Very satisfying to ear from you again!
Of course when life concerns strike, anyone should attend to these issues FIRST. I'd be the last to suggest otherwise. Modding is fun (at times
) and getting good results (after that much
work) is certainly a great incentive to pursue further and eventually, obtain rational success(es).
Alright then, let's go through your comments and questions in detail;
-- Hoping you won't mind my confusion or off-shoot answers in some cases... this has more to do with the language barrier. Of french Quebec origins, i sometimes struggle with specific English context or (para-)phrasings. Okay, let's try to be thorough and as clear as possible!
1--)
...by including most of it in the base game NewEraPopup files, I got it to work, but then at some point I broke it such that the center of the new era popups won't take input or display tooltips
Considering how indirectly independent "Eras PopUps" & "Center" are from each other, i'm guessing the charting flow (if we had one!) would split apart both their processing methods and activation systems in the easiest way possible;
a) A New Era has just triggered -- PopUp shows up for quick consultation of your multiple ToolTips on each images. A simple preview of the upcoming gameplay assets.
b) A bit later, player would want to consult it (or another, btw) again... he can access a "Central" device that offers the (as you defined it) "8 Arrows" Menu-Wheel with their individual buttons. By clicking on any of these buttons, the corresponding PopUps are (re-)shown.
c) The "Eras Center" principle is activated only with the central (Magic) button. Which leads to the "MockedUp" stuff (what you're refer to as
ErasDetail, right?) exposed in post #53. That process is also a stand-alone factor within the Mod. It just raises the bar on gathering gameplay facts by ways similar to Civilopedia but in a more concise (although heavily
compressed but still cool, IMO!) manner.
In general, if you approach these three concepts as "unique", i suppose the code-work decisions would be much easier. Knowingly isolating their resources and screens should make their activities less confusing or accidentally prone to mutual "buggy" situations -- IMHO.
2--)
...You can now open the Eras Center from a new entry to the Additional Information menu (which Enhanced UI makes into a new button), or by right-clicking on the turn/date counters. However, I'm not sure which of the 3 screens should pop up by default in that case. I'm thinking EraDetail (set to the current era). Frankly, ChooseEraMenu isn't needed if there are buttons (or a simple dropdown) in the EraDetail. A dropdown is also preferable for mod support since the number of eras (and the appropriateness of symbols that might represent them in the ChooseEraMenu) could be changed.
a) I
would want to have an extra entry straight in the Info-Corner section (45+HL icons were given for that) for specific reasons...
Firstly, Diplo-Corner is such a messy gathering of multiple items that i feared it would get buried into (even if EUI methods are used, btw) too much busy features.
Secondly, it made sense to add that stuff to an already obvious group of elements. Research, Units, Resources, GreatPeople, etc... then, Eras!
Thirdly, to prevent it from being misinterpreted as the only (alternate) way to access various data -- in a different context than almost anywhere else. Case-in-point... the Diplo-Corner ways or even, Civilopedia via the usual Top-Panel HELP shortcut.
b) If the Info-Corner method is used (wish!!)... then, the only premise of its Menu-Wheel(with 8-Arrows +1 in the Middle) was explained above. You can actually access 9 different (temporary) screens with it as a result. One at any given time, close, next or simple exit all via some regular "Close Button" right underneath the magic-icon in the middle.
c) Thus a supplemental drop-down list isn't even necessary when we consider the Wheel 8 buttons (maybe add a tooltip to name the Eras) fulfill such a task by themselves. Auto-Setting to the current Era wouldn't be that "essential" either since the player's need to access such a menu is based on general curiosity about all Eras at once, i gather.
d) The case for a drop-down function is well understood... but ONLY if someone plays with other mods that add or restrict the actual number of Eras. Coding some form of "blocking" routine would possibly be required of course. Unless you'd be willing to provide the extra "Drop-Down" feature. But, let's set some priorities... make *our* code work with "Vanilla" principles at first. Safety net for other conditions, later, AFAIC.
3--)
...Game Concepts pod: I'm still not quite sure what you had in mind for this, but I've added a framework with a new SQL table (Era_GameConcepts) that allows you to assign a list of TXT_KEY entries to each era for this pod. By way of example, I've added 2 dummies to each era.
Here's a copy/paste of my current list of Gameplay-Concepts;
****
1) ANCIENT: Barbarians, Ruins, Trade, Religion Beliefs, Embassy, Tradition, Liberty, Honor, Piety
2) CLASSICAL: Patronage, Aesthetics,
3) MEDIEVAL: Wealth, Research, Commerce, Exploration
4) RENAISSANCE: Espionage, World Congress, Rationalism
5) INDUSTRIAL: Antiquity Sites, Ideology Tenets for Freedom, Order or Autocracy,
6) MODERN:
7) ATOMIC: United Nations, ((PROJECTS: Manhattan Project, Apollo Program))
8) FUTURE: Spaceship Parts, Victory Conditions,
****
Just the names, that's all. Pulled straight from TXT-KEY_** entries within a SQL-Table is -indeed- the most efficient way to handle that tricky Pod.
4--) Icons;
a)
Magics on each Eras -- these were added as a reminder where simple custom Tooltips could recommend a few "Mod" tricks and provide some direct hints about a few features otherwise unknown.
b)
Focus -- were customized by using the Yield sheets and fiddling with some other Icons (ex;Modern-Espionage). Leaving them as is on the Era pictures would somehow be a much easier way to deal with those, i'm guessing. Unless, you'd want the extra DDS files if necessary. They're anchored to their (0,0) corners and are on a 128x128 file (actual image is proportionally reduced to be a regular 48/-/64 in some cases!)... while being aligned to slightly overlay the "colored banner" edges. I would agree that dispatching already available pictures could allow for proper custom variations (just as the toptrim trio of Icons) and that fine-tuning their "alignment" to fit could be done. Future's Trophy isn't a default
file though.
c)
Center Bottom -- of the Eras Popups, i presume. I noticed also that it's thinner than the Wonder sections. So, a default 128 is still a bit wider and would touch the dividing bar. Dunno if the framework could be adapted to compensate that visual flaw. Up to you to determine... but ideally, the 128 defaults would need to be used for that location. Quote(s) to the right and maybe, commentaries to the left-side. But as you say -- these can also wait.
--
Hope i was
clear enough. Many deeply felt
Thanks for all your work!
PS; Please upload (or attach in a Zip, or PM whatever) the most recent (valid!) version so i can witness what we're speaking about. If ready and you feel it would be constructive for our next development stages.
PS2; The Gift? Which game would you want to (still) play from your Steam wish list? Cuz, i'm certainly ready to spend a few bucks on you, buddy. I might even gain a free-copy of Defense-Grid1 in a few days... and, it's YOURS! As long as it won't interfere with our
Eras+Center tasks though...
