file/mod comparing

[Dubious]

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.


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"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).]

[Lemmy]

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.

quote:

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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

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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.

quote:

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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.

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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.

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

[Dubious]

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?

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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.

[Lemmy]

quote:

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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.

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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

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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).]