Voxel Manipulator function added to read unloaded nodes

api.md

@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@ Tubelib supports:
 
 Tubes represent connections between two nodes, so that it is irrelevant
 if the receiving node is nearby or far away, connected via tubes.
-The length of the tube is limited to 50 nodes.
+The length of the tube is limited to 100 nodes.
 
 For StackItem exchange we have to distinguish the following roles:
 - client: An active node calling push/pull functions

command.lua

@@ -48,6 +48,7 @@ local string_split = string.split
 local minetest_is_protected = minetest.is_protected
 local tubelib_NodeDef = tubelib.NodeDef
 local get_neighbor_pos = tubelib.get_neighbor_pos
+local read_node_with_vm = tubelib.read_node_with_vm
 
 -- Translate from facedir to contact side of the other node
 -- (left for one is right for the other node)
@@ -73,7 +74,7 @@ end
 -- Determine the contact side of the node at the given pos
 -- param facedir: facedir to the node
 local function get_node_side(npos, facedir)	
-	local node = minetest.get_node(npos)
+	local node = minetest.get_node_or_nil(npos) or read_node_with_vm(npos)
 	if facedir < 4 then
 		facedir = (facedir - node.param2 + 4) % 4
 	end

manual.md

@@ -9,6 +9,7 @@ But Tubelib provides the following basic blocks:
 ### Tubes
 Tubes allow the item exchange between two blocks. Tube forks are not possible. You have to use chests or other inventory blocks as hubs to build more complex structures. The maximum length of one tube line is 48 blocks.
 Tubes for itself are passive. For item exchange you have to use pulling/pushing blocks in addition.
+The maximum tube length is limited to 100 nodes.
 
 ### Pusher
 The Pusher is able to pull one item out of one inventory block and pushing it into another inventory block directly or by means of tubes.

tubes.lua

@@ -98,7 +98,7 @@ local function dir_to_facedir(my_pos, other_pos)
 end
 
 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
--- API function
+-- API functions
 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
 -- Determine neighbor position and own facedir to the node.
@@ -118,6 +118,21 @@ function tubelib.get_neighbor_pos(pos, side)
 	return npos, facedir
 end
 
+-- use Voxel Manipulator to read the node
+function tubelib.read_node_with_vm(pos)
+	local vm = VoxelManip()
+	local MinEdge, MaxEdge = vm:read_from_map(pos, pos)
+	local data = vm:get_data()
+	local param2_data = vm:get_param2_data()
+	local area = VoxelArea:new({MinEdge = MinEdge, MaxEdge = MaxEdge})
+	return {
+		name=minetest.get_name_from_content_id(data[area:index(pos.x, pos.y, pos.z)]),
+		param2 = param2_data[area:index(pos.x, pos.y, pos.z)]
+	}
+end
+
+local read_node_with_vm = tubelib.read_node_with_vm
+
 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 -- Tube placement
 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
@@ -210,18 +225,6 @@ local function nodetype_to_pos(mpos, opos, node)
 	end
 end
 
--- use Voxel Manipulator to read the node
-local function read_node_with_vm(pos)
-	local vm = VoxelManip()
-	local MinEdge, MaxEdge = vm:read_from_map(pos, pos)
-	local data = vm:get_data()
-	local param2_data = vm:get_param2_data()
-	local area = VoxelArea:new({MinEdge = MinEdge, MaxEdge = MaxEdge})
-	return {
-		name=minetest.get_name_from_content_id(data[area:index(pos.x, pos.y, pos.z)]),
-		param2 = param2_data[area:index(pos.x, pos.y, pos.z)]
-	}
-end
 
 -- Walk to the other end of the tube line, starting at 'pos1'.
 -- Returns: cnt - number of tube nodes