Order of initialisation for Lua code blocks

t_whiston · July 6, 2025, 11:25am

Hi, using the most recent firmware (I’ve not updated for a while!) i’ve started having issues with my lua code. Because of the (incredibly annoying) code block size limits i’ve had to split my code up across the setup pages of the various elements, as well as the general block setup page. In the past this worked, but now when I initialize the block I get issues about code not being callable. If I go in and edit the code and save it works again, but then when I disconnect and reconnect I get errors, so it must be to do with order of initialisation. What is the correct way to structure a complex program to make it work? In what order should the functions be added to the elements so that everything can see everything else?

I have to say that the most annoying part of these controllers is the code block size limits, they make setting up anything complex way more difficult than it needs to be, and the size restrictions seem so arbitrary, it would be really nice to have an option which just imposed a global code size limit that you could use across all the elements, so I could put all of my program code inside the block setup, and then just call it with a line or two from the elements themselves, it would make it much better in terms of reasoning about your program as well.

narayb · July 8, 2025, 11:56am

Hi!

~~So the setup events work in this order:~~
~~1. The Setup event of the System initializes.~~
~~2. Then in ascending order by index# all of the Setup events follow on every other control element.~~

~~So for example on an EF44,~~
~~1. System Setup~~
~~2. 0-3 Encoder Setups~~
~~3. 4-7 Fader Setups~~

And after that code only runs on event triggers unrelated to intialization.
Hope this helps explain how it works.

Edited on July 10th of 2025:
The above explanation is outdated above FW version 1.3.6, see my comment below for a workaround if your configuration seems broken.

t_whiston · July 8, 2025, 4:25pm

Hi,

Thanks very much for the explanation. I actually assumed that’s how it was ordered and structured my code as such, and as mentioned it worked in previous versions, but its not working now despite my not making any changes other than updating the firmware. I’ve attached my broken config as maybe that can help you find the issue. It’s for a PO16. Since I can’t attach a file I’ve had to paste in the json

{
    "id": "0912a442-9376-4a6b-af11-c3dce4ad0896",
    "modifiedAt": "2025-07-08T16:21:57.760Z",
    "name": "BrokenConfig",
    "description": "Click here to add description",
    "type": "PO16",
    "version": {
        "major": "1",
        "minor": "5",
        "patch": "8-nightly"
    },
    "configType": "profile",
    "configs": [
        {
            "controlElementNumber": 0,
            "events": [
                {
                    "event": 0,
                    "config": "--[[@l]] local num,val,red,gre,blu,cc=self:ind(),self:pva(),221,143,255,37--[[@glc]] glc(num,1,red,gre,blu)--[[@glp]] glp(num,1,val)--[[@cb]] function sendCCDataOut(num,cc,val)gms(FP-1,176,cc,val)lvals[FP][num]=val;if deadzone(val)then glp(num,1,0)else glp(num,1,val)end end"
                },
                {
                    "event": 1,
                    "config": "--[[@l]] local num,val,cc=self:ind(),self:pva(),37--[[@cb]] if locked[num]==1 then if isWithinRange(val,lvals[FP][num],3)then locked[num]=0;glf(num,1,0)sendCCDataOut(num,cc,val)end else sendCCDataOut(num,cc,val)end"
                },
                {
                    "event": 6,
                    "config": "--[[@cb]] print('tick')"
                }
            ]
        },
        {
            "controlElementNumber": 1,
            "events": [
                {
                    "event": 0,
                    "config": "--[[@l]] local num,val,red,gre,blu=self:ind(),self:pva(),98,0,255--[[@glc]] glc(num,1,red,gre,blu)--[[@glp]] glp(num,1,val)--[[@cb]] function isWithinRange(a,b,x)return(a>=b-x)and(a<=b+x)end;function deadzone(val)return isWithinRangeOfArray(val,INDCBNDS,3)end"
                },
                {
                    "event": 1,
                    "config": "--[[@l]] local num,val,cc=self:ind(),self:pva(),38--[[@cb]] if locked[num]==1 then if isWithinRange(val,lvals[FP][num],3)then locked[num]=0;glf(num,1,0)sendCCDataOut(num,cc,val)end else sendCCDataOut(num,cc,val)end"
                },
                {
                    "event": 6,
                    "config": "--[[@cb]] print('tick')"
                }
            ]
        },
        {
            "controlElementNumber": 2,
            "events": [
                {
                    "event": 0,
                    "config": "--[[@l]] local num,val,red,gre,blu=self:ind(),self:pva(),255,255,255--[[@glc]] glc(num,1,red,gre,blu)--[[@glp]] glp(num,1,val)--[[@cb]] function has_value(tab,val)for index,value in ipairs(tab)do if value==val then return true end end;return false end"
                },
                {
                    "event": 1,
                    "config": "--[[@l]] local num,val,cc=self:ind(),self:pva(),39--[[@cb]] if locked[num]==1 then if isWithinRange(val,lvals[FP][num],3)then locked[num]=0;glf(num,1,0)sendCCDataOut(num,cc,val)end else sendCCDataOut(num,cc,val)end"
                },
                {
                    "event": 6,
                    "config": "--[[@cb]] print('tick')"
                }
            ]
        },
        {
            "controlElementNumber": 3,
            "events": [
                {
                    "event": 0,
                    "config": "--[[@l]] local num,val,r,g,b=self:ind(),self:pva(),255,255,0--[[@glc]] glc(num,1,255,242,0,0)--[[@glp]] glp(num,1,val)--[[@cb]] function lset()for i=0,gec()-2 do if isWithinRange(ele[i]:pva(),lvals[FP][i],3)then locked[i]=0;glf(i,1,0)glp(i,1,lvals[FP][i])else locked[i]=1;glf(i,1,255)end end end;for i=0,gec()-2 do lvals[1][i]=ele[i]:pva()lvals[2][i]=0 end"
                },
                {
                    "event": 1,
                    "config": "--[[@l]] local num,val,cc=self:ind(),self:pva(),40--[[@cb]] if locked[num]==1 then if isWithinRange(val,lvals[FP][num],3)then locked[num]=0;glf(num,1,0)sendCCDataOut(num,cc,val)end else sendCCDataOut(num,cc,val)end"
                },
                {
                    "event": 6,
                    "config": "--[[@cb]] print('tick')"
                }
            ]
        },
        {
            "controlElementNumber": 4,
            "events": [
                {
                    "event": 0,
                    "config": "--[[@l]] local num,val,red,gre,blu=self:ind(),self:pva(),221,143,255--[[@glc]] glc(num,1,red,gre,blu)--[[@glp]] glp(num,1,val)"
                },
                {
                    "event": 1,
                    "config": "--[[@l]] local num,val,cc=self:ind(),self:pva(),41--[[@cb]] if locked[num]==1 then if isWithinRange(val,lvals[FP][num],3)then locked[num]=0;glf(num,1,0)sendCCDataOut(num,cc,val)end else sendCCDataOut(num,cc,val)end"
                },
                {
                    "event": 6,
                    "config": "--[[@cb]] print('tick')"
                }
            ]
        },
        {
            "controlElementNumber": 5,
            "events": [
                {
                    "event": 0,
                    "config": "--[[@l]] local num,val,red,gre,blu=self:ind(),self:pva(),30,255,0--[[@glc]] glc(num,1,red,gre,blu)--[[@glp]] glp(num,1,val)"
                },
                {
                    "event": 1,
                    "config": "--[[@l]] local num,val,cc=self:ind(),self:pva(),42--[[@cb]] if locked[num]==1 then if isWithinRange(val,lvals[FP][num],3)then locked[num]=0;glf(num,1,0)sendCCDataOut(num,cc,val)end else sendCCDataOut(num,cc,val)end"
                },
                {
                    "event": 6,
                    "config": "--[[@cb]] print('tick')"
                }
            ]
        },
        {
            "controlElementNumber": 6,
            "events": [
                {
                    "event": 0,
                    "config": "--[[@l]] local num,val,red,gre,blu=self:ind(),self:pva(),98,0,255--[[@glc]] glc(num,1,red,gre,blu)--[[@glp]] glp(num,1,val)"
                },
                {
                    "event": 1,
                    "config": "--[[@l]] local num,val,cc=self:ind(),self:pva(),43--[[@cb]] if locked[num]==1 then if isWithinRange(val,lvals[FP][num],3)then locked[num]=0;glf(num,1,0)sendCCDataOut(num,cc,val)end else sendCCDataOut(num,cc,val)end"
                },
                {
                    "event": 6,
                    "config": "--[[@cb]] print('tick')"
                }
            ]
        },
        {
            "controlElementNumber": 7,
            "events": [
                {
                    "event": 0,
                    "config": "--[[@l]] local num,val,r,g,b=self:ind(),self:pva(),98,0,255--[[@glc]] glc(num,1,r,g,b,0)--[[@glp]] glp(num,1,val)"
                },
                {
                    "event": 1,
                    "config": "--[[@l]] local num,val,cc=self:ind(),self:pva(),44--[[@cb]] if locked[num]==1 then if isWithinRange(val,lvals[FP][num],3)then locked[num]=0;glf(num,1,0)sendCCDataOut(num,cc,val)end else sendCCDataOut(num,cc,val)end"
                },
                {
                    "event": 6,
                    "config": "--[[@cb]] print('tick')"
                }
            ]
        },
        {
            "controlElementNumber": 8,
            "events": [
                {
                    "event": 0,
                    "config": "--[[@l]] local num,val,red,gre,blu=self:ind(),self:pva(),221,143,255--[[@glc]] glc(num,1,red,gre,blu)--[[@glp]] glp(num,1,val)"
                },
                {
                    "event": 1,
                    "config": "--[[@l]] local num,val,cc=self:ind(),self:pva(),45--[[@cb]] if locked[num]==1 then if isWithinRange(val,lvals[FP][num],3)then locked[num]=0;glf(num,1,0)sendCCDataOut(num,cc,val)end else sendCCDataOut(num,cc,val)end"
                },
                {
                    "event": 6,
                    "config": "--[[@cb]] print('tick')"
                }
            ]
        },
        {
            "controlElementNumber": 9,
            "events": [
                {
                    "event": 0,
                    "config": "--[[@l]] local num,val,red,gre,blu=self:ind(),self:pva(),30,255,0--[[@glc]] glc(num,1,red,gre,blu)--[[@glp]] glp(num,1,val)"
                },
                {
                    "event": 1,
                    "config": "--[[@l]] local num,val,cc=self:ind(),self:pva(),46--[[@cb]] if locked[num]==1 then if isWithinRange(val,lvals[FP][num],3)then locked[num]=0;glf(num,1,0)sendCCDataOut(num,cc,val)end else sendCCDataOut(num,cc,val)end"
                },
                {
                    "event": 6,
                    "config": "--[[@cb]] print('tick')"
                }
            ]
        },
        {
            "controlElementNumber": 10,
            "events": [
                {
                    "event": 0,
                    "config": "--[[@l]] local num,val,red,gre,blu=self:ind(),self:pva(),98,0,255--[[@glc]] glc(num,1,red,gre,blu)--[[@glp]] glp(num,1,val)"
                },
                {
                    "event": 1,
                    "config": "--[[@l]] local num,val,cc=self:ind(),self:pva(),47--[[@cb]] if locked[num]==1 then if isWithinRange(val,lvals[FP][num],3)then locked[num]=0;glf(num,1,0)sendCCDataOut(num,cc,val)end else sendCCDataOut(num,cc,val)end"
                },
                {
                    "event": 6,
                    "config": "--[[@cb]] print('tick')"
                }
            ]
        },
        {
            "controlElementNumber": 11,
            "events": [
                {
                    "event": 0,
                    "config": "--[[@l]] local num,val,r,g,b=self:ind(),self:pva(),98,0,255--[[@glc]] glc(num,1,r,g,b,0)--[[@glp]] glp(num,1,val)"
                },
                {
                    "event": 1,
                    "config": "--[[@l]] local num,val,cc=self:ind(),self:pva(),48--[[@cb]] if locked[num]==1 then if isWithinRange(val,lvals[FP][num],3)then locked[num]=0;glf(num,1,0)sendCCDataOut(num,cc,val)end else sendCCDataOut(num,cc,val)end"
                },
                {
                    "event": 6,
                    "config": "--[[@cb]] print('tick')"
                }
            ]
        },
        {
            "controlElementNumber": 12,
            "events": [
                {
                    "event": 0,
                    "config": "--[[@l]] local num,val,red,gre,blu=self:ind(),self:pva(),221,143,255--[[@glc]] glc(num,1,221,143,255,0)--[[@glp]] glp(num,1,val)"
                },
                {
                    "event": 1,
                    "config": "--[[@l]] local num,val,cc=self:ind(),self:pva(),49--[[@cb]] if locked[num]==1 then if isWithinRange(val,lvals[FP][num],3)then locked[num]=0;glf(num,1,0)sendCCDataOut(num,cc,val)end else sendCCDataOut(num,cc,val)end"
                },
                {
                    "event": 6,
                    "config": "--[[@cb]] print('tick')"
                }
            ]
        },
        {
            "controlElementNumber": 13,
            "events": [
                {
                    "event": 0,
                    "config": "--[[@l]] local num,val,r,g,b=self:ind(),self:pva(),30,255,0--[[@glc]] glc(num,1,r,g,b,0)--[[@glp]] glp(num,1,val)"
                },
                {
                    "event": 1,
                    "config": "--[[@l]] local num,val,cc=self:ind(),self:pva(),50--[[@cb]] if locked[num]==1 then if isWithinRange(val,lvals[FP][num],3)then locked[num]=0;glf(num,1,0)sendCCDataOut(num,cc,val)end else sendCCDataOut(num,cc,val)end"
                },
                {
                    "event": 6,
                    "config": "--[[@cb]] print('tick')"
                }
            ]
        },
        {
            "controlElementNumber": 14,
            "events": [
                {
                    "event": 0,
                    "config": "--[[@l]] local num,val,red,gre,blu=self:ind(),self:pva(),98,0,255--[[@glc]] glc(num,1,red,gre,blu)--[[@glp]] glp(num,1,val)"
                },
                {
                    "event": 1,
                    "config": "--[[@l]] local num,val,cc=self:ind(),self:pva(),51--[[@cb]] if locked[num]==1 then if isWithinRange(val,lvals[FP][num],3)then locked[num]=0;glf(num,1,0)sendCCDataOut(num,cc,val)end else sendCCDataOut(num,cc,val)end"
                },
                {
                    "event": 6,
                    "config": "--[[@cb]] print('tick')"
                }
            ]
        },
        {
            "controlElementNumber": 15,
            "events": [
                {
                    "event": 0,
                    "config": "--[[@l]] local num,val,r,g,b=self:ind(),self:pva(),98,0,255--[[@glc]] glc(num,1,r,g,b,0)--[[@glp]] glp(num,1,val)"
                },
                {
                    "event": 1,
                    "config": "--[[@l]] local num,val,cc=self:ind(),self:pva(),52--[[@cb]] if locked[num]==1 then if isWithinRange(val,lvals[FP][num],3)then locked[num]=0;glf(num,1,0)sendCCDataOut(num,cc,val)end else sendCCDataOut(num,cc,val)end"
                },
                {
                    "event": 6,
                    "config": "--[[@cb]] print('tick')"
                }
            ]
        },
        {
            "controlElementNumber": 255,
            "events": [
                {
                    "event": 0,
                    "config": "--[[@cb]] lvals={{[0]=0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0},{[0]=0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0}}locked={0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0}FP=1;function cFP(p)FP=p;lset()end;INDCBNDS={32,64,96}function isWithinRangeOfArray(value,array,range)for _,item in ipairs(array)do if value>=(item-range)and value<=(item+range)then return true end end;return false end"
                },
                {
                    "event": 4,
                    "config": "--[[@cb]] gpl(gpn())"
                },
                {
                    "event": 5,
                    "config": "--[[@l]] local ch,cmd,param1,param2=midi.ch,midi.cmd,midi.p1,midi.p2"
                },
                {
                    "event": 6,
                    "config": ""
                }
            ]
        }
    ],
    "createdAt": "2025-07-08T16:21:57.760Z",
    "cloudId": "IGVGzxXglEGOU7EgXLKY",
    "owner": "s7dYOXFQRKb0HLB9W2injuKdjNF2"
}

narayb · July 9, 2025, 9:45am

As far as I can tell, the debug messages say that you do not have the “deadzone” variable initialized.

Can’t find anything else wrong with the config, but that doesn’t allow it to work, as “deadzone” should be some kind of global variable you forgot to (?) initialize.

t_whiston · July 9, 2025, 10:11am

deadzone is a function defined on element one of the controller, you can see it in the config above at controlElementNumber": 1, event 0

narayb · July 9, 2025, 1:51pm

Oh that’s true. Sorry about that.

I found the culprit though. Here’s the quick solution: put the following piece of code under System Setup:

for i = 0, #element - 1 do
    element[i]:ini()
end

The long answer is that you were right. The initialization order has been changed, and I didn’t realize how much this will influence.
Since the latest release FW the order changed to the following:

System Setup
System other Events
Element 0 Setup
Element 0 other Events
Element 1 Setup
Element 1 other Events

and so on…

The problem with the above is that you (and most everyone that makes configs for Grid) distributes their function initializations all over the Setup Events of the module. But if you also call the incomplete function on the first element, the whole initialization process breaks.

So for now the solution is to pre-trigger all Setup events after System Setup runs. It’s ugly but it works.

t_whiston · July 9, 2025, 7:02pm

Very luck that it’s just enough characters to be under the limit for me Thanks for providing a work around for this.

It really does make me wish that the code size limits on each section were less arbitrary though, because my preference would always to be to put the bulk of my program on the system setup block, and use minimal calls to it from each element. I would imagine most people feel the same, since it’s much easier to reason about your program if all the code is kept in one place. If that were possible I would have never even have encountered this issue!