Official Launch of the SE4 Companion
 

http://imagemodserver.mine.nu/other/...atha/home.html

Anyone who has an old beta Version needs to delete the companion.gdb (Game database) before upgrading (or after) as it isn't backwards compatible.
This is Version 0.851.

This Version has less clutter, cleaner UI, no known bugs.
Good IRC functions (The LARGE mode).
And it has the complete Dogscoff plug-in pack as default!

Next Version in 6-10 weeks will have documentation.
And I'll propably switch place with the event editor on the main page instead of the music list editor, and perhaps an improved downloader.
Any feedback on this application is very welcome.

There is also the leisure plug-in pack at the same adress.

BTW, I haven't had time to alert CNN and the game magazines about this so feel free to tip them about this monumental news http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/wink.gif

Re: Official Launch of the SE4 Companion
 

What does the dogscoff plug-in pack do?

It can scan your games at PBW and see if you have all the used shiupsets/races installed, if not it will help you to install them.

It can scan your shipsets for missing design.txt files.

It can copy empty shipset folders to your mod directories to give you access to those shipsets in the mods aswell.

It can scan the entiore shipset directory for un-needed files, alert you for thosa and delete them if needed, and
it can scan all race AI files and see if they are compliant with ver 1.91 of SE4 Gold, and if not ait can fix them all if you want it to.

And also is included Andres Shipset viewer, that will show all installed shipsets in beautiful pictures and tell you if they are neo compliant, this plug-in will alert for Active-X, just press "Yes" and you are go.

Re: Official Launch of the SE4 Companion
 

Would it be possible to get the auto-1.91 AI updater as a separate program, that scans zip files instead of the races folder? I would like to get all of the shipsets hosted on SpaceEmpires.net up to par with 1.91, without having to repack everything myself...

Re: Official Launch of the SE4 Companion
 

Quite possible.
But I'd like people to use the current plug-in first so I'll get to know if it works ok or is buggy.
Right now it sets all missing parameters to either 0 or false, don't know if that's optimal..
I can make a zip AI scanner when I get home from the army in 5 weeks, or you could get the source for the plug-in, but it's in delphi though....

I already know of a semibug that I thought to fix but forgot, it sometimes scans all shipsets twice instead of once.. can increase scanning time quite a bit when there are 50000 files to scan, most are ofcourse not deep scan as the Ai files, but only name scans to see if they are needed or not, but still.

For know (Until I fix it sometimes) the explanation for this behaviour is that the plug-in is very thorough and checks everyting twice to be sure!

Re: Official Launch of the SE4 Companion
 

Spoken like a true programmer! http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/Sick.gif

Re: Official Launch of the SE4 Companion
 

Cool!

I get this error when I open up the plugin options dialog, though. I can't use the send mail report because I don't use Outlook Express http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/frown.gif

date/time : 2004-09-03 15:47
computer name : EDS-LAPTOP
user name : Ed
operating system : Windows XP Service Pack 2 build 2600
system language : English
system up time : 31 minutes 29 seconds
program up time : 1 minute 19 seconds
physical memory : 278/511 MB (free/total)
free disk space : (C:) 949.51 MB (D:) 6.45 GB
process id : $be8
executable : companion.exe
exec. date/time : 2004-09-01 19:08
Version : 0.851
madExcept Version : 2.7b
exception class : EAccessViolation
exception message : Access violation at address 00C4DE73. Write of address 00000000.

main thread ($bec):
00c4de73 ???
77d4e361 USER32.dll CallWindowProcA
77d4bcc7 USER32.dll DispatchMessageA
005b57a9 companion.exe System GetSpaceAt
7c90f0a5 ntdll.dll RtlAnsiStringToUnicodeString
77d4b7a6 USER32.dll SendMessageW
77d4e361 USER32.dll CallWindowProcA
7c90eae0 ntdll.dll KiUserCallbackDispatcher
77d4bcc7 USER32.dll DispatchMessageA
005c56fe companion.exe madDisAsm DoItAll
77d4e2f2 USER32.dll SendMessageA
7c90eae0 ntdll.dll KiUserCallbackDispatcher
005f26f8 companion.exe RTLConsts initialization

thread $c14:
7c90eb94 ntdll.dll KiFastSystemCallRet
7c90e319 ntdll.dll NtRemoveIoCompletion
7c80cbd3 kernel32.dll GetQueuedCompletionStatus

thread $c34:
7c90eb94 ntdll.dll KiFastSystemCallRet
7c90e58f ntdll.dll NtSetEventBoostPriority
7c919074 ntdll.dll RtlpUnWaitCriticalSection
7c901105 ntdll.dll RtlLeaveCriticalSection

thread $a48:
7c90eb94 ntdll.dll KiFastSystemCallRet
7c90d85a ntdll.dll NtDelayExecution

thread $ec8:
7c90eb94 ntdll.dll KiFastSystemCallRet
7c90e9be ntdll.dll NtWaitForSingleObject
7c8025d5 kernel32.dll WaitForSingleObjectEx
7c80253d kernel32.dll WaitForSingleObject

modules:
00400000 companion.exe D:\games\se4 gold\tools\companion
01ab0000 RadExe.dll 2.1.1013.0 C:\WINDOWS\System32
10000000 events.dll D:\apps\trillian
5ad70000 uxtheme.dll 6.0.2900.2180 C:\WINDOWS\system32
5b860000 NETAPI32.dll 5.1.2600.2180 C:\WINDOWS\system32
5edd0000 olepro32.dll 5.1.2600.2180 C:\WINDOWS\system32
605d0000 mslbui.dll 5.1.2600.2180 C:\WINDOWS\system32
708f0000 asycfilt.dll 5.1.2600.2180 C:\WINDOWS\system32
71aa0000 WS2HELP.dll 5.1.2600.2180 C:\WINDOWS\system32
71ab0000 WS2_32.dll 5.1.2600.2180 C:\WINDOWS\system32
71ad0000 wsock32.dll 5.1.2600.2180 C:\WINDOWS\system32
71b20000 mpr.dll 5.1.2600.2180 C:\WINDOWS\system32
73000000 winspool.drv 5.1.2600.2180 C:\WINDOWS\system32
73dd0000 MFC42.DLL 6.2.4131.0 C:\WINDOWS\System32
746c0000 msls31.dll 3.10.349.0 C:\WINDOWS\System32
74720000 MSCTF.dll 5.1.2600.2180 C:\WINDOWS\system32
74b30000 webcheck.dll 6.0.2900.2180 C:\WINDOWS\System32
754d0000 CRYPTUI.dll 5.131.2600.2180 C:\WINDOWS\system32
75e90000 SXS.DLL 5.1.2600.2180 C:\WINDOWS\system32
75f80000 browseui.dll 6.0.2900.2180 C:\WINDOWS\System32
763b0000 comdlg32.dll 6.0.2900.2180 C:\WINDOWS\system32
76600000 CSCDLL.dll 5.1.2600.2180 C:\WINDOWS\System32
76990000 ntshrui.dll 5.1.2600.2180 C:\WINDOWS\system32
769c0000 USERENV.dll 5.1.2600.2180 C:\WINDOWS\system32
76b20000 ATL.DLL 3.5.2284.0 C:\WINDOWS\system32
76b40000 winmm.dll 5.1.2600.2180 C:\WINDOWS\system32
76c30000 WINTRUST.dll 5.131.2600.2180 C:\WINDOWS\system32
76c90000 IMAGEHLP.dll 5.1.2600.2180 C:\WINDOWS\system32
76f60000 WLDAP32.dll 5.1.2600.2180 C:\WINDOWS\system32
76fd0000 CLBCATQ.DLL 2001.12.4414.258 C:\WINDOWS\system32
77050000 COMRes.dll 2001.12.4414.258 C:\WINDOWS\system32
77120000 oleaut32.dll 5.1.2600.2180 C:\WINDOWS\system32
771b0000 wininet.dll 6.0.2900.2180 C:\WINDOWS\system32
77260000 URLMON.DLL 6.0.2900.2180 C:\WINDOWS\system32
773d0000 comctl32.dll 6.0.2900.2180 C:\WINDOWS\WinSxS\X86_Microsoft.Windows.Common-Controls_6595b64144ccf1df_6.0.2600.2180_x-ww_a84f1ff9
774e0000 ole32.dll 5.1.2600.2180 C:\WINDOWS\system32
77760000 shdocvw.dll 6.0.2900.2180 C:\WINDOWS\System32
77920000 SETUPAPI.dll 5.1.2600.2180 C:\WINDOWS\system32
77a20000 cscui.dll 5.1.2600.2180 C:\WINDOWS\System32
77a80000 CRYPT32.dll 5.131.2600.2180 C:\WINDOWS\system32
77b20000 MSASN1.dll 5.1.2600.2180 C:\WINDOWS\system32
77b40000 appHelp.dll 5.1.2600.2180 C:\WINDOWS\system32
77c00000 VERSION.dll 5.1.2600.2180 C:\WINDOWS\system32
77c10000 msvcrt.dll 7.0.2600.2180 C:\WINDOWS\system32
77d40000 USER32.dll 5.1.2600.2180 C:\WINDOWS\system32
77dd0000 advapi32.dll 5.1.2600.2180 C:\WINDOWS\system32
77e70000 RPCRT4.dll 5.1.2600.2180 C:\WINDOWS\system32
77f10000 GDI32.dll 5.1.2600.2180 C:\WINDOWS\system32
77f60000 SHLWAPI.dll 6.0.2900.2180 C:\WINDOWS\system32
77fe0000 Secur32.dll 5.1.2600.2180 C:\WINDOWS\system32
7c800000 kernel32.dll 5.1.2600.2180 C:\WINDOWS\system32
7c900000 ntdll.dll 5.1.2600.2180 C:\WINDOWS\system32
7c9c0000 SHELL32.dll 6.0.2900.2180 C:\WINDOWS\system32
7d1e0000 msi.dll 3.0.3790.2180 C:\WINDOWS\system32
7d4a0000 mshtml.dll 6.0.2900.2180 C:\WINDOWS\System32

disassembling:
00c4de73 sub_c4de73: ; function entry point
00c4de73 > add [eax], al
00c4de75 add [eax], al
00c4de77 add [esp+ebp*4-$21afffb3], bh
00c4de7e les eax, [eax]
00c4de80 add [eax], al
[...]

edit: also I get an error when I do PBW Scan Online:
date/time : 2004-09-03 15:57
computer name : EDS-LAPTOP
user name : Ed
operating system : Windows XP Service Pack 2 build 2600
system language : English
system up time : 41 minutes 44 seconds
program up time : 22 seconds
physical memory : 267/511 MB (free/total)
free disk space : (C:) 948.48 MB (D:) 6.45 GB
process id : $b00
executable : companion.exe
exec. date/time : 2004-09-01 19:08
Version : 0.851
madExcept Version : 2.7b
exception class : EInOutError
exception message : Invalid filename.

main thread ($3bc):
005ed016 companion.exe Variants @VarToBoolean
77f7a8ab SHLWAPI.dll #283
77d4bcc7 USER32.dll DispatchMessageA
005f26f8 companion.exe RTLConsts initialization

thread $7a0:
7c90eb94 ntdll.dll KiFastSystemCallRet
7c90e319 ntdll.dll NtRemoveIoCompletion
7c80cbd3 kernel32.dll GetQueuedCompletionStatus

thread $7bc:
7c90eb94 ntdll.dll KiFastSystemCallRet
7c90e58f ntdll.dll NtSetEventBoostPriority
7c919074 ntdll.dll RtlpUnWaitCriticalSection
7c901105 ntdll.dll RtlLeaveCriticalSection

thread $8e0:
7c90eb94 ntdll.dll KiFastSystemCallRet
7c90e9be ntdll.dll NtWaitForSingleObject
71aa150a WS2HELP.dll WahReferenceContextByHandle
>> created by main thread ($3bc) at:
71ab2e64 WS2_32.dll select

thread $8e4:
7c90eb94 ntdll.dll KiFastSystemCallRet
7c90d85a ntdll.dll NtDelayExecution

thread $22c:
7c90eb94 ntdll.dll KiFastSystemCallRet
7c90e319 ntdll.dll NtRemoveIoCompletion

thread $6c:
7c90eb94 ntdll.dll KiFastSystemCallRet
7c90e319 ntdll.dll NtRemoveIoCompletion

thread $21c:
7c90eb94 ntdll.dll KiFastSystemCallRet
7c90e9be ntdll.dll NtWaitForSingleObject
7c8025d5 kernel32.dll WaitForSingleObjectEx
7c80253d kernel32.dll WaitForSingleObject

thread $8ec:
7c90eb94 ntdll.dll KiFastSystemCallRet
>> created by main thread ($3bc) at:
7c90e9a9 ntdll.dll NtWaitForMultipleObjects

thread $8e8:
7c90eb94 ntdll.dll KiFastSystemCallRet
>> created by main thread ($3bc) at:
7c90e397 ntdll.dll NtReplyWaitReceivePortEx

thread $8f8:
7c90eb94 ntdll.dll KiFastSystemCallRet
7c90d85a ntdll.dll NtDelayExecution
7c8023e7 kernel32.dll SleepEx
>> created by main thread ($3bc) at:
7c80244c kernel32.dll Sleep

thread $90c:
7c90eb94 ntdll.dll KiFastSystemCallRet
7c90e9be ntdll.dll NtWaitForSingleObject
7c8025d5 kernel32.dll WaitForSingleObjectEx
7c80253d kernel32.dll WaitForSingleObject

thread $630:
7c90eb94 ntdll.dll KiFastSystemCallRet
7c90e9a9 ntdll.dll NtWaitForMultipleObjects
7c8094ec kernel32.dll WaitForMultipleObjectsEx
7c809c81 kernel32.dll WaitForMultipleObjects

thread $62c:
7c90eb94 ntdll.dll KiFastSystemCallRet
>> created by main thread ($3bc) at:
77d6ea80 USER32.dll GetMessageA

thread $638:
7c90eb94 ntdll.dll KiFastSystemCallRet
7c90e319 ntdll.dll NtRemoveIoCompletion

modules:
00400000 companion.exe D:\games\se4 gold\tools\companion
01050000 SPGRMR.DLL 5.1.2600.2180 C:\WINDOWS\IME
01070000 SKCHUI.DLL 1.0.1038.0 C:\Program Files\Common Files\Microsoft Shared\Ink
01cd0000 xpsp2res.dll 5.1.2600.2180 C:\WINDOWS\system32
10000000 events.dll D:\apps\trillian
20000000 shdoclc.dll 6.0.2900.2180 C:\WINDOWS\System32
5ad70000 uxtheme.dll 6.0.2900.2180 C:\WINDOWS\system32
5b860000 NETAPI32.dll 5.1.2600.2180 C:\WINDOWS\system32
5c2c0000 sptip.dll 5.1.2600.2180 C:\WINDOWS\ime
5e310000 pngfilt.dll 6.0.2900.2180 C:\WINDOWS\System32
5edd0000 olepro32.dll 5.1.2600.2180 C:\WINDOWS\system32
605d0000 mslbui.dll 5.1.2600.2180 C:\WINDOWS\system32
662b0000 hnetcfg.dll 5.1.2600.2180 C:\WINDOWS\system32
66880000 ImgUtil.dll 6.0.2900.2180 C:\WINDOWS\system32
708f0000 asycfilt.dll 5.1.2600.2180 C:\WINDOWS\system32
71a50000 mswsock.dll 5.1.2600.2180 C:\WINDOWS\system32
71a90000 wshtcpip.dll 5.1.2600.2180 C:\WINDOWS\System32
71aa0000 WS2HELP.dll 5.1.2600.2180 C:\WINDOWS\system32
71ab0000 WS2_32.dll 5.1.2600.2180 C:\WINDOWS\system32
71ad0000 wsock32.dll 5.1.2600.2180 C:\WINDOWS\system32
71b20000 mpr.dll 5.1.2600.2180 C:\WINDOWS\system32
722b0000 sensapi.dll 5.1.2600.2180 C:\WINDOWS\system32
72d10000 msacm32.drv 5.1.2600.0 C:\WINDOWS\system32
72d20000 wdmaud.drv 5.1.2600.2180 C:\WINDOWS\system32
73000000 winspool.drv 5.1.2600.2180 C:\WINDOWS\system32
746c0000 msls31.dll 3.10.349.0 C:\WINDOWS\System32
746f0000 msimtf.dll 5.1.2600.2180 C:\WINDOWS\System32
74720000 MSCTF.dll 5.1.2600.2180 C:\WINDOWS\system32
74c80000 OLEACC.dll 4.2.5406.0 C:\WINDOWS\system32
754d0000 CRYPTUI.dll 5.131.2600.2180 C:\WINDOWS\system32
75c50000 jscript.dll 5.6.0.8820 C:\WINDOWS\System32
75cf0000 mlang.dll 6.0.2900.2180 C:\WINDOWS\system32
75e90000 SXS.DLL 5.1.2600.2180 C:\WINDOWS\system32
76080000 MSVCP60.dll 6.2.3104.0 C:\WINDOWS\system32
763b0000 comdlg32.dll 6.0.2900.2180 C:\WINDOWS\system32
769c0000 USERENV.dll 5.1.2600.2180 C:\WINDOWS\system32
76b40000 winmm.dll 5.1.2600.2180 C:\WINDOWS\system32
76c30000 WINTRUST.dll 5.131.2600.2180 C:\WINDOWS\system32
76c90000 IMAGEHLP.dll 5.1.2600.2180 C:\WINDOWS\system32
76d60000 iphlpapi.dll 5.1.2600.2180 C:\WINDOWS\system32
76e80000 rtutils.dll 5.1.2600.2180 C:\WINDOWS\system32
76e90000 rasman.dll 5.1.2600.2180 C:\WINDOWS\system32
76eb0000 TAPI32.dll 5.1.2600.2180 C:\WINDOWS\system32
76ee0000 RASAPI32.DLL 5.1.2600.2180 C:\WINDOWS\system32
76f20000 DNSAPI.dll 5.1.2600.2180 C:\WINDOWS\system32
76f60000 WLDAP32.dll 5.1.2600.2180 C:\WINDOWS\system32
76fb0000 winrnr.dll 5.1.2600.2180 C:\WINDOWS\System32
76fc0000 rasadhlp.dll 5.1.2600.2180 C:\WINDOWS\system32
76fd0000 CLBCATQ.DLL 2001.12.4414.258 C:\WINDOWS\system32
77050000 COMRes.dll 2001.12.4414.258 C:\WINDOWS\system32
77120000 oleaut32.dll 5.1.2600.2180 C:\WINDOWS\system32
771b0000 wininet.dll 6.0.2900.2180 C:\WINDOWS\system32
77260000 URLMON.DLL 6.0.2900.2180 C:\WINDOWS\system32
773d0000 comctl32.dll 6.0.2900.2180 C:\WINDOWS\WinSxS\X86_Microsoft.Windows.Common-Controls_6595b64144ccf1df_6.0.2600.2180_x-ww_a84f1ff9
774e0000 ole32.dll 5.1.2600.2180 C:\WINDOWS\system32
77760000 shdocvw.dll 6.0.2900.2180 C:\WINDOWS\System32
77920000 SETUPAPI.dll 5.1.2600.2180 C:\WINDOWS\system32
77a80000 CRYPT32.dll 5.131.2600.2180 C:\WINDOWS\system32
77b20000 MSASN1.dll 5.1.2600.2180 C:\WINDOWS\system32
77b40000 appHelp.dll 5.1.2600.2180 C:\WINDOWS\system32
77bd0000 midimap.dll 5.1.2600.2180 C:\WINDOWS\system32
77be0000 MSACM32.dll 5.1.2600.2180 C:\WINDOWS\system32
77c00000 VERSION.dll 5.1.2600.2180 C:\WINDOWS\system32
77c10000 msvcrt.dll 7.0.2600.2180 C:\WINDOWS\system32
77d40000 USER32.dll 5.1.2600.2180 C:\WINDOWS\system32
77dd0000 advapi32.dll 5.1.2600.2180 C:\WINDOWS\system32
77e70000 RPCRT4.dll 5.1.2600.2180 C:\WINDOWS\system32
77f10000 GDI32.dll 5.1.2600.2180 C:\WINDOWS\system32
77f60000 SHLWAPI.dll 6.0.2900.2180 C:\WINDOWS\system32
77fe0000 Secur32.dll 5.1.2600.2180 C:\WINDOWS\system32
7c800000 kernel32.dll 5.1.2600.2180 C:\WINDOWS\system32
7c900000 ntdll.dll 5.1.2600.2180 C:\WINDOWS\system32
7c9c0000 SHELL32.dll 6.0.2900.2180 C:\WINDOWS\system32
7d1e0000 msi.dll 3.0.3790.2180 C:\WINDOWS\system32
7d4a0000 mshtml.dll 6.0.2900.2180 C:\WINDOWS\System32

disassembling:
[...]
005ecffb lea eax, [ebp-$21c]
005ed001 call -$1e9e4e ($4031b8)
005ed006 lea eax, [ebp-$21c]
005ed00c call -$1ea0c9 ($402f48)
005ed011 call -$1ea5fe ($402a18)
005ed016
005ed016 sub_5ed016: ; function entry point
005ed016 > mov edx, $5ef54c
005ed01b lea eax, [ebp-$21c]
005ed021 call -$1e7892 ($405794)
005ed026 call -$1e94cb ($403b60)
[...]

I tried deleting my companion.gdb file but that didn't help...

edit: ah, I found the problem... I deleted my savegame directory because that caused me trouble Last time I installed the companion but I forgot to re-create it! http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/image...s/rolleyes.gif

Re: Official Launch of the SE4 Companion
 

Oh yeah, a few more things...

How do I keep the music playlist repeating? It seems to play through and then stop, and I can't start it again; the play button is disabled and the other buttons give errors.

I can't see the combat replays; the game is looking for them in SE4\mods\adamant\savegame for some reason but they're really in SE4\savegame... http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/image...s/confused.gif

Re: Official Launch of the SE4 Companion
 

Why would you have combat replays in the base savegame folder? They should be in the mod's savegame folder, with the savegame files...

Re: Official Launch of the SE4 Companion
 

Because I don't keep mod savegames in the mod savegame folders in the first place... I find it too much trouble to download the files to so many different locations, so I just put them all in the base directory. :p

Re: Official Launch of the SE4 Companion
 

Worst of all is the existance of a password corruption bug, so that after having used the settings screen the passwords got corrupted.


CHECK COMPANION HOMEPAGE FOR UPDATE TO VER 0.853, WILLBE THERE AS SOON AS SJ UPLOAD IT, UNTIL THEN:
http://ruatha.homelinux.org/companion0853.zip

0.853:
Fixed password corruption bug.
Fixed plugin editor crash bug.
Fixed Shipset cleaner checking all files twice bug.

The error check now sends bugmail with internal mail server, then it doesn't matter what mail client you use, (for the bug mail server to work no settings need to be entered).

The mod thing, yes it changes the path.txt setting when it starts a modded game, will have to think on how to solve this...
If you try to run the game from the command line (Run...) with PATH\SE4.EXE PATHSAVEGAME\SAVEGAME.GAME PLAYERNUMBER PASSWORD MODNAME
ie "c:\spel\spaceempires Iv Gold" "c:\spel\sapceempires Iv Gold\savegames\test.gam" "1" "mypass" "testmod"
and see if the combat works I'd appreciate it



In the PBW scan error I could use some more help if you're up to it..
Set the log mode in settings to DEBUG and when the error occurs, mail me the log file companion.log from the logs directory, don't continue the app before you send the log, as I'd like to know what it was about to do when the error occurs.
But you could continue the app again and send me the log after you've continued aswell..

Re: Official Launch of the SE4 Companion
 

My email returned, so....

Situation: I have Companion folder inside main SE4 folder. Companion considers it as a mod. Since there is no modinfo.txt inside this "mod" is marked as "Unknown (Companion) N/A". Then, I clicked on the Mod Savegame Path Browse button and get error (see log). Error is reproducable.

Small annoyance: I can't disable mod which is not supplied with modinfo.txt from the Mod Info and Edit window.

Wish: Ability to remove mod record from the ini file without deleting entire mod folder.

PrePS: Ruatha, if you need a screenshot, I can post it here.

======Debug Log=======
date/time : 2004-09-03 22:45
computer name : HOSAKA
user name : Aiken
operating system : Windows 2000 Service Pack 4 build 2195
system language : Russian
system up time : 23 hours 50 minutes
program up time : 4 minutes 13 seconds
physical memory : 56/192 MB (free/total)
free disk space : (C:) 141,68 MB (D:) 114,48 MB
process id : $3a0
executable : companion.exe
exec. date/time : 2004-09-01 19:08
Version : 0.851
madExcept Version : 2.7b
exception class : EInOutError
exception message : File not found.

main thread ($3a4):
004c9a79 companion.exe
77f426f6 GDI32.DLL GetTextExtentPointW
77f83559 ntdll.dll RtlAnsiStringToUnicodeString
77e16e96 USER32.DLL CallWindowProcW
77b56d81 comctl32.dll #413
77e16e96 USER32.DLL CallWindowProcW
77f9ff54 ntdll.dll KiUserCallbackDispatcher
77e139e0 USER32.DLL SendMessageW
77e13d95 USER32.DLL CallWindowProcA
77e15f64 USER32.DLL DispatchMessageA
005c258e companion.exe madDisAsm GetLabel
77f426f6 GDI32.DLL GetTextExtentPointW
77f83559 ntdll.dll RtlAnsiStringToUnicodeString
77e16e96 USER32.DLL CallWindowProcW
77b56d81 comctl32.dll #413
77e16e96 USER32.DLL CallWindowProcW
77f9ff54 ntdll.dll KiUserCallbackDispatcher
77e139e0 USER32.DLL SendMessageW
77e13d95 USER32.DLL CallWindowProcA
77e15f64 USER32.DLL DispatchMessageA
005f26f8 companion.exe RTLConsts initialization

thread $3dc:
77f83310 ntdll.dll NtReplyWaitReceivePortEx

thread $3b0:
77f8289c ntdll.dll NtRemoveIoCompletion
79433c6d KERNEL32.DLL GetQueuedCompletionStatus

thread $454:
77f8290a ntdll.dll NtSetEvent
77f88261 ntdll.dll RtlpUnWaitCriticalSection
77f881ac ntdll.dll RtlLeaveCriticalSection
77f83410 ntdll.dll RtlReleasePebLock

thread $444:
77f8287e ntdll.dll NtWaitForMultipleObjects
79433c21 KERNEL32.DLL WaitForMultipleObjectsEx
79438f08 KERNEL32.DLL WaitForMultipleObjects

modules:
00400000 companion.exe D:\Games\SEIV\Companion
01510000 bbLeanSkinEng.dll c:\Shellz\bbLean\plugins\BBLeanSkin
03000000 TBMapi.DLL C:\Program Files\The Bat!
10000000 hook.dll C:\Program Files\Direct Folders
665e0000 umdmxfrm.dll 5.0.2134.1 C:\WINNT\system32
68060000 serwvdrv.dll 5.0.2134.1 C:\WINNT\system32
68c10000 CLBCATQ.DLL 2000.2.3511.0 C:\WINNT\system32
694c0000 olepro32.dll 5.0.4522.0 C:\WINNT\system32
6c840000 mapi32.dll 1.0.2536.0 C:\WINNT\system32
74930000 asycfilt.dll 2.40.4522.0 C:\WINNT\system32
74fb0000 WS2HELP.DLL 5.0.2134.1 C:\WINNT\system32
74fc0000 WS2_32.DLL 5.0.2195.6601 C:\WINNT\system32
74fe0000 wsock32.dll 5.0.2195.6603 C:\WINNT\system32
750e0000 SAMLIB.DLL 5.0.2195.6897 C:\WINNT\system32
75100000 netapi32.dll 5.0.2195.6897 C:\WINNT\system32
75150000 NETRAP.DLL 5.0.2134.1 C:\WINNT\system32
75950000 LZ32.DLL 5.0.2195.6611 C:\WINNT\system32
76590000 URLMON.DLL 5.0.3700.6705 C:\WINNT\system32
76ae0000 comdlg32.dll 5.0.3700.6693 C:\WINNT\system32
76bb0000 wininet.dll 5.0.3700.6713 C:\WINNT\system32
77070000 CSCDLL.DLL 5.0.2195.6713 C:\WINNT\system32
770f0000 RPCRT4.DLL 5.0.2195.6904 C:\WINNT\system32
773e0000 MSASN1.DLL 5.0.2195.6905 C:\WINNT\system32
77470000 RASMAN.DLL 5.0.2195.6604 C:\WINNT\system32
77490000 RASAPI32.DLL 5.0.2195.6625 C:\WINNT\system32
774e0000 TAPI32.DLL 5.0.2195.6664 C:\WINNT\system32
77520000 winmm.dll 5.0.2161.1 C:\WINNT\system32
77560000 SHELL32.DLL 5.0.3700.6705 C:\WINNT\system32
777d0000 winspool.drv 5.0.2195.6659 C:\WINNT\system32
777f0000 VERSION.DLL 5.0.2195.6623 C:\WINNT\system32
77800000 RTUTILS.DLL 5.0.2168.1 C:\WINNT\system32
77820000 cscui.dll 5.0.2195.6705 C:\WINNT\system32
77950000 WLDAP32.DLL 5.0.2195.6666 C:\WINNT\system32
77980000 DNSAPI.DLL 5.0.2195.6824 C:\WINNT\system32
779b0000 oleaut32.dll 2.40.4522.0 C:\WINNT\system32
77a50000 ole32.dll 5.0.2195.6906 C:\WINNT\system32
77b50000 comctl32.dll 5.81.3502.6601 C:\WINNT\system32
77c70000 SHLWAPI.DLL 5.0.3502.6601 C:\WINNT\system32
77e10000 USER32.DLL 5.0.2195.6897 C:\WINNT\system32
77f40000 GDI32.DLL 5.0.2195.6898 C:\WINNT\system32
77f80000 ntdll.dll 5.0.2195.6899 C:\WINNT\system32
78000000 MSVCRT.DLL 6.1.9844.0 C:\WINNT\system32
78e60000 USERENV.DLL 5.0.2195.6794 C:\WINNT\system32
78f40000 shdocvw.dll 5.0.3700.6668 C:\WINNT\system32
79060000 advapi32.dll 5.0.2195.6876 C:\WINNT\system32
79140000 SECUR32.DLL 5.0.2195.6695 C:\WINNT\system32
79430000 KERNEL32.DLL 5.0.2195.6897 C:\WINNT\system32
79500000 mpr.dll 5.0.2195.6824 C:\WINNT\system32
79620000 CRYPT32.dll 5.131.2195.6824 C:\WINNT\system32
7ca00000 rsabase.dll 5.0.2195.6619 C:\WINNT\system32

disassembling:
004c9a79 sub_4c9a79: ; function entry point
004c9a79 > mov eax, [esi]
004c9a7b call -$c4708 ($405378)
004c9a80 test eax, eax
004c9a82 jle loc_4c9af1
004c9a84 mov edx, [esi]
[...]
======================

Re: Official Launch of the SE4 Companion
 

Thanks for the bug report, don't know why the mail bounced.
Will have to look into this.
It shouldn't consider this directory as a mod directory, it searches for modinfo.txt files and adds those dirs to the mods.
EDIT:
If it finds something it thinks is a mod than it should add the modinfo.txt file to it.
PErhaps you could run it with the log in DEBUG mode and post the companion.log here, first check that you don't display any password in it.

Will have to think on this ..

Re: Official Launch of the SE4 Companion
 

The latest Version of the companion is 0.853, now up on the homepage:
http://imagemodserver.mine.nu/other/...atha/home.html

Re: Official Launch of the SE4 Companion
 

What was fixed in 0.853? :
Fixed password corruption bug.
Fixed plugin editor crash bug.
Fixed Shipset cleaner checking all files twice bug.

http://imagemodserver.mine.nu/other/...atha/home.html

Also there is a plugin with the two Ed Marshal SE IV games and SJ's Flying shipsets, this is an optional download.

NOTE:
I Recommend deleting the companion.gdb before updating (The game database) as leaving beta stage the database structure was slightly changed and old passwords will propably not function.
I do not foresee any more changes to the database structure in the future.

Current suggestions for next Version is:
-Remove SAVE button in small IRC and put back the USER button instead.
-Enable command line commands in IRC.
-Enable private chat and file transfer in IRC.
-Setup Wizard.
-Enable autoupdate as default.
-If a directory doesn't exist, create it (i e savegame dir deleted by user, logs and dl directory never created..) to avoid errors.
-Move most screens to main screen and make them tabbed instead. (If I ever make a SE5 companion this will be the way to go, with plug-ins aswell)

What is sure to be added:
-Documentation.
-Help files.

BTW:
NOTICE THAT IF YOU MAIL ME A BUG REPORT FROM THE COMPANION, I CANNOT SEE WHO SENT IT, IT'S ANONYMOUS, SO DON'T EXPECT ANY RESPONSE UNLESS YOU MAIL ME MANUALLY ASWELL!

Re: Official Launch of the SE4 Companion
 

AAARRRRGHhhh It broke me SEIV. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/frown.gif http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/mad.gif http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/frown.gif

Ok, I installed to take a look etc. Decided there where too many buttons and things and that I dont have the time to learn it, so uninstalled and went back to mod-launcher. Now all the save games have moved, the files from pbw dont go where they used to and the .plr files dont save to where they used to.

What happened???

Re: Official Launch of the SE4 Companion
 

Propably the path.txt has been messed up, just restore it to the original.
EDIT: SE SOLUTION A COUPLE OF POSTS UP, REMOVE SAVEGAME DIRS IN MOD FOLDERS
Never heard of this before..

And what do you mean with "the files from PBW don't go where they used to" ???

Re: Official Launch of the SE4 Companion
 

It has made a save game folder in every mod folder, that is where the .plr goes now (so to which ever mod I am in and a new save game in that). Where as previously I just had one big save game folder that everything went into and I loaded the mod, loaded game played and sent .plr all from same spot so to speak.

What do you mean by path.txt and how do I fix that?

Re: Official Launch of the SE4 Companion
 

Hmm, perhaps you can delete those savegamefolders if you don't like them???
That is not PBW files, that's ordinary playerfiles....


there is a path.txt in the seiv folder, open tgat and make sure it says
none
and not a mod name in it, if not change that.
The companion saves a original copy of the path.txt but I'm at work now and don't remember what it's called.

The Modlauncher edits the same file, but the modlauncher only switches back when you close the program, the companion is supposed to switch it back after 200 milliseconds.


When you run modded games with the savegame in the main savegame directory, can you still view combats then??
Whne started from the modlauncher?
I though it looked for the combat.cmb in the mod directory.
Hmm, perhaps it doesn't if there is no savegame directory there..

Re: Official Launch of the SE4 Companion
 

Couldn't view combats with companion, but can with mod launcher.

OK, and here I show my utter ignorance - where is the path.txt (and I mean exactly)?

Re: Official Launch of the SE4 Companion
 

Hmm, as I said I'm not at home now, can't check.

If it isn't in the base SE IV folder it's propably in the DATA folder.
Rightclick on the SE IV folder and select search, enter path.txt and press enter.


The reason you couldn't view combat in the companion was that it was looking for it in the mod folders savegame directory.
Will have to look into how the mod launcher has solved this..

When you start a game in the main savegame folder with the mod launcher, do you then first start the game with the mod and load the savegame in SE4 or do you click on the savegame in the modlauncher??
It's the loading of the combat.cmb that i can't get the hang of if it's outside the standard savegame folders..

This is what I found in the modlaunchers documentation:

<font class="small">Code:</font><hr /><pre>To load a mod for a saved game you must make sure you
save the game into “SE4Path\&lt;modname&gt;\savegame”
(e.g. “D:\SpaceEmpires4\Pirates\Savegame\”).
Doing that will also keep your saved games organised and
means you will never accidentally
load a saved game using the wrong mod.
If you *really* want to load a saved game using a different
mod, either move the saved game, or just launch into SE4
having selected the mod on the left, then load the game
using SE4’s built in interface
</pre><hr />
I'd really like to solve this for the next Version.

Re: Official Launch of the SE4 Companion
 

The Mod Launcher overwrites Path.txt any time you launch the game using it, so that can not be an issue.

Re: Official Launch of the SE4 Companion
 

You are correct Fyron. The Companion does the same as the Launcher but resets within 200 milliseconds instead of when the program ends. That is the only change to the SE IV files the Companion makes.

The cause of Joachims problem is propably only the existance of the SAVEGAME folders in the mod folders, if he deletes them then everything should be back to original status.

As the path.txt is the only thing the companion changes I instinctly blamed that one, I thought it hadn't resetted it to original state.

Re: Official Launch of the SE4 Companion
 

Yep, it appears that by deleting the savegame folders in the mod folders there is no longer a problem. Please note that non of my comments are designed to denigrate the excellent work you have done with the companion. I simply dont have the time to learn how to use what is inevitably a great game aid.
Cheers, Ruatha.

Re: Official Launch of the SE4 Companion
 

I've noticed that the companion will keep old mods in its list when the folders themselves have been deleted - is there a way to remove the old entries within the program? I think I tried to delete the mod from using the companion but got an error since the folder no longer existed. I also noticed the companion keeps track of the mods (with a number reference) in a .ini file - can I just remove those and I guess re-number the ones afterwards?

Re: Official Launch of the SE4 Companion
 

Hi.
Ni, that won't work.
To make a mod invisible in the companion one should press the "mod button" above the mod list or the "mod button" in the settings and then disable that mod, it won't remove it though...
If it's deleted that can't happen, as you've discovered.
I'm sorry but in your situation there are only two ways to solve it:

1) Recreate that mod directory and make a modinfo.txt file there (Copy from someother mod) and then disable it in the companion (Disabled mods don't show up in the list), or delete it from the companion.
or
2) delete the companion.ini and companion.gdb in the companion_resource directory and then restart the program. A lesser operation is to only delete the companion.gdb and then the mods you don't need in the ini file, renumbering them and adding a new total, at restart it will recreate the companion.gdb (database).

I'd reccommend deleting the ini and gdb altogether..
Will have a better fix for this in the next Version I hope, so that it auto deletes non exisiting mod items from the ini and database.

Right now changing the ini and not deleting the database (.GDB) will make all games switch mods in the companions eyes, as the database contains the mod number for each game that references the mod numbers in the ini file.

Re: Official Launch of the SE4 Companion
 

Please modify the companion to allow us to specify a location to store the downloaded savegame zip files for each game, rather than having to save them in the Savegame folder (which is a terrible place for archives...). Without this, the RTC-like functionality is 100% useless to me, and many others that like archiving their savegame files...

Re: Official Launch of the SE4 Companion
 

I totally agree with this one...I was using the companion for awhile but it really did a number on my PBW games and turns...Like uploading 'empty' turns...but I would like to be able to tell the program where to put any downloaded file or files...

Kana

Re: Official Launch of the SE4 Companion
 

Just put the backup function on, then it will only keep one archive (the latest) in the savegame folder and move everyone else to the directory you have specified. (keeping the amount specified, 0 - upwards and deleting the rest).

How can the RTC functionality be 100% useless http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/image...s/confused.gif if the archives are in the savegame directory!
It works even if you have the archives in the savegame folder.
If you like to archive your savegame and plr files this app removes the need to do it manually, I can't see how that will make things harder for you??
And even if you'd make it manually, how would that differ from doing it manually today, the ddifference is that the companion downloads for you and unpacks for you.
If you want to move the files manually instead of letting it do it automatic go ahead.
I can't see that it requires that more work than unpacking the filess did in the past????


With the companion you need never enter your savegame folder in the explorer so I just plain don't see the problem!!!

Go into settings, move the mouse over the "Auto options" button and in the description display it will show
"here you can enable automatic backup of turns and player files",
do that.
Next download of a zip file it will move everyting (Including old files) as wanted where you want it.

The settings screen is cluttered but it has the description window that helps you along..

I can't promise that the backup functions works flawless as I don't know of anyone having used them, so I haven't worked on it that much as the demand for it seemed non-existant.

Re: Official Launch of the SE4 Companion
 

If you feel like setting savgame paths for each game manually just press the "Change savegame path" for each game and change it, that's not that hard is it???
Uploaded empty turns??
The companion does not create .PLR files, then you must have had an empty turn file and told it to upload it???

If you have strange problems like this mail me the debug log and I can tell you what you've been doing wrong.

Re: Official Launch of the SE4 Companion
 

Well if I have to go and move savegame zips still, it makes using RTC functions pointless, since I still have to do file manipulations... I don't care about the plr files, just the savegame zip files, unchanged as downloaded from PBW. Will this backup feature move the zip file, or just the savegame + plr? Also, I do not want _any_ zip files in my savegame folders. Ever. Not even the most recent turn...

Re: Official Launch of the SE4 Companion
 

It moves zip archives aswell as the plr files.
If you don't want any zip files don't use the companion, the Last zip file is in the savegame folder.
I still can't see the meaning of this as you don't have to open that folder in explorer and view the files, all is automatic, thereby you don't need to know that there are zip files in there.

But if it's such a big issue I recommend not using the companion. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/wink.gif

As I've told you I'm redoing it totally and in the redone Version I'll cater for this, but not in the current.
The redone Version will propably not be released this year, only the sidenotes module is almost finished...

It will be totally modular, you candelete the modules you don't want.
each module gets a tab (Planned modules : Sidenotes, event editor, external files, plug-ins, IRC, music, mail).
Standard tabs will be Gamelist, gamedata, settings.
All the old plug-ins will be supported if you use the Plugins module.
Will be using all the things I've learnt from the current companion to make it as bug free as possible from scratch.
And it will move all zips if wanted to a backup dir,no zips in savegame then..
And it will allow you to have all games in the main savegame directory if you want to mix them all up in a nice stew instead of keeping them orderly in their respective mod folders. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/wink.gif

The current plan is seen below, a main menu, a tabsheet with submenus and components, a panel below with always viewable components.


http://ruatha.homelinux.org/future.jpg

Re: Official Launch of the SE4 Companion
 

Erm... that image probably screws up the formatting for people on lower resolutions... http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/wink.gif

/me awaits better, shinier companion.

Any possibility of applying a nice SE-related skin to it, rather than standard boring Windows GUI?

Re: Official Launch of the SE4 Companion
 

The pic will disappear when my wife closes the computer at home.

Skins... Right now I've only enabled Win Xp Themes.
But I'll look into skins, won't promise anything though..

Re: Official Launch of the SE4 Companion
 

I didn't necessarily mean that it has a skinnable interface, just that you apply a skin to it... but that would also work...

Re: Official Launch of the SE4 Companion
 

In the first permutation it was black, than I got suggestions to make it more window standard so it could be easier read.
So it will either be general skins or only XP themes.
Not forced skin.

Edit:have lookie dinto it.
Skinning seems very hard if one doesn't buy a commercial component.
It'll propably be WinXP themes.
Perhaps a switch to enable "SE4 UI", that could use SE4 fonts and colours.

Another issue the companion copuld resolve would be the resolution thingy.
OPtion to set screen resolution when game starts and switch back when it ends.

Re: Official Launch of the SE4 Companion
 

Ugh... your shipset cleaner inserted 2 blank lines after the design names file entry in most of my AI General files... http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/frown.gif And it completely screwed up any and all AI General files with long text fields for description info... http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/mad.gif http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/mad.gif http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/mad.gif http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/mad.gif http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/mad.gif http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/mad.gif http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/mad.gif http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/mad.gif http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/mad.gif

Also, "duplicate designs" in the Design Creation file are not necessarily something to be removed... ask some of the TDM crew about such an issue...

It has moved entries such as these:

To a seemingly random place in the file, after:
and a blank line it inserted for no good reason... http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/Sick.gif

Also, AI Design Creation needs more work done on it. These abilities need to be updated from:

Combat To Hit Dec
Combat To Hit Add (and Combat Sensors)

To

Combat To Hit Defense Plus
Combat To Hit Offense Plus

Also:

Phased-Shield Generation
to
Phased Shield Generation

These were changed in an early pre-gold Patch of SE4.

Re: Official Launch of the SE4 Companion
 

But still we love it though. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif

Re: Official Launch of the SE4 Companion
 

Can't say that I am with you on that one at present... http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/Sick.gif

Re: Official Launch of the SE4 Companion
 

What can I say?
I tested it on all the shipsets I have on my computer and it seemed to work.
I presented it as Beta but got no bug reports, then released it and haven't heard anything about it until now.
Sorry.
Am in the army now and won't have time to do anything about it until late february-march.

Re: Official Launch of the SE4 Companion
 

so if rautha is serving his obligatory 2 year army hitch then he might be returning what sometime in november ???

Re: Official Launch of the SE4 Companion
 

Well, it wasn't obligatory, that was done long time ago. Now it was volantary reserve officer education.
And I'm all finished.

Re: Official Launch of the SE4 Companion
 

DUDE! Been a while.... http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif How are things?

Re: Official Launch of the SE4 Companion
 

Welcome back!

Re: Official Launch of the SE4 Companion
 

i said i'd do it and i did

i danced a jig!!!!

welcome back rautha!!!!!!!!!!!!!

edit:(diction and grammer aside thats almost a rhyme)
(apologies to the floor dancing 800 lb granite
boulders were not a part of the
designers calculations)

Re: Official Launch of the SE4 Companion
 

Yay, Ruatha's back! WB dude!

*dogscoff pours Ruatha a small glass of mead, the shrugs, throws the glass over his shoulder and passes him the keg instead.