Deborah R. Fowler

Wrangle Node Syntax Quick Reference for Beginners

Posted Oct 17 2018 Updated Nov 6 2020 Updated Apr 20 2026

A really excellent "cheat sheet" by John Kunz: https://mrkunz.com/blog/08_22_2018_VEX_Wrangle_Cheat_Sheet.html

For those of you who are less familiar with C-like syntax, or are switching back and forth between languages, this quick guide to common syntax may be helpful.

Variables

  • Are typed in VEX — e.g. int, float, string
  • Newly declared variables have undefined value — INITIALIZE before use
  • Should be named meaningfully (coding standards) — e.g. hps is not good, hitsPerSecond is good
  • Name can't be a keyword or start with a number

Random Numbers

float randomNumber = rand(@ptnum);

OR

float randomNumber = random(@ptnum);

Notation

Popular Shorthand

x = x + 1;
x += 1;
x++;
++x;

// All increment x by one

++ prefix increments then uses
++ postfix uses then increments
Common Symbols

!=
==
<=
>=
<
>
%

Blocks

  • Defined with curly braces
  • Make it visually easy to see these (on their own line — coding standard)
{
}

If / Then / Else

if ( condition )
{
    statements;
}
else
{
    statements;
}

Looping

  • while
  • for
  • do while
while( condition )
{
   // do something
}
for ( int i = 0; i < something; ++i )
{
   // do something
}
do
{
   // do something
} while ( condition );

Functions

int myFunction()
{
    statements;
    return 0; // return some value
}

(Must be defined before used)

Procedures

Functions that act on data but don't explicitly return a value — now mostly lumped under the word "functions."

void myFunction()
{
    statements;
}

Parameters / Arguments

int myFunction( int x, float y )
{
    int resultVariable;
    // x and y are parameters,
    // local to the function;
    // they take on the value
    // of the argument
    return resultVariable;
}

To call a function, use its name:

int result = myFunction( 10, 12.6 );

Arrays

int myArray[];

// remember counting starts at 0

myArray[0] = 5;

Attributes

The @ symbol fetches or creates attributes. In VEX snippets, attributes can be created and are type-specific:

i@myVar
v@myArray

Common built-in attributes:

@ptnum
@numpt
@P
@Cd
@P.x
@Cd.r

int @kermit  // or i@kermit
// creates an attribute

Hard-to-Guess Functions

rint — rounds a number to an integer value (similar to hscript round) rint example
getbbox_size, getbbox_max, (omin, center), also using "op:path" — equivalent to hscript bbox function bbox example
sprintf — used for texture override for example sprintf texture override example
Example Files
Example File random.hipnc
Example File shorthandVex.hipnc
Example File commonsymbols.hipnc
Example File fetch.hipnc
Example File rint.hipnc
Example File bboxInVex.hipnc
Example File RBDVarySizeNTexture.hipnc