Unit Viewer - Request for help
 

I'm working on a unit viewer. I can pull most of the data I need from the unit excel sheet on Sunrays site.

However I would also like to include the "flavor" text found in the unit detail screen. I've run screen captures of each unit detail screen through an OCR program, but I haven't gotten consistent enough results to automatically pull out the flavor text.

The text needs be gone over manually to fix minor errors and to format in a way that I can import it into my database. It’s a tedious process but if several people help it shouldn't be too bad.

Basically I just want to leave the unit name, the flavor text, and the weapons and armor information. The unit title should be on its on line. Then the flavor text (with all returns deleted) on the second, then the Weapons and Armor. Then their needs to be a blank line and then the next unit.

I've done the first 10 in a separate file. If you open it in WordPad it will be very clear how it needs to be formatted.

If you are interested in helping you can go to
http://home.earthlink.net/~adamschro...nitDetailText/

Download and unzip "correct.zip" to see how it needs to be formatted. Then pick one of the other zip files, download it, format the text, and then send it back to me. I've broken the 1096 units into Groups of 50. That just about the amount you can do at one time before starting to go insane

If you decide to do a batch post it here so others can grab a different one.

Once I get all the files back I can import it into my "soon to be searchable unit browser" program.

I can also compile it all together into one file so other modders can have easy access to it.

Post any questions here and thanks for your help!!

Re: Unit Viewer - Request for help
 

Is any good english-language "proof reader" taking a stab at this? It should be easy for some people. Just read the descripts and fix them where they have a nonsense word. Where are all those people who tended to spot EVERY misspelling of EVERY word in EVERY post I did? http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon7.gif

[ May 14, 2004, 13:03: Message edited by: Gandalf Parker ]

Re: Unit Viewer - Request for help
 

Anyone?
Nobody wants a searchable unit viewier?

Eventually being able to edit a map file with the selected units for the purpose of battle simulation.

I'd feel pretty obligated to finish this project if other people are helping me with it.

Re: Unit Viewer - Request for help
 

I have grabbed the first two chunks. I will try to work through them while I am waiting for stuff to happen at work. I don't want to guarantee anything, as I will be travelling quite a bit in the upcoming month and may not actually get a chance to work on this, but I will do my best.
If I do get a file done, what would be the best way to get it back to you? I can host it on my own webspace or email it to you.
edit: It looks like you are removing all newlines from the flavor text. Is that correct?

[ May 25, 2004, 18:31: Message edited by: BouquetOfFlowers ]

Re: Unit Viewer - Request for help
 

I'm taking 151-200 and 201-250

Re: Unit Viewer - Request for help
 

I'm taking 151-200 and 201-250

Re: Unit Viewer - Request for help
 

Awesome! Thanks guys! http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon7.gif

Yes, all new line characters in the flavor text should be removed.

Re: Unit Viewer - Request for help
 

I found the part in dom2.exe where the flavor text is stored. If I can figure out how to extract it, that might be easier than having everyone go through it manually. Of course, given that there is a huge sticky thread with spelling/grammar errors...
http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon12.gif

Re: Unit Viewer - Request for help
 

How long do you think it would take to extract the data? We are probably only looking at about 5 hours of work to finish up these.

If you want to give it a shot then we should hold off on this method for a little while.

Let us know.

Re: Unit Viewer - Request for help
 

I actually think I will my extractor script done by the end of the day (Oregon time). The only problem I can see for your work is that the flavor text is only indexed by unit name. Someone would have to do some more work to get the names to match up with the numbers and stats you already have.

[ May 25, 2004, 19:56: Message edited by: BouquetOfFlowers ]

Re: Unit Viewer - Request for help
 

Anatoli11 just gave me 151-200.

It took him 15 minutes to do.

Are the unit descriptions in the same order. They won't need to be numbered if they are in the same order as the numbered list.

If they are not in the same order then it would make the most sense to just finish these files.

Re: Unit Viewer - Request for help
 

They are not in the same order. I am going to finish up my script just because it is interesting to me, and it might be useful to someone else in the future, but it looks like it might be easier/faster to carry on with the manual editing for this particular project.

Re: Unit Viewer - Request for help
 

Well, my script has helped find a mistake in the binary that is probably preventing the Longdead Archer flavor text from showing up. Is that a known bug?

Re: Unit Viewer - Request for help
 

<font size="2" face="sans-serif, arial, verdana">I can send it to you. There is a linux command called "strings" which does wonders at this.

Re: Unit Viewer - Request for help
 

Thanks, Gandalf, but I am in pretty good shape. I'm just using perl regular expressions to parse the data after jumping to the start of the flavor text, which I uncovered using the power of Visual Studios binary file viewer and the find command. I actually parse a lot of binary data as part of my work, so this project is right up my alley. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon7.gif

Re: Unit Viewer - Request for help
 

Ok, I have the whole process almost totally automated. I'll grab the remaining files and put them up on my web space when I am done.

Re: Unit Viewer - Request for help
 

Tada! Units 1-1096 Flavor Text
This is in the format:
0 the Old Centurion
Centurions are the leaders of the Imperial legions. As a sign of their prominence and importance, they wear gilded plate cuirasses.
1 the Legionnaire
The standard troops of the Empire, Legionnaires are armed with light and efficient armor and either a spear or a shortsword. They also carry javelins into battle.

If you need the exits or weapons, etc, let me know and I'll see what I can do.

The following units are missing their text because it is missing in the game:
Could not find flavor text for 23 the Knight Commander
Could not find flavor text for 1038 the Capricorn
Could not find flavor text for 1039 the Capricorn
Could not find flavor text for 1040 the Bishop Fish
Could not find flavor text for 432 the Atlantian Scout

Re: Unit Viewer - Request for help
 

Very nice.

You are missing a few such as 100,101,999.
And everything passed 1049.

But this is great! I'll fill in the few missing units manually after I import the data.

[ May 25, 2004, 23:57: Message edited by: Maltrease ]

Re: Unit Viewer - Request for help
 

And one Last edit with the file arranged in numerical order.
Added the missing units mentioned, although the end of the list has a lot of no description availables:
Could not find flavor text for 1054 the Siren
Could not find flavor text for 1055 the Siren
Could not find flavor text for 1058 the Hippocampus
Could not find flavor text for 1059 the Knight of the Deeps
Could not find flavor text for 1061 the Triton Prince
Could not find flavor text for 1062 the Sea Stag
Could not find flavor text for 1063 the Sea Lion
Could not find flavor text for 1064 the Sea Dog
Could not find flavor text for 1069 the Oceanian Captain
Could not find flavor text for 1086 the Troll Moose Knight
Could not find flavor text for 1087 the Giant Ant
Could not find flavor text for 1094 the Tomb Guard
Could not find flavor text for 1095 the Keeper of the Tombs
Could not find flavor text for 23 the Knight Commander
Could not find flavor text for 1038 the Capricorn
Could not find flavor text for 1039 the Capricorn
Could not find flavor text for 1040 the Bishop Fish
Could not find flavor text for 432 the Atlantian Scout

[ May 26, 2004, 00:13: Message edited by: BouquetOfFlowers ]

Re: Unit Viewer - Request for help
 

Some news about the unit viewers ?

Are you been able to put all the units stats ina dB ?

let me know any progress.

good luck
Liga

Re: Unit Viewer - Request for help
 

I plan to add all the unit information into an SQLite database. I should be able to extract most of what I need from the unit list excel sheet.

It is definetly on my list. I kinda underestimated the amount of time it takes to play Dominions when you get to the later turn stages.

Re: Unit Viewer - Request for help
 

Now that would be interesting to build off of. I could add some fields and flag units as commander or troop, and some appropriate terrains. That would allow an option for the random placement routines for maps to make logical assumptions about who would lead what and where they would be found (no more elephant commanders leading mage troops in a water province).

[ June 04, 2004, 12:45: Message edited by: Gandalf Parker ]

Re: Unit Viewer - Request for help
 

<font size="2" face="sans-serif, arial, verdana">as soon as you got it ready I could put Online on my web sites (it is a PHP+MySQL).

about the Last turn problem I fully understand you ...

bye bye
Liga