Autolog warning to HOF mod newcomers

[da_Vinci]

Hi all,

For those who are new to the HOF mod (heck, I am new to just about everything here), here is an issue with the autologger that you ought to be aware of.

I had played one of the GOTM 12 test maps, made in HOF 008. Then I played GOTM 12. I then went to see what the autolog looked like. The default file autolog.text turned out to have the test map game events, not the GOTM 12 events. Apparently, the mod does not overwrite the default file. Nor does it save with a modified filename, such as autolog[1].txt

I reloaded the GOTM start file and played about 20 turns after renaming the autolog file as autolog test.txt. That file exists and has the events from the 20 turn test.

So it looks like you will need to specify a unique filename in the options screen to be sure that you save a log of the current game. Can't assume that the default file will be overwritten with the latest game.

Also of interest that the autolog appears to calls turn 1 the things that happen after the inital turn, as if the first things you do are "turn 0" (it says turn 1 3960 BC after the events of 4000BC)

As each turn can be thought of as an interval from Time x to time y, I suppose you can choose to call turn by the start year or the end year.

For example, the log says "turn 2 3920 ... Timbuktu founded". It was founded when the map said 3920, but that was during my third turn of play.

So if in spoilers one wants to say that they did something on turn x, it might really be turn x+1 if you take the turn number from the autolog.

Pehaps better to refer to events by year, as that is not abiguous between reality and the autolog.

Finally a question: there a program that can be used to open the log file that displays the colors and features, rather than the instructions for the colors and features?

Notepad (the default) is clearly not that program.

dV

 

[VerbalKint]

You might want to scroll to the bottom of the autolog.txt file, your GOTM game should be there. It doesn't overwrite, it adds the new events to the bottom of the text file.

 

[da_Vinci]

You might want to scroll to the bottom of the autolog.txt file, your GOTM game should be there. It doesn't overwrite, it adds the new events to the bottom of the text file.

Yes, the GOTM is at the bottom of the list of events ... a VERY long list, having two games in one file.

Appending to the default file is the safest way for the mod to be programmed, as no information is lost.

But that does make for some huge default files, so my suggestion of a unique filename for the log of each game still makes sense I think, but now for a different reason.

Thanks for the help

dV

PS: any thoughts on a better program for viewing the log that the default to notepad?

 

[ewokimpi]

When you start a new game while using the HOF mod, and autolog is on in the ini file, then you will get a popup asking for the name of the autolog file to be used. One can type in a new file name then. This applies to any newly generated game file, and also to GOTM/WOTM save files.

Or alternatively, go to the options panels whilst playing the game, and type in a new file name for the game. I believe it is included on panel HOF1.

Also, select the appropriate formating option per your desire for the log entries. I prefer '1' for html entries rather than forum style entries, for example.

I use a web browser to display the entries in a log, FireFox in my case.

 

[da_Vinci]

When you start a new game while using the HOF mod, and autolog is on in the ini file, then you will get a popup asking for the name of the autolog file to be used. One can type in a new file name then. This applies to any newly generated game file, and also to GOTM/WOTM save files.

Or alternatively, go to the options panels whilst playing the game, and type in a new file name for the game. I believe it is included on panel HOF1.

Also, select the appropriate formating option per your desire for the log entries. I prefer '1' for html entries rather than forum style entries, for example.

I use a web browser to display the entries in a log, FireFox in my case.

I find that the popup comes and goes too fast to make the change there. As you say, Panel HOF 1 in options has a place for this and for configuring the autosave.

At first, internet explorer was still just displaying text, but then I saved the file with the extension .html, opened that file with IE, and now it looks good. That is, for a file produced with the html option. The forum tags format just shows up as a block of text in IE.

Thanks.

dV

 

[AlanH]

PS: any thoughts on a better program for viewing the log that the default to notepad?

There are options for formatting the autolog file. They are in the Options/HOF1 tab, in a drop down menu called "Format Style". I thhink the default is "Forum Tags" which puts square brackets around each format tag so that you can copy and paste the log straight into a forum post. I don't know of a PC program that will display the forum tags, but there may well be one.

The other options are "HTML tags" or "None". "HTML tags" gives you a file you can open with a web browser. "None" produces plain text that you can use Notepad for, or Wordpad when it gets too big.

 

[ewokimpi]

When you open a new game (4000 BC, no moves made yet), it will stay up long enough to put in a new file name. So when you create a new game while using the mod, you'll get the chance to give it an appropriate name.

It's true GOTM/WOTM files won't give you the chance to change the name on the start up splash screen. In that case it's telling you what file entries will be appended to unless the file name is changed in the HOF options.

 

[da_Vinci]

There are options for formatting the autolog file. They are in the Options/HOF1 tab, in a drop down menu called "Format Style". I thhink the default is "Forum Tags" which puts square brackets around each format tag so that you can copy and paste the log straight into a forum post. I don't know of a PC program that will display the forum tags, but there may well be one.

The other options are "HTML tags" or "None". "HTML tags" gives you a file you can open with a web browser. "None" produces plain text that you can use Notepad for, or Wordpad when it gets too big.

I'm curious, do notepad and wordpad exist in MacWorld?

To elaborate for my fellow newcomers to the HOF mod:

The "none" option makes a clean plain text log.

HTML tags makes a plain text log that is full of display instructions, but when you display in html with your browser (you may need to change the file extension to .html), you get color coding for the different event types (if you have chosen that option). This one is now my favorite.

Forum tags has similar looking instructions that I assume work the same way in the forum.

This does mean that you need to have decided how you want to view the log before you start the game. Because I don't think there is a way to switch formats after the fact.

You could use Svelte's test map (set up in .008, see the GOTM 12 pre-game) to explore the different log outputs and displays before making your choice for the GOTM.

And what started this thread to begin with, the default file will append multiple games rather than overwrite them. While that is good in that info is not lost, a separate file for each game is easier to deal with. The log filename can be set up in options.

dV

 

[da_Vinci]

And on another note about the autolog, start and end of war is not appearing in my logs, even thought I have the option selected. Anyone else having this issue?

dV

 

[Denniz]

And on another note about the autolog, start and end of war is not appearing in my logs, even thought I have the option selected. Anyone else having this issue?

dV

@dV, we have a support thread for the HOF Mod: HOF Mod Support/Suggestions over in the HOF forum. We are always happy to answer questions and hear about bugs and suggestions.

AlanH gave us the heads up on the Autolog issues with war events. Well take a look at it for the next version. It is possible to override the autolog file name for GOTM games. (ie. something like Autolog_GOTM12.txt) Not something, I had thought about before.

 

[Alraun]

I'm curious, do notepad and wordpad exist in MacWorld?

If you're running Windows, yes. Otherwise, you'll have a different text editor.

 

[AlanH]

TextEdit is the default text editor on a Mac. It doesn't have Notepad's limitation on file size, so one size fits all. Any browser will display an HTML formatted log, the Mac default browser is Safari.

[EDIT] I'm told Notepad no longer complains about long files as it did in '98, though I'm sure I've seen the warning in XP. However, I'll retract my file size comment.

 

[Conquistador 63]

Interesting topic. I've been using HoF mod for GOTM games since it became available, and always wondered about a better way to view the autolog file.

After reading it I followed da Vinci's suggestion and started a test map for GOTM12. I selected html (instead of forum tags) and renamed the file in mod options. After saving/exiting the game, renamed the file to xxx.html. I was able to open it with IE. A clean, formatted text, bold and underlined titles etc. But no colors. Also, no colors in ingame log. No alerts as "xxx's borders about to expand next turn" like I used to have. I did not change those settings in HoF mod options. Any hints?

edit: forget it, just found the "color coding" option. D'oh!

 

[Drugged_Unholy]

So, to clarify for the benefit of stupid people like me, do I need to do anything other than have the mod installed and load up the gotm save.

 

[AlanH]

If you just want to play the game with none of the extra features that the mod offers, then that's all you need to do. When you load the game it will tell you it needs to restart to load the mod.

If you want the extra features of the mod then you can turn them on, using the HOF1, HOF2 and HOF3 tabs in the Options screen. You get to the Options screen by selecting Advanced/Options at the main menu, or selectiong Options in the in-game menu.

 

[A+ombomb]

Does this still work post-patch for warlords?

 

[AlanH]

Please read the Warlords WOTM 2 release page:

This game will require you to play under Patch v2.00 (the current release version)
If a patch is released before this game is complete, you must finish the game using the release version!

All players will need version 2.00.002 of the HoF Mod. Download it here: HOF Mod version 2.00.002. Note that, if a later version of the mod is released before the closing date, it cannot be used for this game.

 

[Jeff1787]

I just submitted WOTM2. I used HOF mod as instructed. Now I can't seem to locate the autolog file. Can someone tell me where it is??

 

[AlanH]

~/Documents/Civilization IV/Autolog/

Its default name is autolog.txt

 

[Jeff1787]

Thank you!!!!!