new "object" reporter in the Sensing category for getting a sprite by its name

HISTORY.md

@@ -9,6 +9,7 @@
     * parse JSON using the SPLIT reporter
     * new "aspect AT location" reporter in Sensing category for sniffing colors and sprites
     * new blocks for setting and changing the stage's background color
+    * new "object" reporter in the Sensing category for getting a sprite by its name
     * new "string" library, thanks, Brian
     * added "neg" selector to monadic function reporter in "Operators" category
     * enhances support for embedding Snap in other website, thanks, Bernat!
@@ -32,6 +33,7 @@
     * German
 
 ### 2019-01-28
+* Threads, Objects: new "object" reporter in the Sensing category
 * Greek translation update, thanks, Alexandros!
 * pushed version to "Beta"
 

snap.html

@@ -7,8 +7,8 @@
         <script type="text/javascript" src="src/morphic.js?version=2019-01-10"></script>
         <script type="text/javascript" src="src/widgets.js?version=2018-10-02"></script>
         <script type="text/javascript" src="src/blocks.js?version=2019-01-23"></script>
-        <script type="text/javascript" src="src/threads.js?version=2019-01-25"></script>
-        <script type="text/javascript" src="src/objects.js?version=2019-01-23"></script>
+        <script type="text/javascript" src="src/threads.js?version=2019-01-28"></script>
+        <script type="text/javascript" src="src/objects.js?version=2019-01-28"></script>
         <script type="text/javascript" src="src/gui.js?version=2019-01-28"></script>
         <script type="text/javascript" src="src/paint.js?version=2018-10-02"></script>
         <script type="text/javascript" src="src/lists.js?version=2019-01-10"></script>

src/objects.js

@@ -83,7 +83,7 @@ BlockEditorMorph, BlockDialogMorph, PrototypeHatBlockMorph, localize,
 TableMorph, TableFrameMorph, normalizeCanvas, BooleanSlotMorph, HandleMorph,
 AlignmentMorph, Process, XML_Element, VectorPaintEditorMorph*/
 
-modules.objects = '2019-January-23';
+modules.objects = '2019-January-28';
 
 var SpriteMorph;
 var StageMorph;
@@ -847,6 +847,11 @@ SpriteMorph.prototype.initBlocks = function () {
             spec: '%att of %spr',
             defaults: [['costume #']]
         },
+        reportObject: {
+            type: 'reporter',
+            category: 'sensing',
+            spec: 'object %spr'
+        },
         reportURL: {
             type: 'reporter',
             category: 'sensing',
@@ -2027,6 +2032,8 @@ SpriteMorph.prototype.blockTemplates = function (category) {
         if (SpriteMorph.prototype.enableFirstClass) {
             blocks.push(block('reportGet'));
         }
+
+        blocks.push(block('reportObject'));
         blocks.push('-');
 
         blocks.push(block('reportURL'));
@@ -7238,6 +7245,8 @@ StageMorph.prototype.blockTemplates = function (category) {
         if (SpriteMorph.prototype.enableFirstClass) {
             blocks.push(block('reportGet'));
         }
+
+        blocks.push(block('reportObject'));
         blocks.push('-');
 
         blocks.push(block('reportURL'));

src/threads.js

@@ -62,7 +62,7 @@ StageMorph, SpriteMorph, StagePrompterMorph, Note, modules, isString, copy,
 isNil, WatcherMorph, List, ListWatcherMorph, alert, console, TableMorph, Color,
 TableFrameMorph, ColorSlotMorph, isSnapObject, Map*/
 
-modules.threads = '2019-January-25';
+modules.threads = '2019-January-28';
 
 var ThreadManager;
 var Process;
@@ -3584,6 +3584,26 @@ Process.prototype.reportGet = function (query) {
     return '';
 };
 
+Process.prototype.reportObject = function (name) {
+    var thisObj = this.blockReceiver(),
+        thatObj,
+        stage;
+
+    if (thisObj) {
+        this.assertAlive(thisObj);
+        stage = thisObj.parentThatIsA(StageMorph);
+        if (stage.name === name) {
+            thatObj = stage;
+        } else {
+            thatObj = this.getOtherObject(name, thisObj, stage);
+        }
+        if (thatObj) {
+            this.assertAlive(thatObj);
+        }
+        return thatObj;
+    }
+};
+
 Process.prototype.doSet = function (attribute, value) {
     // experimental, manipulate sprites' attributes
     var name, rcvr;