Character Planner - Series 4.xx

[Psiandron]

Thank you.

Hey, no problem! Always happy to break stuff.

[Cardtrick]

I usually just make my own filenames when the save box comes up.

As for Version 5.0, we haven't fully decided yet on how we will be storing you saved files, but I will keep this request in mind if we stay with the same text file save system.

Sounds great, thanks. Like I said, it's the most minor possible annoyance and I really love the tool. Sometimes I have more fun with it than the game.

[Nodoze]

I usually just make my own filenames when the save box comes up.

As for Version 5.0, we haven't fully decided yet on how we will be storing you saved files, but I will keep this request in mind if we stay with the same text file save system.

If possible it would indeed be nice to give larger filenames from the UI. I rename mine manually after saving them but it would be great to do that in the UI.

In a related note I also sometimes add a _v001, _v002, etc for versions or _YYYYMMDD_v001 at the end of my saves if I know I am going through multiple versions and want to be able to contrast/compare/go-back... In a perfect world the tool would have both an auto-save option and a versions option.

Please don't take the above as criticisms... Love the tool and have used it over many years and figured best to give you some feedback on enhancements while the topic was being discussed...

[Ron]

The build that i was doing was a multi-class and I was throwing that into the surname divided by slashes. It didn't dawn on me that the Surname appeared in the file name and as slashes are not an allowable symbol in Windows' file names it was corrupting the save effort. However, rather than procing an error message, it was just aborting the save attempt.

You know, I swear I wrote a function that would strip illegal characters from file names before trying to save. However, that may have been with one of my other projects or even for a work project. But I know I've done it before.

We will figure something out for the file names. We haven't really had much discussion on what to do with save files in the new 5.x version (mainly because we aren't anywhere near that point). I think we are leaning toward using a database similar to what we are doing with the game data now (although it would use an entirely separate database not connected to the data database at all). So slashes and other illegal characters in that case may be a non-issue.

Having said that, I do intend to have an "export to text" function for character saves, so yeah, we will probably still need to handle those sorts of special characters somehow.

[Cardtrick]

[QUOTE=Ron;5317801Having said that, I do intend to have an "export to text" function for character saves, so yeah, we will probably still need to handle those sorts of special characters somehow.[/QUOTE]

This is probably a pipe dream . . . but is there any chance you're also intending an "import from text" function, where we can copy and paste a build from the forums (probably only one using one of the default export templates) and load it up in the character planner so we can modify it? Because that would be awesome.

[Ron]

This is probably a pipe dream . . . but is there any chance you're also intending an "import from text" function, where we can copy and paste a build from the forums (probably only one using one of the default export templates) and load it up in the character planner so we can modify it? Because that would be awesome.

I'm not sure. We are going to have "Export to Text" and "Import from Text", but that's for a save file, not a forum export.

The problem with the forum export is it won't be a standard file. We're gonna have templates, which means there will be all sorts of possible forum formats, many of which won't actually have enough information in them to rebuild the character (from the point of view of the planner, which needs a whole lot of detailed information). As you say, we may be able to import one from a default template which is designed for that purpose, with a bit of work. I'll keep it in mind, it may be possible to do.

[Cardtrick]

I'll keep it in mind, it may be possible to do.

I wouldn't go to any great effort for it if it's not easy. Once the "Import From Text" for save files exists, we players could always just start uploading the text save file to Pastebin or somewhere and posting a link along with our build threads.

[Nodoze]

This is probably a pipe dream . . . but is there any chance you're also intending an "import from text" function, where we can copy and paste a build from the forums (probably only one using one of the default export templates) and load it up in the character planner so we can modify it? Because that would be awesome.

I'm not sure. We are going to have "Export to Text" and "Import from Text", but that's for a save file, not a forum export.

The problem with the forum export is it won't be a standard file. We're gonna have templates, which means there will be all sorts of possible forum formats, many of which won't actually have enough information in them to rebuild the character (from the point of view of the planner, which needs a whole lot of detailed information). As you say, we may be able to import one from a default template which is designed for that purpose, with a bit of work. I'll keep it in mind, it may be possible to do.

I wouldn't go to any great effort for it if it's not easy. Once the "Import From Text" for save files exists, we players could always just start uploading the text save file to Pastebin or somewhere and posting a link along with our build threads.

+1 to Card Trick for the great idea and for denoting a good workaround (link to pastebin or what not). Also +1 for Ron and team as they are just, simply, awesome.

[DemonOfGloom]

Can anyone explain to me how to load and equip a weapon in order to see how changing my character's feats, abilities and enhancements affects it's parameters. The Item Builder and Equipment buttons are grayed out, unfortunately...

P.S. Thanks for the fantastic program by the way :-)
P.P.S. Apparently there is an error - the description for the "Nothing is Hidden III" enhancement states that the Search is conducted with a -8 penalty (same as for "Nothing is Hidden II"), but the wiki page for it says that the penalty is -4.

[Seikojin]

Can anyone explain to me how to load and equip a weapon in order to see how changing my character's feats, abilities and enhancements affects it's parameters. The Item Builder and Equipment buttons are grayed out, unfortunately...

P.S. Thanks for the fantastic program by the way :-)
P.P.S. Apparently there is an error - the description for the "Nothing is Hidden III" enhancement states that the Search is conducted with a -8 penalty (same as for "Nothing is Hidden II"), but the wiki page for it says that the penalty is -4.

Currently the planner has gear disabled. You would have to have an older version to use that feature.

[Psiandron]

You know, I swear I wrote a function that would strip illegal characters from file names before trying to save. However, that may have been with one of my other projects or even for a work project. But I know I've done it before.

We will figure something out for the file names. We haven't really had much discussion on what to do with save files in the new 5.x version (mainly because we aren't anywhere near that point). I think we are leaning toward using a database similar to what we are doing with the game data now (although it would use an entirely separate database not connected to the data database at all). So slashes and other illegal characters in that case may be a non-issue.

Having said that, I do intend to have an "export to text" function for character saves, so yeah, we will probably still need to handle those sorts of special characters somehow.

The save thing really did bug me until I sorted out what I had done wrong. I would like to say how tickled I am with the 4.2 planner. It makes me want to come up with new ideas for builds just so I can use it. No matter what you've developed, that's about as strong a testimonial as you can get.

Anywho, while having a function that prevents people from trying to make an illegal save is a good idea, I don't think that you need to go so far as to write "a function that would strip illegal characters from file names before trying to save." It would probably require far less time to set up a function to proc a warning or activate Windows' own warning system when someone tries something like that.

[Ron]

The save thing really did bug me until I sorted out what I had done wrong. I would like to say how tickled I am with the 4.2 planner. It makes me want to come up with new ideas for builds just so I can use it. No matter what you've developed, that's about as strong a testimonial as you can get.

Anywho, while having a function that prevents people from trying to make an illegal save is a good idea, I don't think that you need to go so far as to write "a function that would strip illegal characters from file names before trying to save." It would probably require far less time to set up a function to proc a warning or activate Windows' own warning system when someone tries something like that.

Eh, string manipulation is child's play. Especially in C#

[Psiandron]

Okay Ron,
I never noticed this was in your signature area before: "The locus of my identity is totally exterior to me." So it's really something of a tautology when you think about it, but I still like it.

[DemonOfGloom]

I think there is an error in the program - the "Stealthy" enhancement for the DWS is stated as having a cost of 2 action points in the program, while in the game it is 1 action point.

[Musashiclaw]

I wish DDO would allow us to download our character information and let us view it in the planner! OR allow us to build our character in the planner and when we level it will auto use what we planned out. I have a toon now that I wonder what order I took certain feats and what skills i leveled up etc.

Even better if we could view it on our phones or tablets.

[Ron]

I think there is an error in the program - the "Stealthy" enhancement for the DWS is stated as having a cost of 2 action points in the program, while in the game it is 1 action point.

Thanks, we will take a look at it.

I wish DDO would allow us to download our character information and let us view it in the planner! OR allow us to build our character in the planner and when we level it will auto use what we planned out. I have a toon now that I wonder what order I took certain feats and what skills i leveled up etc.

Even better if we could view it on our phones or tablets.

There is a program Here that takes the character planner save file and will auto-level you at the trainer. Go check it out!

As for the reverse, we're not allowed to do that. It would require capturing packets and reverse engineering them, and that's a violation of the EULA, which could get me banned On the good side though, the new version that we are working on (version 5.xx) is much more system oriented than the current one, which is level oriented. What that means is it should be a lot easier for you to put in your characters from the game (open up the feat section of your character sheet, open up the feat section of the planner, and just plug in the same entries, piece of cake! Repeat for other systems).

Phones and/or Tablets: Well....probably not. The big problem would be the database reader, I'm not sure how compatible it is going to be with devices. We're writing the new version in C#, so as long as the devices have .net on them, that shouldn't be an issue (I dunno, do the Apple devices have some kind of .net equivalent?).

[sebastianosmith]

I dunno, do the Apple devices have some kind of .net equivalent?.

.Net will run on ARM processors (Windows RT), but it's not the same .Net that runs on x86. I doubt the two will fully align before Windows (Phone) 9 and will never run on Ax series (Apple) ARM processors. One might be able to run Mono under a Linux jailbreaked (jailbroken?) iPad, but I'm not going down that road.

[Greantun]

.Net will run on ARM processors (Windows RT), but it's not the same .Net that runs on x86. I doubt the two will fully align before Windows (Phone) 9 and will never run on Ax series (Apple) ARM processors. One might be able to run Mono under a Linux jailbreaked (jailbroken?) iPad, but I'm not going down that road.

Though there is a product out there to write the business logic once, and then custom code for the UI (still in C# though) for several platforms. http://xamarin.com/ It is quite expensive though.

We would have to change which database we are using to make it work on other platforms. It is possible without a lot of changes, but would take some work and testing.

[sebastianosmith]

Though there is a product out there to write the business logic once, and then custom code for the UI (still in C# though) for several platforms. http://xamarin.com/ It is quite expensive though.

We would have to change which database we are using to make it work on other platforms. It is possible without a lot of changes, but would take some work and testing.

Yeah. I've looked over that product. If you're really into 80% solutions (with an extra 100% of HTML5 device-dependant coding), the price tag is still steep. Especially for a labour-of-love app.

[Nodoze]

Though there is a product out there to write the business logic once, and then custom code for the UI (still in C# though) for several platforms. http://xamarin.com/ It is quite expensive though.

We would have to change which database we are using to make it work on other platforms. It is possible without a lot of changes, but would take some work and testing.

Yeah. I've looked over that product. If you're really into 80% solutions (with an extra 100% of HTML5 device-dependant coding), the price tag is still steep. Especially for a labour-of-love app.

Some great ideas and forward thinking here with some pretty slick tools. As a developer maybe the development team would enjoy playing with/trying a new toy that would help others in the long run...

I personally would likely only be using the planner on my PC but know that others may really like alternative options. That being said if others stepped up I would try as well just to show some appreciation for all the work over the years and to be a part of something new...

Regarding the dev platform, it looks like you can do a 30 day trial for free so if Ron and the team are really interested you could try before having to pay. To help with costs and to make sure that funds would be there if the trial panned out, maybe do a mini-crowdsourcing to raise the funds with a goal to cover 1-2 years worth of licensing up front. Maybe something like if the community raises the funds you all will jump on a 30 day trial and if the trial doesn't pan out the funds will be returned to the owners.

I don't know much about crowd funding but it is in the news lately with some amazing things happening when people collaborate to back ideas. Example in the news today of a new record met 4 days early:

http://www.deadline.com/2014/05/gosn...iegogo-record/

EDIT:
I did a little reading and it looks like they may have a free option for non-commercial open-source projects. Since the guys don't charge for the planner they may be able get/use the platform for free it the project is open-sourced:

http://xamarin.com/faq#q36

I am not an expert on developing open source nor 100% that is it saying that you can use it for no charge but thought it seemed hopeful when I read it and thought I would share it to see if it really is saying what I thought it may be saying...

http://xamarin.com/faq#q36