Spawn.txt editing tool with GUI

[Moonpaw 12]

Heya folks, after a long break from enhancing my challenge mod (downloadable from the DL menu on this site) I decided to make a programm via visual studio 2010 and c# code to edit the spawn.txt. Its main functionality will be browsing the regions for the monster spawns and editing the different values. Itll also display monster screenshots in a popup window if you click a button next to the monster name. But for this large project I need YOUR help. What I need is screenshots of the regions, either from the worldmap and marked or highlightened or minimap screenshots (minimap transparency 0% and fullly removed fog of war pls). You can either mail them to me via zip or rar to moonpaw_fayray@hotmail.com or upload them somewhere and send a link on this thread. it helps A LOT if you name the screenshots properly (like crystallregion V.jpg or Kobold_Hunter.jpg or Boss_dragon_Undead.jpg or even better just write the ID of the monster from the creatures.txt in the screenshot filename, if its a creature screenshot. that would help a lot identifying which screenshot belongs to what. Would also help to see the monster name in the screenshot)

I want the region entries to be displayed in either a datagrid or similar control structures so its visually appealing and easy to use. next to a region thumbnail the spawned creatures are displayed and the max density and the like.

 

Ill share the source-code regularly as I make progress. Of course im also open for suggestions and ideas and code snippets to add into the programm.

[czevak 57]

No need to do that. You can acess the entire minimap pics by looking into the minimapxx.zip archives in your pak folder. They are all sorted by sectors and dungeon layers.

 

Also you can get the pictures for the enemies and nsc by selecting their Icon from icons.zip by the itemtype number they have assigned in creatures.txt.

 

It is still a lot of work, but there is no need to reproduce work that the devs already have done for you. Maybe you can use the ZIP dll library to directly access the archives of the users game, reducing necessary download.

 

You can ask Pesmontis here on DM per PM how he did that for our internal sector-spawn editor for the persector.zip data. Maybe he can help you out with some source code snippet.

[Moonpaw 12]

wow I didnt even knew the devs made this. I hope it fits my purposes. I was settling for in-game monster screenshots of each monster though. But maybe the icons and all are good enough. and whats that internal sector-spawn editor? never heard of it

[Moonpaw 12]

So I made a basic layout of how the finished program might look. of course I added everything per editor so far but the programm itself will later load the spawn.txt file you selected and render the panels according to the spawn.txt and also itll have a save button of course. The Pic button will display a monster pic or screenshot and clicking on the region thumbnail will display a full sized pic of that region.

 

 

http://img4web.com/view/PP1B6T

Edited December 6, 2011 by Moonpaw

[King Angel 69]

Nice a new editor:D

[Moonpaw 12]

can someone help me out with a fresh spawn.txt download? I need one right now, thanks :3 while youre at it, include a creatures.txt too^^

[czevak 57]

and whats that internal sector-spawn editor? never heard of it

 

Its just our CM-Patch internal tool for dealing with the spawns handled in persector.zip. We do not plan to release it to masses.

[Moonpaw 12]

and whats that internal sector-spawn editor? never heard of it

 

Its just our CM-Patch internal tool for dealing with the spawns handled in persector.zip. We do not plan to release it to masses.

 

and what does it do? whats its function? Just explain it a bit^^ no need to share code or an executeable

[Moonpaw 12]

Update: Step 1 of 3 is complete. My programm now sucessfully reads the entire spawn.txt and generates 4785 "Region" objects containing the coords, name, layer ID, total density and all spawn entries, which are seperate objects of a "Spawn" class. Step 2 is building the GUI from my list of regions and step 3 is making a list with the modified regions from the gui and writing the new spawn.txt file. So you could say I have 33% finished

[Moonpaw 12]

UPDATE: Finished the logic to display the gui for all regions and the Add spawn button works as well.

 

 

To-do List:

Add pics for all monster types and add a functionality to use Schot's ancaria map API to look at the regions on the worldmap, IF he allows the usage of his code/project.

 

Enable the program to create a spawn.txt with the user's changes.

 

Code the "Make backup" button, the save button and the "Run sacred" button.

[Moonpaw 12]

UPDATE: Im ready to publish a first alpha version of the tool so people can get a feel of it. Sadly, since its still an alpha version of it, I havent implemented a save method yet. Also the pics are still missing and so is the implementation of Schot's map API (if he allows it to be implemented, havent heard from him yet)

 

Also I didnt make it crash safe yet. So only do what the program wants you to do :3 Be nice to it and it wont crash.

 

 

I made a thread about it on the downloads forum and I uploaded it to the download section. On request ill also mail the source code to people IMing me or even better I ask gogoblender if he wants to look over my source code to confirm it doesnt contain malicious code. But you can trust me on this one. Im a good girl ;P

[Moonpaw 12]

New Update: The editor is fully functional now except for the monster images and the region display on the worldmap (still havent heard from schot). Its uploaded and ready to be used ;P

 

 

It lets you multiply the density of all regions with the click of a button! ^.^

[desm 329]

Hi, very interesting, thanks.

 

Therefore I would you suggest you to release a "major" version and upload it so that we, simple users, have not do an update every day.

 

You seem to have a lot of facilities with programming and lot of ideas but it somehow seems to be a little bit "wasted" by unorganisation or impressment or I don't know how you could call it.

 

Just my point of view and advise, keep up the good work

[Moonpaw 12]

well, so far there will only be one upcomming update with some minor additions and maybe if ill ever hear from Schot ill release another version with the ancaria map added

[Moonpaw 12]

New and final release(for now) is finished.

Changelog:

-increased region loading performance

-Sorted the selectable regions and/or Monsters.(Included a version where the regions arent sorted, for your convenience) you need to reset your knowSpawnpath.txt file if you used a previous version (resetted file included)

-Made the panel bigger ((You can add a lot more spawns now before youd have to scroll down))

-Enabled proper Tab-stopping ((zapping through the editable fields via tab))

Edited December 14, 2011 by Moonpaw