Official Launch of the SE4 Companion

Ruatha · #1 September 9th, 2004, 03:38 AM

Quote:

Imperator Fyron said:
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...

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

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.

Fyron · #2 September 9th, 2004, 04:07 AM

Quote:

How can the RTC functionality be 100% useless 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????

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...

Ruatha · #3 September 9th, 2004, 04:29 AM

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.

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.

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

Fyron · #4 September 9th, 2004, 03:43 PM

Erm... that image probably screws up the formatting for people on lower resolutions...

/me awaits better, shinier companion.

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

Ruatha · #5 September 9th, 2004, 05:58 PM

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..

Fyron · #6 September 9th, 2004, 06:17 PM

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

Ruatha · #7 September 9th, 2004, 09:57 PM

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.