HoF Map Finder/Generator Utility 2016-10-05

[Ginger_Ale]

Hi Dianthus and Moonsinger,

Previously before, my (non-2005) versin of MapFinder didn't seem to save any saves beyond the first one, which it always saved, and always said there was 1 lake tile and the domination limit was 501, even if they both weren't true. I downloaded MapFinder 2005, and I still have this same problem. No matter my settings, it saves the first save (which it says has 501 domination limit), and then skips the rest. I'm using v5.7, I believe. Any ideas of why it acts like this?

 

[Mistfit]

Would it be possible on a future expansion to add in:
"Save any file < Domination Limit X "
I understand why you have it set the way it is now for milking games but I would probably look at games with very low Domination limits for quick domination.

Great Utility BTW! I love it. I actually found my self watching for about a 1/2 and hour just sort of mesmorized by the saves flying by. My record is 825 maps looked at with out stopping. On a small map 2 cows with at least 1 river tile and any map with more than 2 cows I'm getting about 1 acceptable save every 40 maps or so. :Goodjob:

 

[superslug]

Would it be possible on a future expansion to add in:
"Save any file < Domination Limit X "

It can already do this. Just set your minimum to 0 and the maximum to "Domination Limit X".

 

[Mistfit]

What I am looking for is for it to save games that do not meet my standard requirements (2 cows and >1river) but has an outstandingly low domination limit. On the last tab there is a feature that will do just the opposite of this, it saves any game with a domination limit GREATER than X (even though it does not meet the other limits) I hope I've explained this properly.

 

[Tzar Sasha]

What I am looking for is for it to save games that do not meet my standard requirements (2 cows and >1river) but has an outstandingly low domination limit. On the last tab there is a feature that will do just the opposite of this, it saves any game with a domination limit GREATER than X (even though it does not meet the other limits) I hope I've explained this properly.

You could just do the 0 to domination limit X as was mentioned by superslug and drop your standard requirements. Then use the sort feature to look for maps with your standard requirements and the low domination limit that you want.

 

[Moonsinger]

Previously before, my (non-2005) versin of MapFinder didn't seem to save any saves beyond the first one, which it always saved, and always said there was 1 lake tile and the domination limit was 501, even if they both weren't true. I downloaded MapFinder 2005, and I still have this same problem. No matter my settings, it saves the first save (which it says has 501 domination limit), and then skips the rest. I'm using v5.7, I believe. Any ideas of why it acts like this?

Please specify your version of Civ3 (PTW, C3C, or vanilla) and post a copy of your config "MapFinder.INI" file (it can be found at the same location where you installed MapFinder). I'm sure something is wrong with your settings.

 

[Moonsinger]

Would it be possible on a future expansion to add in:
"Save any file < Domination Limit X "
I understand why you have it set the way it is now for milking games but I would probably look at games with very low Domination limits for quick domination.

Of course! However, you may have to wait for a few weeks because I'm very busy this month.

Great Utility BTW! I love it. I actually found my self watching for about a 1/2 and hour just sort of mesmorized by the saves flying by. My record is 825 maps looked at with out stopping. On a small map 2 cows with at least 1 river tile and any map with more than 2 cows I'm getting about 1 acceptable save every 40 maps or so. :Goodjob:

Thanks! I'm glad our little toy work!

 

[Ginger_Ale]

Please specify your version of Civ3 (PTW, C3C, or vanilla) and post a copy of your config "MapFinder.INI" file (it can be found at the same location where you installed MapFinder). I'm sure something is wrong with your settings.

Sorry for not seeing this earlier! I'm using C3C v1.22.

[Config]
Delay4NewGame=9000
Delay4SaveGame=3000
Delay4RestartC3C=10000
MinDomLimit=100
MaxDomLimit=3000
OutputDir=C:\Civ
AutoSaveDir=C:\Program Files\Infogrames Interactive\Civilization III\Saves\Auto
Counter=13
Delay4Keystrokes=250
Delay4CivDialogs=2000
MaxAcceptGame=10
QuickStartGame=1
NoRun2RestartC3C=5
JPGCompressionQuality=70
MinCattle=-1
MinFish=-1
MinGame=-1
MinGold=-1
MinOasis=-1
MinSugar=-1
MinTobacco=-1
MinFruit=-1
MinWheat=-1
MinDyes=-1
MinFurs=-1
MinGems=-1
MinIncense=-1
MinIvory=-1
MinSilks=-1
MinSpices=-1
MinWines=-1
MinGrassland=-1
MinFloodplain=-1
MinPlain=-1
MinForest=-1
MinHill=-1
MinJungle=-1
MinDesert=-1
MinTundra=-1
MinMountain=-1
MinCoastal=-1
MinMarsh=-1
MinFreshWater=-1
MaxGrassland=-1
MaxFloodplain=-1
MaxPlain=-1
MaxForest=-1
MaxHill=-1
MaxJungle=-1
MaxDesert=-1
MaxTundra=-1
MaxMountain=-1
MaxCoastal=-1
MaxMarsh=-1
MaxRiver=-1
MinFoodBonus=-1
MinLuxury=-1
MinShieldGrass=-1
MinGoodyHut=-1
MinLimit4ForceSave=-1
MinCow4ForceSave=-1

Can someone post their settings just so I can try to see if it works?

 

[Moonsinger]

Sorry for not seeing this earlier! I'm using C3C v1.22.

Can someone post their settings just so I can try to see if it works?

I have seen at least more than 1 problem with your settings.

#1. Your pointing it to the WRONG autosave directory. Since you are playing C3C, you should point it to C3C directory, not vanilla Civ3. See the sample of my setting below.

#2. Your saving delay is too small. Note, MapFinder would only save when it accepts a Map; therefore, you should always give it extra time to be on the safe side. In all cases, the time delay for Saving should ALWAYS be bigger or equal to the time delay for Loading. I can tell you the the appropriate timing for your system if you can tell me the speed of your system. For some sample timing you may want to check out page #24 of this thread. Here is an example that may work for you.

http://forums.civfanatics.com/showpost.php?p=2479096&postcount=477

Note: if you have a slower system, you should increase the delay "sleep" timer to give Civ3 enough time to process. The following config is for my system which has a 2.8 GHz P4 overlocked at 3.2GHz: If you system is slower than mine, I recommend you go with the link above!

Delay4NewGame=6000
Delay4SaveGame=6000
Delay4RestartC3C=9000
MinDomLimit=4400
MaxDomLimit=6000
OutputDir=C:\Civ3Map\Chieftain\01.23.2005
AutoSaveDir=C:\Program Files\Infogrames Interactive\Civilization III\Conquests\Saves\Auto
Counter=203001
MaxAcceptGame=2000
QuickStartGame=1
NoRun2RestartC3C=27

Delay4Keystrokes=150
Delay4CivDialogs=1500

Btw, the AUTOSAVE for C3C should have the word "Conquests\Saves\Auto" in its path. You should correct this in your setting first!

 

[Ginger_Ale]

Thanks Moonsinger - I had seen the autosave input place, but when I saw ".../Civilization III/" I thought it was leading to C3C; I didn't read the whole line.

I was fiddling around with the timings, that's why they were low. I thought that they were my problems, so I tested different variations.

It now works. Once again, many thanks.

 

[Moonsinger]

Update on what I'm going to do next on this project:

I was on my way to work this morning thinking about Germany, then it hit me. I could easily twist the AND and OR expression a little bit to make it work for MapFinder. The new logic for AND and OR in MapFinder will be as follows:

1. All expression will be evaluated from LEFT to RIGHT, TOP to BOTTOM.
2. Simple logic with no bracket of any type
3. Will support AND, OR, >, and < operators (+ or - may be included if there is a need for them).

Ok, let's see how this work. For example, you could say something like this:

AND DomLimit > 4400
AND DomLimit < 4500
AND Cattle > 0
OR River > 0
OR Lake > 0
OR Ivory > 0
AND Whatever > 0

Basically, the above expression means that:

All Maps with a domination limit between 4400 and 4500
AND has at least one catttle
OR has at least one river
OR has at least one lake
OR has at least one Ivory
AND it also has whatever else...I think you get the idea.

In this example, evaluated from LEFT to RIGHT and TOP to BOTTOM, all the AND clause will be treated as the base requirements. All the OR clause will be treated extra option ontop of the base requirement. In this case, any map that meet all the AND clauses and meet at least one of the OR clauses will be saved/accepted. Very simple and easy to implement, but flexible enough to support everyone need. What do you think? Please feel free to poke hole to it. If you think this type of expression won't be able to support what you want, please let me know asap because I'm planning to code it this weekend. Thanks!

 

[EMan]

@Moonsinger: This is Great Stuff!

In your example, I read it like: If you have DL 4401-4499 plus.....a Cow Or a river Or a lake Or (an Ivory + Whatever), the Map would be accepted.

I like brackets, so my simple mind would get it if it were written:
(DL > 4400 AND DL < 4500 AND Cow > 0 AND Whatever > 0) AND (River > 0 OR Lake > 0 OR Ivory > 0).....so if this expression were True, the Map would be accepted.

'Course I was a COBOL programmer and we all know what happened to the Dinosaurs!

Bottom Line: As long as people KNOW that ALL AND expressions must be True and at least One OR expresson for the Map to be accepted, then all will be fine.....I Promise!

 

[MOTH]

This would do the job for me!

 

[Moonsinger]

I like brackets, so my simple mind would get it if it were written:
(DL > 4400 AND DL < 4500 AND Cow > 0 AND Whatever > 0) AND (River > 0 OR Lake > 0 OR Ivory > 0).....so if this expression were True, the Map would be accepted.

I like brackets and simple expression too. That is what the rest of the world is currently using...why do I want to re-invent the wheel? I'm sure you may be wondering about that....the answer is very simple. I don't have time to code the "bracket" phaser or logic phaser. Therefore, that was the reason for me coming with something a little bit easier and won't take me a lot of time to code. I don't ask anyone who use this software for anything in return, except that please read the instruction before using it. And the instruction for map to be accepted is simple enough "all AND expressions must be True and at least one OR expression must be true". Of course, it goes without saying, we don't have to use any OR (if we don't need it; just becuase it is there that doesn't mean we have to use it; in most case, the AND clause alone would do the trick).

 

[EMan]

@Moonsinger: Makes perfect sense!

This will be a GREAT addition to an already Great Utility!

Thanks for all the time you've put in on this.

 

[Mistfit]

I like the Idea! It will allow for me to find exceptionally low domintaion games that might have been missed before.

One small point (very small) regarding your extras page

On my first trial thought I had set the game to keep any game that had 3 or more cows on it. I typed in Cows > 2. Thinking this would give me only games with 3 or more cows where in fact it saved files with 2 or more... Minor I know but I thought I'd mention it.

It also gave me a reason to thank you again for this utility. I know I'm a bit nutz but I actuall enjoy sitting there and watching it run. I spent almost an hour yesterday getting excited about my next Domination attempt.

 

[Moonsinger]

Furthermore, it would also cover something like this (100% backward compatible with what MF has already been supporting...in the following example, all maps above 4500 will be saved):

AND DomLimit > 4400
OR River > 0
OR Cattle > 0
OR DomLimit >4500

Of course, the following is the WRONG way of expressing the above):
AND DomLimit > 4400
AND DomLimit < 4500
OR River > 0
OR Cattle > 0
OR DomLimit >4500

This won't accept any map with limit over 4500 because "AND DomLimit < 4500" negate the "OR DomLimit >4500" clause. Like every other expression in life, there is a wrong way to express it and there is a right way to express the same thing. For anyone who isn't strong in logistic, just ask and you will be helped. Beside me, I'm sure everyone here will help you out with your expression. Therefore, I hope that everyone should be able to express exactly what they want with this new thing.

 

[Moonsinger]

On my first trial thought I had set the game to keep any game that had 3 or more cows on it. I typed in Cows > 2. Thinking this would give me only games with 3 or more cows where in fact it saved files with 2 or more... Minor I know but I thought I'd mention it.

Thanks! A simple typo! I will correct that in the next version!

It also gave me a reason to thank you again for this utility. I know I'm a bit nutz but I actuall enjoy sitting there and watching it run. I spent almost an hour yesterday getting excited about my next Domination attempt.

You are welcome!

 

[Tuvok694]

Hello Moonsinger!

I tested the new version (5.7) last night and it works perfectly, even with my german keyboard layout. So thanks again for this extremely helpful tool!

Greetings from Germany,

Tuvok694

 

[Smirk]

Sounds good to me.


At any rate I personally would like to be able to specify things more exactly, which may be planned but just not present in your example. That is, be able to specify terrain as MapFinder currently does, but also combine terrain with bonuses which it currently does not do.

Using your format here is an example:
OR plain cattle > 2
OR grassland cattle > 1
AND limit < 300
AND desert = 0
AND swamp = 0
AND jungle = 0