In something enclosed, or is it just me?

Hi All,

Long time listener, first time requester...

Does anyone know how to determine if an object in an 2D array is enclosed, and if so, by how much 'area'?

In the example below the 'O' is enclosed by 'X's and it's 'area' would be 3...

..xxx..

..x.x..

.x.0x..

.xxxx..

In the example below the 'O' is NOT enclosed

..xxx..

..x....

.x.0x..

.xxxx..

I imagine this involves recursion :( ... but it's been a while...

Any tips/tricks/suggestions?

Thanks all!

Remy-Jay

It would basically be a flood fill.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flood_fill

Here's an example that may help:

http://www.scirra.com/forum/matching-more-than-3-sprites-gem-matching_topic51703_post326506.html#326506

Thanks R0J0hound -- great example!

Would it be possible to only select groups of sprites in the array that are contiguous in up/down/left/right directions, instead of counting diagonal neighbouring sprites when selecting? Essentially, checking in 4 directions instead of 8...

Clicking on an X below would selects all the X's and the O's wouldn't be selected because a diagonal path needs to be followed to connect them. If one clicked the far right O, it would only be THAT O selected as it doesn't neighbour any sprites in the up.down.left,right directions... etc..

Example Array:

....OOOO...

.XXX..O.O..

.X.X..OO...

.XXX.......

...........

Thanks again..

Remy-Jay

BAh, that array didn't quite render how I intended, however, if you copy it and paste it into a new message body, it seems rectifies itself :)

Remy-Jay

Hmm, I could probably make this easier to understand.. :)

Enclosed Completely:

XXX

X���X

XXX

Enclosed 'Diagonally Only'

�X

X�X

�X

Looking for a way to determine enclosed completely only -- current algorithm suggested uses closed 'diagonally AND completely'

Thanks all.

-Remy-Jay

Here is the previous example with only 4-direction select:

http://dl.dropbox.com/u/5426011/examples12/pick_chain_4way.capx

EDIT:

Here's another way using the Array object:

http://dl.dropbox.com/u/5426011/examples12/area_size.capx

Wild! Thanks R0JOhound -- the array example is noteworthy too!