Development Thread

[Cammagno]

Because the file name has a separate checkbox "Use default file name". When Autolog opens the log file, it first checks that setting. If it is on, it grabs the player's name and sets the "file name" option to match. So there is no default value in operation with the file name. It uses one option to choose whether or not to overwrite another option with the user's name plus ".txt".

Now I get it ... sorry for my slow brain

Odd, I deleted Autolog.txt to get a new one generated. The INI shows "autolog.txt" for the file name, but I have default file name checked as well (default). The options screen doesn't show me the file name setting.

The same for me, now...

My preference is that any data created by the user or BUG on the user's behalf (settings and Autolog) be stored outside the BUG folders. This way the user doesn't lose anything when they uninstall/reinstall BUG (update).

I agree (including the ini files).

But I think the uninstaller leaves files that it didn't create itself, so what we have should work too.

Yes, but people installing with the zip or from SVN doesn't use the uninstaller, simply delete the 2 or 3 folders.

Proposal:
Put all these stuff (that is, "any data created by the user or BUG on the user's behalf": Autolog, ini and so on) in a folder called something like "BUG User Settings" placed outside of the BUG Mod folder but at the same level of it, so that you have (eg for customassets instal) Bug Mod folder, customAssets folder, Public Maps folder and this new "BUG User Settings" folder all at the same level. In this way, if the user wants to start BUG from scratch, he simply has to delete one more folder before installing the new version of BUG, if he wants to keep all the settings he simply has to keep this folder and delete all the others, if he wants to keep some settings only, he simply has to open this folder (only one folder with inside all the user settings) and choose which files to delete and which files to keep.
What do you think about this?

Regarding saving your options, you can manage the INI files yourself if you want. BUG will only create them if they don't already exist. Just copy them from the old install to the new one, or simply don't uninstall first.

Yes, this was what I was trying to say Good

 

[EmperorFool]

Proposal:
Put all these stuff (that is, "any data created by the user or BUG on the user's behalf": Autolog, ini and so on) in a folder called something like "BUG User Settings" placed outside of the BUG Mod folder but at the same level of it.

I agree, except in the case of installing it as a mod. I'm not sure if putting that folder in the Mods folder will make it show up in the list of mods in Civ4. If it doesn't, then perhaps it's fine. Otherwise, I'd rather have it always go in "My Games/BTS", sibling of CustomAssets. Heck, I may even be able to create a shortcut to it from the "BUG Mod" folder (not sure).

 

[Cammagno]

I agree, except in the case of installing it as a mod. I'm not sure if putting that folder in the Mods folder will make it show up in the list of mods in Civ4. If it doesn't, then perhaps it's fine. Otherwise, I'd rather have it always go in "My Games/BTS", sibling of CustomAssets. Heck, I may even be able to create a shortcut to it from the "BUG Mod" folder (not sure).

Yes, I was thinking to the CustomAssets installation, because I never installed BUG as a mod (not understood why somebody may desire to do it, to tell the truth, but it's ok, BUG is founded on optional choices).

 

[EmperorFool]

I think it's time for a 3.1 release soon. The new core appears stable, we've added a few cool features, and we've stamped out a lot of bugs. Time is short, and Alerum has agreed to do the release again (woot!) next weekend or soon thereafter.

@Alerum - can you do it in two weeks from this weekend, or is next weekend the only option? I ask mostly because a week of warning for the others might be too short, and I want Dresden to be able to get his INFO screen stuff into the release.

 

[Cammagno]

I think it's time for a 3.1 release soon.

I think that we have too much stuff added (including the new core) for a simple 0.1 increase.

About the help files:
- I need a bit of text about PublicMaps, Enhanced Victory Screen and Better Info Screen (the last two are 'working names', of course)
- I need a bit of text about the new core (not text targeted to modders, if as I think this requires more time to be written properly, simple some player-targeted text explaining clearly the stuff about their changes to bUG.ini going to the new ini files and that they can save them for next setup and so)
- I have already taken care of all other additions or I'll do it before release

- @Doc: we should agree on the better way to procede to update the German help files to new look: as you probably have seen, while cleaning html code for all other languages help files, I've also made some little changes to the formatting, I fixed the wrong names of the files (@Alerum: I've not forgotten our discussion about this , but I've some ideas in mind about a better BUG website that make me desire correct names for these html files) and I've created new chm templates; I avoided to touch German help files and CHM template to avoid messing up (for me German language is totally not-understandable). So now the GER files are the only one with some little difference in formatting and without my template.
The second problem can be solved very easily: I can fix the wrong file names and create a template for GER, and you simply have to fix the hyperlings pointing to those files in the text (or maybe I can do it if it's a problem for you, I don't have to read german for this)
The first problem requires a bit more time, because all the html of the files need to be edited: if you are able and have time to do it it's the best solution, if not I can try to do it without messing up german text, but you need to check all of them for being sure that I didn't formatted the wrong words or something like this. In this second case, I can do it (as I said) but not sure if I have enough time to do it for 3.1 release.

 

[The Doc]

I think that we have too much stuff added (including the new core) for a simple 0.1 increase.

I propose to make the next release 3.5 because so much was changed "under the hood".

- @Doc: we should agree on the better way to procede to update the German help files to new look: as you probably have seen, while cleaning html code for all other languages help files, I've also made some little changes to the formatting, I fixed the wrong names of the files (@Alerum: I've not forgotten our discussion about this , but I've some ideas in mind about a better BUG website that make me desire correct names for these html files) and I've created new chm templates; I avoided to touch German help files and CHM template to avoid messing up (for me German language is totally not-understandable). So now the GER files are the only one with some little difference in formatting and without my template.
The second problem can be solved very easily: I can fix the wrong file names and create a template for GER, and you simply have to fix the hyperlings pointing to those files in the text (or maybe I can do it if it's a problem for you, I don't have to read german for this)
The first problem requires a bit more time, because all the html of the files need to be edited: if you are able and have time to do it it's the best solution, if not I can try to do it without messing up german text, but you need to check all of them for being sure that I didn't formatted the wrong words or something like this. In this second case, I can do it (as I said) but not sure if I have enough time to do it for 3.1 release.

I'll see what I can do. The file names can be changed rather quickly. I already updated most of the files with your changes but I can go through them again. The formatting isn't much different from what I have now, so that should be done in no time.
Is there an easy way to clean the html-code or did you do it manually?

 

[Cammagno]

I propose to make the next release 3.5 because so much was changed "under the hood".


I'll see what I can do. The file names can be changed rather quickly. I already updated most of the files with your changes but I can go through them again. The formatting isn't much different from what I have now, so that should be done in no time.
Is there an easy way to clean the html-code or did you do it manually?

I did it manually, because I always write all my xhtml code manually

Anyway, the cleaning is not so important, even because I didn't a complete cleaning in the other languages (I'll make them W3C validated and fully using CSS when I'll do the online version), for now I simply made the code more readable and a bit easier to modify (to tell the truth, it's simply that for me was terrible to translate the content having to go through all those crazy formatting made by openoffice, so I started to cle<n the Italian version, and then having some time I thought to do it even for the english one).
So, if you can uniform the filenames and the formatting (you are right, not so different, no reason to change Alerum's one, it was good enough, I simply tweaked a couple of things), I think that for this release is more than enough. Thanks

 

[EmperorFool]

I'm in agreement with 3.5. And I'll write up some help text about the INI files being changed. Where do you want it?

 

[Cammagno]

I'm in agreement with 3.5. And I'll write up some help text about the INI files being changed. Where do you want it?

It doesn't matter, each way is ok Thanks

 

[EmperorFool]

I meant to ask, where should I write the text? I haven't taken a look in the help text SVN area in a while. Can you please point me to a file to edit? Thanks!

 

[Cammagno]

I meant to ask, where should I write the text? I haven't taken a look in the help text SVN area in a while. Can you please point me to a file to edit? Thanks!

Oh, you want to do it directly in the file? Great! (less job for me!)

In that case, I think the right file to edit is probably
Civ4BUG\Extra Stuff\Help File\BUG Help\Source\ENG\Installation.html

 

[Cammagno]

I'm in agreement with 3.5.[\QUOTE]


Being an important release, I really think that we have to finalize the process of deciding once for ever where to put each file.
The new core release gives as a very good opportunity to provide the BUG Mod with a definitive main structure, so ... and it's much better not to have to rewrite the iinstalling nstructions each release

 

[alerum68]

Camm, what are your ideas about the website? I'm hoping to be able to update it with the next release.

 

[Cammagno]

Camm, what are your ideas about the website? I'm hoping to be able to update it with the next release.

I'm thinking to a 'real' website, with some interesting features (for example easy or maybe even full automated loading of content from inside the SVN help folder, video 'how to', and so on)... but it will take some time (even if I'm much more used to work with html than with XML, I've not so much available time 'till november), so for now don't worry about it and act as if I said nothing... as soon as I have some concrete work done, I'll post a link

 

[The Doc]

What about the "Promotion Icon Offset" option? In my opinion it's not a necessary switch for the options screen because it's a solution for a problem which you only encounter when you use a different font and/or font size. Would be better to have in the INIs only. Most people would be confused about it and will not get an added value from it anyway. Other opinions?

 

[EmperorFool]

What about the "Promotion Icon Offset" option?

I added it to the screen simply because people kept bringing it up. I figure a lot of people use BlueMarble. I actually contemplated adding a "Blue Marble" checkbox that would set other options when checked, but then that limits other theme usage.

I could remove it without much issue myself. What do you guys think?

 

[The Doc]

I added it to the screen simply because people kept bringing it up. I figure a lot of people use BlueMarble. I actually contemplated adding a "Blue Marble" checkbox that would set other options when checked, but then that limits other theme usage.

I could remove it without much issue myself. What do you guys think?

I know. I myself experienced that issue. But for other players that use standard settings it's just too much "adjustability", IMHO. That's why I think it's better to have it in the INIs only. (When you were able to change the Civ font, you should also be able to edit an INI-file. Or am I wrong? )

 

[EmperorFool]

True enough. I have removed it from the screen.

The other thing to consider is that it's easier to figure out which value to use when you can change it in-game. Otherwise you have to quit/restart civ each time you want to change it (for now).

 

[Cammagno]

I added it to the screen simply because people kept bringing it up. I figure a lot of people use BlueMarble. I actually contemplated adding a "Blue Marble" checkbox that would set other options when checked, but then that limits other theme usage.

I could remove it without much issue myself. What do you guys think?

I agree with the Doc (it was the reason of my original question), but also with you, and so till when we'll have no more space in that tab, or till when we'll have the BOS for Dummies I see no reason for removing it now that it's there, and it'll be simplier to tell the people asking about it "put 5 in that box" than explaining where to go to modify what.

 

[Cammagno]

The other thing to consider is that it's easier to figure out which value to use when you can change it in-game. Otherwise you have to quit/restart civ each time you want to change it (for now).

Considering also this, I vote for keeping it in BOS
(and maybe adding some words in the hover text explaining that it can be used when the used mod changes the default font)