COUNTERs (GTA2)

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COUNTERs are vital to complex scripts, although they work pretty straightforward. As the name implies, they simply 'count': COUNTERs keep track of values. You can use them to store high values or use them as a simple "on/off switch" for an IF or WHILE.

COUNTER

To use a COUNTER, you'll need to declare one first before LEVELSTART. This can be done with the next command:

COUNTER name

This will create a COUNTER with the value '0'. You can extend the command if you want to give it a different value at the start of the game:

COUNTER name = value

Note that COUNTERs cannot have a value below -32768 or above 32767 and that values must be integer.

SAVED_COUNTER

SAVED_COUNTERs work the same as normal COUNTERs, but their value is stored when the game is saved. Normal COUNTERs will reset when the game is saved and reloaded.

SAVED_COUNTER name = value

SET

To change a COUNTER ingame, you have to use the next command after LEVELSTART:

SET name = new_value

The new value can be a normal number, or one of the following expressions:

SET counter1 = counter2
SET counter1 = ( counter2 + counter3 ) 
SET counter1 = ( counter2 – counter3 ) 
SET counter1 = ( counter2 / counter3 ) 
SET counter1 = ( counter2 * counter3 ) 
SET counter1 = ( counter2 + value ) 
SET counter1 = ( counter2 – value ) 
SET counter1 = ( counter2 / value ) 
SET counter1 = ( counter2 * value ) 

Using a COUNTER inside an IF

COUNTERs are often used as the expression for an IF. Using an IF, you can activate a command when a COUNTER reaches a certain value. Often this value is simply '1', which means the COUNTER serves as a on/off switch (in which '1' is on and '0' is off).

COUNTER counter1
COUNTER counter2 = 5 

LEVELSTART
 
IF ( counter1 = 1 )  //If counter1 has value 1...
SET counter2 = 5     //...give counter2 value 5.
ENDIF

LEVELEND

You can also use various comparisons with other COUNTERs to use as expression:

IF ( counter1 < value )    //If counter1 is smaller than value
IF ( counter1 < counter2 ) //If counter1 is smaller than counter2
IF ( counter1 > value )    //If counter1 is bigger than value
IF ( counter1 > counter2 ) //If counter1 is bigger than counter2
IF ( counter1 = value )    //If counter1 is equal to value
IF ( counter1 = counter2 ) //If counter1 is equal to counter2