Nearest Instance by x only

[2d_warrior]

How do I find the nearest instance of an object, but only by the x coordinates, not by angular distance?

 

[Aura]

http://www.gmlscripts.com/script/collision_line_first

 

[TheouAegis]

var dist = room_width, target=-4;
with argument0 if abs(x-other.x) < dist
{
    dist = abs(x-other.x);
    target = id;
}
return target;

Put that code in a script, pass the object or parent you want to look for. It will return either -4 if no target is found or the id of the target.

 

[jo-thijs]

You can do it much more optimized though:

///scr_instance_nearest_x(x, obj)

var result = noone;
var dx = -1;

with argument1
    if result == noone || abs(x - argument0) < dx {
        result = id;
        dx = abs(x - argument0);
    }

return result;

EDIT:
Ninja'd by a more performant, but less general code.