ToME WikiTheFalcon: How can I save a non-number value? For example, if I try to save a string:
add_loadsave("foo",0)
foo = "bar"
I get a nasty lua error and a broken savefile.
I've come across this before, although I was trying to save a table then, which was perhaps overly ambitious...
Do I need to convert my string to a series of numbers (uh oh...) and play around with register_savefile(int num) and save_number_key(char *key, s32b val) or is there an easier way?
(I could just output the string to a file, then read it from there, which would be *much* easier, but not ideal.)
NeilStevens: If you have to save a string, and no other option exists, you should be able to use a quark. Don't use quarks in situations where you'll be creating a lot of htem though.
TheFalcon: There'll only be five strings in total. I've found quark_add(cptr str) and quark_str(s16b num) in util.pkg which look simple enough to use. If a quark is no longer needed I should presumably remove it from the array? Is there a way to do this?
KhymChanur: Have you tried add_loadsave("foo", "")? It works with 3.0.0
DarkGod: Yup it works in 3, but IIRC it does not in 2xx, I had to do some ugly things when I needed those, like .. convert the string to numbers :<
TheFalcon: I think I'll stick to quarks. It looks easier...
DarkGod: dunno about neil obsession with quarks, but I do not see how they will help you 
TheFalcon: Perhaps I'm misunderstanding how quarks work, but...
If I use quark_add("foo") then the string foo will be added to the quark array, at the position given by a number returned. Then I can get back the string by doing quark_str(num) where num is the number returned earlier. So:
add_loadsave("num",0)
function foo()
num = quark_add("foo")
end
function foo2()
msg_print(quark_str(num))
end
should do what I want... (with appropriate hooks)
However, while quark_str() works, it only does so before I save and exit, not afterwards, so I don't know what's wrong. It seems quarks may not be the answer to the problem after all.
DarkGod: as I said, they are not Quark is just an array of strings, they are NOT saved. I do not even know why they exists.
NeilStevens: That's odd; I used a quark in the Minas Anor library quest, and it got saved.
KhymChanur: But if quarks aren't being saved, then how would object inscriptions be saved?
DarkGod: I would need to check your code, but from memory I recall it worked but only due to pure luck, not quarks ;=)