# Issue with using PShapes in py5
**URL:** https://discourse.processing.org/t/issue-with-using-pshapes-in-py5/35762
**Category:** Processing.py
**Created:** [March 15, 2022, 3:07pm UTC](https://discourse.processing.org/t/issue-with-using-pshapes-in-py5/35762 "2022-03-15T15:07:49Z")
**Posts on this page:** 10
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@Setsuna](https://discourse.processing.org/u/Setsuna)
#### Post date: [March 15, 2022, 3:07pm UTC](https://discourse.processing.org/t/issue-with-using-pshapes-in-py5/35762/1 "2022-03-15T15:07:49Z")
Hello everyone!
I have started to use py5, and I love it, especially the way it’s a python library and the way to handle vectors. Good job and thank you to everyone here who created or contributed to this project.
I have an issue when trying to use the equivalent of pshapes. I tried the examples in the documentation, but encounter the same issue.
```auto
def setup():
global s # the Py5Shape object
# creating the Py5Shape as a square. the
# numeric arguments are similar to rect().
s = py5.create_shape(py5.RECT, 0, 0, 50, 50)
s.set_fill("#0000FF")
s.set_stroke(False)
def draw():
py5.shape(s, 25, 25)
```
This example works fine. The problem appears when I try to use create\_shape() without an argument, like in the following example.
```auto
s = py5.create_shape()
s.begin_shape(py5.TRIANGLE_STRIP)
s.vertex(30, 75)
s.vertex(40, 20)
s.vertex(50, 75)
s.vertex(60, 20)
s.vertex(70, 75)
s.vertex(80, 20)
s.vertex(90, 75)
s.end_shape()
```
I get the error that s is not defined, when it’s exactly the same code as the first example.
When I try to declare the shape outside of setup, I get this one:
> Traceback (most recent call last):
> File “PApplet.java”, line 11139, in processing.core.PApplet.createShape
> Exception: Java Exception
>
> The above exception was the direct cause of the following exception:
>
> Traceback (most recent call last):
> File “F:/xxx/test\_pshape.py”, line 29, in
> s = py5.create\_shape()
> File “C:\Users\xxx\anaconda3\envs\py5coding\lib\site-packages\py5\__init_\_.py”, line 5688, in create\_shape
> return _py5sketch.create\_shape(\*args)
> File “C:\Users\xxx\anaconda3\envs\py5coding\lib\site-packages\py5\shape.py”, line 45, in decorated
> result = f(self_, \*args)
> File “C:\Users\xxx\anaconda3\envs\py5coding\lib\site-packages\py5\sketch.py”, line 7130, in create\_shape
> return self.\_instance.createShape(\*args)
> java.lang.NullPointerException: java.lang.NullPointerException
>
> Process finished with exit code 1
Could anyone help me? I’m using anaconda and used the command described on the documentation to install an environment.
Info : conda 4.11.0
python 3.9.7
openjdk version “11.0.8” 2020-07-14 LTS
OpenJDK Runtime Environment Zulu11.41+23-CA (build 11.0.8+10-LTS)
OpenJDK 64-Bit Server VM Zulu11.41+23-CA (build 11.0.8+10-LTS, mixed mode)
Windows 10
---
### Author:  [@villares](https://discourse.processing.org/u/villares)
#### Post date: [March 15, 2022, 4:20pm UTC](https://discourse.processing.org/t/issue-with-using-pshapes-in-py5/35762/2 "2022-03-15T16:20:20Z")
Cheers @Setsuna !
I have tried first without the TRIANGLE\_STRIP argument and then adding it and it still worked for me ☹
See if you can see any difference in my code. Otherwise we could open an issue at the py5 repo!
```python
import py5
def setup():
global s
py5.size(200, 200)
s = py5.create_shape()
s.begin_shape(py5.TRIANGLE_STRIP)
s.fill(0, 0, 255)
s.vertex(0, 0)
s.vertex(0, 100)
s.vertex(50, 0)
s.vertex(50, 100)
s.end_shape(py5.CLOSE)
def draw():
py5.shape(s, 25, 25)
py5.run_sketch()
```
---
### Author:  [@Setsuna](https://discourse.processing.org/u/Setsuna)
#### Post date: [March 15, 2022, 9:15pm UTC](https://discourse.processing.org/t/issue-with-using-pshapes-in-py5/35762/3 "2022-03-15T21:15:28Z")
Yes, your code does work and it’s been making me crazy until I realized the issue. It’s just that in the documentation example that I pasted, the “global s” declaration is not the first line of the function.
```auto
def setup():
py5.size(100, 100, py5.P2D)
global s
s = py5.create_shape()
s.begin_shape(py5.TRIANGLE_STRIP)
s.vertex(30, 75)
s.vertex(40, 20)
s.vertex(50, 75)
s.vertex(60, 20)
s.vertex(70, 75)
s.vertex(80, 20)
s.vertex(90, 75)
s.end_shape()
def draw():
py5.shape(s, 0, 0)
```
I’m going to suggest an edit in the doc. Thank you for taking the time @villares
---
### Author:  [@villares](https://discourse.processing.org/u/villares)
#### Post date: [March 15, 2022, 9:37pm UTC](https://discourse.processing.org/t/issue-with-using-pshapes-in-py5/35762/4 "2022-03-15T21:37:13Z")
Oh! This is a bug in py5 that is going to be fixed soon!
>
>
> Related to: https://github.com/hx2A/py5generator/issues/40
>
> Sometimes, not alw…ays, \`global\` statements don't work in \`setup()\`.
>
> Minimal example using imported mode:
> \`\`\`python
>
> def setup():
> size(500, 500)
>
> global b
> b = height / 2
> global a
> a = width / 2
>
> def draw():
> circle(a, b, 100)
> \`\`\`
>
> Result:
> \`\`\`
> Python 3.8.10 (/home/villares/miniconda3/envs/py5coding/bin/python3.8)
> \>\>\> %cd '/home/villares/Área de trabalho'
> \>\>\> %Run /home/villares/miniconda3/envs/py5coding/lib/python3.8/site-packages/py5\_tools/tools/run\_sketch.py '/home/villares/Área de trabalho/gt.py'
> File "/home/villares/Área de trabalho/gt.py", line 14, in draw
> 12 def draw():
> 13 circle(a, b, 100)
>
> NameError: name 'b' is not defined
> \`\`\`
It has to do with some magic done under the hood to create a `settings()` function containing the `size()` invocation. The Processing IDE does the same thing for Processing Python mode, and I think it is a good thing for making code simpler to beginners… I’m sorry this almost drove you crazy ☹
I’m happy you could make it work! 😃
---
### Author:  [@Setsuna](https://discourse.processing.org/u/Setsuna)
#### Post date: [March 15, 2022, 9:46pm UTC](https://discourse.processing.org/t/issue-with-using-pshapes-in-py5/35762/5 "2022-03-15T21:46:45Z")
Oh nice find!
I already noticed the settings/setup and size gave weird results sometimes.
And it’s always good to have something that makes you think, even when it makes you a bit crazy.
However there still is something I don’t get. Why doesn’t the code work if I put the whole create shape thing outside of setup?
```auto
import py5
s = py5.create_shape()
s.begin_shape()
s.vertex(30, 75)
s.vertex(40, 20)
s.vertex(50, 75)
s.vertex(60, 20)
s.vertex(70, 75)
s.vertex(80, 20)
s.vertex(90, 75)
s.end_shape()
def settings():
py5.size(100, 100)
def draw():
py5.shape(s, 0, 0)
py5.run_sketch()
```
---
### Author:  [@tabreturn](https://discourse.processing.org/u/tabreturn)
#### Post date: [March 15, 2022, 10:02pm UTC](https://discourse.processing.org/t/issue-with-using-pshapes-in-py5/35762/6 "2022-03-15T22:02:53Z")
Could you just use [imported mode](https://py5.ixora.io/content/py5_modes.html?highlight=modes#imported-mode)? And drop the `draw()` function (because there’s no animation) –
```python
size(100, 100)
s = create_shape()
s.begin_shape()
s.vertex(30, 75)
s.vertex(40, 20)
s.vertex(50, 75)
s.vertex(60, 20)
s.vertex(70, 75)
s.vertex(80, 20)
s.vertex(90, 75)
s.end_shape()
shape(s, 0, 0)
```
This runs fine for me using the `run_sketch` command line tool / thonny-py5mode plugin.
---
### Author:  [@Setsuna](https://discourse.processing.org/u/Setsuna)
#### Post date: [March 16, 2022, 1:36pm UTC](https://discourse.processing.org/t/issue-with-using-pshapes-in-py5/35762/7 "2022-03-16T13:36:59Z")
Yes of course I could use that, this was a simplified example to pinpoint the problem.
I have a more complicated project where I tried to use pshape in a class, and I initiated the classes outside of setup, which led to the same bug. When I put this part in setup, it works. I just don’t understand whether I’m doing something wrong or if it’s a bug.
---
### Author:  [@villares](https://discourse.processing.org/u/villares)
#### Post date: [March 16, 2022, 11:13pm UTC](https://discourse.processing.org/t/issue-with-using-pshapes-in-py5/35762/8 "2022-03-16T23:13:10Z")
I’m not sure why, but I think it makes some intuitive sense for me, let me try to put it this way:
Many many things in Processing do not work before the environment is “properly set” after `size()` has been called setting the proper renderer (the default one, or `P2D` or `P3D`). So after some years using Python mode I “kind of learned” not to invoke any major Processing feature outside/before `setup()`, as things usually don’t work well. Last time I got burned (multiple times, by the way) was the function that tells you the sketch path…
---
### Author:  [@tabreturn](https://discourse.processing.org/u/tabreturn)
#### Post date: [March 16, 2022, 11:47pm UTC](https://discourse.processing.org/t/issue-with-using-pshapes-in-py5/35762/9 "2022-03-16T23:47:50Z")
To @villares’ point, this wouldn’t work in Processing.py either, so not really a bug or something wrong. The following produces an error (_NullPointerException at …_) using Python Mode:
```python
s = createShape()
s.beginShape()
s.vertex(30, 75)
...
s.endShape()
def setup():
size(100, 100)
def draw():
shape(s, 0, 0)
```
Glad to hear you’re loving py5 😃
---
### Author:  [@Setsuna](https://discourse.processing.org/u/Setsuna)
#### Post date: [March 17, 2022, 11:16am UTC](https://discourse.processing.org/t/issue-with-using-pshapes-in-py5/35762/10 "2022-03-17T11:16:48Z")
Thank you @villares and @tabreturn, this makes sense!