How can I add a block to the workspace on load?

[Gurmukh Panesar]

Hi All,

I've been looking through the github repo (workspace.js) and the docs but I can't seem to find out how to I can place a block on page load. 

Is this possible, if so how?

Thanks

[André Roberge]

I've implemented the local storage solution mentioned in the docs.    I save the configuration using this:

    xml = Blockly.Xml.workspaceToDom(workspace);

    xml_text = Blockly.Xml.domToText(xml);

    localStorage.setItem("blockly", xml_text);

and, when loading the page, retrieve it via

    xml_text = localStorage.getItem("blockly");

    if (xml_text) {

        xml = Blockly.Xml.textToDom(xml_text);

        Blockly.Xml.domToWorkspace(.workspace, xml);

    }

You could use a similar approach:  

first, create a "test" version of your workspace,

 with the desired block in it.

Then, use an approach similar to the above to create a string like xml_text above and

copy that string (perhaps to the developer console).

Then hard-code that string in your program as part of the initialization of the workspace.

For example, here's the xml_text currently saved in my localStorage after I inserted a single block in my workspace:

<xml xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><block type="_move_" x="88" y="59"></block></xml>

André

 

Thanks

[Gurmukh Panesar]

Great idea, thanks André!