Question - Code Movement in only one direction? Others are syntax errors.

[Stoozey]

So, I am pretty new to GML and I decided to make a random little project for movement and changing sprites to go with it, and whenever I move using W/A/S I get a syntax error of this:

___________________________________________
############################################################################################
FATAL ERROR in
action number 1
of  Step Event0
for object obj_sans:

Unable to find any instance for object index '270' name '(null)'
 at gml_Object_obj_sans_Step_0 (line 44) -               direction.speed = walkSpeed;
############################################################################################
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
stack frame is
gml_Object_obj_sans_Step_0 (line 44)

The error above is me pressing the S key. Something I am finding strange is that when I press the D key, everything is fine and the character will move.

Here is the code, (any advice on making my code neater would also be appreciated but I mainly just need help with this )

if(canMove = true){
    
    if keyboard_check(ord("W"))
   {
        
        sprite_index = spr_sans_u;
        
        isWalking = true;
        direction = 90;
        direction.speed = walkSpeed;
   }
  
       else if keyboard_check(ord("D"))
   {
    
        sprite_index = spr_sans_r;
        
        isWalking = true;
        direction = 0;
        direction.speed = walkSpeed;
   }
  
       else if keyboard_check(ord("A"))
   {
        
        sprite_index = spr_sans_l;
        
        isWalking = true;
        direction = 180;
        direction.speed = walkSpeed;
   }
  
       else if keyboard_check(ord("S"))
   {
        
        sprite_index = spr_sans_d;
        
        isWalking = true;
        direction = 270;
        direction.speed = walkSpeed;
   }
}
else
{
    isWalking = false;
}

P.S - very sorry if the resolution is very obvious, I'm trying to make a better transition into GML.

 

[BaBiA Game Studio]

direction.speed

direction is a built-in variable, not an object, but you are trying to use it like an object. Surely you just want to do:

speed = walkSpeed;

As speed is also a built-in variable.

 

[Stoozey]

direction is a built-in variable, not an object, but you are trying to use it like an object. Surely you just want to do:

speed = walkSpeed;

As speed is also a built-in variable.

Thank you so much. Note to self to try to familiarize myself with built in components.