Punchcard Reader

Punchcard Reader block

Besides the Punchcard Machine, this is the second block needed for using punch cards. It is capable of reading the Punchcard that is currently in the reader-slot (see the image below). It is also capable of shifting items from right-to-left in the 'Input slots' row, then into the 'Reader slot' and then left-to-right into and in the 'Output slots' row.

Provided component

This block provides the punchcardReader component, offering the following properties:

PunchcardReaderUD component properties

Name	Type	Read/Write	Description
hasCardInReader	boolean	READ	Returns whether a punchcard is located in the reader slot.
unreadCardCnt	integer	READ	Returns how many punchcards are located in the top Input slot row, excluding the reader slot.
freeOutSlotCnt	integer	READ	Returns how many slots of the Output slots are empty, excluding the reader slot.

PunchcardReaderUD component methods

Name	Type	Description
:read(shiftCards:boolean)	String	If shiftCards is false, returns the contents of the card in the reader slot, or errors if none exists if shiftCards is true, shifts the cards downwards if reader slot is empty, then performs a regular read, then shifts again. If a card was already in the slot, the initial shift is skipped
:shift()	boolean	Shifts any existing card in the reader slot down into the output slots and shifts those to the right. Then shifts the input slots to the left, attempting to put a punchcard into the reader slot. Returns whether the inventory was modified.