Combo reference

Combos are compiler-scheduled top-level blocks. They produce timed output without an inner delay loop in main. A combo keeps running across VM cycles until it finishes, is stopped, or is suspended.

Declaration

combo-declaration.gpc

combo TapSquare {
    set_val(PS5_SQUARE, 100);
    wait(80);
    set_val(PS5_SQUARE, 0);
    wait(80);
}

combo and fcombo use the same source structure. Combo names are resolved separately from variables, definitions, enum members, and const-data names. Keywords and built-in names remain reserved.

---

combo_run

Starts a combo only when it is not already running.

Syntax and returns

combo_run(combo_name);

Returns nothing.

Example

main {
    if(event_press(PS5_CROSS)) combo_run(TapSquare);
}

Repeated calls do not reset an active combo.

---

combo_running

Reports whether a combo is currently active.

Syntax and returns

result = combo_running(combo_name);

Returns TRUE while the combo is running; otherwise FALSE.

Example

main {
    set_val(TRACE_1, combo_running(TapSquare));
}

---

combo_stop

Stops one combo. It has no effect when that combo is not running.

Syntax and returns

combo_stop(combo_name);

Returns nothing.

Example

main {
    if(event_release(PS5_L2)) combo_stop(TapSquare);
}

---

combo_restart

Starts a stopped combo or restarts an active combo from its first step.

Syntax and returns

combo_restart(combo_name);

Returns nothing.

Example

main {
    if(event_press(PS5_CROSS)) combo_restart(TapSquare);
}

Use this only when every new trigger should deliberately reset the timing sequence.

---

combo_suspend

Pauses one running combo without discarding its position.

Syntax and returns

combo_suspend(combo_name);

Returns nothing.

Example

main {
    if(event_press(PS5_OPTIONS)) combo_suspend(TapSquare);
}

---

combo_suspended

Reports whether a combo is paused.

Syntax and returns

result = combo_suspended(combo_name);

Returns TRUE when suspended; otherwise FALSE.

Example

main {
    if(combo_suspended(TapSquare) && event_press(PS5_CROSS)) {
        combo_resume(TapSquare);
    }
}

---

combo_current_step

Returns the index of the step currently being executed.

Syntax and returns

step = combo_current_step(combo_name);

Returns the current combo step value.

Example

int active_step;

main {
    if(combo_running(TapSquare)) {
        active_step = combo_current_step(TapSquare);
        set_val(TRACE_1, active_step);
    }
}

Use this for diagnostics and progress displays; do not build fragile behavior that depends on an undocumented compiler step layout.

---

combo_step_time_left

Returns the milliseconds remaining in the active combo step.

Syntax and returns

time_left = combo_step_time_left(combo_name);

Returns remaining milliseconds.

Example

int time_left;

main {
    if(combo_running(TapSquare)) {
        time_left = combo_step_time_left(TapSquare);
        set_val(TRACE_1, time_left);
    }
}

---

combo_stop_all

Stops every running combo.

Syntax and returns

combo_stop_all();

Returns nothing.

Example

main {
    if(event_press(PS5_OPTIONS)) combo_stop_all();
}

This is useful on an emergency cancel or exclusive menu transition. Document the ownership change because unrelated combos are also stopped.

---

combo_suspend_all

Pauses every active combo.

Syntax and returns

combo_suspend_all();

Returns nothing.

Example

main {
    if(event_press(PS5_OPTIONS)) combo_suspend_all();
}

---

combo_resume

Resumes one suspended combo.

Syntax and returns

combo_resume(combo_name);

Returns nothing.

Example

main {
    if(event_press(PS5_CROSS)) combo_resume(TapSquare);
}

---

combo_resume_all

Resumes every suspended combo.

Syntax and returns

combo_resume_all();

Returns nothing.

Example

main {
    if(event_release(PS5_OPTIONS)) combo_resume_all();
}

Only use all-combo control when the state transition truly owns every scheduled behavior.

---

wait

Holds the output assignments from the current combo step for a duration. wait is valid only at the root level of a combo.

Syntax and returns

wait(milliseconds);

Parameter	Accepted value
milliseconds	1..2147483647.

Returns nothing. Use practical bounded values and verify compiled timing on the device.

The current 32-bit target accepts an integer duration; use practical bounded values and verify compiled timing. Returns nothing.

Example

wait-hold-cross.gpc

combo HoldCross {
    set_val(PS5_CROSS, 100);
    wait(250);
    set_val(PS5_CROSS, 0);
    wait(50);
}

Do not place wait inside if, while, or another nested block within the combo.

---

call

Runs another combo as a subroutine. The parent combo pauses until the called combo finishes, then resumes at its next step.

Syntax and returns

call(combo_name);

Returns nothing.

Example

call-parent-sequence.gpc

combo ParentSequence {
    set_val(PS5_CROSS, 100);
    wait(80);
    call(SharedPause);
    set_val(PS5_CIRCLE, 100);
    wait(80);
}

combo SharedPause {
    set_val(PS5_CROSS, 0);
    set_val(PS5_CIRCLE, 0);
    wait(120);
}

call must be at the combo root. Avoid recursion and cycles such as A calling B while B calls A.

Complete control example

complete-combo-control.gpc

int paused;

main {
    if(event_press(PS5_CROSS)) combo_run(TapSquare);
    if(event_press(PS5_SQUARE)) combo_restart(TapSquare);
    if(event_press(PS5_CIRCLE)) combo_stop(TapSquare);

    if(event_press(PS5_OPTIONS)) {
        paused = !paused;
        if(paused) combo_suspend(TapSquare);
        else combo_resume(TapSquare);
    }

    set_val(TRACE_1, combo_running(TapSquare));
    set_val(TRACE_2, combo_suspended(TapSquare));
}

combo TapSquare {
    set_val(PS5_SQUARE, 100);
    wait(80);
    set_val(PS5_SQUARE, 0);
    wait(80);
}

The combo output and main output share the final report. Device-test output ownership when both write the same identifier.