Topic: GIMP Scripting 101

[fencepost]

Thanks for the feedback, Skeletor!  Glad you tried out the tutorial.  I see what you mean by substituting a value in to replace the variable....I thought about that when writing the tutorial, but decided against it for a couple of reasons....

1) It would make the tutorial even longer.  There are several cases where there are multiple values that could be substituted and those variables would have to be described.  That would get really wordy.  For example, the create layer procedure has to have something to tell GIMP what the Blend mode is.  There are 20+ different blend mode choices.  Lots of text there....

2) If you substitute in a value rather than the actual "action" that's being done (ie using a 0 to represent FOREGROUND-FILL, rather than just leaving it as FOREGROUND-FILL), if you ever have to go back and troubleshoot the script, you don't know what the 0 represents (unless, of course, you've scripted so much you can recall what each procedure requires).  So, you would have to open up the Procedure Browser and see what parameter is required there.  However, if you leave it set to FOREGROUND-FILL, you'll know right away what the parameter needs to be.  In some cases, GIMP won't let you use the written out action and requires a value. So, in that case, you're correct.

So, at risk of going overboard, I just left it be.  But, I fully understand what you mean and, in some ways, I agree with you.  If you want to see me go overboard in a tutorial, check out the remaining scripting tutorials.  Those are graphic novels that probably noone will ever wade through completely! 

[HippieKender]

Yay, I just finished this one, and it was as painless as you promised!  I'm off to try 102a   Thanks so much for posting this, Art.

[fencepost]

Thanks for giving it a try and glad you found it straightforward!

Posted on: August 06, 2008, 10:30:30 PMTutorial updated to work with GIMP 2.6.  Enjoy!

Art