thread when memrec.Async is set to true. Use createThread if needed.

This also means you should never access anything related to the GUI from that {$lua} block of code. Only the main thread should access the GUI. This includes but is not limited to GUI elements (buttons, edits, menus), the address list / memory records, and timers. If you need to access any of these, use synchronize.

[paul44]

^^ @panraven: i now realise that my wording is incorrect here. I am actually talking about Lua only; iow no use/call of a script in the addresslist. And I should have stated 'function' instead of 'script' ! My bad...

Picture this: you have a form with 2 elements: 1 button and 1 label (or listbox, etc). when clicking that button, it will/must run a lua functon (~ not script) - using eg 'Onclick' event - which will (constantly) be updating that label... (assume the label is a counter)
=> what happens is that you will not see the label being updated ("counting") till it finishes (which basically will show you the endresult)...
==> and if you touch any CE window (incl form), it'll seem to "hang"... till the function finishes of course. Which is the 2nd reason why having the function/script running async !

And as #ParkourPenguin states: gui updates must be executed using 'synchronize()'; as how i have set it. But based on my observation, synchronize will only "behave" as such if/when the function (or script) is set in a async state (~ if i'm wording this correctly)

If you need a small example table/form, let me know.

[panraven]

Usually event handler should be run short, as if it not exit the handling function, it may block other event to be handle.

If your handler may start a long processing, it is better do it in a timer (if it is repeating, or can be simulate as a state machine), or spawn an os thread.

Not sure if following can illustrate the point or match your problem, but hope it can be useful.

It use a module from my github which need internet access.

[paul44]

^ @panraven: "Usually event handler should be run short, as if it not exit the handling function, it may block other event to be handle".
=> which is indeed my biggest concern here; and i might come back on this in due time...

that said, in the meantime - and I had not read your response here - i had found this: [ https://www.cheatengine.org/forum/viewtopic.php?t=611040&sid=a123ea47687796ba46e7a1a85a5d490c ]; and have used that in my call script. And it now works as expected !
=> he did not mention the 'terminate()' method, which must be added (see below)

BIG question: is there a way to see if (particular/initiated) threads are effectively terminated ? Perhaps use a technique used here for timers: [ https://www.cheatengine.org/forum/viewtopic.php?t=618933&sid=ea8d85619a9513450cc63fbe2f1a3443 ] ?!
(which would allow one to kill the thread, if needed)
=> Btw: i ran [ms process explorer] to see when/where the thread would be added/removed, but it did not show any "particular/related" update...?

PS: consider the topic as closed; will leave it open for a couple of days for possible feedback...


[code] createThread(function (threadObj)
-- Loop until the thread is terminated..
while (not threadObj.Terminated) do
-- Sleep to prevent excessive CPU usage..
Sleep(100)

asmScan(0)
... (any other fn that need to run here)
analyse_Offset()

threadObj.terminate()
end
end)
[/code]

[Dark Byte]

normally created threads will free themselves on return/exit/error unless you add the code threadobject.freeOnTerminate(false)

if you want to see if a thread has finished and it doesn't free itself on terminate, then you can check threadobject.Finished

You will have to call threadobject.destroy() when done.
Note that calling threadobject.destroy() will set Terminated to true and then wait until Finished is set, so you can also do that if you only need to know when it's done and then discard it.

[AylinCE]

(Off-topic)

[paul44]

^^ @Dark Byte: yep, i already noticed that. In fact, i tried to print the name of the thread, and got a nil error after the 'terminate' and outside the 'createthread'.
also came across this: [ https://www.cheatengine.org/forum/viewtopic.php?p=5743663&sid=b3cf17aae897feffd573f882ae3ce8d7 ]... Perfect example to get a pretty good idea on how to tackle gui updates.
=> still: I do get the 'thread' concept, but have to admit i hardly have "grip" on its implementation. In snippet mentioned above, my logic tells me that it will constantly (?) execute them functions till it encounters "a" terminate somehow. But: if it just/always executes the 3 fn - in that order - then why the loop ?
(I think i've tested this without the loop and then my 3 fn got executed instantly, rather then consecutively - or something of that order)
==> anyways: it is working fine now from within the form; so happy bunny...

^ @AylinCE: i actually tried out his example this morning, but ran into a 'Lua Panic' error. since this is not "directly" related to this topic, i've sent him a pm to tackle tihs offline as such...

Minor detail, but really not all that important: can the (animated gif ?) "clock_icon" - as shown in the addresslist - also be used on a form ?
(i'm assuming here it is/loaded_up_as part of CE)

[AylinCE]

[Dark Byte]

the clock is just a canvas draw. A circle, and two lines drawn from the center to a x and y calculated using cos and sin

[AylinCE]

It's a bit of an old idea.
If it's edited, it'll make for a shorter and better code.
I think it'll give you an idea to start with.

[paul44]

^^ @AylinCE: "What if I said I've never seen it?"

see here [ https://ibb.co/jzzmz1k ]
=> i use/set this in particular when "seeding" lots of info (such as inventory) to the listbox. and: it is not just important to the user - who now visually sees it is still "in progress" - but also to me on development/testing end !

As for your examples/suggestions: I have quite a few things to do this week, but surely have a look by next weekend latest. If i'm "inspired", i will definitely get back to you... (via pm ~ if active @FRF, do pm me from there)

@Dark Byte: thx for that "mystery". one can probably find that code on github then.