I need someone with PHP or Perl knowledge!!!

[Matrix]

Making these results is simply a hell of a job!

Even with the submission form it's a bugger having to insert the results in Excel manually, while I know that with such a submission form it's also possible to add the information on a text file (which I then can import with Excel). It's even easier, but I don't know how. I just used an existing form and edited it this way.

It should also be possible to add attachments to the emails sent to me, but that's more difficult.

If you (or someone you know) can work with PHP or Perl, please help me with it. I am able to edit bits and pieces of Perl scripts, but I can't program with it. And I'm completely unfamiliar with PHP, but they say it's better.

If the situation doesn't change I might have to give up the GOTM. This is not a threat, but real. I got a study which asks a lot of time and has a higher priority.

 

[Matrix]

TF is already coming to the rescue.

Not for the attachments though...

 

[BillChin]

This may be heresy, but how about doing away with attachments? Sounds like that could cut your work time in half (or more).

The exception might be for the people really interested in the competing for high scores. Players can use their own judgement on whether their game is well-played enough to justify an attachment. One criteria is if they have been receiving medals in prior games. I estimate that 80% of the participants have no realistic chance at any medal and that their sending in saved games is extra work for you for little benefit.

I thank you and the other administrators for a very well run tourney. It is the best one going.
- Bill

 

[Matrix]

Bill, there are also cheaters among those who don't win medals or awards. I don't think this is a good idea.

 

[ukrneal]

Matrix,

Maybe there are some people out here that could help you in some way. Possibilities:

1. Create this or another program/mechanism that will save you time (maybe someone could do it for you).
2. Volunteers to help put some of the materials together or check for cheaters.
3. A different way of collecting info that saves time (I don't know if there is one, but maybe someone would have an idea if they knew there was a problem).

Maybe someone else will have some ideas.

In any case, your studies do come first, so we'll wait for as long as it takes to put together the results.

 

[Chieftess]

I'm teaching myself PHP. Infact, I'm using it for the Demogame Webpage. Maybe I can help.

If I'm not mistaken, Civ3 puts all scores into a highscore file. That is your data file right there (or part of it). Create a new civ3 directory (like Civ3GOTM\), and at the end of every, upload the highscore file. The only problem I see is the name, and you can only create a new name before you start the game. (create a new name by clicking on the civ trait). I saw some thing where you could play a previous GOTM as any civ. How was that done? Maybe that's a way to change the name (for part of the data file)...

And yes, I have a lot of free time on my hands.

EDIT:

Besides that, you can make a text file that can easily export to Excel using comma dilimeters.

 

[Matrix]

The savegames are already checked by a bunch of guys, so you don't have to worry about that. I don't know what the current status of Thunderfall's new submission form is, but it already allows to include attachments, so that you don't have to send a separate email with the savegames.

But more important is that the exact info should come into a text file so that I can import it with Excel.
TF, work on it!

 

[KloRon]

Hi Matrix,


How far are you (and TF) with calculating the scores ?
In other words how long do I have to wait till the final scores of GOTM X are on the site ?

I don't want to hurry you, but I am very curious about my score !

Keep up the good work

 

[Thunderfall]

Not much progress in making the form here...

Matrix told me he should be able to finish the GOTM X results today (9/24). We received lots of submissions for the last GOTM.

 

[KloRon]

TF, I'm sure you're doing the best you can
But I wonder if you still need this submission form when PTW is out, or are you going to continue on the same way, and do you expect that there still will be so much submissions ?
I saw one threat going about PTW, but there was no news about this ! So will see.

Thanx for the great job and I am still curious where I will stand in the results.......hopefully not deadlast, but I make a good chance

 

[MSGT John Drew]

Here's an easy solution you might try for yourself:

1. Have everyone make text files of their infos. However, instead of using the "return key" to separate fields have them use the "tab" key instead.
2. Make sure that they must include one and only one "return" character at the end of their infos: example:

MSGT John Drew(tab)1300(tab)AD(tab)Victory(tab)Cultural(tab)etc(return)

it would appear like

MSGT JD -> 1300 -> AD -> Victory -> etc
_
^ A return key.

3. Now let them name their info something like "MSGT JD Civ3GOTM11.txt"
Note the txt part as extension.

4. Get all of these files in one folder.

5. Run the DOS command "Copy *.* List.txt" while in that directory. All the files will be concatenated into one huge file that looks like a database.

6. Now you can import List.txt into Excel.

I know it's not much. Getting all those files into one folder could take a little work. But it will remove the hassle of having to input manually all the info. And it may not help you with GOTM11 or 12. It may be too late to change.

 

[Matrix]

Though it's a nice suggestion, I think we'll have a better solution during the coming month. But thanks for the suggestion, MSGT JD!

TF will make it possible to send the attachments with the same form this weekend (or so he said). And I think it'll be possible to add all the results that have been sent with that form in a text file on civfanatics.com within the next month, which gives basicly the same result as your suggestion.