Need to find out which button was pressed

Question

The following scripts job is to scan the given directory and find out how many files(or characters) are in it. Then it creates a number of buttons equal to the total number of files. Currently my problem is that i have no way knowing which button is pressed during run time.

extends Control

#number of characters to be imported
var characters = 0
#file names of all avalible chararters
var files = []
#buttons associated with said characters
var array = []

# Called when the node enters the scene tree for the first time.
func _ready():
    scan_directory()
    populate()
    setup()

#scans for the number of characters in the folder
func scan_directory():
    var current = ""
    var dir = DirAccess.open("res://Characters/")
    dir.list_dir_begin()
    current = dir.get_next()
    while current != "":
        files.push_back(current)
        current = dir.get_next()
    print(files)
    characters = files.size()

func setup():
    var x = 0
    for i in characters:
        var but = array[x]
        var path = "res://Characters/" + files[x] + "/"+ files[x] + ".gd"
       var char = load(path)
       var dic = char.import()
       x += 1

#creates buttons equal to the number of characters
func populate():
    var x = 100
    var y = 100
    var texture = Texture2D.new()
    texture = load("res://img/button.jpg")

    for i in characters:
        var but = Button.new()
        var path = load("res://Scripts/Character_Select.gd")
        add_child(but)
        but.pressed.connect(self.export)
        but.set_position(Vector2(x,y))
        but.set_button_icon(texture)
        x += 250
        if x > 1250:
            x = 100
            y += 250
        array.push_back(but)
    print(array)

func export():
    var temp = self.get_instance_id()
    print("Current id: " + str(temp))

So im currently looking for a way to either have the button pass a varible when clicked or be able to know the instance id of the button that was clicked so i can compare it to know buttons in the array.

Any help is appreciated.

Answer 1

When you connect to the signal:

but.pressed.connect(self.export)

What you are passing is a Callable created from the method export. You can bind arguments to it, like this:

but.pressed.connect(self.export.bind(1))

Then when the signal is emitted, it will pass that as argument to the method export. You, of course, need a parameter to receive it, for example:

func export(data):
    prints(data)
    # ...

---

In your case, you probably want to pass the iterator variable. This is the idea:

for i in blahblahblah:
    # ...
    # stuff
    # ...
    but.pressed.connect(self.export.bind(i))
    # ...
    # other stuff
    # ...

Since each time it would be binding a different value, this allows you know which one it is.

Of course, you can bind something else if you prefer.