Question Is there a way to convert a string to an event/delegate so I can dynamically subscribe methods

I have a few buttons that each trigger a different attack for the playing character. On pressing the button the attack is stored into a string and then the player chooses a direction and hits confirm to fire the attack off.

Currently I"m using Invoke(string of attack) to achieve the desired result.

Now I want to alter this so that instead of immediately invoking the attack I subscribe the string to an event manager that does the attack once certain conditions are met. I have the event listener working fine but I can't seem to find the correct syntax so that I can use:

EventManager.Actions += string of attack

is this possible?

 

Why can't you just subscribe the method to perform itself, rather than using fragile strings?

 

Because I want to be able to pass multiple methods based off which button I press. I can't just pass the Attack Method in the button, because I need it to start the Set Direction Method and then accept player direction and then confirmation.

I figured the best method would be to subscribe since that method takes a string basically anyway. So then it can dynamically pick the method based on what I put in

 

Then you want to wrap up these commands in objects themselves (plain classes), like a rudimentary command pattern. Thus you can issue these objects as 'groups of commands' to an overarching system that operates over each of them.

I can't condone the usage of strings because there's always a better way.

 

Can you show us what code you currently have?

If you show us that, we might be able to show you how to pull this off using a command pattern, likely using delegates.

...

To your original question you can't just use a string as a method delegate (which is what your syntax suggests). Technically yes you could reflect out the method, create a delegate, and so on. But that's a lot of silliness for what could be simpler.

Alternatively you could use an anonymous delegate to call Invoke. But if you need to unregister that, it'll prove difficult.

Otherwise you could again, create a command pattern, but use strings. But if you're going all that way... might as well do it correctly.

 

So drilling down to just the specifics because the whole code is fairly long :

Button -> Initialize Attack Method (str EventualMethodName)

InitializeAttack is a set direction method this changes a variable state to Direction

then in Update the player selects a direction using the arrow keys, each key sets an int value called Attack Direction
and also sets the state to Confirm

then in update the player hits confirm button, this resets state to null, sets Attack Direction to an impossible int value

Previously at this point I was using Invoke and calling the previously set string to run the method. this determines the attacks values and each method does something different. this was working perfectly.


now I want to have the player move and when they reach their desired position then execute the attack. Subscribing to an event seemed the best method and then calling that event when they reach the position

 

Then as suggested you should look at the command pattern, which is a way to record actions and run them at a later point in a specific order.

Also worthwhile learning about delegates while you're at it.

 

This looks perfect! Thank you very much. I'm very much self taught so I only know things I've encountered before.