24 replies to this topic

[thudo]

These are some DoW Skirmish AI Panel ideas when we write the package installer to deploy our scripts onto people's machines. Tell me what ya think!

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I can easily do more - real bloody simple to do in the Relic Mod tools. Don't worry about the dimensions - these are just for preview only. Installer Panels are much smaller.

Btw, currently writing the Unoffical DoW AI Transplanet doc to migrate new DoW civs into the game pre-installed with new AI. Actually, not as hard as I thought it was going to be.

Edited by thudo, 27 January 2005 - 06:54 PM.

[Corsix]

I don't like the text too well, I do prefer the second one however.
BTW. What are you planning on using as the installer? I could try and write one...

Edited by Corsix, 27 January 2005 - 08:47 PM.

[thudo]

I'll be replacing the text on the first one - all text are mere placeholders at present (love Photoshop).

If you want to begin the preliminaries towards writing an Install packager to deploy the scripts that would rock! Essentially, it pretty basic: reg entries to determine <installed DoW path>, copy /DOWAI folder to that location and the dowai.module file to that same root, create a shortcut to desktop with the -mod dowai switch present. Finally, an uninstaller to ensure its safely and cleanly removed.

Helps keep the tech support calls to a minmum! heheh

[Corsix]

Ok, will begin work on it...

[thudo]

You'd the man.. thanks! I gather its fingerprint will be tiny as all the scripts compressed = 88kb! Smaller the better for hosting purposes although I'm sure you already knew that! If anything, the front-end graphic panel will be ~30-100kb (likely in the small range) and will give the mod a professional aura.

Thankz man!!!

[giskard]

You'd the man.. thanks! I gather its fingerprint will be tiny as all the scripts compressed = 88kb! Smaller the better for hosting purposes although I'm sure you already knew that! If anything, the front-end graphic panel will be ~30-100kb (likely in the small range) and will give the mod a professional aura.

Thankz man!!!

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Dont you hate it when the graphic and the installer over head are bigger than the mod hehe.

Still thats the price of an idiot proof install.

BTW i use the clickteams installer my self, an older version than the one they have up these days. It can allow the user to browse to the game directory or you can have it read the registry and automatically find it. Or both.

Heres guide from thats part of a tutorial i maintain over at my mechstorm site that explains how we use it for mechwarrior 4 stuff.

http://www.mechstorm...ckingmaps.shtml

I figure you must be using something similar your self or be looking for something like this.

Giskard

[thudo]

Corsix is working on a quick installer with the full deal! Shouldn't be anything too elaborate. Appreciate it Corsix - you'd da code-man!

[Corsix]

What'd you think of this:

[thudo]

Eww I like! I take it the left-vertical panel is for the artwork?

Btw, I wonder if a user DOES NOT check both Create Shortcut or Add Start Menu Items then what? User is SOL. Just curious if we should force a desktop shortcut but allow for the option for the Start Menu items. Hmmmm.... No biggie but I can see people clicking through without checking those and then complaining: "well, how do I run it then?".. Just thinking out loud and based on being in techsupport long since passed. heheh

[Corsix]

How about default to them both ticked and if a user unticks both and clicks install, it asks them if that's what they really wanted.

And yes, the left panel is for artwork.

[thudo]

Yep! Works for me: Default for both is ON!

[Corsix]

When you finish the artwork or finilize what files are going into the release, send em to me.

[thudo]

Superb! Does the installer do the following:

1) Locate the reg entries to determine where DoW is installed?

2) Copies the /DOWAI folder, dowai.module file, and likely a DOWAI_Readme.txt to that location?

3) Creates a shortcut to desktop with the -mod dowai switch present? The Startmenu item would also have the same but include a possible DOWAI_Readme.txt and a ChangeLog.txt.

4) Has an uninstaller to ensure its safely and cleanly removed (files, startmenu items, and shortcut are removed?

Can't think of anything else we need. I will supply the artwork and files. Just not sure when I want to go out with our first beta.. Tempted too REAL SOON!

Edited by thudo, 29 January 2005 - 02:15 AM.

[Corsix]

It will - I'm still coding it

[Corsix]

OK, all done. Send me a sample image/data and I will make a sample installer.

[thudo]

What dimensions should the image be in? In Inches? Jpg/Bmp? DPI?

Damn.. having a custom installer for our project makes it feel so much real that release is coming! Horray!

[Corsix]

170x364 (24bpp bitmap) - as on the preview image

[Corsix]

Make that a little bigger, 173x368 pixels

[giskard]

Very smart Corsix.

You might want to pack it and release to the DOW community too.

A nice installer is always useful

Giskard

[thudo]

Okiedokes.. working on the panel with those dimensions! As mentioned, love the custom installer! Whats the size of it? Then we can get an idea how big the enture footprint will be to download. Whole install to download should be ~150-300kb.

Forgot to ask: does the installer store the AI data files max-compressed as in using zip, ace, rar?