PlanetsCentral

Here are some other things which I noticed while playing with PCC. Of course, I know that you have probably enough more important things on your todo list, but I just want to let you know, what would make PCC even better, imho.

Writing scripts or plugins is still a bit above my level, but I started using my own expressions for labeling and searching. To not type these over and over again I manipulated the lru.ini file to show my own expressions as last used expressions. Because lru.ini is rewritten after every PCC2 run, I replace the file by my own version before each run. It'd be nice to make it somehow easier to use own expressions. A section 'own labels' and 'own search expressions' in lru.ini would be sufficient or another file own_expressions.ini.

If a team member looses a planet, the planet will still be shown as a yellow planet later, which might be a bit confusing. Also, sometimes old information is associated with a new owner of a planet. For example, planet level ally looses a planet, later I get to know the new owner by Dark Sense. Now, the number of clans is associated with the new owner. There is no information displayed that the 'number of clans' information is much older than the 'planet owner' information. A possibility to delete (some of the) planet information would solve these cases.

Old minefields could be automatically deleted, if they should have been scanned again in the last turn.

Often I found myself asking. What, where is my minefield? Wasn't it gigantic? To check if it really was gigantic, I have to load the last rst and util.dat in a new directory. Watching past turns easily would be a killer feature.

Writing scripts or plugins is still a bit above my level, but I started using my own expressions for labeling and searching. To not type these over and over again I manipulated the lru.ini file to show my own expressions as last used expressions. Because lru.ini is rewritten after every PCC2 run, I replace the file by my own version before each run. It'd be nice to make it somehow easier to use own expressions. A section 'own labels' and 'own search expressions' in lru.ini would be sufficient or another file own_expressions.ini.

This feature exists, although heavily under-documented: place a text file expr.usr in your game directory. The content is the similar as lru.ini:

[Find]
my planets          [p] owner$=my.race$

These expressions will appear at the end of the search function's drop-down list. The "p" in brackets means you want to search only planets, it could also be "s" or "b".

If a team member looses a planet, the planet will still be shown as a yellow planet later, which might be a bit confusing. Also, sometimes old information is associated with a new owner of a planet. For example, planet level ally looses a planet, later I get to know the new owner by Dark Sense. Now, the number of clans is associated with the new owner. There is no information displayed that the 'number of clans' information is much older than the 'planet owner' information. A possibility to delete (some of the) planet information would solve these cases.

Noted.

(Number of clans should probably be deleted when the owner changes.)

Old minefields could be automatically deleted, if they should have been scanned again in the last turn.

PCC2 cannot tell whether they should have been scanned again. There could be an ion storm hiding the minefield.

You can delete minefields manually. To find old minefields, use the search function, which has an appropriate expression predefined. Use PCC 2.0, earlier ones crash when you do that

Often I found myself asking. What, where is my minefield? Wasn't it gigantic? To check if it really was gigantic, I have to load the last rst and util.dat in a new directory. Watching past turns easily would be a killer feature.

I know, this is the most-often requested feature ever. It will take a while until that arrives, it's a big thing.

--Stefan

vlk in More suggestions for PCC2:

Writing scripts or plugins is still a bit above my level, but I started using my own expressions for labeling and searching. To not type these over and over again I manipulated the lru.ini file to show my own expressions as last used expressions. Because lru.ini is rewritten after every PCC2 run, I replace the file by my own version before each run. It'd be nice to make it somehow easier to use own expressions. A section 'own labels' and 'own search expressions' in lru.ini would be sufficient or another file own_expressions.ini.

This feature exists, although heavily under-documented: place a text file expr.usr in your game directory. The content is the similar as lru.ini:

[Find]
my planets          [p] owner$=my.race$

These expressions will appear at the end of the search function's drop-down list. The "p" in brackets means you want to search only planets, it could also be "s" or "b".

I had the same issue but for some reason (which I can't remember anymore ) I decided against adding another expr.usr file in the game directory. Maybe that was because added lines are added at the bottom of the list which is a bit inconvenient for obvious reasons. However I decided to modify the expr.c (or was it cc?) directly in the installation directory (or maybe some subdirectory). That's quite easy since the form is already set with many examples to try out. The downside is that I have to "repair" that file manually everytime I upgrade PCC2 to a current version, which is still far better than for every start of PCC though.

streu in Re: More suggestions for PCC2:

vlk in More suggestions for PCC2:

Writing scripts or plugins is still a bit above my level, but I started using my own expressions for labeling and searching. To not type these over and over again I manipulated the lru.ini file to show my own expressions as last used expressions. Because lru.ini is rewritten after every PCC2 run, I replace the file by my own version before each run. It'd be nice to make it somehow easier to use own expressions. A section 'own labels' and 'own search expressions' in lru.ini would be sufficient or another file own_expressions.ini.

This feature exists, although heavily under-documented: place a text file expr.usr in your game directory. The content is the similar as lru.ini:

[Find]
my planets          [p] owner$=my.race$

These expressions will appear at the end of the search function's drop-down list. The "p" in brackets means you want to search only planets, it could also be "s" or "b".

I had the same issue but for some reason (which I can't remember anymore ) I decided against adding another expr.usr file in the game directory. Maybe that was because added lines are added at the bottom of the list which is a bit inconvenient for obvious reasons. However I decided to modify the expr.c (or was it cc?) directly in the installation directory (or maybe some subdirectory). That's quite easy since the form is already set with many examples to try out. The downside is that I have to "repair" that file manually everytime I upgrade PCC2 to a current version, which is still far better than for every start of PCC though.

Cool, it is already implemented. Also, interesting workaround from ComCitCat . (Of course, I do not manually repair the file before each run.)

Maybe the expressions from expr.usr could be moved to the beginning of the drop-down list?

If a team member looses a planet, the planet will still be shown as a yellow planet later, which might be a bit confusing. Also, sometimes old information is associated with a new owner of a planet. For example, planet level ally looses a planet, later I get to know the new owner by Dark Sense. Now, the number of clans is associated with the new owner. There is no information displayed that the 'number of clans' information is much older than the 'planet owner' information. A possibility to delete (some of the) planet information would solve these cases.

Noted.

(Number of clans should probably be deleted when the owner changes.)

Yep, and if easily realizable do not show planets as team planets if planet level alliance is set and owner information is outdated.

Old minefields could be automatically deleted, if they should have been scanned again in the last turn.

PCC2 cannot tell whether they should have been scanned again. There could be an ion storm hiding the minefield.

You can delete minefields manually. To find old minefields, use the search function, which has an appropriate expression predefined. Use PCC 2.0, earlier ones crash when you do that

Yea, that would need additional logic to check if the minefield is hidden by an ion storm. Deleting them manually is convenient, too.

ComCitCat in Re: More suggestions for PCC2:

I had the same issue but for some reason (which I can't remember anymore ) I decided against adding another expr.usr file in the game directory. Maybe that was because added lines are added at the bottom of the list which is a bit inconvenient for obvious reasons. However I decided to modify the expr.c (or was it cc?) directly in the installation directory (or maybe some subdirectory). That's quite easy since the form is already set with many examples to try out. The downside is that I have to "repair" that file manually everytime I upgrade PCC2 to a current version, which is still far better than for every start of PCC though.

Cool, it is already implemented. Also, interesting workaround from ComCitCat . (Of course, I do not manually repair the file before each run.)

Maybe the expressions from expr.usr could be moved to the beginning of the drop-down list?

The "expr.cc"/"expr.usr" file combo is actually implemented this way for compatibility with PCC 1.x.

Adding another file, with a more convenient name (expr.ini) in a more convenient place (your user profile, C:\Users\User\AppData\Roaming\PCC2 resp. /home/user/.pcc2) is easy, so I'll do that.

--Stefan

Adding another file, with a more convenient name (expr.ini) in a more convenient place (your user profile, C:\Users\User\AppData\Roaming\PCC2 resp. /home/user/.pcc2) is easy, so I'll do that.

PCC2 now does that.

It is documented in the help file (online version).

--Stefan

Stephan could you change the PCC2 that webmines painted on the map another color than mines?

sorry for my English.

Stephan could you change the PCC2 that webmines painted on the map another color than mines?

One solution I have to offer is drawing them as filled circles (press Alt-M one or two times). This will draw web mines with a denser pattern than regular mines.

--Stefan

What I really liked to have right now with PCC2...
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is some 'exit-without-saving' button.

For example when leaving the game you give the menue Do you want to leave this game? Yes/No and this could simply be Yes/No/Leave without saving (may be F10)

SCNR the style.

What I really liked to have right now with PCC2...
is some 'exit-without-saving' button.

I use Task Manager for that, just kill the pcc-v2.exe process

(or, on Linux, Ctrl+\ aka SIGABRT typed into the console PCC2 was started from.)

--Stefan

Hi Stefan!
Could you implement in PCC2 a support of video resolution of FullHD (1920x1080)?
Am I right understand the program now support only 4:3 aspect ratio?

Hi,

Could you implement in PCC2 a support of video resolution of FullHD (1920x1080)?
Am I right understand the program now support only 4:3 aspect ratio?

You actually can already run PCC2 in FullHD resolution, just pass the command-line options "-fullscreen -size 1920x1080". But you probably don't want that. This does not enlarge fonts, and does not enlarge the starchart; a planet is still a single pixel.

What you actually want is upscaling. The graphics library used by PCC2 - SDL - does not support upscaling, because until a few years ago, graphics drivers would do that.

The SDL2 graphics library supports upscaling. PCC2 next generation can use SDL2. I am not yet sure where exactly the PCC2 and PCC2ng lines will meet, but that will be the way to go. Right now, PCC2ng is experimental code, not usable for playing. But it can support proper upscaled fullscreen play on current hardware (Disclaimer: the PCC2ng Windows binaries currently are built against SDL, not SDL2.).

--Stefan

Another small request for the program change.
Could you make a change to the search dialog box? When I have got a result of search in the listbox I can open the object in control screen (if I owner) or on starchart (if I am not). Could you make so that I can view all found objects in the starchart?

And could you increase zoom in starchart that a warpwell was more detailed drew?

Could you make a change to the search dialog box? When I have got a result of search in the listbox I can open the object in control screen (if I owner) or on starchart (if I am not). Could you make so that I can view all found objects in the starchart?

Shouldn't be too hard.

If you wish to visualize something, you can use the "Mark" feature: (optionally, use Alt-Left/Right to switch to a different layer of marks to get it out of the way, then) use Mark > Mark only found objects. You will see these marks in the starchart.

And could you increase zoom in starchart that a warpwell was more detailed drew?

You can use + for up to 10x zoom which shows the warpwell pretty detailed. Is that not enough?

--Stefan

You can use + for up to 10x zoom which shows the warpwell pretty detailed. Is that not enough?

--Stefan

No, it is not enough. As for me. Look at my game by maximum zoom.

streu in Re: More suggestions for PCC2:

You can use + for up to 10x zoom which shows the warpwell pretty detailed. Is that not enough?

No, it is not enough. As for me. Look at my game by maximum zoom.

Looks perfectly fine to me

Anyway, I guess increasing maximum zoom would be possible.

The original reason why I limit zoom is to avoid integer overflows. PCC 1.x would do stupid things (and PCC2 could get really slow) if you have a large object (think: a map line from 1000,1000 to 3000,3000) at more then 10x zoom, but that shouldn't be a problem anymore today.

--Stefan

[...]

The original reason why I limit zoom is to avoid integer overflows. PCC 1.x would do stupid things (and PCC2 could get really slow) if you have a large object (think: a map line from 1000,1000 to 3000,3000) at more then 10x zoom, but that shouldn't be a problem anymore today.

--Stefan

Tough challenge. I'ld rather advise against taking that on. If I zoom in to max my PCC2 is getting noticeably slower. It's annoying. Though that's nothing compared to what happened at planets.nu if I remember correctly.

SCNR

Could you make a change to the search dialog box? When I have got a result of search in the listbox I can open the object in control screen (if I owner) or on starchart (if I am not). Could you make so that I can view all found objects in the starchart?

PCC 2.0.6 will have new keys:

• F4 (or Shift-Enter) will open the object on the starchart
• F1 on a ship will open its control screen, F6 opens the history
• F2 on a planet will open its control screen, F3 opens its starbase

--Stefan

If I zoom in to max my PCC2 is getting noticeably slower. It's annoying.

I saw the smiley, but I still have to ask: what kind of computer do you have? I am spoilt now by 3 GHz quadcore. But PCC2's mission normally would be to run efficient on low-spec / older hardware.

Honestly, even if you have an older computer, don't feel embarrassed to tell me if it runs slow. I even still have some mothballed old hardware around.

Now if you are talking about PCC2ng... That starts by procedurally generating a new starfield wallpaper every time. This sometimes takes a few seconds. But it looks so incredibly cool

--Stefan

PCC 2.0.6 will have new keys:

• F4 (or Shift-Enter) will open the object on the starchart
• F1 on a ship will open its control screen, F6 opens the history
• F2 on a planet will open its control screen, F3 opens its starbase

--Stefan

Can I ask you to make a few more minor changes to the new version of the program?
First, please correct the fuel usage line in shiplock window on the starchart. It does not display the amount of fuel needed by the ship to complete the Cloak mission.
Second, make that in baselock windows on the starchart display a base picture instead of a planet picture. This is a purely aesthetic change. Just sometimes I forget what kind of windows I am (bases or planets.)

PCC 2.0.6 will have new keys:

• F4 (or Shift-Enter) will open the object on the starchart
• F1 on a ship will open its control screen, F6 opens the history
• F2 on a planet will open its control screen, F3 opens its starbase

--Stefan

Huh, how is this different from the keys right now? I think I am using these already in that very manner. Besides Shift+Enter which I don't use because F4 always does the trick.

ComCitCat in Re: More suggestions for PCC2:

If I zoom in to max my PCC2 is getting noticeably slower. It's annoying.

I saw the smiley, but I still have to ask: what kind of computer do you have? I am spoilt now by 3 GHz quadcore. But PCC2's mission normally would be to run efficient on low-spec / older hardware.

I've checked now and the 'noticeably slower' should be a 'it tends to lag a bit'. Which is annoying allright, but not really slower. May be that's got something to do with opening a bunch (100+) mozilla windows...

Anyway my hardware is some about 5 years old mid to low price computer. So 3GHz quadcore is right on the money.

Can I ask you to make a few more minor changes to the new version of the program?
First, please correct the fuel usage line in shiplock window on the starchart. It does not display the amount of fuel needed by the ship to complete the Cloak mission.
Second, make that in baselock windows on the starchart display a base picture instead of a planet picture. This is a purely aesthetic change. Just sometimes I forget what kind of windows I am (bases or planets.)

I second the first request. Right now, what happens if you fall for it is that the ship will consume the fuel for cloaking and then it will run dry while moving and thus uncloak. Which defeats the purpose.

The second request I can't confirm. If I opened a starbase then the starbase is shown, not the planet and vice versa just as intendet.

streu in Re: More suggestions for PCC2:

PCC 2.0.6 will have new keys:

• F4 (or Shift-Enter) will open the object on the starchart
• F1 on a ship will open its control screen, F6 opens the history
• F2 on a planet will open its control screen, F3 opens its starbase

Huh, how is this different from the keys right now? I think I am using these already in that very manner. Besides Shift+Enter which I don't use because F4 always does the trick.

The above applies to the search (F7) window.

The second request I can't confirm. If I opened a starbase then the starbase is shown, not the planet and vice versa just as intendet.

kite was referring to the starchart overlay on the starchart (called BASELOCK, reachable by pressing B), not the starchart screen (F3). That one indeed just shows a planet.

--Stefan

Stefan could you implement in PCC a possibility set a multi-turn waypoint for a ship in Distance mode at the starchart?

At this moment I can do it only in a autotask screen manually.

Stefan could you implement in PCC a possibility set a multi-turn waypoint for a ship in Distance mode at the starchart?

At this moment I can do it only in a autotask screen manually.

This is technically not easy.

Are you aware of the 'a' function on the ship task screen? This will open a small starchart you can use to set long waypoints. It will be centered around the ship's predicted position, and you can recenter it using Tab.

--Stefan

yes, at auto task screen it is easy to do.

But I want to be able at the star chart to indicate to the ship the path of multi-turn movement that differs from a straight line and in result an autotask skript for the ship was created.

At this moment for a complex movement I must create an autotask skript manually.

Or
could I change autotask of a ship in a program?

yes, at auto task screen it is easy to do.

But I want to be able at the star chart to indicate to the ship the path of multi-turn movement that differs from a straight line and in result an autotask skript for the ship was created.

At this moment for a complex movement I must create an autotask skript manually.

Or
could I change autotask of a ship in a program?

I am not sure I understand you correctly: of course you can enter a non-straight auto-task on the auto task screen? Choose first waypoint, double-click (or Ctrl-W), second waypoint, double-click, etc. Optionally, using the 'a' window for each leg.

Auto-tasks don't really exist (as program objects) outside the auto-task editor, so most things you can do with auto-tasks need to be done on the auto-task screen. I'm changing that for c2ng, but that's still a long way down the road.

But since I'm currently trying to implement missing PCC1 features on PCC2, this remembers me that PCC1 can actually show (but not edit) auto waypoints on the starchart. Dang, another one to do...

--Stefan

Hi Stefan!

Could you to realize the possibility of using a fixed (typewriter) font in the list that is created using the Listbox function? I need this to create multi-column entries in the list.

Could you to realize the possibility of using a fixed (typewriter) font in the list that is created using the Listbox function? I need this to create multi-column entries in the list.

How many columns do you need?

The listbox widget right now supports two columns, as can be seen for example on the weapon selector in the battle simulator. I will enable that feature for the Listbox command in the next release. You use it by embedding a Tab character (Chr(9)) in the string, i.e.

    % PCC 2.0.7 or later!
    With Listbox("hi there") Do
      AddItem 1, "one" & Chr(9) & "details...."
      % Let's also add \t as alternative for Chr(9):
      AddItem 2, "two\tmore details...."
      Run
    EndWith

Allowing more styling will need a little more thought if we don't want a solution that I have to revert a few days later.

--Stefan

when will you release the 2.0.7 version?

when will you release the 2.0.7 version?

When I stop getting/finding things to add, plus one week for testing

Let's try to get it out this month. Why not.

--Stefan

[Edit: oh, post #3000]

When I stop getting/finding things to add, plus one week for testing

Let's try to get it out this month. Why not.

--Stefan

[Edit: oh, post #3000]

Have another thing to add.

The training mission is setting off not only movement but primary enemies too. If you set the mission to training, any PE will be deleted during the host run. So it would be nice if PCC would color the ships PE as yellow (or red? probably yellow), as it already does with movement orders, when the mission is set to training.

Feature request:

I use Echoview with the config setting "Reload on Activate." In Winplan I set a waypoint and it shows it immediately when I switch back to Echoview. Or in Winplan I lay mines, switch to Echoview and use Shift+F3 to see the minefield. To get Echoview to update with PCC2 I must exit to "Choose Game" screen before it updates in Echoview. Can it be made so that PCC2 pokes Echoview the same way Winplan does?

That change would have me using PCC2 over WinPlan as the progress you've made on it is amazing. The below requests fall under the "would be nice" category.

Ship Screen ('F1'):
- Button to toggle starmap grid on/off
- Config option in ini to set default zoom of starmap
- Mousewheel up/down zooms in/out starmap instead of cycling ships.
- if mousewheel is no-go, than page up/dwn works too.

Navigation Screen ('a' from Ship Screen):
- Button to toggle starmap grid on/off
- Mousewheel up/down zooms in/out starmap

Planet Screen ('F2'):
- Button to toggle starmap grid on/off
- Config option in ini to set default zoom of starmap

Starbase Screen ('F3'):
- Button to toggle starmap grid on/off
- Config option in ini to set default zoom of starmap

Starchart ('F4'):
- Button to toggle starmap grid on/off
- A method to donate/buy you a couple cups of coffee? I've been playing PLANETS off and on (mostly off) for 20+ years and your still contributing .... I just want to say thanks.

I use Echoview with the config setting "Reload on Activate." In Winplan I set a waypoint and it shows it immediately when I switch back to Echoview. Or in Winplan I lay mines, switch to Echoview and use Shift+F3 to see the minefield. To get Echoview to update with PCC2 I must exit to "Choose Game" screen before it updates in Echoview. Can it be made so that PCC2 pokes Echoview the same way Winplan does?

This difference exists because Winplan works on disk files whereas PCC2 loads everything into memory. Pretty much every keystroke is directly written to disk by Winplan. This is the reason why PCC2 (and PCC, VPA, GWP, xk, ...) can be so fast.

You can press Ctrl+S on the main screen in PCC2 (or enter "SaveGame" on the console) to save the game without exiting PCC2.

That aside, PCC2 tries to make sure you don't need EchoView

Ship Screen ('F1'):
- Button to toggle starmap grid on/off

You can use Alt+S whenever the map has focus, i.e. with 'A' (nav chart) or 'Y' (keyboard-move mode). You may need to press it twice, because it is a three-valued option.

PCC1 accepts Ctrl+Alt+S on control screens and I cannot remember why PCC2 doesn't. So this could be added.

- Config option in ini to set default zoom of starmap
- Mousewheel up/down zooms in/out starmap instead of cycling ships.
- if mousewheel is no-go, than page up/dwn works too.

The scanner starchart cannot currently be zoomed at all.

Are you using PCC2 in standard resolution (640x480) or anything other? The starchart renderer currently doesn't adapt very well to high resolutions, but changing that will be a big change. We will probably need fractional zoom levels etc.

Navigation Screen ('a' from Ship Screen):
- Mousewheel up/down zooms in/out starmap

Noted. This looks like just an omission.

- A method to donate/buy you a couple cups of coffee? I've been playing PLANETS off and on (mostly off) for 20+ years and your still contributing .... I just want to say thanks.

Spread the word to keep it alive

--Stefan

You can press Ctrl+S on the main screen in PCC2 (or enter "SaveGame" on the console) to save the game without exiting PCC2.

This works, I can open the console (Alt+C), press the up arrow, then ESC quick enough ... hmmm now that I think of it I can create a keyboard macro for this ... thanks!

You can use Alt+S whenever the map has focus, i.e. with 'A' (nav chart) or 'Y' (keyboard-move mode). You may need to press it twice, because it is a three-valued option. PCC1 accepts Ctrl+Alt+S on control screens and I cannot remember why PCC2 doesn't. So this could be added.

Perfect and Beautiful! The keymap is only mentioned on the Starchart help screen. However, Alt+S from the Starchart changes it everywhere as intended. An alternative to Ctrl+Alt+S from any control screen, would be to include Alt+S on Ship, Planet, and Base Help screens e.g.

Alt-S Toggle display of sector borders. Give focus to map 'Y' then press Alt-S until sector borders removed/shown.

The scanner starchart cannot currently be zoomed at all.

Are you using PCC2 in standard resolution (640x480) or anything other? The starchart renderer currently doesn't adapt very well to high resolutions, but changing that will be a big change. We will probably need fractional zoom levels etc.

I've tried -size=1405 and -size=1900x1060, preferred 1405 as it was easier to position and for multitasking windows I prefer not to have my screens maximized.

At -size=1405 I felt the rendering is good, if I get real close to screen I can see the warp well shape around planets just fine. I think I see what you mean ... at lower resolutions the current map zoom level looks good. As you increase the the resolution things get tiny. The lowest my monitor goes is 800x600 paired with -size=740 is the look I was going for ... works for now.

PCC2 tries to make sure you don't need EchoView

I'm starting to discover some of the predictive aspects of PCC2. Eliminate the need for Echoview ... that's a brave new world, you have my support.

Spread the word to keep it alive

--Stefan

Thanks