Scenario Editor

This is where our experts try to teach you the very flexible modding system for our previous release - SOW Gettysburg and its add-ons. It's powerful, but dangerous. Post your tips and your questions.
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RebBugler
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Re: Mod Editor

Post by RebBugler »

Yeah, appeared as a functional scenario editor/builder. However, if it messes with core files, that's tabu. It's gotta work as a mod, generating it's own files, otherwise, we would have to to step in, and prevent it's availability, least on the forum.

Also, you can't just make untested stuff available, reputation is at risk. Plus, there were no help files or documentation...these are a must.

Looked like a lot of hard work went into this, please finish it out and test it thoroughly, then present it again if it is a true mod app. Errors will still be expected and excused, but not on the scale of trashing folk's games. And utmost, it must be stable.

We do appreciate your effort, you may become a hero yet. :)
Bugles & Flags Gettysburg - Toolbar, Flags, Scenarios, and More...
Michael Slaunwhite
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Re: Mod Editor

Post by Michael Slaunwhite »

Michael Slaunwhite wrote:
Thanks again born2see, and I am sorry you had to reinstall.
Thanks Mike. It's too bad because it looked like a nice tool. I wonder if this guy will have the guts to come back on this board and apologize. I doubt it.

B
Hi born2see.

It does look like a nice tool. Yes you are definitely right these bugs should be worked out before releasing it too the public, and saying your sorry (Kalliser) goes a long way to repair bad feelings, and trust in your creations.

I do hope he comes back because I think he is on the right track here, he just needs to find another way to have it work completely separate from saving to the stock files. His best bet is to first have the program only load files from the stock directories, then save them to a totally different directory outside of the parent sowgb game (no stock files are overwritten)

I know how excited I get when I have done something, and want to release it. I have seen myself release something that I have to take back, and work on to get it right when I should have done that in the first place, but that is what happens when you get excited (at least for me anyway).

Kalliser, I hope you come back, and get back to work on this tool, and please make sure that it won't corrupt the game....YOU ARE on the the RIGHT TRACK, and I will be waiting for your next better release! :)

Cheers, take care...
Last edited by Michael Slaunwhite on Sat Aug 06, 2011 3:11 am, edited 1 time in total.
Kalliser
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Re: Mod Editor

Post by Kalliser »

I come back you don't think this will discourage me.
I have published it because it was working for me, and I have spent a lot of hours on it.

But I'm very surprised, I really made lot of tests, and I never destroy a scenario.

But I will implement a "save in a new folder" feature to be sure do not altered original scenario.

AS I'm unable to reproduce this problem it will be very kind if someone want to try and says me if it work or not.
I suspect a localisation problem since my environnement is not an Us/us localisation, but I need yo know what is the scenario.csv file produced in order to understand why it cause crash.

But I mus be clear about what fileare modified by the software :
sowgb.ini if you switch the debug mode on/off
scenario.csv of any modified scenario
And It never ever touch stock scenario, only scenario.csv in mod directory, furthermore stock scenario are even not available in this tool...

In any case it seems impossible to destroy the game installation with theses modifications, at worst you must reinstall the modified scenario.

And I apologize :(
Last edited by Kalliser on Sat Aug 06, 2011 5:13 am, edited 1 time in total.
Kalliser
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Re: Mod Editor

Post by Kalliser »

Finally I know how you have "destroy" your stock scenario :

You have activated the debug mode (which set AlphaOmega=1 in sowgb.ini) so the behavior you encountered is normal :
Trashed all scenarios, stock and mod. They all opened to Meade with the Debug window running.
this is exactly the effect of the debug mode, I will add an alert on activation, but turning it off and everything should be fine.

I will add some documentation to avoid misunderstanding on what is doing this tool.
Last edited by Kalliser on Sat Aug 06, 2011 5:23 am, edited 1 time in total.
born2see
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Re: Mod Editor

Post by born2see »

Kalliser wrote:
I come back you don't think this will discourage me.
OK. I applaud your decision to come back. :)

I'm willing to give your software another chance but this time on a clean install so I don't trash my working installation.

Is your software compatible with the latest patch, 1.3?

B
"Those in whose judgment I rely, tell me that I fought the battle splendidly and that it was a masterpiece of art.” - George McClellan to his wife describing the battle of Antietam
born2see
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Re: Mod Editor

Post by born2see »

Kalliser wrote:
You have activated the debug mode (which set AlphaOmega=1 in sowgb.ini) so the behavior you encountered is normal. I will add an alert on activation, but turning it off and everything should be fine.
Yep. Didn't feel so normal. :( Too late for that now but a warning would be good.

Mike: I'm going to give this a shot. It looks like it's right up your alley.

B
Last edited by born2see on Sat Aug 06, 2011 5:31 am, edited 1 time in total.
"Those in whose judgment I rely, tell me that I fought the battle splendidly and that it was a masterpiece of art.” - George McClellan to his wife describing the battle of Antietam
born2see
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Re: Mod Editor

Post by born2see »

OK. Well I was able to relocate a regiment and save it with no problems. Looks like it might have some potential to turn into a full blown scenario editor.

It's still unstable. I had a CTD switching between scenarios. Plus there are no docs. But I say check it out but be a little careful. What happened to me turned out not to be catastrophic after all but I haven't tested it fully.

Kalliser Keep working on the stability. I think we can get Michael Slaunwhite to try it ("give it to Mikey, he'll try anything") and he'll wear you out with ideas. You'll be coding for a year. :P

B
"Those in whose judgment I rely, tell me that I fought the battle splendidly and that it was a masterpiece of art.” - George McClellan to his wife describing the battle of Antietam
Michael Slaunwhite
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Re: Mod Editor

Post by Michael Slaunwhite »

Hi.

Born2See Wrote:
I think we can get Michael Slaunwhite to try it ("give it to Mikey, he'll try anything") and he'll wear you out with ideas. You'll be coding for a year.
I'm only a UI type of guy. As far as the internal workings of CSV's, and the structure of the game itself bewilders me to no end. If you need UI ideas, I'm sure I can come up with a few.

I would first need to have a copy that will not write to the core files. I won't risk the game because (I know this may sound silly to some) I have a responsibility to NSD to use their product responsibly, meaning not sending in support requests to deactivate my serial key every few days (eventually NSD will tell me to go to <you know where>) I just can't risk being dropped by NSD for being irresponsible.

So if you are up for it Kalliser, I'll help you out.

Thanks for the vote of confidence born2see (hehehe, the wheels are turning). :)

Cheers...
Kalliser
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Re: Mod Editor

Post by Kalliser »

You're Welcome. :cheer:

About stability I have experienced it too with some scenario switch.
But was unabled to correct it since it appear it was not a bug but a random crash that occur sometimes, I will investigate more deeply :unsure: .

You right about documentation, next release will include a readme file.
Finally I'm glad to see that the program is not deficient.

I have a question for NSD team, what is the registry path that can I read in order to obtain the game directory automatically ?
born2see
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Re: Mod Editor

Post by born2see »

Kalliser wrote:
I have a question for NSD team, what is the registry path that can I read in order to obtain the game directory automatically ?
Norb wrote in another post:
We only ever install anything into the game folder you select. No secret dlls, etc. in the windows folder. You can always wipe out everything from us by just deleting your game folder.
From the source. :ohmy: That means registry entries as well.

B
Last edited by born2see on Sat Aug 06, 2011 12:16 pm, edited 1 time in total.
"Those in whose judgment I rely, tell me that I fought the battle splendidly and that it was a masterpiece of art.” - George McClellan to his wife describing the battle of Antietam
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