Civ4 Map Finder Announced!

[DaveMcW]

Could you please edit the game rules so regenerate map resets contacts? It's frustrating getting contact fails with minimum civs on a standard map.

 

[Denniz]

Could you please edit the game rules so regenerate map resets contacts? It's frustrating getting contact fails with minimum civs on a standard map.

I am not sure we can. I think disabling regenerate was the second choice solution.

 

[Denniz]

I updated the Beta download for some issues found while testing the new combos. Also, some better "ANY" icons provided by Mistfit.

 

[DaveMcW]

I would rather have a 3rd choice: Load the last good save, fiddle with the RNG so it makes a different map, and keep generating.

Or a 4th choice: Distribute edited versions of the map scripts that will never start civs in contact with each other.

Failing after 20 maps is almost as bad as not having MapFinder at all.

 

[Dianthus]

Could you please edit the game rules so regenerate map resets contacts? It's frustrating getting contact fails with minimum civs on a standard map.

It's easy enough to reset the contacts in the SDK. What I wasn't sure about was whether anything else would need resetting as a result of making the contacts. I.e. techs traded, attitude, something else I didn't consider. Hence not allowing regen after contact as a quick safe fix. Fixing it properly is something I would *like* to do, just haven't had the time yet.

I would rather have a 3rd choice: Load the last good save, fiddle with the RNG so it makes a different map, and keep generating.

Actually, that one is already implemented .

Or a 4th choice: Distribute edited versions of the map scripts that will never start civs in contact with each other.

Interesting idea, and one we hadn't considered. Thanks!

 

[DaveMcW]

Setting the rule category to Other Types crashes rule builder.

 

[Denniz]

Setting the rule category to Other Types crashes rule builder.

Good catch. Here is a fixed version: >>Beta3<<

 

[ori]

There is a bug in Beta3 which occurs when MapFinder V1.0 is missing.

I decided I`d try the new version and uninstalled V1.0 before installing V1.1b3 and got the attached error (german win xp version) after reinstalling V1.0 V1.1b3 started just fine and I&#180;ll be using it now.



The same error occurs when V1.1b is installed while V1.0 is missing

 

[Denniz]

There is a bug in Beta3 which occurs when MapFinder V1.0 is missing.

I decided I`d try the new version and uninstalled V1.0 before installing V1.1b3 and got the attached error (german win xp version) after reinstalling V1.0 V1.1b3 started just fine and I´ll be using it now.



The same error occurs when V1.1b is installed while V1.0 is missing

I guess that means the control I carried over from V1.0 needs to be included in the install. It wasn't clear that it was needed in addition to the speciall DLLs to support it. I will have a new install tonight.

Thanks for spotting that.

 

[clut]

Just to check, is the download on the HoF MapFinder page the most current stable version?

That is the version I've downloaded, but I recieve plenty of run time errors (#381 if that helps you). the description it gives is 'Could not get the list property'.

I have seen various beta's floating around while browsing this thread but rather than download several I thought I'd just ask the man who knows.

Which is the most recent, stable version?

 

[Denniz]

Just to check, is the download on the HoF MapFinder page the most current stable version?

That is the version I've downloaded, but I recieve plenty of run time errors (#381 if that helps you). the description it gives is 'Could not get the list property'.

I have seen various beta's floating around while browsing this thread but rather than download several I thought I'd just ask the man who knows.

Which is the most recent, stable version?

Both the Download page and the Beta3 are relatively stable. There is a dependency on Office, though. Check out this thread for a potential workaround.

 

[clut]

Both the Download page and the Beta3 are relatively stable. There is a dependency on Office, though. Check out this thread for a potential workaround.

I have downloaded Beta 3 and am currently downloading .net

Thanks for your prompt reply.

 

[ori]

some more bugs:

-there is a CTD when deleting a file. Windows gives the following description:


-when renaming a file the name is displayed twice:


-when highlighting more than one file at a time and trying to move them together, the first file is moved and the application returns an error, aborting the move of the other files. During this only the .civ4savedgame file is moved but not deleted in the original directory and the .jpg and .txt files are not moved.


-the default save directory points to the one from V1.0 (program files\civ4_map_finder\saves) not to the one from V1.1 which installs into the My Games directory (minor I know, but will make uninstalling V1.0 more difficult once it is possible at all )

The following two have already been reported for V1.0:
-the test range is still not executed properly, i.e. resources are detected regardless of their tile distance

-MapFinder still pauses for no apparent reason after a random number of Map generations (111 in this example) even though the Regenerate Map option is still available. Pressing Alt-M has no effect.

Pressing Alt-X terminates MapFinder properly

Pressing Alt-M afterwards has the effect of restarting MapFinder for another random number of Map generations (in this example it regenerated another 7 Maps befor pausing again...)

 

[Denniz]

-there is a CTD when deleting a file. Windows gives the following description:

Sorry, I can't read German. Could you describe the steps you took. Was it the first or last file? Can you repeat the error?

-when renaming a file the name is displayed twice:

Same for this one. Is there something different about your machine? What OS? Any issues with .NET 2.0 install?

-when highlighting more than one file at a time and trying to move them together, the first file is moved and the application returns an error, aborting the move of the other files. During this only the .civ4savedgame file is moved but not deleted in the original directory and the .jpg and .txt files are not moved.

It isn't supposed to allow multi-select. Unpredictable results will occur... I will look at that.

-the default save directory points to the one from V1.0 (program files\civ4_map_finder\saves) not to the one from V1.1 which installs into the My Games directory (minor I know, but will make uninstalling V1.0 more difficult once it is possible at all )

Actually, it is pointing to the path in your HOF-1.61.004.ini file. Use the "set directory" menu option to point it to your save folder. Then select the HOF update save path option. You should do similar with the Rule Builder by saving a rule file to the new location.

The following two have already been reported for V1.0:
-the test range is still not executed properly, i.e. resources are detected regardless of their tile distance

This bug is in the HOF Mod. It will be fixed in HOF Mod 1.61.005, which should be available before the end of july.

-MapFinder still pauses for no apparent reason after a random number of Map generations (111 in this example) even though the Regenerate Map option is still available.
Pressing Alt-M has no effect.
Pressing Alt-X terminates MapFinder properly
Pressing Alt-M afterwards has the effect of restarting MapFinder for another random number of Map generations (in this example it regenerated another 7 Maps befor pausing again...)

I have heard about this but so far have not found a way to repeat it to see what is going on. How fast is your machine? Could it be having trouble completing a save between regens? You could try increasing the delay. Turning on the following options could help identify any errors if you can repeat this.

; Set to 1 for no python exception popups
HidePythonExceptions = 0

; Enable the logging system
LoggingEnabled = 1

; Overwrite old network and message logs
OverwriteLogs = 1

; Enable message logging
MessageLog = 1

Edit: Beware, turning on logging sometimes slow things down due to virusscan software.

Thanks for the Feedback.

 

[Dianthus]

Edit: Beware, turning on logging sometimes slow things down due to virusscan software.

Actually the logging slows things down even without virusscan software. Map regeneration is significantly affected, taking many minutes instead of a couple of seconds.

 

[ori]

Sorry, I can't read German. Could you describe the steps you took. Was it the first or last file? Can you repeat the error?

Well the German part of this bug report is noninformational, basically saying, that you can trust Microsoft to not do anything evil with your data if you send them this report - Anyway I cannot repeat this CTD.

Same for this one. Is there something different about your machine? What OS? Any issues with .NET 2.0 install?

I have heard about this but so far have not found a way to repeat it to see what is going on. How fast is your machine? Could it be having trouble completing a save between regens? You could try increasing the delay. Turning on the following options could help identify any errors if you can repeat this.

WinXP and .NET 2.0 without known issues installed - AMD Athlon 2000+ 1,24 GHz, 2 GB RAM

The following Python Exception pops up when MapFinder hangs with logging enabled (it actually pops up every one or two seconds unless alt-x is pressed - so MapFinder is not "pausing" but rather repeats futile cycles...)

 

[Dianthus]

Thanks for that screenshot ori . Looking at the .py that was a simple typo error. Looks like that bug will occur whenever a save is encountered with the start position very close to the west (X=0). We'll get that fixed for the next HOF mod.

 

[Denniz]

Thanks for that screenshot ori . Looking at the .py that was a simple typo error. Looks like that bug will occur whenever a save is encountered with the start position very close to the west (X=0). We'll get that fixed for the next HOF mod.

Definitely an "intermittent" bug. I always have the python exceptions turned on and I have never gotten that error.

Very good catch, ori.

 

[Denniz]

Update: Beta4

changes:

• Changed behaviour of initial prompt to change HOF mod Ini file. Now changes all three paths to install directory.
  
• You can to step through saves on report screen using the arrow keys.
  
• Change delete to do a simple delete instead of deleting to recycle bin.

.

 

[ori]

Update: Beta4

changes:

• Changed behaviour of initial prompt to change HOF mod Ini file. Now changes all three paths to install directory.
  
• You can to step through saves on report screen using the arrow keys.
  
• Change delete to do a simple delete instead of deleting to recycle bin.

.

You forgot to mention, that its now standalone and does not require V1.0 anymore

Anyway one more bug (V1.1b4):

When trying to delete a file immediately after looking at a number of images it produces an error and does not delete the file - clicking on the file and waiting a couple of seconds solves this - might be my machine though