Hey guys.

 

I'm working on a block, which works with a Tile Entity. However, the block will emit redstone and I need to control that on a tick-by-tick basis.

 

What's the best way for me to update my blocks' redstone emission state every tick? I can do it fine in the tile entity side, but it's actually passing that info to the block that I'm a bit confused by.

 

Thanks

In the block constructor, setTickRandomly to false. Then add an onUpdate method. Then set the tickRate to 1. Hope this helped.

In the block constructor, setTickRandomly to false. Then add an onUpdate method. Then set the tickRate to 1. Hope this helped.

 

Couldn't find an "onUpdate" method in block, but found a "updateTick" one - is that what you mean?

 

Right now, here's my code (Very simple for testing). When I place my block in the world, however, I don't get any of the "Tick!" println =/

 

package co.uk.silvania.cities.research.blocks.advanced;

import java.util.Random;

import co.uk.silvania.cities.research.FlenixCities_Research;
import net.minecraft.block.Block;
import net.minecraft.block.material.Material;
import net.minecraft.world.World;

public class PlayerDetectorBlock extends Block {

public PlayerDetectorBlock(int id) {
	super(id, Material.iron);
	this.setCreativeTab(FlenixCities_Research.tabCitiesResearch);
	this.setHardness(2.0F);
	this.setTickRandomly(false);
}

@Override
public void updateTick(World world, int x, int y, int z, Random random) {
	System.out.println("Tick!");
}

@Override
public int tickRate(World world) {
	return 2;
}

}

updateTick only gets called if you use true as parameter in setTickRandomly.

A lot of redstone logic is handled via notification of neighbors rather than update ticks, as well as using the isProvidingStrongPower and isProvidingWeakPower methods. Those both have x/y/z coordinates, so you can check your tile entity's data to return whatever power level you want, all without using update ticks. This way you provide real-time signal strength but only when requested.

A lot of redstone logic is handled via notification of neighbors rather than update ticks, as well as using the isProvidingStrongPower and isProvidingWeakPower methods. Those both have x/y/z coordinates, so you can check your tile entity's data to return whatever power level you want, all without using update ticks. This way you provide real-time signal strength but only when requested.

 

I don't suppose you could inform me of any examples (either vanilla or open-source mod?) Not quite sure I follow, I've always been a bit confused by redstone for some reason =/

A lot of redstone logic is handled via notification of neighbors rather than update ticks, as well as using the isProvidingStrongPower and isProvidingWeakPower methods. Those both have x/y/z coordinates, so you can check your tile entity's data to return whatever power level you want, all without using update ticks. This way you provide real-time signal strength but only when requested.

 

I don't suppose you could inform me of any examples (either vanilla or open-source mod?) Not quite sure I follow, I've always been a bit confused by redstone for some reason =/

Yeah, all the vanilla redstone blocks, from wire to torches to levers etc., all provide excellent examples. I recommend looking through those respective block classes.

 

As a more immediate example, these are the two methods I needed to add to one of my blocks to get it to provide power. Note that it's just a simple on/off based on whether the master sword is in the pedestal, but you could return any amount based on any variable stored in your tile entity:

@Override
public boolean canProvidePower() {
return true;
}

@Override
public int isProvidingWeakPower(IBlockAccess world, int x, int y, int z, int side) {
EDIT: oops, that's 1.7: TileEntity te = world.getTileEntity(x, y, z);
TileEntity te = world.getBlockTileEntity(x, y, z);
if (te instanceof TileEntityPedestal) {
	ItemStack sword = ((TileEntityPedestal) te).getSword();
	if (sword != null && sword.getItem() == ZSSItems.swordMaster) {
		return 15;
	}
}
return 0;
}

If you need a method that ticks all the time, use updateEntity() provided in the TileEntity. That ticks all the time and you get access to the world from the worldObj in the TileEntity. This method is commonly used to make blocks have a cool down or a progress bar. If you need access to the block just use worldObj.getBlockId(x, y, z) (worldObj.getBlock(x, y, z) in 1.7.2).