HoF Map Finder/Generator Utility 2016-10-05

[EMan]

...The next version will check for multiple rule sets.

Yum, Yum!

 

[Moonsinger]

Update on what I'm going to do next: A brand new reporting module where you can sort, view, pick, delete any map you want. To accomplish this, the map statistic will no longer be stored as part of the filename. From now on, acceptable map will be stored in a separate file. There will be three files for each acceptable map as follows:

nnnnnnnnnnn.sav <- save game
nnnnnnnnnnn.jpg <- screen shot
nnnnnnnnnnn.dat <- map info

In case where the same map satisfies more than one set of rules, all the name of the rule sets will be stored along with it as well. This will ease up any file management issue (since there will be only one copy of the map on your system). You would use the new reporting tool (that I'm going to create) to view and manage your map output folder. As you see, these extra things take time to code; please be patient!

 

[unAlfabetic]

Wish list:

"Accept Map" button

Temp. override Rule Set and accept curent map

MapFinder is great tool .

 

[EMan]

Wish list:

"Accept Map" button

Temp. override Rule Set and accept curent map

MapFinder is great tool .

Presumably for "MapFinder Watching"? Very interesting question....will be interested to hear the Goddess' reply!

 

[Moonsinger]

Wish list:

"Accept Map" button

Temp. override Rule Set and accept curent map

MapFinder is great tool .

I have to say "no" because we won't have enough time to hit any button to override it. It's a lot like lightning and thunder...we usually see a flash in the sky then hear the thunder a few seconds later. In reality, both the thunder and the lightning happen almost exactly at the same instant of time; therefore, by the time we see the lightning, it's usually too late to stop the thunder.

In the case of MapFinder, first your eyes will see something on the screen (just like the lighting on the sky...it processes information at the speed of light), then your brain will do some calculating...then it will activate your body function to hit a button (now we are talking about thunder; your body function would normally act much slower the speed of light). Therefore, by the time you hit it, it would usually be too late.

 

[EMan]

.....Unless you set up a "significant" delay between maps, perhaps? (In the MF Set-up screen parameters.)

Just asking the question.

 

[Moonsinger]

.....Unless you set up a "significant" delay between maps, perhaps? (In the MF Set-up screen parameters.)

If we do that, we may be wasting a lot of valuable time CPU time (and human time too). Instead of running through 1000 iterations, you will be slowing it down to may be about half of that. Beside, the human rate of reaction can be very unpredictable. For example, when you are a little drunk or when you have been playing civ for a long period of time, your body functions may be slowing down and it may take you longer to hit a key. And if you are already asleep when you launch MapFinder, you may not even know where your keyboard at....how much delay time are we talking about here?

If you just want to sit there and watch, you can always do that now. Just have MapFinder to accept all maps, then run a slideshow on the *.JPG output directory, when you see a map you like, stop the slideshow and look at its stats.

 

[Moonsinger]

Here is a preview of what the new report going to be like (see attachment). Since you can hide/show any columns, we don't have to worry about running out of room horizontally. The "red" triangle at the top left corner of the rule name indicates that the map is being satisfied more than one rule sets. Of course (just like the columns), you can show, hide, or filter out any rule sets you want to see. It goes without saying...you can sort by clicking on the column headers. There are also other extra features too. Anyway, I'm going to move the Tab Control to the right side to make room for a toolbar on top. It's getting there...just a few more adjustments...

 

[Mistfit]

Hello Moonsinger

I'm I think one update behind where your most current is so if this has been brought up I appoligize. The one think that bugs me (mildly) about your utility is that when I'm looking at your report I typicall sort them first by Domination size (lowest first). This works great. But when I look at a map through "view map" and then hit "back" to get back to the report the sorting that I did before is all messed up again. This is a very minor issue but if you are reconstructing the thing I thought I'd bring it up incase it's an easy thing to fix in the comming update. Thanks for the great program!

 

[unAlfabetic]

If you just want to sit there and watch, you can always do that now. Just have MapFinder to accept all maps, then run a slideshow on the *.JPG output directory, when you see a map you like, stop the slideshow and look at its stats.

O.K

Thanks.

 

[Moonsinger]

I'm I think one update behind where your most current is so if this has been brought up I appoligize. The one think that bugs me (mildly) about your utility is that when I'm looking at your report I typicall sort them first by Domination size (lowest first). This works great. But when I look at a map through "view map" and then hit "back" to get back to the report the sorting that I did before is all messed up again. This is a very minor issue but if you are reconstructing the thing I thought I'd bring it up incase it's an easy thing to fix in the comming update. Thanks for the great program!

You don't have to worry about that with this version. You could even go forward or backward in the screen shot view too...and when you see what you like, switch back to view the stats and everything will be 100% in sync.

 

[Gyathaar]

Looking at that new report screen.. perhaps an ability to see that map settings for the different saves too without having to open up the saves (or use seedbeast) to see what difficulty and map settings your old saves was generated with?

Eg. difficulty, map size, land form, water coverage, climate... what civ you play as

 

[Moonsinger]

Looking at that new report screen.. perhaps an ability to see that map settings for the different saves too without having to open up the saves (or use seedbeast) to see what difficulty and map settings your old saves was generated with?

Eg. difficulty, map size, land form, water coverage, climate... what civ you play as

I'm going to add that on the to do list...it's really up to Dianthus because I don't really know what in the .SAV game file.

 

[Moonsinger]

Ok, this is a pre-release of the next version (unless EMan complains, it's really the same as the final version):

http://www.civfanatics.net/uploads9/MapFinder_v64b.zip

Sorry EMan! This baby still doesn't exclude the settler location...I need a few more minutes with Dianthus before I can make this happen.

What's new in this version? Well, it will recognize multiple rule sets. In order to do that, you need to do as follows:

#1. Setup your Rules

#2. Save your rule to the "rules" directory (it will create/and default to that directory automatically).

#3. Go back to step #1 to create another set of rules or whatever. Create as many set of rules as you like. Please try to give each set of rules a meaningful name when you save it!

#4. After you have setup all your rules, launch it as usual.

Note: You must have at least one rule set save to the "rules" directory in order to find any map. Whenever MapFinder search for maps, it will attempt to satisfy every set of rules stored in the "rules" directory. Btw, this rules directory can be located in the MapFinder directory.

PS: You may want to pick up an icon/shortcut for the "MapReport.exe" program as well. That's it! Have fun! Please let me know if you encounter any problem.

PPS: To edit your rules, just open/load it up, make change, and save it again.

 

[Moonsinger]

There are a couple of things I think you may want to know about the new report module:

#1. If you move your mouse above the red triangle, a popup balloon will tell you a list of rule sets that applied.

#2. There are popup menu everywhere....even those show/hide dialogs have popup menu too. Just right click to access those hiden feature.

#3. Click on the column header will sort the whole column, the iteration # will be used as the tie-breaker.

#4. The up and down arrow key does work in "view screen shots"; however, you must enable that with the "Num Lock" on. I also provide two arrow buttons on the top right corner for navigation.



Edit: I just ran it all morning; at the moment, I'm quite please the result. The new program is much more powerful than the old one; however, I will improve it further as follows:

#1. I will add a mass delete function to allow selection of multiple rows so that we can delete all maps that we don't like with one simple click.

#2. Add the "save map" popup menu to the screen shot viewer. That way, I can just save the map I like without having to switch to back to the main view. If I have time, I will implement a slideshow feature as well...so that I can just sit back and enjoy the show.

#3. Of course, will try to take care of EMan's request about the settler.

#4. Will have it memorize the column selection. I'm sure some of us don't care much for the mountain or some of the other columns.

So, far no one has say anything about this new version....I guess it must be pretty bad. I don't mind if you like the old one better. More features would usually mean more complication, more complex to use, more confusion, etc, especially when there is no documentation on how to use it properly. If you are not sure how to use it, don't hesitate to ask. Oh well, at least I have a good practice session on my programming skill. Since I haven't done much programming lately, I'm kind of rusty at the moment. In any case, I welcome all contructive criticisms.

 

[unAlfabetic]

So, far no one has say anything about this new version....I guess it must be pretty bad.

MF v6.4 is serious shift in Civ3 philosophy.

BTW
On my Intel 800Mhz comp. 384Mb Ram MS XP
C3C
200+ Maps with default setings.No problems.

 

[denyd]

I'm still busy using the last version and sorting thorough the 27 games (Large map >1 cow on grassland with > 2500 tiles to dom limit) out of over 10K sampled games.

 

[Mistfit]

Unfortunately I have the older version running on my computer at home as we speak. You released it on a day when I am work. As soon as I get home I will browse thru what the old one found and install the new. I will report back by the beginning of the week as to my likes/dislikes of the new one. It sure looks like you did a bunch of hard work on this and be assured that your work is appreciated

 

[EMan]

@Moonsinger: I haven't had time to run the MF........since I'm in the middle of a Sid Tiny game..............But, that doesn't mean we're not happy with what you've done...........I think your design and new features are Brilliant!..............Looking forward to using it when I get finished with this Fast(Slow actually) Finish game.

(AND, I'm away from my Miami base [in Houston this week]....which is where my "MF Computers" run 24/7! )
Why on Earth would you think we weren't happy with the new features?.............Silly Girl!

 

[Gyathaar]

So, far no one has say anything about this new version....I guess it must be pretty bad.

I havent had time to test it yet, so a bit hard to comment