file/mod comparing
 

A while ago on another forum someone mentioned that a program that could compare mod's would be quite useful.
I never read anything here about it so i assume no one made this program.

The reason i'm asking is because i started working on such a program in the weekend and i was just wondering if i'm the only one, and of course if there is a need for such a program.

I'm already working on a program to compare the components.txt files, it doesn't compare weapons yet just the components. I anyone wants it i'll post it when it also compares weapons, the end of this week maybe.

Re: file/mod comparing
 

it seems Dubious posted a program to compare files in the mod section, i'll take a look at them and see if my program can add anything useful to it.

[This message has been edited by LemmyM (edited 21 May 2001).]

Re: file/mod comparing
 

oops...that went wrong

[This message has been edited by LemmyM (edited 21 May 2001).]

Re: file/mod comparing
 

i downloaded that other program and decided that i will continue working on my own comparing program, even though no one replied. http://www.shrapnelgames.com/ubb/images/icons/icon9.gif

Re: file/mod comparing
 

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>i downloaded that other program and decided that i will continue working on my own comparing program, even though no one replied.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>Lemmy, your first post and this one are only 5 1/2 hours apart. I rarely ever check these Boards more than once a day, and I'm sure people who, unlike me, actually Have A Life, check even less often.


That said, since the mods are just .txt files, there are lots of standard utilities that can do text comparisons which are sufficient for most people's use. I myself haven't done enough modding yet to need more than opening multiple copies of Notepad or Wordpad and rearranging the windows. Custom comparing programs are only of interest to people who aren't satisified with the tools they already have.


------------------
Cap'n Q


The most merciful thing in the world, I think, is the inability of the
human mind to correlate all of its contents. We live on a placid
island of ignorance in the midst of black seas of infinity, and it was
not meant that we should go far. -- HP Lovecraft

[This message has been edited by capnq (edited 21 May 2001).]

Re: file/mod comparing
 

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Lemmy, your first post and this one are only 5 1/2 hours apart<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
hehe, yeah i was a bit impatient, that's what happens if you don't have a life i guess http://www.shrapnelgames.com/ubb/images/icons/icon7.gif

Re: file/mod comparing
 

Lemmy, if you really want to program something consider a program to allow the modders to produce a "difference" file with just their changes to the standard files. What we need is a program which would take that 'diff' file and allow the 'non-modder' player to merge the difference file with the existing file in the 'modpath' directory. This would allow several independent mods to be merged together.

While simple in theory, this is quite complex because many mods alter a number of files to different degrees and all the changes are needed for it to work together correctly the way the author intended. What's probably needed is a multi-pass approach to identify what (in general terms) gets modified and then whether the file or specific parameter has already been modified from that distributed with the game. Then an option to merge the changes wholesale or piecemeal. Whenever presented with a dilemma as to what to do, offer the user a choice.

Or you can take a look at some of the mod tools which are already in the modding archive and work on something which is missing. Zeno42 is the most active in this area as I recall.

Re: file/mod comparing
 

i like that idea, but as you said it's is quite complex because you can't just merge two components.txt files, you have to merge all of the files, or at least all of the modded files. I will take a good look at the files and see if it is possible for me to program it in a acceptable time period (several weeks).
But before i start working it, i think i will first finish the comparing program.

Re: file/mod comparing
 

Dunno if this info will be helpful...

The generic file difference program I often use is called WinMerge. The souce/binary are available here:
http://winmerge.sourceforge.net/

Re: file/mod comparing
 

Lemmy i for one will use your program sp bring it on. Now i can easily combine new techs from all the different mods thanks

Re: file/mod comparing
 

it seems like a good program, but it's not what i had in mind with my program.
Right now my program compares two component.txt files and lists all of the components that exist in the first file but not in the second file, at least not with the same values for mineral costs, tonnage space etc.
So it doesn't just compare the txt files, but the components itself.

This actually works now, but it only compares the "component part" of a component, so two AP beams which are exactly the same except for the damage, will still be seen equal, for now. There are still many features which i would like to add to it, but that will take time of course.

Re: file/mod comparing
 

i'll see if can post a beta Version of the program tonight, it pretty much works as i intended to, i only have to expand it so it also compares the weapons completely. That will be finished next week i think.

[This message has been edited by LemmyM (edited 25 May 2001).]

Re: file/mod comparing
 

posted right here
http://www.shrapnelgames.com/ubb/For...ML/000019.html

if you have any questions just post here, i check this place as often as my e-mail http://www.shrapnelgames.com/ubb/images/icons/icon7.gif

Re: file/mod comparing
 

LemmyM: Just some quick feedback on your comparison tool.

1) It didn't take me long to figure out that I needed to select an item in the differences list to get the display of that item's parameters under the two files' columns. However some guidance, such as a "tool tip" (a pop up textbox when the cursor is over a specific spot such as the column title or button), would have been helpful.

2) Once I had selected two files for comparison, I tried out the comparison buttons ("2 to 1" and "1 to 2"). Both showed me the same number of differences and in the same order, just under different columns. Why are two "differences" columns needed? I feel the screen "real estate" would be better utilized if one column were dropped and the file columns expanded. Otherwise, your intent is not obvious enough and needs some clarification of what we should be looking for. Changing the two comparison "buttons" to a "radio control" might also be more effective.

3) I suspect you intend to put highlighting of the file differences in the Version where you intend to implement comparison of the parameters' value. I would also like to suggest a synchronization of the scrolling of the two files. When we scroll, we are definitely interested in seeing the same parameters remain side-by-side in both files. Since it is going to be the case in some (most?) files that the number of lines/parameters are not the same, it would also be necessary to provide a mechanism to "resync" the comparison lines for scrolling. My preference would be inserting blank lines in the display of the file without the corresponding lines. This makes the additional lines much more obvious. It is also necessary to distinguish between "blank" lines which exist in the file (ie. display them "white" or the same color as the background of parameter lines) and those which are a display "artifact" of your program (ie. display them "gray" or the same background color as the tool). Blanks lines are critical. In some instances they are required, in others they prevent the file from being interpreted correctly.

4) The addition of a "save setting" or similar option to remember the Last files compared would be most helpful. This could be "automatic". A "Most Recently Used" (MRU) list to include pathing would be a nice touch. Along the same lines, I suggest that the default game data file ("Space Empires IV\Data\components.txt") and the equivalent from the current "modpath.txt" file make reasonable "default" files for comparison. A directory search from the root of the drive where your tool was launched would be a reasonable starting point, though I would also guess most people will have your tool in either a sub directory at the same level as the game directory or in one or two levels under it.

BTW: If you will give me some idea of what files you intend to develop a comparison tool for next, I will try to get them into the next Version of the "Modders Guide". At the moment I am simply picking files at random based upon my impression of what people are most interested in modifying. My (soft) target is weekly updates until all the files are covered.

Re: file/mod comparing
 

1. i've been thinking about doing that, but i still have to figure out how, if it's possible it won't be that hard to implement.

2.if you use "1 to 2" and file 2 has components that file 1 doesn't have, those components won't be showed because 1 doesn't know they exists, that's why there are two lists. In your case both of the files had the same components but with different values. But you're right, i could use just one column. Think i'll change that and use the radio control.

3. Definitely need synchronized scrolling, forgot about that. http://www.shrapnelgames.com/ubb/images/icons/icon7.gif
Highlighting will be included, but that will take some time i think. The same goes for putting blank lines in.

4. That's a good idea, "Space Empires IV\Data\components.txt" is the default setting on most computers, but i have the game installed under a "games" dir, also so for testing purposes it's better for me to keep it blank. I've still got to add a menubar, so load/save options will be included, same goes for making different comparisons (3).

I think i'll still be busy with this for at least 2 weeks. I'm also thinking about adding a popup if you click on a techarea in the comparisons box, the tech will be shown.

about my next file, it'll probably be the techarea file, like i said, that'll take a few weeks.

Thanks for your input.

/edit in 2 + typo's

[This message has been edited by LemmyM (edited 28 May 2001).]

[This message has been edited by LemmyM (edited 28 May 2001).]

Re: file/mod comparing
 

LM:

Re 1). This will depend upon what you are programming in, but in Visual Basic6 (and I believe the other tools which are part of the 'Visual Studio' line from MS; they share tons of code as DLLs and VXDs) the 'ToolTip' is a property of the various controls. Just set the value to your description.

Re 3). Highlighting should just be a matter of changing the background/foreground colors. If I were doing this I would simply read the files being compared into separate 'display' arrays and as discrepancies are detected for each 'row' in either file as it is read deal with the display issues (blank lines, highlighting, line numbering, etc.) in the appropriate array. But every programmer has their own style.

Re 4). It would not be unreasonable to ask the user to point to the installed game directory, but I would simply do a directory 'hunt' for the SE4.EXE file first and ask only if more than one was found. Or (less desirable in my view but not unreasonable either), require they install your tool in a specific subdirectory directly under the game directory so you can use relative pathing (ie '..' for the parent directory, '.' for the current directory) so you use '..\AI\&lt;filename&gt;' or '..\Pictures\Races\&lt;RaceName&gt;\&lt;filename&g t;'.

I'm just thrilled someone is willing to pursue this. (I have ZERO time to program outside of work these days.) Glad you find my comments useful.

Re: file/mod comparing
 

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Dubious:
LM:

Re 1). This will depend upon what you are programming in, but in Visual Basic6 (and I believe the other tools which are part of the 'Visual Studio' line from MS; they share tons of code as DLLs and VXDs) the 'ToolTip' is a property of the various controls. Just set the value to your description.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

I'm writing it in java and Last night i took a quick look in the java documentation and couldn't find anything about tooltips. It is possible to make my own tooltip, but that will take some extra work.

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>
Re 3). Highlighting should just be a matter of changing the background/foreground colors. If I were doing this I would simply read the files being compared into separate 'display' arrays and as discrepancies are detected for each 'row' in either file as it is read deal with the display issues (blank lines, highlighting, line numbering, etc.) in the appropriate array. But every programmer has their own style.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

To display the component as text in the textarea i use one long string which is then put in the textarea, and one textarea has only one font, i think that also includes color. So there are two problems with highlighting
1. how do i find what i should highlight ?
this could be accomplished with several changes in my code

2. how do i show it ?
thi depends on java, if java supports different colors in one textarea or something similar, it's no problem. Now that i think of it, it is possible, but it will take a while to implement it.

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>
Re 4). It would not be unreasonable to ask the user to point to the installed game directory, but I would simply do a directory 'hunt' for the SE4.EXE file first and ask only if more than one was found. Or (less desirable in my view but not unreasonable either), require they install your tool in a specific subdirectory directly under the game directory so you can use relative pathing (ie '..' for the parent directory, '.' for the current directory) so you use '..\AI\&lt;filename&gt;' or '..\Pictures\Races\&lt;RaceName&gt;\&lt;filename&g t;'.
<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

of all the options you mentioned, i think the first one (ask the user) is the best. Doing a 'hunt' for the .exe files may not be possible in java. And i agree that installing the program in a specific dir is undesirable.

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>
I'm just thrilled someone is willing to pursue this. (I have ZERO time to program outside of work these days.) Glad you find my comments useful.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

i'm thrilled also http://www.shrapnelgames.com/ubb/images/icons/icon7.gif

Re: file/mod comparing
 

just a little update...

layout :
i have added the radio controls so right now there is one column in which the differences are shown.

menubar :
i've added a menubar, with the following menu's, view and compare, in voew you can only check "view differences only", and in compare you can choose to compare all cmoponents, only weapons, or only non-weapons.

yet to come :
i still have to save the Last used settings, so that if you restart you don't have to set everything again.


things i'm thinking about adding :

save the differences :
the posibility to save the difference in a txt file.

value specific comparing :
not just weapons or non-weapons, but maybe also just the mineral cost, or the reload rate of a weapon. it will take some work to add this, so unless it's really needed, i probably won't do it.


things i won't add :

tooltips...long technical story
highlighting, another technical story.

let me if you have any other options that should be added.



------------------
Q: When he went, had you gone and had she, if she wanted to and were able, for the time being excluding all the restraints on her not to go, gone also, would he have brought you, meaning you and she, with him to the station?

A: Objection. That question should be taken out and shot.

Re: file/mod comparing
 

done!

it's posted here

i didn't add any if the "things i'm thinking about adding" stuff, not enough time for it anymore

the features are:
saves most recently used settings
choose what you want to compare :
everything
nonweapons
weapons
choose what you want to see:
differences only
everything
select up to two(!) files to be compared. http://www.shrapnelgames.com/ubb/images/icons/icon7.gif

and let me know whar you think of it


[This message has been edited by LemmyM (edited 15 June 2001).]

Re: file/mod comparing
 

Unfortunately it hangs consistently at "Tractor Beam II" while loading the default "components.txt" from either v1.35 or v1.30. My modified file from the TDM modpack in the "modpath" directory loads fine. 256MB of RAM so I doubt it's a free memory issue. I didn't find any extraneous blank lines around that component. Any suggestions?

It saved the settings, and reloaded them correctly except for the file which hung. That entry came up with the default directory where I installed your program.

The screen layout works fine for me, and the options look sufficient. Looking forward to getting it to load.

Re: file/mod comparing
 

oh, i forgot to mention this...
If you open component.txt and search for Tractor beam II, and look at the line that says
"Weapon Display := .. "
there are two of them, and there should be only one.
I already send an e-mail to Aaron about this and it is fixed in the next patch, so the program should work fine then, for now you'll just have to delete the extra line from your component.txt file.

------------------
Q: When he went, had you gone and had she, if she wanted to and were able, for the time being excluding all the restraints on her not to go, gone also, would he have brought you, meaning you and she, with him to the station?

A: Objection. That question should be taken out and shot.

Re: file/mod comparing
 

Argh! I should have remembered you mentioning that. Fixed it in my ModPath files but not the originals. Everything works fine now.

In there any possibility of somehow otherwise marking the difference lines in the two files since highlighting isn't possible? Inserting a marker at the beginning of the line display for instance? How about a "save differences" option, based upon the current comparison view of course? Though I can see that getting tricky as you might want to only have SOME of the differences in one comparison view and some from the other. But we have to remember that is the object of the exercise. Would it be possible to allow selection of the component from the current side by side comparison view to be saved? A checkbox would probably do, but you would need to track them in order to write them all out on command. But you should be able to put all the selections from either compared file into the same "diff" file, since that is what they will want to be using. I wouldn't advise writing a selection out immediately as people often change their mind after seeing how they balance against other items.

Good progress.


[This message has been edited by Dubious (edited 18 June 2001).]

Re: file/mod comparing
 

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>In there any possibility of somehow otherwise marking the difference lines in the two files since highlighting isn't possible? Inserting a marker at the beginning of the line display for instance?<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

It should be possible to insert a marker at the start of a line, i'll try and see how it works.

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>How about a "save differences" option, based upon the current comparison view of course? Though I can see that getting tricky as you might want to only have SOME of the differences in one comparison view and some from the other.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

It's possible. If this is what you mean:
Two files are selected, and only the weapons have been compared, file 1 has been compared to file 2, now if you choose to save the difference, all of the components from the list are saved, just like in a component.txt file. ?

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Would it be possible to allow selection of the component from the current side by side comparison view to be saved? A checkbox would probably do, but you would need to track them in order to write them all out on command. But you should be able to put all the selections from either compared file into the same "diff" file, since that is what they will want to be using. I wouldn't advise writing a selection out immediately as people often change their mind after seeing how they balance against other items.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

It would be possible, it would also take sme time to program it.
But why would you want such a file?
You couldn't use it in a game because of the different tech requirements in a mod, this problem has been mentioned before.

------------------
Q: When he went, had you gone and had she, if she wanted to and were able, for the time being excluding all the restraints on her not to go, gone also, would he have brought you, meaning you and she, with him to the station?

A: Objection. That question should be taken out and shot.

[This message has been edited by LemmyM (edited 18 June 2001).]

Re: file/mod comparing
 

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Would it be possible to allow selection of the component from the current side by side comparison view to be saved?<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>Until something like this can be coded, could you work around it by saving a screenshot of the program?

------------------
Cap'n Q

The most merciful thing in the world, I think, is the inability of the
human mind to correlate all of its contents. We live on a placid
island of ignorance in the midst of black seas of infinity, and it was
not meant that we should go far. -- HP Lovecraft, "The Call of Cthulhu"

Re: file/mod comparing
 

capnq:

Nice idea but ...

There are 55 differences between the v1.30 and v1.35 files. There are 118 differences between the TDM Modpack for v1.30 (at in least my minimally modified Version) and the v1.35 components files. As the idea is to incorporate the changes in one set of files into the other, ... I think most of us will stick with our current workarounds over using snapshots.

But it's always heartening to see someone else is interested in this topic.


------------------
"All sources are dubious until their reliabilty has been repeatedly proven. Even then their information should be independently verified." - The unwritten "spooks handbook"

Re: file/mod comparing
 

LemmyM:

Re: "save differences" option. The purpose of the comparison is to see the differences. Once a choice is made as to which one to "keep", repeated as necessary for all the components which are different, the desired end result is a single file containing all the unchanged components and the selected components with "differences" from either file. Compare, select, merge. Save it with a different extension such as ".new" so we can switch back to or compare with the old Version if needed. A more desireable variation would allow selection down to the specific parameter within the component, so only the selected parameter would replace the same parameter (or add or delete it depending upon the choice) to the component in the OTHER file.

Re: why would you want such a file. Such a file is exactly the desired goal, and you are overlooking the fact that normally someone already has a functioning set of files which already incorporate the necessary "additions" in the related files (that is: a mod). What they are typically needing to do is include the changes introduced in the patches, or more precisely to examine and selectively include those changes.

More elaborately, and I acknowledge a much more daunting task, is to be able to merge two or more different MODS together. That would definately require examining each parameter and determining if it required an element from a related file, and then checking within that file to see the element existed and if not to perform a similar comparison of that file. (This might be simpler if performed only after the differences had been identified, as only they would require this checking only if the parameters which differed had such a relationship.) But we get ahead of ourselves. That is for much further down the road (if ever).

(BTW: I like your signature line. I've shot lines like that.)

------------------
"All sources are dubious until their reliabilty has been repeatedly proven. Even then their information should be independently verified." - The unwritten "spooks handbook"

Re: file/mod comparing
 

ok, this is what i think i am gonna do :

Put in a save diferences option, it saves only the components selected.
For each component, you can choose which one you want to save, either the one from file 1 or the one from file 2, if there is no such component in file 2, and that one is selected, then the component will be not be saved, you could also not select a component to not save it.
There should also be an option to select all of the components from one file.
It will be saved like a normal component.txt file, with begin and end, plus the header, but with a different extension. The user will have to choose where to save the file.

I probably won't start until next week. So it is not late for suggestions.

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>(BTW: I like your signature line. I've shot lines like that.)<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

i got it from this site : http://www.allowe.com/book/Actual%20...0Testimony.htm


------------------
Q: When he went, had you gone and had she, if she wanted to and were able, for the time being excluding all the restraints on her not to go, gone also, would he have brought you, meaning you and she, with him to the station?

A: Objection. That question should be taken out and shot.

Re: file/mod comparing
 

Re: select all the components from one file. My turn to ask "why"? We already have that file.

Or did you mean an option to save all components in common along with the selected components into one new "combined" file? That would be usefull.

The diff file is (in my mind anyway) for modders to distribute, which when combined with another (yet to be developed) tool for merging a diff file would eventually allow merging mods. Of course, it might prove to be that this tool could also serve as the "merge" tool. As I think about it, this might be where your two comparision views of a short diff file and a full components file would shine. One comparison showing the components in common but with different parameters, the other the components only present in one file. (Not to belabor the point, but otherwise I don't see how a comparison between file 1 and 2 is somehow different than a comparison between 2 and 1. Same files, same differences. Now an alteration in HOW those differences are displayed, that makes sense. I just haven't seen it so far looking at the two comparison views of 3 different files.)

The "combined" file would be of immediate benefit to both modders and players in allowing them to incorporate patch changes into modded files.

Re: An earlier point about do we need "value specific" comparing. Sorry I overlooked this. Yes we do. If there is a difference in mineral cost or ability or reload rate or whatever, we need to know that to have a complete picture of the differences. Every parameter makes up the "component".

New option suggestion: Can you handle "editing" in some manner? I'm thinking one file (it could always be file 2 for instance, if you don't want to get into designating which file) gets the changes. Select the component and parameter in the "edit" file and then allow us to enter a new value. That way we can compare and update even if we individually don't want or can't yet use the diff file.

I saw that you are doing this in Java (I have no experience with it unfortunately) and the component is actually one long string when displayed in the text area. This probably means you can't edit directly in the display text area. But how about indirectly editing? Some method of indicating which parameter (line number perhaps?) and an input field for the new value, for instance? Then you can parse the string and substitute and redraw.


------------------
"All sources are dubious until their reliabilty has been repeatedly proven. Even then their information should be independently verified." - The unwritten "spooks handbook"

[This message has been edited by Dubious (edited 20 June 2001).]

Re: file/mod comparing
 

selecting each and every component in a list to save can be a lot of work, an option to select all of the different component from one file could save some work.

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Not to belabor the point, but otherwise I don't see how a comparison between file 1 and 2 is somehow different than a comparison between 2 and 1. Same files, same differences. Now an alteration in HOW those differences are displayed, that makes sense. I just haven't seen it so far looking at the two comparison views of 3 different files<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

try deleting one component from one of the files, and then compare them, 1 to 2 and 2 to 1, there should be a difference in the result.

about editing :
it's easy to implement, right now i've turned off the ability to edit in the display area, i could easily turn this on, i would still have to write some code to save it all. But right now you could only edit all of the components if you compare a normal component.txt file with an empty component.txt file, cos for now, that is the simplest way to see all the component in a file. I think you would still have to have the begin and end tags in the file.

value specific comparing is a lot of work, not difficult, but just much work. I might add this this when there is nothing else to change.

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Lemmy wrote:
It will be saved like a normal component.txt file, with begin and end, plus the header, but with a different extension. The user will have to choose where to save the file.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

now that i think of it, a header like in a normal file is useless. Maybe just the info about what files where compared as a header.

------------------
Q: So the date of conception (of the baby) was August 8th?
A: Yes.
Q: And what were you doing at that time?

Re: file/mod comparing
 

Ah, "an option to select all of the different component from one file could save some work". Now I see what you meant. I agree. Anything to speed the process.

Regarding the belabored point. I think I see now. I have made a few mods to the TDM components file, but they are in the nature of the addition of abilities to existing components. You aren't checking for such differences as yet. But since I have the same components (name and number) as the game files, I'm not seeing any change in the number of "differences" between the two file comparisons. I'll have to make a test Version with additions and deletions for the future.

You should consider including a "readme.txt" file in your ZIP package which points out some of these subtleties. Mention the "Tractor Beam II" problem, even though it's fixed in the latest patch, because someone may use the program against the older files.

Glad to hear editing won't be a problem to implement, but the news on value specific comparing surprises me. I presume you have loop structures, so perhaps the issue is a lack of regular expression parsing? Having to cobble the equivalent of "grep" together would be a lot of work at that. Sure there isn't an add-in available?

------------------------------
Q: And how many autopsies have you performed on dead bodies Doctor?
A: All of my autopsies were performed on dead bodies.

A lot of chuckles on that site. Thanks for the link. Amazing how many similar poor questions as well.

Re: file/mod comparing
 

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>I have made a few mods to the TDM components file, but they are in the nature of the addition of abilities to existing components. You aren't checking for such differences as yet.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
you mean the program doesn't count extra abilities as differences ?
I thought it does, well, it should anyway.

There should be a readme file, i still have to work on that one.


loop structures ??
regular expression parsing ??
uhm...i'm not sure i know what you're trying to say http://www.shrapnelgames.com/ubb/ima...s/confused.gif

------------------
Q: So the date of conception (of the baby) was August 8th?
A: Yes.
Q: And what were you doing at that time?

[This message has been edited by LemmyM (edited 21 June 2001).]