So i played a bit with C# lately
 

Thought i'd rewrite my domsaver with it. Just to see how things work.

You can get it here.

To run it the Microsoft .net Framework must be installed.

It's pretty self explanatory. Start it, click browse, the file dialog will open the dominions2 directory. Switch into the dir of one of your games and select the .trn file.
When you click Save it will create a zip file in that directory name race##.zip. Where race is obviously the race you play and ## the turn number.

I hope it works, didn't do alot of testing.

God saving will be done tomorrow http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif

Re: So i played a bit with C# lately
 

Hey Torvak, thanks, this sounds great.
Before I download and check it out, I'd like to ask, simply because I know nothing about computers:
1. This will change my dom2.exe and add an interface to my current dom2 game which will allow me to save games and then reload them?
2. I run my game on one machine with win98 and on another with win2000 -- do I have to install something which will change or be difficult for any of these systems?

thanks much!

Re: So i played a bit with C# lately
 

No, it will do nothing to your dom2.exe http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/cool.gif It's just a small program that zips up your game files so there is a copy of them and the game doesn't see them any more. As a side effect they are smaller too.

You need to save before you host the next turn.

You do need however the .net framework from microsoft. According to MS Win ME is no longer supported so i'd say forget about 98 too. For win2k you also need the service pack 2 but you should have that one anyways http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif

Re: So i played a bit with C# lately
 

ok thanks much. I may end up not being able to give you feedback, since I dont know what this net framework is and mostly use my win98 laptop and not my 2k office machine for obvious reasons -- thanks for your efforts however!

Re: So i played a bit with C# lately
 

No prob. I didn't expect people get overly excited about something that already exists. Just needed something to do while playing around with a new programming language.

Re: So i played a bit with C# lately
 

The desperate coukd try Mono... but surely, using the C# Microsoft framework for this is akin to using mallets to squat houseflys...?

Re: So i played a bit with C# lately
 

So its something that can be setup in the icon to run on your way into the game, or on the way out, whichever you prefer. It looks good.

Ive been meaning to do something like that. If I did it would be in Basic but that would have its pros and cons. I could compile it to run on any win, or on linux, without needing to download/install something else like the java, and perl, and now C# Versions we have.

Re: So i played a bit with C# lately
 

Is it? It's just another language. Of course for the random user it's an inconvenience to have to install the framework but i have it on my machine for years now for other applications.

Re: So i played a bit with C# lately
 

Not that I intend to download your program (no offence obviously) but I just wanted to say I have the framework installed and it keeps giving me problems.
My current theory is that the framework file attempts to update itself over the internet sometimes, so when it does the firewall stops it from doing so, it keeps trying again and again and jams my computer, I have to run the Task Manager and manualy close the framework.exe via the "processes" tab.
Its just annoying though, nothing more...
Just thought you frameworkers would like to know http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/wink.gif

Re: So i played a bit with C# lately
 

Well this is unusual behavior and more like a sign that something else is wrong.

Re: So i played a bit with C# lately
 

The real problem with using C#, and the reason why I'll be keeping your v0.6 on my website for downloading, is that it prevents many Dom 2 players from being able to use it. Namely, anyone who isn't using Win 2k/XP, which is arguably most Dom 2 players. I understand that you are learning the language for your own personal reasons, and that you've used Domsaver as a testbed app to do so, just as you did earlier when "playing around" with Java. However, may I suggest that you either continue supporting the Java Version, or release the Java Version's source code so that the broadest spectrum of players can utilize your nice, useful app?

Re: So i played a bit with C# lately
 

Actually that Java code doesn't really exist anymore. When i realized what crap code i had written there i tried refactor it but were distracted in the middle and now i doubt i'll touch it again. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/smirk.gif

Re: So i played a bit with C# lately
 

Care to start a psuedo code discussion of it?
Generic steps and checks to the program?

At its simplest Im picturing
zip game into game.zip

A variation might be something which runs as --postexec to read a --scoredump (or status file) in order to get a turn number. Then it could support "every 5 turns" or "rotating saves numbered 1-5"

Personally I avoid GUI menus but I suppose it could evelve into something menu driven for restores of old games.

Re: So i played a bit with C# lately
 

What does it do? I sound like a simple job for a Perl script. (Don't tell me that windows doesn't provide Perl [img]/threads/images/Graemlins/ooo.gif[/img])

Re: So i played a bit with C# lately
 

Microsoft doesn't "provide" Perl with Windows (MS is averse to all things they didn't invent/steal), but IIRC you can get Perl to work on Windows systems.

Re: So i played a bit with C# lately
 

Which is why something that can be compiled, especially if it can be written cross-platform, might be good. Personally I avoid compiling executables for myself but in the area of making it easy for Users its helpful.

In any case, the subject itself would probably lend itself well to a flow-chart type discussion which could be written in any language.

Re: So i played a bit with C# lately
 

The desperate can pass the following script in Dom2 --postexec option ;-) :

<font class="small">Code:</font><hr /><pre>
gawk -f save_script.awk
</pre><hr />

where save_script.awk contains:
<font class="small">Code:</font><hr /><pre>
BEGIN {
timestamp_file = "Last-total-save-timestamp.txt";
t = systime();
stamp = strftime("%Y%m%d-%H%M%S",t);
stamp2 = strftime("%Y-%m-%d",t);
saveAll = 1;
if ((getline Last_stamp &lt; timestamp_file) &gt; 0)
{
if (stamp2 == Last_stamp)
saveAll = 0;
}
close(timestamp_file);

if (saveAll)
{
cmd = sprintf("zip -r save-all-%s * -i@save.lst",stamp);
print stamp2 &gt; timestamp_file;
}
else
cmd = sprintf("zip -r -t %s save-%s * -i@save.lst",Last_stamp,stamp);
system(cmd);
}
</pre><hr />