Sounds like you are on a roll lets talk about what it will not do. You are packing in some great tools and fast coding to boot. That Dynamic tech tree generator sounds the most exciting. 
         
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#126
by Citizen 4D - 5/12/2003 6:11:14 AM
Yeah, I second all the above suggestions. Don't know which I would want first really! As far as Mod Swapping though, It wouldn't take much to build out your Data Management Window into a MOD Swapping Util.
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We will be to rename the program soon. Gal-Writer Multi-tool this thing almost does all the work for you. I wish I would quit sitting and staring at my work I am trying to creat using it but hey, it is writers block, or whatever you call it yeah thats it. 
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For the Mod Swapper, I'd think it would need to work off a MSL (Mod Swapper List), wouldn't it?
There'd need to be way for the program to know what files are expected for each mod, what mod is currently in play, archive the files so you can flip back and forth between mods, and so on.
Some functions in order to manage the MSL as well (Add/Edit/Delete).
In addition, it would be nice to detect if the user swaps/deletes a file by accident, so you can prompt to repair the mod automatically. Also, what about official Stardock updates to the data files? Some sort of "add new files to current baseline files" function.
And, of course, a way to shell out to GalCiv.
The Data File Management screen gives you the base manual functionality to achieve a lot of this but the user really has to keep track of what they are doing. If you wanted to make it slick and automatic there's a lot more to be done.
   
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OMG! My empire for a mod swapper!!!
Now that DarkHelemet has given up on his current efforts we don't have much hope on the horizon for mod-swapping. 
Please Hawaii we need you man!
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BOOKEND is a marker used by GalCiv to denote the end range of possible SB modules.
When I tried to remove it, crash-o-la.
There's no need to edit it, indeed I am unsure of what would happen if you changed some of the values. I locked down the edit screen where SBModuleName = BOOKEND, end of story.
This means we are limited to 140 possible SB Modules (0-139), but that's still a whole heck of a lot of room to play with.
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One other thing, you'll never get to build BOOKEND because it relies on ImpossibleTech which, as one might guess, is impossible to research.
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Posted version 1.1.0 for public consumption on the GCW home page:
 Link
This version adds Techs and SB Modules to the public version.
I also sent out a new beta version, 1.1.1, to the beta team. It includes an editing screen for Political Parties. Here's a screenie:
Link
Only 3 files to go!
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Here's the situation.
I wasn't aware of the 49 limit originally. One of the earlier beta versions put the default starting Party ID at 50. I have since fixed this, but you need to reset the Default Starting Party ID in your version of the Writer.
If you get into Main Screen >> Tools >> Options, you will find the setting. Change it from 50 to whatever you like (below 50). In later versions I've got it set at 20.
I wouldn't recommend starting off at 8. If Stardock adds parties their ID #s will conflict with yours. That's why I set the default to 20, to give some padding. But you are, of course, free to do whatever you like.
Sorry for the inconvenience, its part and parcel of being a beta tester. I don't have everything figured out before I send it out to you guys (and gals).
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@Duglis: I haven't experienced any crash issues. BoogieBac mentioned that in a recent patch they got all that stuff sorted out, adding the RGB settings so you can set the color, and scroll bars so you can choose properly. And so far I haven't seen any problems, so I think they've been cleared up.
@Steeljaw: Comments are always welcome.  Hit me with anything you've got.
re: the progress bar. I agree, something has to be done there, it can take too darn long to finish the copy. Not keen on adding a progress bar as current users would have to download an install package with that control in it, but I will think of something- probably a status form that will make it obvious that work is occurring. Thanks for the idea.
re: UPX. Way cool, never heard of it. I will definitely check this out. I'm concerned how the GCW size is ballooning, and this might be just do the trick.
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Wow, that UPX compactor works great!
Most excellent, thank you Steeljaw!
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Of course, welcome aboard.
E-mail me at:
 Email
And I'll send you a link to the latest beta version.
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[Quote]
"otherwise we need to be able to group mod files together using some "scenario declaration"."
[/Quote]
*nods*, yes, that's on my feature list for the mod swapper.
If I do the mod swapper, I'm going to download the CTP2 ModSwapper and use it to help me flesh out the feature list before I start programming.
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Anomalies:
Link
and Invasion Tactics:
Link
done.
Just Improvements remain, phew!
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#147
by Citizen 4D - 5/20/2003 7:14:07 AM
HF-0...
Have u got any plans to tackle the english.str file?
I realise that this is a VAST file which incorporates crazy amounts of data in a big bundle, But it would be extremely handy to have an interface to MOD certain parts of the file without having to navigate through it to find the pertinent data... I can understand if u didn't want to make a full 'form' based interface for EVERY type of editable data in the .str file, but what about a neat little drop down list that lists the different editable aspects in the .str file and when clicked will navigate to that point and allow you to edit it in a regular notepad style way?
I'm just thinking there are certain parts of the english.str file that are almost ESSENTIAL to make a fully-fledged MOD for GalCiv... My first thought is the startup text that you get when you start a game, this is located about 7/10ths of the way through the file... and consequently a search for it takes forever... The ability to edit some of the more common elements in the .str file within The Writer would be BRILLIANT.
Just a Thought though.
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#148
by Citizen 4D - 5/20/2003 7:16:44 AM
Oh... And Congrats on getting Anomalies and Invasion Tactics Completed. I haven't tried them yet, But If they work as well as your other efforts I have no worries. 
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I've looked at it, it's on my list of "things to take a poke at once the base files are done".
Keeping track of all the data is the challenge, as you pointed out.
The really good news (I think, have to test more thoroughly), is that no line breaks are allowed, so parsing the file would be easy.
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