XML Gen tool - New screenshots for Build 7

[Premier2k]

guys,

can anyone think of a map that makes use of overrides and partial overrides?

[TaCktiX]

Supermax does so excessively, as do Poker Club and Conquer 4.

[ender516]

I would be willing to test drive this for you as well. I have thrown my hat into the ring for the Jamaica map XML, and thought I might just jump in and do it. Whether cairnswk picks me or not, it will be good practice, and I can always pass whatever I get done to whomever wins the opportunity.

[MrBenn]

When the time comes, I'll happily test-drive this for the England XML.

From the screenshots on the first post, I can see a couple of things that I think could be implemented slightly differently, but I'll have a run at it in due course.

[WidowMakers]

guys,

can anyone think of a map that makes use of overrides and partial overrides?

Also any of the USA map pack maps.

http://www.conquerclub.com/maps/USA_Great_Lakes.xml
http://www.conquerclub.com/maps/USA_New_England.xml
http://www.conquerclub.com/maps/USA_Rockies.xml
http://www.conquerclub.com/maps/USA_Southeast.xml
http://www.conquerclub.com/maps/USA_Southwest.xml
http://www.conquerclub.com/maps/USA_West.xml

http://www.conquerclub.com/maps/Poker_Club.xml
http://www.conquerclub.com/maps/Superma ... _Riot!.xml

[Premier2k]

Hi all,

Thanks for your comments, I have not been able to do anything on the tool for the past 5 days, unfortunately I got the dreaded swine flu. But I'm back and raring to go!

Look out for more updates!

Premier2k

[ender516]

I guess that explains the scarf on your avatar. Be well.

[Premier2k]

Initial post updated

[Premier2k]

Build 1 of XML generator is available!

Those that have signed up for testing will shortly be recieving a PM from me with the location of the build and some instructions. You will also recieve a mail from my bug tracking system granting you access and getting you to set password for your account.

Thanks all for your continued support!

Premier2k

[WidowMakers]

Build 1 of XML generator is available!

Those that have signed up for testing will shortly be recieving a PM from me with the location of the build and some instructions. You will also recieve a mail from my bug tracking system granting you access and getting you to set password for your account.

Thanks all for your continued support!

Premier2k

Can I sign up for initial testing as well please?

[Premier2k]

PM sent WidowMakers.

Hopefully build 2 will be available in a couple of days, with a fair few bug fixes.

Premier2k

[Premier2k]

Planned Future changes

* Database support? (Do people want to write information to a database?)
* Add support for backwards navigation
* Add detailed help files
* Split out the XML gen class into a separate DLL to allow easy modification
* More logging

Please let me know if there is something else you would like to see added to this.

Premier2k

[Premier2k]

Build 2 is coming soon with multiple bug fixes inc...

Map tag properly closed
Borders tags now show borders correctly
Fixed incorrect cast when using Clone() method
Help button now produces a temporary message
Exit button now functioning
Default values removed
A check to ensure number of territories created and assigned is equal
Fixed exception error caused by Add button
App no longer hangs at end of XML creation in some circumstances
Added .ico
Added version number
Added more logging

Premier2k

[Premier2k]

Hi guys,

Build 2 is still going to be a couple of days whilst I continue to fix a major bug. I've also had some great suggestions made by ender and so I'm hoping to get some of those added as well for build 2.
Will keep you updated.

Premier2k

[Premier2k]

Build 2 in test
Build 2 is now with my testers, can I give a big thanks particulary to ender516 who has given lots of suggestions so far.
Build 2 is much much more stable than the first one, so I recommend anyone to uninstall build 1 and install this one.

Fixes in Build 2
Map tag properly closed
Borders tags now show borders correctly
Fixed incorrect cast when using Clone() method
Help button now produces a temporary message
Exit button now functioning
Default values removed
A check to ensure number of territories created and assigned is equal
Fixed exception error caused by Add button
App no longer hangs at end of XML creation in some circumstances
Added .ico
Added version number
Added more logging
Territories list is now re-ordered after adding territories

Premier2k

[sinctheassasin]

Hey, I can be a vista 64 bit tester. I only know XML in theory, but I would love to try this out and provide suggestions thanks

[Premier2k]

Will add you to the list and PM the location of the build.

Vista x64? Nice, will be interesting to see what happens when you install it!

Premier2k

[sinctheassasin]

Ok, here are the results if anybody else wants to know:

windows vista 64 DOES work. As long as you "open as administrator"

my feedback:

Good:
layout ( order of info requested)
functionality ( seems to do everything you would expect from any XML)
simplicity ( easy and faster than doing the XML by keyboard)
presentation ( nice colors, fonts and sizes)

needs work:
( most ofthese have been suggested already, but I'll say them again)
one way attacks ( no check box, explanation, just says "cannot have 0 boundries." I believe that one way is just when one territory can attack another, but not the other way around, if this is actually in the program, plz tell me, I'm new to this awesome software )

no backing up , (once you move forward, you are done, no going back, and I know this would be fristrating for a mapmaker to have to start all over again...)

no save feature; ( I can't neccessarily finish an entire map in one sitting ( unless I'm drunk) so something to save your progress would be nice.

Some cool ideas:
see the XML as you work (having an add on where you can see the XML edit itself as you progress.

Bridge to map: maybe something that can identify the pixels
of your map inside the program, so no changing windows countless times

test play ( might be hard to do,
but having a mode to control all terrors can check everything else before you turn it in to the big guns up-company.

Great program so far mate, hope
to be using it fir conquer crater

[Premier2k]

Some great suggestions! Let me go through them...

Features
one way attacks - This is in my plan, not sure if it will be in build 4 but it will be in at some point.
no backing up - This will be implemented for build 4 as it's quite an important feature to have
no save feature - The only save feature I will be building into this will be the ability to save the territories and it's associated options to a text file, so you can re-import them. This should be in build 4.

Cool Ideas
See the XML as you work - You can actually do that in build 1 and 2 at the moment. You need a piece of software called Baretail, once the file has been created you can open up the file within baretail and watch it get populated. But as of build 3 this functionality is removed due to the way I now create the file. (Sorry )
Bridge to map - I assume you mean automatically getting the x/y co-ords from the map? I might look at somehow making use of Jota's tool (with his permission) but that's not going to happen for a while.
test play - As we already have an excellent test program on the site, I'm probably not going to look into this. At least not until everything else has been done. But....never say never.

As a footnote, it would be possible for me to implement another type of save feature where you can save everything you have done, but it would require installing a database to make it work properly, which to be honest I'm not too keen on doing as that's A LOT more work.

So to recap, build 4 will contain the ability to move backwards through the application and save the territories you have entered so far. It might take a while so have fun with build 3. (Unless something is badly wrong in build 3 and then I'll do a quick fix for build 4)

PM's being sent now for all the guys testing for me with the location of build 3.

Premier2k

[Premier2k]

Build 4 is almost upon us and it has all these lovely features!

One Way attacks
Backwards navigation
Save the list of territories

Will let you all know when it's available!

Premier2k

[Premier2k]

Build 4 in test
Build 4 is now with my testers, can I give a big thanks particulary to ender516, cairnswk and sinctheassasin who have given lots of suggestions so far.
Build 4 contains a couple of new features!

Fixes in Build 4
Minor bug fixes
Add backwards navigation so more control of your xml's than ever before!
Add territories but no time to finish? Now you can save your territories and re-import them later!

If build 4 looks stable and my testers don't think of any further features to include then I'll consider opening this up to everyone and let everyone have a play.

(Testers)
Link to build will be PM'd shortly.....Fileden not working)

Premier2k

[Premier2k]

OK, I've asked my testers and I want to ask everyone else.

I could potentially include the ability to open up your map from within the tool and be able to generate the x/y cords by clicking on the map (like jotas tool)
Would you like to see this in it? If I don't get enough response then I'm not gonna bother because it's a LOT of work.

What do you think? Want it?

Premier2k

[sinctheassasin]

OK, I've asked my testers and I want to ask everyone else.

I could potentially include the ability to open up your map from within the tool and be able to generate the x/y cords by clicking on the map (like jotas tool)
Would you like to see this in it? If I don't get enough response then I'm not gonna bother because it's a LOT of work.

What do you think? Want it?

Premier2k

YYYYYEEESSS!!!!!!!!!
Good job on this build, looks great!

[Premier2k]

Thanks Sinc!

I'm just fixing an issue with killer neutrals and I'm going to open this up to everyone to download as Version 1 released.

A question....Is there a map that starts as non neutral that is a killer neutral? Or is every killer neutral always start as a neutral?

Premier2k

[sinctheassasin]

Thanks Sinc!

I'm just fixing an issue with killer neutrals and I'm going to open this up to everyone to download as Version 1 released.

A question....Is there a map that starts as non neutral that is a killer neutral? Or is every killer neutral always start as a neutral?

Premier2k

reagardless, it would turn neutral on their turn no? but im pretty sure they all start off as neutral.... btw. got internet again, ill dload build 4 asap