HoF Map Finder/Generator Utility 2016-10-05

[Bartleby]

1) Why does MapFinder sometimes load a map immediately, but at other times stay at the map for 10 seconds before moving on? Is this related to the quality of its find?
2) When looking at my settings from my first and second image, should those work properly?
3) Related to my second question: where should I set the 'Autosave Directory'' and ''Output/Save Directory for Acceptable Map'' to? I saw an old post by MoonSinger from way back in the thread, and she said the 'Autosave Directory' should be set to the standard 'Auto' folder. This still leaves the ''Output/Save Directory for Acceptable Map.'' I have it also located to 'Auto', but perhaps that's part of the problem why it didn't save properly?
4) MapFinder states at least one OR Rule Type should be true, or else it doesn't work. However, I found that someone else prior in this thread could make MapFinder work with having only ''AND'' rule types selected. So which one is true?
5) I don't understand what 'highest and lowest limit found' means. My guess is that this has to do with the domination limit? But then why does it say 99999 is the lowest limit it found (see 3rd image in my initial post).
6) How is MapReport supposed to work? What should the 'View Report' folder location be selected as? Should it open save files or something?
7) MapFinder only checks the 9 center tiles, right?

I can't comment on operating system stuff, because I still have an ancient WinXP laptop that I use to run MapFinder. But:

1) I've occasionally looked at it while it was running and caught it not saving something I'd have thought it should've
2) The settings in screenshot 2 look hopelessly optimistic; but instead of "=0" I usually use "<1"
3) Autosave directory should be the game's Autosave directory, I set the acceptable map directory to a different one
4) I don't use OR rules; I think that there's something iffy about MapFinder's logic anyway
5) yeah it's the high/low limits of the maps found, dunno about 99999
6) MapReport should run once you quit MapFinder, it shows and summarises the maps found. I believe you can run it separately and it'll show the maps in the "acceptable map" folder
7) I think so

 

[C0rTeZ48]

I can't comment on operating system stuff, because I still have an ancient WinXP laptop that I use to run MapFinder. But:

1) I've occasionally looked at it while it was running and caught it not saving something I'd have thought it should've
2) The settings in screenshot 2 look hopelessly optimistic; but instead of "=0" I usually use "<1"
3) Autosave directory should be the game's Autosave directory, I set the acceptable map directory to a different one
4) I don't use OR rules; I think that there's something iffy about MapFinder's logic anyway
5) yeah it's the high/low limits of the maps found, dunno about 99999
6) MapReport should run once you quit MapFinder, it shows and summarises the maps found. I believe you can run it separately and it'll show the maps in the "acceptable map" folder
7) I think so

Thank you very much. I'll take another look at it one of these days. As long as MapFinder saves properly, and doesn't stop after only 10 maps, I would be very happy.

About 2, what makes you think it's hopelessly optimistic? Is it the lack of jungle and marshes? Or perhaps that I'm specifically looking for furs? And why would you use ''<1'' rather than ''=0''?

About 5, is there somewhere average domination limits are displayed for each single map size? Or perhaps you know the averages?

About 6, so I should set MapReport to the same folder the ''Output/Save Directory for Acceptable Map'' folder of MapFinder is set to, correct?

 

[Bartleby]

Well, <1 rather than =0 is just a personal thing, it's not that important. But your ruleset requires two cows, furs, wheat, I forget if there was anything else... but that is in nine tiles; you're asking for a lot. Maybe you mean OR rather than AND, but like I said, Mapfinder's logic can be odd.

Some time ago I did some research, using MapFinder, about domination limits, I was interested in 60% water maps.

I don't know about settings for MapReport, for me, it just runs whenever MapFinder stops.

 

[C0rTeZ48]

Well, <1 rather than =0 is just a personal thing, it's not that important. But your ruleset requires two cows, furs, wheat, I forget if there was anything else... but that is in nine tiles; you're asking for a lot. Maybe you mean OR rather than AND, but like I said, Mapfinder's logic can be odd.

Some time ago I did some research, using MapFinder, about domination limits, I was interested in 60% water maps.

I don't know about settings for MapReport, for me, it just runs whenever MapFinder stops.

Thank you, that link you gave is absolutely fantastic! Very handy! I'll also consider what you said, my settings are probably too optimistic yes.

 

[C0rTeZ48]

Absolutely phenomenal news: it works! But it was a lot of work. I had to install XP on VirtualBox, download a GOG Civ III version manually (somehow attaching a file from the main OS didn't work), as well as many other in-between steps I won't mention, even though MapFinder does work by attaching the file. Can't say enough how thrilled I am! It even runs in the background as I'm writing this on my main device, so that's another bonus where it doesn't accidentally shuts down my program through keystrokes.

Still, a lot of work to get it going. Would be very nice if someone can make it work for more modern OSs. Is there even anyone who has made it work on a modern OS?

Now that I'm on this topic, are there other utilities of Civ III that only work on older systems like XP?

 

[C0rTeZ48]

An update on MapFinder, namely useful tips for other people who wish to make use of it:
- The games actually DOES check not only the center and surrounding 8 tiles, but also the next 16 surrounding tiles. I've confirmed this. So it's not not only the BFC tiles, but also 4 tiles extra.
- There seems to be no problem with the ''OR'' rule type condition. It works perfectly fine from what I can tell. There is also no need for both at least 1 ''OR'' and ''AND'' condition.
- ''Restart C3C after every x iterations'' should never be set much higher than 100. Because after about 115-125 iterations, the program seems to encounter an error every single time, and stops auto-running. At least that's when I'm using it with my VirtualBox XP. My guess is that this may have to do with it approaching the 256-bit / 2 = 128 iteration limit.
- There does seem to be a weird bug where the program suddenly doesn't play as long as you don't have it running on your screen anymore (usually I can do something else with it running in the background). The only thing that seems to be working is simply not using MapFinder for about a day or so. I've tried exiting my VirtualBox, re-installing MapFinder, and many more, but all those didn't work. Another temporary solution is to simply not use your pc/laptop with MapFinder running on your screen, and simply do something else.