HoF Map Finder/Generator Utility 2016-10-05

[superslug]

Can anyone else answer the last 3 queries? I haven't actually used MapFinder, I just wrote the .sav file reading part!

I guess since I've generated over 40,000 maps with the program I can answer a few based off experience:

@LulThyme: It's a serious pain, but yes, C3C will eventually hang and not come back up. I don't know if it would work on your computer, but on mine, if I set the load and save timers to 60000 a piece (a full minute) then C3C will run considerably more iterations before crashing. It still crashes, just not as fast. This has been handy when my computer has nothing else to do, say when I'm at work or sleeping. Actually, I rarely run MapFinder if I'm home and awake, but run it religiously when about to leave or go to bed.

@Tim: Have you run it with all the defaults to see what would happen? It would theoretically save every map it generated, unless your domination minimum was too high.

@GingerAle: From your first post, yes, you have to wait for Mapfinder to finish before it'll give you the information in the index. I'm not sure why it wasn't in the index the second time if there were maps. Was the index still open from the first time? Even without the index, the folder should have the 4000bc's and screenshots paired up.

 

[Tzar Sasha]

Update: I let it run this time, but only to get 10 maps. When I came back to my computer, Civ3 Conquests closed (that's a good thing I guess), and MapFinder's Index.htm file was open - but alas, there was no info again. Odd.

I've only ran it a few times and haven't re-installed after my latest crash. However, I can tell you this.... If you have the save map folder in several subfolders you won't get any info in your index.htm file. Here is the reason: The save file from mapfinder is a very long string of characters. All the entries in the index.htm have a corresponding character in the save file name from mapfinder. If you are getting saves, but no info. Try moving the save location for generated maps to something simple like "c:\MapFinder_maps" I think that will work for you.....

If that still doesn't work, someone else will have to answer.....

 

[Ginger_Ale]

I've only ran it a few times and haven't re-installed after my latest crash. However, I can tell you this.... If you have the save map folder in several subfolders you won't get any info in your index.htm file. Here is the reason: The save file from mapfinder is a very long string of characters. All the entries in the index.htm have a corresponding character in the save file name from mapfinder. If you are getting saves, but no info. Try moving the save location for generated maps to something simple like "c:\MapFinder_maps" I think that will work for you.....

If that still doesn't work, someone else will have to answer.....

Thanks for your response. However, I sent my saves to the folder "c:\HOFSaves" and it still didn't show up...odd. Can anyone give step by step instructions? Thanks.

 

[TimHobbit]

I guess since I've generated over 40,000 maps with the program I can answer a few based off experience:

@Tim: Have you run it with all the defaults to see what would happen? It would theoretically save every map it generated, unless your domination minimum was too high.

.

Superslug, thanks for the reply. Yes, if I leave it at default it will save every map (with is not very usefull), but if I change any value, any at all, I get NO maps saved! Zip, nada, nothing! It is very discuraging because I had such high hopes.

Tim

 

[Dianthus]

Tim, could you give an example of a setting you changed, before which it saved maps, after which it didn't?

 

[superslug]

Superslug, thanks for the reply. Yes, if I leave it at default it will save every map (with is not very usefull), but if I change any value, any at all, I get NO maps saved! Zip, nada, nothing! It is very discuraging because I had such high hopes.

Even if most of the maps are crap, you can still quickly find what you're looking for by scrolling down the index....

 

[TimHobbit]

Tim, could you give an example of a setting you changed, before which it saved maps, after which it didn't?

At work so can't give specifics, but any value! If I change any of the default "-1" values to anything else, I get nothing. I will check again tonight, if the "boss" will let me play after dinner.

Tim

 

[Ginger_Ale]

Even when I have all the values at -1, there are still no saves in the folde I had it save them in. The Index.htm file is still 'empty'. Can anyone give a possible explination/when Monsinger might visit this thread?

 

[superslug]

With defaults checked for terrain/resources, I've noticed three things that can cause Mapfinder to not produce any maps:
1) Minimum domination limit set too high. This will vary depending on map size and settings. On huge/pilego, you'll rarely get anything over 4400. On huge/pang, you'll be lucky to top 3800.
2) Mapfinder sometimes won't "loop". It'll go to quickstart on the first iteration, but then go down to load on the next and so forth.
3) Bad timers. Set them too quick and it might trip over itself, I usually see it entering the save c:tmp command in the world seed input. For my longer runs, I usually set the timers for 60000 each and start it from quickstart rather than new game. It means I have to sit there for a few minutes to make sure it's looping right, and it runs mighty slow, but I get the longest lists off those settings.

 

[Longasc]

Important Note for Non-English Users

Mapfinder will/might not work correctly with the German/French whatsoever Keyboard driver.

Simply select in Windows language selections English US as Keyboard driver while you are running Mapfinder and it will work as it is supposed to.

Note: ßß (for Germans) will be displayed instead of \\ while Mapfinder is doing the tmp.sav, and so it will not work at all. The above fix will solve this problem.

 

[TimHobbit]

I didn't change anything, but now it seems to be working?!?! Must be all the helpfull vibes from here or something. In any case thanks for the responses.

Tim

 

[Trooper4985]

I just got C3C today... I had C3 and PTW the day they came out. I just downloaded this program today. After figuring out I needed to up the timers to 9k I started cranking out maps. I noticed that it seemed to be running for quite a while... Eventually went to nil's and then crashed out. I read the thread about setting the restart to 2 and complied. Now no matter what I set the restart to... it keeps running till it crashes out. What am I doing wrong? Because of an angry dog, I bought C3 Complete today. I notice that Complete installs to a diffrent dir than the original game with the addons... might this be causing a problem?

 

[superslug]

Welcome to CFC Trooper4985!

Did Mapfinder generate any maps for you? If so, your locations are probably correct.

 

[Trooper4985]

It kicked out maps... a couple of nice ones but it wont restart C3C at the alloted number... it keeps going till it crashes no matter if I set it at 2 or 256... it's like it doesn't know it's running Conquests.

 

[Moonsinger]

I have been thinking...may be I should upgrade this program once more time.

#1. Program a new Timer - I will have to redo this one from the ground up and it would definitely be a lot better and smarter than the current one. Since the current timer is working fine, why do I have to create new one? I don't know...I just want to make it better, that's all. Like Seven of Nine, I seek perfection!

#2. Add a floating statistic window to display its progress in real time. For example, the number of loop has been running so far, the number of map has been generated, the number of rejected maps, the number of qualified maps, minimum and maximum domination limit has been found so far, etc. All of these will be displayed in real time while Civ3/PTW/C3C working on the background. It should be really cool to look at, I guess.

#3. Figure what's up with restarting Conquests on some systems (especially on notebook computer)...I guess Firaxis isn't going to fix the bug that cause Conquests to crack after starting/restarting too many new games (note: vanilla Civ3 and PTW do not have this bug). Anyway, I think I may be able to figure out another way to get around it.

#4. Your wish list if you have any! If there is something about this program that you wish to improve upon, please let me know. I can't promise anything, but if it doesn't take a lot of time and easy to do, I will see what I can do.

 

[Tzar Sasha]

#4. Your wish list if you have any! If there is something about this program that you wish to improve upon, please let me know. I can't promise anything, but if it doesn't take a lot of time and easy to do, I will see what I can do.

This is what I'd like to see.
Currently, (unless I've downloaded and installed wrong) the program will allow you to flag maps that contain Ivory within the 9 starting tiles. This is fine. However, the HTML display of saved maps does not list Ivory. Therefore, without opening each one I can not tell how many Ivory may be in the starting tiles. I think all that needs to be done is have the HTML page updated to show all items that can be flagged in the program. I have not taken a good look to see if any other items maybe missing....
If no one else has this problem, then please provide me with one single full install of the program. Thanks

 

[superslug]

I have been thinking...may be I should upgrade this program once more time.

Good to see you drop by Moonsinger! A new version of Mapfinder would be unspeakably awesome. The Hall of Fame has been has gotten possibly more addicted to the program than you might realize. It's not only getting used for huge maps, but also to generate starts for 20k's and Fastest Finishes. We're working on 'relaunching' a new and improved Hall of Fame in January and a new Mapfinder (at some point) would definitely help generate activity.

#2. Add a floating statistic window to display its progress in real time.

That would be really fun to watch!

#3. Figure what's up with restarting Conquests on some systems (especially on notebook computer)...

I've tried to stay current with this thread and even offer experience/advice when I could. The restart problem is definitively the biggest issue. I've learned to live with it because I don't feel right complaining about free blessings, but I think you're right. Another official patch is seriously unlikely.

#4. Your wish list if you have any!

I'm going to second the Ivory, specifically because it's Ivory. There's been a lot of 20k activity in the Hall and a lot of players only go for maps with Ivory so they can plan on Statue of Zeus as part of their strategy.

 

[Bartleby]

I really appreciate MapFinder, even though I rarely finish the games I start

#4. Your wish list if you have any! If there is something about this program that you wish to improve upon, please let me know. I can't promise anything, but if it doesn't take a lot of time and easy to do, I will see what I can do.

Since you ask, I'd like to have my cake and eat it...If the game generates an oustandingly big map, but with no cows in the starting nine tiles (when I asked for one), it would be great if it could be saved anyway so I can open it up and look to see what becomes visible in a few turns.

 

[Dianthus]

Since you ask, I'd like to have my cake and eat it...

I always find that expression a little strange. I mean, what's so special about having a cake, and then eating it? Now, if you could have your cake, eat it, and still have it afterward, that really would be impressive!

(Sorry for spamming your thread Moonsinger, I'm just in a silly mood ).

 

[Bartleby]

[High-Pitched Voice]
Spam and pedantry?! Urgh!
[/High-Pitched Voice]
The expression is sensible because I want to have my cake AND eat it not to have my cake THEN eat it.
Mebbes the expression should be "eat your cake and have it" though. Since you're already in Oxford, Dianthus, you could just pop into the dictionary office and tell them to change it?