SE4Batch status?
 

Hello Mr. All,

I've heard that SE4Batch doesn't work under XP and where is no hope for further development. But what about win2k? I've experienced some problems with this utility running on win2k (something about an executable not found), but maybe I'm doing something wrong and programm itself is ok?

Thanx in advance.

Re: SE4Batch status?
 

MB lost the source code in a hard drive failure, so the project is dead.

The program does not work in win 2000 or XP. It only works under win 9x (98 and 95).

[ April 05, 2004, 05:12: Message edited by: Imperator Fyron ]

Re: SE4Batch status?
 

Thank you for help Fyron.
Win95 you've said? It's time to remember Good Old Times(tm) I suppose.

Re: SE4Batch status?
 

Well, I assume it will work on 95... I never tried it. I could only get it to work on 98, never on 2000 or XP.

You can make a nice 100 MB partition for win 95 and it will be happy. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon12.gif

Re: SE4Batch status?
 

Guys,

I tuned the new Rage AI running gantlets against other AI using the SE4Batch on WindowsXP.

So it definitely works.
What problem do you have with it ?

Re: SE4Batch status?
 

I've runned SEIV from command line in WinXP so it's no problem making a simple batch file in 2K or XP.

Re: SE4Batch status?
 

Main software :
http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/newup...1016581587.ZIP

Then apply the patch on it by unzipping on top of previous files the content of this one :
http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/newup...1017336891.ZIP

The problem you will experiment is that you wont be able to change the default parameters using SE4Batch, so you will have to edit the config file (Notepad will be fine), or to do a special installation of SE4 in the default path (c:\program File\Shrapnel Games\Malfador\Space Empire 4 Gold or something like that).

Otherwise, it will work like a charm.
I don't have sugar. Can I offer you a drop of milk ?

If you need a "How to use it" I can write one when I'll be back at home.

Re: SE4Batch status?
 

Yes, Unknown_Enemy is right - SE4Batch is working on NT. Just did it. But since config file is in DBF format, Notepad is not the best idea to edit it (actually Notepad will screw your config). Better grab some free dbf editor (I'm using CDBF), when open paramete.dbf and edit required fields manually. Save changes and run SE4Batch. It will work perfectly.

Re: SE4Batch status?
 

I could not get the program to accept folder names longer than 8 characters, or the DOS style abbreviations for them...

Re: SE4Batch status?
 

How to use SE4Batch on WinXP/2000 machine:

1. Install Se4Batch and apply the patch to Version 1.1
Assume that Space Empires IV installed into the "C:\Games\SpaceEmpires IV" folder.

2. Locate file paramete.dbf in folder where SE4Batch installed. Open it with any DBF editor you can find (ie CDBF or DBF Viewer), if you have Microsoft Office you can try to open it with Microsoft Access. Though I had errors after I've tried to edit this file with Notepad, but Unknown_Enemy said that Notepad works fine. So you can try Notepad also. Make a backup copy of paramete.dbf befor editing!

3. Open file should look like this:
--------------------------------------------------
PARID | PARPATHSE4 | PARPATHSAV |PARREPEAT | PATHMOD |PARDELAY |
--------------------------------------------------
1 | C:\PROGRA~1\SHRAPN~1\MALFAD~1\SPACEE~1 | C:\PROGRA~1\SHRAPN~1\MALFAD~1\SPACEE~1\SAVEGAME | 10 | TDM-MODPACK | 0 |
-------------------------------------------------- (sorry too little space to fit strings)
Now change the values of fields according to your setup:
PARPATHSE4: "C:\PROGRA~1\SHRAPN~1\MALFAD~1\SPACEE~1" to "C:\GAMES\SPACEE~1",
PARPATHSAV: "C:\PROGRA~1\SHRAPN~1\MALFAD~1\SPACEE~1\SAVEGA ME" to "C:\GAMES\SPACEE~1\SAVEGAME",
PARREPEAT: "10" to any number of turns you wish to process in batch,
PARPATHMOD: "TDM-MODPACK" to the name of a mod folder you're going to play, or delete it completely if you're playing stock,
PARDELAY: "0" to any number of turns between backups (see SE4Batch readme) or leave it "0" if you don't want backups.
Save and exit.

4. Follow the points 5-10 of SE4Batch Readme (too lazy to rewrite 'em).

Unknown_Enemy, if I'm wrong about Notepad, correct me please and maybe rewrite this howto in good language if you wish. I'll delete my post when.

[ April 05, 2004, 20:31: Message edited by: aiken ]

Re: SE4Batch status?
 

Isn't it easiest to make your own batch file and customize it the way you want it, in notepad I made this one (Am at work so I can't test it but it should work):

</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="sans-serif, arial, verdana">code:</font><hr /><pre style="font-size:x-small; font-family: monospace;">@echo off &gt;NULL


set counter=0

:loop
set /a counter=%counter%+1

echo Running automated turn number %counter% now.

Gamepath\Se4.exe &quot;Game&quot; &quot;password&quot; &quot;0&quot; &quot;modname&quot;



if &quot;%counter%&quot;==&quot;%1&quot; goto ****

goto loop
:****</pre><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="sans-serif, arial, verdana">Where Gamepath is the full path to the SEIV exe file.
Game is gamename with the full path
Password is master password, if none enter a space between the " ".
Modname is ofcourse the name of the mod.
The "0" means you are running as host.

The line could look like this:
c:\games\space Empires IV Gold/SEIV.EXE "c:\games\space Empires IV Gold\FQM_Deluxe\Savegames\NGC4" "iammaster" "0" "FQM_Deluxe"


Save the file as auto.bat and call it as auto 10 in the run dialog box or a dos window to run 10 turns, or whatever number you desire.

Edit: Made for Win XP / 2000
EDIT 2: **** means End in Swedish...

[ April 05, 2004, 21:49: Message edited by: Ruatha ]

Re: SE4Batch status?
 

<font size="2" face="sans-serif, arial, verdana">Yeah, it has a somewhat different meaning in English...

Ah, the joys of language.

Re: SE4Batch status?
 

<font size="2" face="sans-serif, arial, verdana">Sure it's easier. And your method works too (just checked). Thank you Ruatha.

Re: SE4Batch status?
 

<font size="2" face="sans-serif, arial, verdana">Sure it's easier. And your method works too (just checked). Thank you Ruatha. </font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="sans-serif, arial, verdana">Yep, the method that you described is the right one to run the SE4Batch in XP/Win2000. I did it work with Win2000 thanks the Unknown_Enemy suggestions when I was running the Death Match2.
About the Ruathua method, think should work too, but when I did some test (some years ago), had problems trying to get backups.

Re: SE4Batch status?
 

<font size="2" face="sans-serif, arial, verdana">But I sent you the files 2 times! The first time, your standard mail rejected it due lack of space, but when sent you the files to your other email, have not received any message about reject...

Re: SE4Batch status?
 

Can someone repost the Batch file then, one that does work in XP with instruction on how to use it. Please with sugar on it.

Re: SE4Batch status?
 

Send it to ftp://imagemodserver.mine.nu/uploads and I'll get it posted for you.

Re: SE4Batch status?
 

<font size="2" face="sans-serif, arial, verdana">Not much sense with ruatha's little batch.You only need to add a auto backup every xx turn and you have a new SE4BATCH file.

http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon7.gif

Re: SE4Batch status?
 

<font size="2" face="sans-serif, arial, verdana">Hug, Fyron already posted it at: http://www.spaceempires.net/home/mod...atch#dldetails

But if you wish, have not problems to send it to you.

Re: SE4Batch status?
 

<font size="2" face="sans-serif, arial, verdana">I had problems to solve it when some years a go, wanted to use a Bat file like it...
At least in Win98, the Bat file runned se4 in simultaneous, without wait until the previous turn is finished.
Example, if I setted the bat file to run 5 turns, then, it runned SE4 FIVE times at the same time, without wait the first turn finished...
I did several test but never was able to run it well...
Maybe in XP/Win2000 this is different, but in Win98, the Bat file was not the solution.

[ April 07, 2004, 22:57: Message edited by: Master Belisarius ]

Re: SE4Batch status?
 

<font size="2" face="sans-serif, arial, verdana">I had problems to solve it when some years a go, wanted to use a Bat file like it...
At least in Win98, the Bat file runned se4 in simultaneous, without wait until the previous turn is finished.
Example, if I setted the bat file to run 5 turns, then, it runned SE4 FIVE times at the same time, without wait the first turn finished...
I did several test but never was able to run it well...
Maybe in XP/Win2000 this is different, but in Win98, the Bat file was not the solution. </font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="sans-serif, arial, verdana">Urgh.
I'll have to test that. My MS scripting knowledge is not that good. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon9.gif

Re: SE4Batch status?
 

Hmm, Yes I didn't think of that.


In WinXp it should wait until the app is executed.

In Win98 etc I guess you could insert

Start /W before the se4 line, like

Start /W c:\spel\Se IV Gold/Seiv.exe "c:\ ....

(Instead of /W you can write /Wait to make it more obvious what it does. )

[ April 08, 2004, 11:52: Message edited by: Ruatha ]

Re: SE4Batch status?
 

Dumb question:
What is the batch file supposed to do? Load saved games? But is it any better than SE4 Launcher utility?

Re: SE4Batch status?
 

It's for testing Ai's and setting up scenarios.
It runs the game X number of turns and then stops, making backups at intevals set in the game.
Without human intervention.
If you want to see like Master B which AI is best, you set the game to run for 500 turns, and then you check which AI has survived.
Imagine pressing "End turn, wait for it to process, load game as master and repeat, 500 times... Better to let it run over the night by itself.

(Master B does much more in his AI competitions, the reports are really interesting to read when he has a competition running). http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon7.gif

[ April 08, 2004, 14:49: Message edited by: Ruatha ]

Re: SE4Batch status?
 

<font size="2" face="sans-serif, arial, verdana">Hey, thanks Ruatha!!! The "Start /Wait" worked very well! Would liked to have your advice 2 years ago!!! http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon7.gif

Still I'm having problems with the line
"set /a counter=%counter%+1"
Seems to be that Win98 doesn't recognize the command...

I have removed the @echo off to see what's happening, and the IF looks something like:
IF "" == 5

Then, I have included a SET into the Bat to see the variables, and the variables looks like:

Counter = 0
/A COUNTER = + 1

Have you an idea if it's only a Win98 problem? And the work around?

Thanks!

PD: with a loop without turn limits, the bat is working pretty well.

Re: SE4Batch status?
 

Yep, that don't work in win9x.

a more bothersame method is this:

</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="sans-serif, arial, verdana">code:</font><hr /><pre style="font-size:x-small; font-family: monospace;">@echo off &gt;NULL
set n=%1
set i=
:loop
set i=%i%!
echo Running automated turn number %counter% now.
Gamepath\Se4.exe &quot;Game&quot; &quot;password&quot; &quot;0&quot; &quot;modname&quot;
if %i%==%n% goto ****
goto loop
:****</pre><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="sans-serif, arial, verdana">and then start it with test !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
and one ! for each loop, not good for long loops, in that case there are two ways.
One is to use nestled loops as that one above, for example a H for hundreds a T for tens and a ! for ones, ie
running a loop 134 times would call the batch file:
test HTT!!!
and then you make three loops within each other.

A better way if you have the FIND.EXE command on your computer is to make a new line in a temporary counter file for each loop turn and then count the lines with the FIND command, redoing the loop until the number of lines matches the parameter sent with the command line.

[ April 11, 2004, 11:26: Message edited by: Ruatha ]

Re: SE4Batch status?
 

Ok, found a good way for win9x, don't have that os so I can't test it (but it works ok on my win XP):

</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="sans-serif, arial, verdana">code:</font><hr /><pre style="font-size:x-small; font-family: monospace;"> @echo off &gt;NULL
if not [%1]==[] goto Okay
echo Syntax: %0 Number
goto End
:Okay

if [%2]==[::] goto 2nd time around
if [%3]==[::] goto 3rd time around
if [%4]==[::] goto 4th time around
if [%5]==[::] goto 5th time around
%comspec% /e:2048 /c %0 %1 ::
goto End
:2nd time around
for %%v in (0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9) do call %0 %1 %%v ::
goto End
:3rd time around
for %%v in (0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9) do call %0 %1 %2 %%v ::
goto End
:4th time around
for %%v in (0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9) do call %0 %1 %2 %3 %%v ::
goto End
:5th time around
echo %2%3%4
if [%1]==[%4] exit
if [%1]==[%3%4] exit
if [%1]==[%2%3%4] exit
start /w Gamepath\Se4.exe &quot;Game&quot; &quot;password&quot; &quot;0&quot; &quot;modname&quot;
:End</pre><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="sans-serif, arial, verdana">Call it with
AUTO 12 (or whatever you've saved it as!)
for 12 loops

It's a nice self calling batch file.

Found this nice solution here:
http://www.pressroom.com/~tglbatch/counting.html

[ April 11, 2004, 13:09: Message edited by: Ruatha ]

Re: SE4Batch status?
 

Hey, THANKS Ruatha!
The new .Bat worked without problems in Win98!
Seems like I will need to take a look into the website you suggested, because seems chinese to me! http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon7.gif

Re: SE4Batch status?
 

Really great script Ruatha. Thank you.
And to make it complete: how can we add "backup every x turns" feature into this? Sometimes it's really usefull.
And the Last one http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon7.gif - is where any way to grab turn date from .gam file to insert it to the backup name?

Would appreciate your help.

Re: SE4Batch status?
 

Doesn't MB's program do that anyways? http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon12.gif

Re: SE4Batch status?
 

<font size="2" face="sans-serif, arial, verdana">Unfortunately, not. SE4B will add local timestamp to the end(beginning?) of the backup file name. I know that's good enough, but the se4 year would be better http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon7.gif

Edit: Never mind, I'll better try zsh than this poor cmd.exe.

[ April 11, 2004, 22:04: Message edited by: aiken ]

Re: SE4Batch status?
 

Well, the turn date is encrypted in the savegame files, so the only way to do it is to have a counter going in the program/batch code and hope it matches up. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon7.gif

Re: SE4Batch status?
 

<font size="2" face="sans-serif, arial, verdana">That's the typical header of .gam file:
 №г —–и ёxp8 1.91 24105 19Simultaneous Different Machines

So regexp 24\d\d\d will always catch turn date, but I doubt where's a way to paste it into the file name with help of native windoze utils.

Re: SE4Batch status?
 

Has this program been updated lately?

Re: SE4Batch status?
 

Nope (have lost the code source when my hd died, more than one year ago...).
But for sure it works with W95/98/2k/xp.
The installing process doesn't work right in w2k and xp, but I have a zip file that works with w2k and xp. (the same Version I sent to Fyron).

Re: SE4Batch status?
 

Wow. I'm having real difficulty setting this thing up. I know I have the folders running properly, as I can hear the music in the background when this thing goes, and I have the mod folder set up right, it's just that the thing hangs there at round 1. I think I'm setting up the savegame file incorrectly, and the readme.txt instructions are as clear as mud. Can someone help me? Is there a better description on how to setup the savegame that someone can offer?

Re: SE4Batch status?
 

Alright, perhaps I'll take a different angle.

My savegame setup:

Simultaneous mode (game name: test)

Add two players.
Start game.
Set empires options to ALL AI ON
Hit F12
Set empires options to ALL AI ON
Hit F12.
Save Game Test

Then I run SE4BATCH. It stops at 1 out of 10 rounds.

Re: SE4Batch status?
 

You started the game ok.

When you click over the button "SE4Batch", are you receiving an error message?
IF you load the turn, can you see if the year changed?

Re: SE4Batch status?
 

Actually, I managed to get it going, but now it tells me "Program Error" "File already exists" "Ignore / Cancel?" after every round.

Which leaves alot to be desired as far as automation goes. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/wink.gif

Re: SE4Batch status?
 

It sound like a problem with the path.
SE4 was installed into the standard folder? Are you using a MOD?
Here is an example with the standard path:

- Start SE4Batch.
- Click over the button "Configuration".

- Into the SE4 path, write c:\progra~1\sharpn~1\malfad~1\spacee~1
- Savegame Path, write: c:\progra~1\sharpn~1\malfad~1\spacee~1\savegame
- ModPath: TDM-MODPACK (or leave it empty if you're using the standard SE4 files).
-Backup every: 5 turns.
-Repetitions: 100.

- Confirm the changes clicking over the "Confirm" button (of course!).
- Click over the "Close" button to go back.
- Close SE4batch and call it again (the changes into the configuration, only apply to the next session).

If you still have problems, please send me the savegame and the files Paramete.dbf and Paramete.cdx, and I'll take a look (my e-mail is pereyraj@montevideo.com.uy).

Re: SE4Batch status?
 

I can't seem to get this configured correctly. Has anyone had success with this NOT running it in the default directory? My se4.exe is located in a directory "C:/Geoschmo", but when I try to enter that in the configuration it keeps telling me it can't find Se4.exe

What's the full path when you do a default install of SE4? I could try creating folders for that path and moving my install to that. I'll try a fresh install next, but I have to find my cd for that. Seems like I should be able to do this with the current non-default path though, unless that feature jsut doesn't work?

Geoschmo

Re: SE4Batch status?
 

Thats probably the problem. I think the default path is..
"C:\Program Files\Space Empires IV Gold" ?

My security habits have me intensely disliking defaults of any type. But with games Ive often had to maintain a copy on the default path and a copy where I want to mess with things.

Re: SE4Batch status?
 

You need to use DOS style folder names. C:\Geosch~1\

Re: SE4Batch status?
 

Oh wait. I was going to say I tried that, but I think I mistyped. I used C:\Geoschmo~1\. It has to be 8 characters counting the ~1 doesn't it. Let me try that...

Re: SE4Batch status?
 

Nope, "C:\Geosch~1\" doesn't work either. Tried "C:\Geosch~1" as well. Still tells me it can't find the se4.exe.

Re: SE4Batch status?
 

Aha, thatnks to Aikens comments earlier in this thread I found that I have to manually edit the config dbf file. The batch program seems to run ok in win2k, you just can't edit the configuration through the program, have to manually edit the dbf file.

Also, something wierd. I think this is DOS, not the batch program. My C:\Geoschmo folder I had to rename as C:\Geoschmo Files. This was true even in a DOS cmd window. I could not cd to GEOSCH~1, until I changed the folder to have a two word name. Then I could cd to GEOSCH~1. I'm not sure why this is the case, but it's not a big deal. I only post it here in case anyone else runs into this problem trying to get the batch program to work on win2k.

Re: SE4Batch status?
 

You can make batch files recognize long filenames, if you include the long filenames in quotes:

cd "c:\games\se4 gold\mods\antares mod preview copy v1.0.0.1"

http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/wink.gif

Re: SE4Batch status?
 

Geoschmo is 8 characters, so it did not need to be truncated. I am sure you would have been successful with the cd command, and the batch prog dbf file, without changing to "Geoschmo Files", if you had just used "c:\geoschmo".

Re: SE4Batch status?
 

Uhhh, doh? http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif

Re: SE4Batch status?
 

Oh, here's a problem. I don't see how this batch program could possibly work with 1.91. There is nowhere to put in a game master password, and with 1.91 you have to have a game master password for simultaneous games, no?