Multiplayer scripts
 

Here are a couple Applescripts I've worked up to make hosting PBEM games easier. One checks all the files, hosts the turn, and emails everyone. The other is meant to be used as a folder action on the game folder, and checks each .2h file when you drag it into the folder - if there's a problem, it deletes the bad file and emails the person who sent it to request another.
I hope some folks find them useful. Feel free to post questions, and to make changes to teh scripts; if you do make improvements, please post them here so we can all benefit. Cheers!

Re: Multiplayer scripts
 

Nice work Ygorl!

I have also made a script that has the same functionality, it is however written in Python, so it is cross platform. I don't think it's a good idea to distribute it yet as it is quite raw , mostly meaning it has no UI. But hey, if there's interest I wouldn't mind throwing in a UI http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif

Re: Multiplayer scripts
 

Definitely interested. That my stuff is Mac-only is a pretty big drawback; I only did it that way because it was easiest for me, and I'd love to see something that'll work anywhere.

Re: Multiplayer scripts
 

I'd been thinking about Python scripts for this, too, but I never got around to it.

I could lend a hand in small ways if it's needed. I am an experienced Python programmer. I will be changing jobs and moving soon, so I can't get involved in depth.

What are you thinking for UI? Tkinter?

Re: Multiplayer scripts
 

As I mainly work with Java/CPP I don't have experience with Python GUI libs, I had in mind to provide a UI rather then GUI, meaning CLI and menu based CLI. But I took a look at Tkinter online tutorial and it seems pretty straight forward to use so GUI is also feasible.

djo, I would be happpy for your help. If you'd like we can cont. this conversation by email (izaqyos@gmail.com).

Ygorl, Life has been keeping me quite busy as of late (what with new release at work, moving 2 a new apartment and submitting research work) so it will take me about a week or two to polish this script, when it's done I'll post it here.

AFAIK it should also be possible to compile python code to specific platforms, if so there won't even be any need to install Python to run the script.

Random script
 

Here's another one, that randomly assigns nations to players and emails them the results. This is a very simple Applescript, and it could even be used for things other than Dominions.

PBEM scripts
 

Updated versions, for the five Mac-using PBEM-hosting, script-loving, Dominions-2-playing people out there...

emailer script:
Fixed a bug that would send multiple emails to some players if there were fewer than 17 players.
Made it (even) easier to choose between sending out zipped or uncompressed .trn files.

folder action:
Will now automatically open zipped files for you, when you drop them into a game folder for which this action has been enabled.

Re: PBEM scripts
 

Wow! Thanks Ygorl. It almost makes me want to host a game right now!!

Re: PBEM scripts
 

thanks, i wont be using these myself but anything that makes people host more games is good.

Re: PBEM scripts
 

New versions... The Folder Action now has an option to automatically email receipt notifications for those players that want them, and fixed a bug in the hosting script that would cause it to not clean up after itself properly (i.e. it wouldn't delete the old obsolete files) if no .zip files were in the game folder.

Re: PBEM scripts
 

I am wondering if anyone of you guys who mentiond creating Python scripts have had a chance to work on them any more. Right now I'm trying to figure out how to host a provate PBEM game myself, but I can't seem to find the right thread about how to do it.

=$= Big J Money =$=

Re: PBEM scripts
 

to host a pbem game look at your manual, it tells you how.

Re: PBEM scripts
 

I have started to do some more work on generalizing my script and adding a CLI and GUI to it (currently I run it from python shell, directly accessing public methods), then came my work and just sucked me into a high profile project.
I haven't forgotten about this nor have I lost my motivation, I will complete this script and it will be ready, hopefully sometime in the near future.

Re: PBEM scripts
 

update, CLI version of my script is nearly done. It is tested and confirmed to work on cygwin (and for that matter, Linux, Solaris etc).

I need to finish up some last touches of functionality and testing, then I can either post the script here, or do another round of improvements before posting, including:
1.Test functionality on windows systems.
2. Release the script as an exe, so that python installation and libgmail installation aren't needed.

Last phase of improvements is to add a GUI. but I'll do that after releasing the CLI.

The script works only if the host has a gmail account, please be aware of that. Of course if there's sufficient demand it's possible to add support for yahoo accounts as well (I get lazy at times;) )...

The script can do the following:
1. Retrieve turns files from gmail (regexp subject)
2. Verify that the turns are valid and report invalid ones.
3. Backup (on request and prior to hosting)
4. Broadcast messages to players.
5. Send status notifications that include invalid/missing turns reports to players.
6. Host
7. Distribute turn files to players.

EDIT, most probably it will also work for dom-III (if not, I'll update it so that it will).

Re: PBEM scripts
 

Tested functionality for windows platform, all works fine in my tests.

About releasing the script as an exe, I'm not that sure it's the right thing to do, as it will be impossible to view the code this way. I can do that if there's a specific request.

I will add a GUI and transition this to dom-III.

Instructions.
1. Install python. whatever platform you're using doesn't matter, the utility doesn't contain platform specific code.

2. Extract the zip file attached, it contains one screenshot, a configuration file and the utility.

3. Edit the file .domII_PBEM_conf for the configuration values. It's a text file that contains explanations.

4. Run domII_PBEM_utils.py.

5. Follow the CLI instructions.

Re: PBEM scripts
 

Well, probably an exe would be more convenient for ppl, I give up to such popular demand http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/wink.gif http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif

Attached is the script as a windows exe, just double click to run...

*** trying to upload ***

OK, so it seems it's not possible to upload exe files http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/frown.gif

I can send the file upon request.