Character Planner - Series 4.xx

[Ron]

Yeah. All of our efforts right now are going into the new and improved version of the planner, so we probably aren't going to be putting out any more 4.x series versions. It wasn't a long lived series, was it?

I should get you guys a shot of where we are at with the new version soon. Things aren't super interesting at the moment, as we are working on underlying systems (by which I mean, the database ). We can't do much until we have data, so our first priority was to get that up and running, which we have. Our second priority was getting a way to input new data, which we are working on. Once we have a way to input new records into the database, we can actually start pulling that data and using it to do interesting things.

What is interesting about the new system is 1) it is way easier to input new data and 2) it's way way less prone to errors than our old text file system. Also, you guys will easily be able to change it yourselves if we end up taking too long to get an update out, for bug fixes or whatever. It's a really nice data system, actually. And we're going to give you guys pretty much full access to it (there are a few tables which we may not give you write access to, but they will be things that won't really change, like alignments and such, stuff that we are basically treating like enums that won't ever change).

[Fedora1]

Thanks Ron. So will you be starting a new 5.x thread and link to it from here when the time comes?

[Ron]

Thanks Ron. So will you be starting a new 5.x thread and link to it from here when the time comes?

Absolutely. We will use the current "Interface ideas" thread for updates on how things are going until we do an actual release of version 5, at which point we will create a 5.x thread.

[F2PPremiumLeech]

Found a bug in 4.20.0.2 , 1st level paladin can choose spell focus in the planner but in actual game it says that paladin needs to be level 4 before being able to pick it.

[Munkenmo]

Is there somewhere I can edit a text file to modify the way the enhancements selector is displayed?

I end up pasting my enhancements like this

It'd be nice if I could display Race + 6 class trees simultaneously to speed up my print screen and crop image process.

[Ron]

Is there somewhere I can edit a text file to modify the way the enhancements selector is displayed?

I end up pasting my enhancements like this

It'd be nice if I could display Race + 6 class trees simultaneously to speed up my print screen and crop image process.

Sadly, no, there is no way for you to change the number of trees displayed. We will try to do something about that in the 5.xx version.

[BOgre]

I realize you have your hands full with the work you are already planning, but one thing I'd like to see added is a mini UI for planning arti/ftr/druid wolf/dog enhancements, (and gearouts too while you're at it ). Maybe for v5?

[Ron]

Oh definitely! Pets have always been on our "ToDo" list. They are a relatively complex system (not as complex as the new Enhancement system or anything, but still tricky enough).

It was harder for us to create new systems in the 4.xx (and prior) versions of the planner than it will be in the new 5.xx version, so there was a lot of inertia to overcome in getting it started, which is why it never happened (there was always something else to get done or fixed or updated). One reason for this is because of the data, which is now nicely organized into a a database rather than those very error prone text files we had. For another, the classes we had in the old version were getting out of hand. With the 5.xx version, we are making a much more concerted effort to keep things very "black-boxy" (or in programing terms OOD/OOP). So that each class has a specific and well defined job to do (in the old version we had that too, but the jobs were too broadly defined, like "Handle the Main Screen" which was just ridiculous, it was thousands of lines long for just that one class. which defeats the purpose of it being OOP at all.)

And finally, we've moved from using C++ to C#. For me that was a bit painful, as my native language is C++ (which I've been coding in for something like 20 years if you count the C language). But I have to admit, C# has a lot of nice stuff going for it. Including some pretty amazing library stuff that C++ just doesn't have. Complex (but routine) things that would take me a hundred lines of C++ code I can do with a single library function call (e.g. handling png graphics for instance, something I always wanted in the old version but was too much effort to try to shoehorn in to the existing codebase. I can now do it in the new version with a relatively simple and small class). Which is super nice and really lets us focus on the logic of the code.

A long way of saying, "Yes, we are going to have Pets in the new version" Perhaps not in the initial beta version, but I'd like everything on our ToDo list from version 4.xx to be in working order for the 5.xx version before it hits gold (which includes various other things as well, like Forum Templates and such).

[Stoner81]

Perhaps not in the initial beta version, but I'd like everything on our ToDo list from version 4.xx to be in working order for the 5.xx version before it hits gold (which includes various other things as well, like Forum Templates and such).

I think I just had another crisis!

If you guys can do this then it will be beyond epic/awesomesauce/etc! The forum software our guild uses doesn't work the same way as vB does and as such atm the output for the planner gets really really messed up and it's an absolute pain to fix. Hopefully this way we can setup our own templates and maybe even share them for others to use?

Stoner81.

[Ron]

If you guys can do this then it will be beyond epic/awesomesauce/etc! The forum software our guild uses doesn't work the same way as vB does and as such atm the output for the planner gets really really messed up and it's an absolute pain to fix. Hopefully this way we can setup our own templates and maybe even share them for others to use?

Yep, that's the idea. Templates should save as a text file (or that was at least the original plan) which can then be passed around for others to use for their builds.

Now that we're into a more database system, I'm not sure how that will translate, we may store them in a database as a primary method. But even if we do, we will have an "Export to text / Import from text" option (which is also what we are going to do with character save files).

[BOgre]

Do you plan to specifically distinguish divisions in the file? I mean so that we can CSS them?

[Ron]

Do you plan to specifically distinguish divisions in the file? I mean so that we can CSS them?

There are no solid plans for the format of the text export of the save files yet. So I don't know

[BOgre]

There are no solid plans for the format of the text export of the save files yet. So I don't know

It's not big deal really. I just like CSS, so if there's going to be any kind of html output, it'd be a nice perk. Throw the suggestion on your low-prio list maybe

[Psiandron]

Only just now downloaded version 4. Kind of late I know. Looks great so far.

Saw that you'll be moving to version 5 soon. This really is a short-lived version. lol

Anyway, really just wanted to post to say thanks again to Ron and all the others who have contributed to making, repairing, upgrading, and refining the Character Planner. I cannot begin to express what a great thing that it is that you all have done here. Your Herculean efforts have made the DDO world a better place.

Thank you and well done,
Psi

[Psiandron]

Okay, I know that you guys are primarily working on the new version, but I seem to be having a problem saving with the 4.20.02.

I flipped through this thread and didn't see this mentioned. If I missed something, I apologize.

I went through and did a build up to 20 last night, clicking save occasionally. It didn't strike me at first, but it never asked for my okay on file name and location on the original save. Did enhancements and tomes for a multi-TR and every thing seemed to go just fine. In fact, I was very impressed. There was, ofc, no save file and when I tried to bring the build up again, I found that there was nothing there, nothing to load.

I then did a test save with an almost blank build(just did the 1st level class, alignment, name and abilities). That worked fine. The initial save brought up the proposed file name and location for my confirmation and the file is there right now and I can access it just fine.

However, I can seem to get new saves to function. For example, I was recreating what I had done last night and went to do my first save at about 3rd level, but when I push the save button, the animation for the button-click works fine, but it neither asks for confirmation, nor does it actual create the save file.

Buggered if I know what's going on. I'd really appreciate it if you guys could help me with this.

Thanks,
Psi

[Dragon.Star]

Okay, I know that you guys are primarily working on the new version, but I seem to be having a problem saving with the 4.20.02.

I flipped through this thread and didn't see this mentioned. If I missed something, I apologize.

I went through and did a build up to 20 last night, clicking save occasionally. It didn't strike me at first, but it never asked for my okay on file name and location on the original save. Did enhancements and tomes for a multi-TR and every thing seemed to go just fine. In fact, I was very impressed. There was, ofc, no save file and when I tried to bring the build up again, I found that there was nothing there, nothing to load.

I then did a test save with an almost blank build(just did the 1st level class, alignment, name and abilities). That worked fine. The initial save brought up the proposed file name and location for my confirmation and the file is there right now and I can access it just fine.

However, I can seem to get new saves to function. For example, I was recreating what I had done last night and went to do my first save at about 3rd level, but when I push the save button, the animation for the button-click works fine, but it neither asks for confirmation, nor does it actual create the save file.

Buggered if I know what's going on. I'd really appreciate it if you guys could help me with this.

Thanks,
Psi

Very strange indeed.

Could you list what you did at each level (Class, ability points,Feats, skills etc..) before trying the save button so that i can try and recreate the issue?

[Psiandron]

Very strange indeed.

Could you list what you did at each level (Class, ability points,Feats, skills etc..) before trying the save button so that i can try and recreate the issue?

Thanks for your time Dragon,
I was just going to post that I think that I sorted it out myself.

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.

So, in the end just another example of the triumph of stupidity over technology.

Thanks, and sorry for wasting your time.

Psi

[Cardtrick]

The build that i was doing was a multi-class and I was throwing that into the surname divided by slashes.

Oh, man, this reminds me of a tiny annoyance I've always had with the character planner (which I mostly love to death, don't get me wrong). I enter character names in the planner the same it sounds like Psiandron does -- not the character's actual name, but something to identify the build. E.g., first name "Horc Staff," last name "Acro Kensai."

It's a little annoying to have such a short restriction on the length of the first and last name. I know that it's done because those are the restrictions in game, but is there any way it could be made an option or something? I mostly just use those fields to establish a default filename for when it comes time to save my build.

[Dragon.Star]

Thanks for your time Dragon,
I was just going to post that I think that I sorted it out myself.

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.

So, in the end just another example of the triumph of stupidity over technology.

Thanks, and sorry for wasting your time.

Psi

Yes that would be the problem. I'll add this to our known issues list.

also you didnt' waste my time at all, in fact you alerted us to a very valid bug that effected the end-user of the program.

Thank you.

[Dragon.Star]

Oh, man, this reminds me of a tiny annoyance I've always had with the character planner (which I mostly love to death, don't get me wrong). I enter character names in the planner the same it sounds like Psiandron does -- not the character's actual name, but something to identify the build. E.g., first name "Horc Staff," last name "Acro Kensai."

It's a little annoying to have such a short restriction on the length of the first and last name. I know that it's done because those are the restrictions in game, but is there any way it could be made an option or something? I mostly just use those fields to establish a default filename for when it comes time to save my build.

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.