Version 7

Table of Contents

Notes 3

Move Tab 4

Move section 4

Jump Section 4

Paths Section 5

Steps Section 6

Main1 Tab 6

Objects Section 6

Sprite Section 7

Sounds Section 7

Rooms Section 8

Main 2 Tab 9

Timing Section 9

Info Section 9

Game Section 10

Resources Section 10

Control tab 11

Questions Section 11

Other Section 13

Code Section 13

Variables Section 14

Score Tab 14

Score Section 14

Lives Section 15

Health Section 16

Extra Tab 16

Particles Section 16

CD Section 19

Other Section 19

Drawing tab 20

Drawing Section 20

Settings Section 21

Other Section 21

'Action' Functions 22

Appendix A: Transition Kinds 35

Appendix B: Cursor Types 36

Appendix C: Colors 37

Thanks to the Following 37

Notes

Drag and drop icons allow you to assign statements to other objects. You can do this in code with the following...

//to assign to another object...
with (object) {
//actions here
}

//To assign to the other object in a collision...
with (other) {
//actions here
}

//To assign the statement to that object...
with (self) {
//actions here
}

Please note that throughout the document I show examples of assigning code to other objects from a separate object. In order to make it easier I use the capitalization, 'ID' which Game Maker recognizes as a local variable. This is not to be confused with 'id' which is an inherited variable that will give you the current object's unique id number.

Move Tab

Move section

'Move Fixed'

'Move Free'
motion_set(direction,speed);

'Move Towards'
move_towards_point(x,y,speed);

'Speed Horizontal'
hspeed=speed;

'Speed Vertical'
vspeed=speed;

'Set Gravity'
gravity_direction=direction;
gravity=amount;

'Reverse Horizontal'
hspeed=-hspeed; //actual code.

'Reverse Vertical'
vspeed=-vspeed; //actual code.

'Set Friction'
friction=amount;

Jump Section

//actual code. The 1 and 1 in the code are the hsnap and vsnap positions.

'Align to grid'
move_snap(hsnap,vsnap);

// This code should be placed in the outside room event. Set hort (horizontally) and vert (vertically) to either 1 for true or 0 for false. Set margin to how far outside the room the instance must be before the action happens.

//for non solid objects, dir=direction, maxdist=maximum distance.

'Bounce'
move_bounce_solid(advanced);

Paths Section

'Path Position'
path_position=value; //Must lie between 0 and 1.

'Path Speed'
path_speed=value; //pixels per step.

Steps Section

'Step Towards'
mp_linear_step(x,y,stepsize,checkall);
// stepsize is in pixels. Checkall can be either 1 for stopping when hitting any object, or 0 for only solid objects.

'Step Avoiding'
mp_potential_step(x,y,stepsize,checkall);

Main1 Tab

Objects Section

'Create Instance'
instance_create(x,y,object0); //use x and y variables for relative.

'Create Moving'
//No equivalent, but you can use the following code.
ID = instance_create(x,y,object1);
with (ID) motion_set(direction,speed);

//object0, etc are the object names. Drag and Drop allows only four slots, but the 'choose' code allows up to sixteen.

'Change Instance'
instance_change(obj,perf);

'Destroy Instance’
instance_destroy();

'Destroy at Position'
position_destroy(x,y);

Sprite Section

'Change Sprite'
sprite_index=sprite0;

'Transform Sprite'
image_xscale=value; //horizontal scaling of sprite.
image_yscale=value; //vertical scaling if the sprite.
image_angle=value; //angle the sprite.
image_xscale=-1; //flip the sprite horizontally, actual code.
image_yscale=-1; //flip the sprite vertically, actual code.

'Color Sprite'
image_blend=color;
image_alpha=value; //from 0 to 1, 1 being opaque.

Sounds Section

'Play Sound'
sound_play(sound); //plays sound once.
sound_loop(sound); //loops sound.

'Stop Sound'
sound_stop(index);

//Stops the indicates sound. If there are multiple sounds with this index playing simultaneously, all will be stopped.

Rooms Section

//If you wish to use transitions with the following statements call this statement first. Transition types can be found in Appendix A.

transition kind=value;

'Previous Room'
room_goto_previous();

'Next Room'
room_goto_next();

'Restart Room'
room_restart();

'Different Room'
room_goto(room);

'Check Previous'
if room_previous(room)<>-1 then {
// actions here
}
//'room' is constant variable for current room. Actual code.

'Check Next'
if room_next(room)<>-1 then {
// actions here.
}
//'room' is constant variable for current room. Actual code.

Main 2 Tab

Timing Section

'Set Alarm'
alarm[0]=value; //set 0 from 0 to 11 for alarm.

'Sleep'
sleep(numb); //'numb' is in milliseconds.

'Set Timeline'
timeline_index=timeline;

'Set Timeline Position'
timeline_position=value;

Info Section

'Display Message'
show_message('Hello');

'Show Info'
show_info();

'Show Video'
show_video(fname,full,loop); //full and loop are either 1 or 0 for yes or no.

Game Section

'Restart Game'
game_restart();

'End Game'
game_end();

'Save Game'
game_save(fname);

Resources Section

'Replace Sprite'
sprite_replace(ind,fname,imgnumb,precise,transparent,smooth,preload,xorig,yorig);
// precise, transparent,smooth,preload are all 1 or 0 for yes or no.

'Replace Sound'
sound_replace(index,fname,kind,loadonuse);
//loadonuse is 1 or 0 for yes or no.
//Kind is one of the following...
0-normal
1-background
2-3d
3-mmplayer

'Replace Background'
background_replace(ind,fname,transparent,smooth,preload);
// transparent,smooth and preload are all 1 or 0 for yes or no.

Control tab

Questions Section

'Check Empty'
if place_free(x,y) {//for solid
//actions here.
}
if !place_empty(x,y) //for all
//actions here.
}

'Check Collision'

// As well, there are several advanced codes that allow you greater control over checking collisions. Please see the manual for explanations of each...

if collision_point(x,y,obj,prec,notme) {
//actions here.
if collision_rectangle(x1,y1,x2,y2,obj,prec,notme) {
//actions here.
}
if collision_circle(xc,yc,radius,obj,prec,notme) {
//actions here.
}
if collision_ellipse(x1,y1,x2,y2,obj,prec,notme) {
//actions here.
}
if collision_line(x1,y1,x2,y2,obj,prec,notme) {
//actions here.
}

'Check Object'
if place_meeting(x,y,object0) {
//actions here.
}

'Test Instance Count'
if instance_number(obj)=value {
//actions here.
}

'Test chance'
if floor(random(value))=0 {
//actions here.
}

'Check Question'
if show_question('Do you want to do this?') {
// actions here.
}

'Test Expression'
if (the expression) {
// actions here.
}

//examples for expression would be x=5, y>10, global.item='Apple'.

'Check Mouse'
if mouse_check_button(numb) {
//actions here.
}
// numb can be mb_none,mb_left, mb_middle,mb_right.

'Check Grid'
if place_snapped(value,value) {
//actions here.
}

Other Section

'Start Block'

'End Block'

'Else'
//All above are part of if, else statements example...
if x=50 {
hspeed=2;
vspeed=-2;
}
else {
motion_set(90,1);
}

'Exit Event'
exit;

'Repeat'
repeat (value) <statement>;
//example: repeat (10) instance_create(x,y,object0);

'Call Parent Event'
event_inherited();

Code Section

'Execute Script'
script_execute(ind,arguments);
// or call a script in code by the script name and the arguments in () beside it…

'Comment'
//Enter a comment in code by putting '//' followed by the comment.

Variables Section

'Set Variable'
// Set a variable by either using a built-in variable or by using your own. example...
health=50;
lives=3;
name='Gordon';
//Use 'global.' for your own variables that are to be used by more than one object...
global.name='Gordon';
//You do not need to use global for built-in variables like 'lives', or 'score'.

'Test Variable'
//Use an if statement to check this. Example...
if lives=0 {
//actions here
}

Score Tab

Score Section

'Set Score'
score=value;

'Test Score'
if score=value {
//actions here.
}

'Draw Score'
draw_text(x,y,'Score: ' + string(score));

'Show Highscore'
highscore_set_background(back); //set with background image.
highscore_set_border(show); //1 or 0 for yes or no.
highscore_set_colors(back,new,other); //set colors for background,new entry, other entries.
highscore_set_font(name,size,style); //set style to 0=normal, 1=bold, 2=italic, 3=bold italic.
highscore_show(numb); //This actually shows the table, with numb being the new score to add if it is high enough.
//Note: there are many other controls for the high score table. These are just the ones used in the drag and drop.

'Clear Highscore'
highscore_clear();

Lives Section

'Set Lives;
lives=value;

'Test Lives'
if lives=value {
//actions here.
}

'Draw Lives'
draw_text(x,y,'Lives: ' + string(lives));

'Draw Life Images'
// no equivalent but you can use the following code in the draw event. sprite0 is the sprite image. Set 'a' in the 5th line to however far apart you wish the images to be on the screen in pixels...
var a;
a=0;
repeat(lives){
draw_sprite(sprite0,0,view_xview+a,view_yview);
a+=16;
}

Health Section

'Set Health'
health=value;

'Test Health'
if health=value {
//actions here.
}

'Draw Health'
draw_healthbar(x1,y1,x2,y2,amount,backcol,mincol,maxcol,direction,showback,showborder);

'Score Caption'
show_score=value; //set to 1 for yes, 0 for no.
caption_score=string;
show_lives=value; //set to 1 for yes, to 0 for no.
caption_lives=string;
show_health=value; //set to 1 for yes, to 0 for no.
caption_health=string;

Extra Tab

Particles Section

'Create Part System'
index=part_system_create(); //Assign to an index (variable). Must be used in other functions.

'Destroy Part System'
part_system_destroy(index);

'Clear Part system'
part_system_clear(index);

'Create Particle'
index=part_type_create(); //Assign to an index.
part_type_shape(index,shape); //see manual for shape types.
part_type_size(index,size_min,size_max,size_incr,size_rand);
part_type_color(index,color_start,color_middle,color_end);
//there are other functions for particles; these just cover the Drag and Drop.

//Indicates a single color to be used for the particle.
part_type_color2(ind,color1,color2)

//Specifies two colors between which the color is interpolated.
part_type_color3(ind,color1,color2,color3)

//Similar but this time the color is interpolated between three colors that represent the color at the start, half-way, and at the end.
part_type_color_mix(ind,color1,color2)

//With this function you indicate that the particle should get a color that is a random mixture of the two indicated colors. This color will remain fixed over the lifetime of the particle.
part_type_color_rgb(ind,rmin,rmax,gmin,gmax,bmin,bmax)

//Can be used to indicate that each particle must have a fixed color but chosen from a range. You specify a range in the red, green, and blue component of the color (each between 0 and 255).
part_type_color_hsv(ind,hmin,hmax,smin,smax,vmin,vmax)

//Can be used to indicate that each particle must have a fixed color but chosen from a range. You specify a range in the hue saturation and value component of the color (each between 0 and 255).

'Particle Life'
part_type_life(index,life_min,life_max);

'Particle Speed'
part_type_speed(index,speed_min,speed_max,speed_incr,speed_rand);
part_type_direction(index,dir_min,dir_max,dir_incr,dir_rand);

'Particle Gravity'
part_type_gravity(index,grav_amount,grav_dir);

'Particle Secondary'
part_type_death(index,death_number,death_type);

// ps is the index of the particle system. You must assign this to an index.
part_emitter_region(ps,index,xmin,xmax,ymin,ymax,shape,distribution);

//ps is the index of the particle system. Index is the index of the emitter.

'Destroy Emitter'
part_emitter_destroy_all(ps) //ps is the index of the emitter.

// ps is the index of the particle system. Index is the index of the emitter. Parttype is the index of the particle.

'Stream from Emitter'
part_emitter_stream(ps,index,parttype,number);

CD Section

//You must call the function cd_init(); before calling other Cd functions.

'Play CD'
cd_play(first,last);

'Stop CD'
cd_stop();

'Pause CD'
cd_pause();

'Resume CD'
cd_resume();

'Check CD'
if cd_present()=true {
//actions here.
}

Other Section

'Set Cursor';
window_set_cursor(curs);
//this will set the cursor to a default setting (see end of document for types)
to have a custom sprite as a cursor use the following statement…
cursor_sprite=sprite0;

//Change cursor image to sprite index.

'Open a Web Page'
execute_shell('http//www.somepage.com',0);

Drawing tab

Drawing Section

'Draw Sprite'
draw_sprite(sprite,subimage,x,y);

'Draw Background'
draw_background(back,x,y) //single image.
draw_background_tiled(back,x,y); //tiled image.

'Draw Text'
draw_text(x,y,string);

'Draw Scaled Text'
draw_text_transformed(x,y,string,xscale,yscale,angle);

'Draw Rectangle'
draw_rectangle(x1,y1,x2,y2,outline); //Outline is 1 or 0 for yes or no.

'Horizontal Gradient'
draw_rectangle_color(x1,y1,x2,y2,col1,col2,col3,col4,outline);
//Set col1 and col4 to the left color. Set col2 and col3 to the second color.

'Vertical Gradient'
draw_rectangle_color(x1,y1,x2,y2,col1,col2,col3,col4,outline);
//Set col1 and col2 to the top color. Set col3 and col4 to the bottom color.

'Draw Ellipse'
draw_ellipse(x1,y1,x2,y2,outline); //outline is 1 or 0 for yes or no.

'Gradient Ellipse'
draw_ellipse_color(x1,y1,x2,y2,col1,col2,outline);
//col1 is the color in the middle. col2 is the color at the boundary.

'Draw Line'
draw_line(x1,y1,x2,y2);

Settings Section

//See the manual for colors.

'Set Font'
draw_set_font(font);
draw_set_halign(halign); //Can be set to fa_left, fa_center, fa_right.
draw_set_valign(valign); //Can be set to fa_top, fa_middle, fa_bottom.

'Set Full Screen'
window_set_fullscreen(full); //Set to 0 for window, to 1 for full screen.

Other Section

'Take Snapshot'
screen_save(filename);

'Create Effect'
effect_create_below(kind,x,y,size,color) //Creates an effect of the given kind (see below) at the indicated position. size give the size as follows: 0 = small, 1 = medium, 2 = large. color indicates the color to be used. The effect is created below the instances, that is, at a depth of 100000.
effect_create_above(kind,x,y,size,color) //Similar to the previous function but this time the effect is created on top of the instances, that is, at a depth of -100000.

//The following are the effect kinds to use in the above statements...

'Action' Functions

Game Maker has built-in functions called 'Action' functions that can be used to reduce coding length. These functions are the direct coding for the Drag and Drop icons and use the same number and type of arguments as their drag and drop counterparts (for the most part). However, these codes are not in the Game Maker manual, nor do they show up in the reference window at the bottom of the coding box, so they do not have much support. They are placed here separately to avoid confusion for beginners and should only be used when they are fully understood.

Understand that many of these will make coding shorter and easier, while others will not; 'action_end_game();' is really not much better than 'game_end();', whereas, 'action_draw_life_images' is incredibly useful as there is no direct code for it.

Here is a complete list of all action codes, their arguments and some limited explanation of functionality. Codes that contain no arguments in between their brackets means that there are none to apply to the actions...