Variable scopes

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#1

I have a question. Lets say I have a module script and I do this

local module = {}
local car

function module.setcar()
    for i,v in pairs()do
          if v.BrickColor = BrickColor.new("Really red") then
               car = v
    end
end

function module.destroyCar()
      --Will I be able to access car and change its properties in this function, for example
       if car.Parent ~= something then
             print(something)
      end
end
return module

I am doing something similar to this and appeartly it says that I attempted to do nil with Parent. What I am asking is how do I get variables outside of functions

#2

You’re for loop is going through an empty table. So although the variable has a scope that all functions can access it, the value is still nil.

#3

What I am trying to do I got a table in a for loop using the GetChildren() the script still declares it as nil

#4

Also, are you declaring something? Because I don’t see that being reference elsewhere in your script.

#5

I suggest using self here so the car is apart of the module. To use self, just use : instead of . when declaring the function.

local module = {}
module.car = nil

function module:setCar(t)
	for i,v in pairs(t) do
		if v.BrickColor == BrickColor.new("Really red") then
			self.car = v
		end
	end
end

function module:destroyCar(something)
	if self.car.Parent ~= something then
		print(something)
	end
end

return module
#6 
local tool = {} 

local chosen_spawner 
local tool 
local foundtool = false

function tool.TrackTool()
	for _,spawner in pairs(game.Workspace.Spawners:GetChildren()) do
		if string.match(spawner.Name,"ToolSpawner") then
			if spawner:FindFirstChildWhichIsA("Tool") then
				chosen_spawner = spawner
				tool = chosen_spawner:FindFirstChildWhichIsA("Tool")
				if tool.Parent == chosen_spawner then
					print(tool)
					print(chosen_spawner)
					print("Tool found")
					foundtool = true
				end
			end
		end
	end
end

function tool.OnToolSpawn()
	if tool.Parent ~= chosen_spawner and not foundtool then --"tool" is nil
		print("Tool has not spawned yet")
	elseif foundtool and chosen_spawner ~= nil and tool.Parent == chosen_spawner then
		print(chosen_spawner)
	end
end

return tool

This is what I am trying to do.

#7

Why are you know posting a different script? Can you please take some time to write a few sentences on your issue since now I’m just lost is what the issue is. This is starting to become an XY problem.

#8

Well the issue here is you are redeclaring the tool variable, so you end up returning nothing when requiring the module. To fix this, just name the module and tool variable differently. Next, use self like I mentioned in my last reply to define the tool inside the scope.

local foundtool = false

local module = {} 
module.tool = nil
module.chosen_spawner = nil

function module:TrackTool()
	--for loop, if statements
	
	self.chosen_spawner = spawner
	self.tool = chosen_spawner:FindFirstChildWhichIsA("Tool")
end

function module:OnToolSpawn()
	local tool = self.tool
end

return module
#9

What does self do? Sorry I dont know much about it

#10

Self just refers to the module the function is inside. When you add a function to a module using function module:TrackTool(), self would refer to the module and it’s contents, including tool and chosen_spawner.