Ryandor.com

Just out of morbid curiousity (and that I might actually do it if enough people say they're interested), how many of you would be interested in something for sphere 55i that will litterally build a house, shop, or whatever for you.

Features I'm thinking about:

1) Custom Building Size: Pretty much let you tell it how big you want the building and how many floors to include. (Rectangle or Square shaped buildings only.

2) Complete Customization of Walls, Floors, and Roofs: meaning let you pick the wall you want, the floor you want, and the roof you want (including the gabled ones)

3) Easy User Interface: Really need an explanation for this?

About the only things I don't want to include are stairs, doors, and windows.

_________________
Xelah
--Admin of some nameless shard that is still in developement

That would be need. Would you still be able to edit this house ingame? Or maybe build something in the program where you can completely build the house yourself without being in UO, and lateron you can specify coordinates where it's going to be placed, or as a multi etc.

That'd be neat :p. But I'd still think most people prefer the oldfashioned way of building for most things

[quote="Xelah"]
3) Easy User Interface: Really need an explanation for this?
[quote]

I just don't get it. Why on Earth would you want that?

_________________
This space for rent.

I would love to have that program.

for those that are interested, I've got it to build the walls, floors, and flat roofs with no problem, but it's hanging up on me when I try to make it to the triangular roofs. Might take me a day or two to get around this, then the user friendliness will take me another couple days at best.

_________________
Xelah
--Admin of some nameless shard that is still in developement

Good news and bad news and good news and bad news.

Good News: I got it working perfectly (minus the user friendliness). All items are created in the correct locations.

Bad News: Sphere does not work perfectly (I should have known better...), and the server will crash if the building is larger than 5x5.

Good News: I can fix the problem.

Bad News: I don't know when my next day off will be, and I'll need a full day to go back and fix the problem.

_________________
Xelah
--Admin of some nameless shard that is still in developement

take your time

I swear I'm endlessly defending sphere on these forums when I should probably be bashing it due to complete and utter lack of remotely decent admins from sphere :p

I've extracted (put into a text file, similar to exporting i guess?) entire cities then unextracted them when we rebuilt our map from scratch to move them to the proper new locations. One such example extraction was 72,000 items. Yes, in sphere I placed 72,000 items at once. Of course the client bit the dust, but the server was fine.

In sphere i have seen one of our GMs tile explosion potions for MANY screens wide and long, much farther than the eye can see, then set them all off. Sphere didn't crash. My old & slow computer was hosting it at the time, it lagged my computer so badly I couldn't move my mouse for a few seconds... but sphere was fine!

In sphere i have used axis autoroofer to automatically generate a gabled roof a couple screens in size big. Sphere didn't crash.

Anyways, the moral of this story? Sphere can handle stupid amounts of items in one spot, even being place all at once... if yours crashed there's a good reason for it (or maybe a bad reason for it, but still at least a reason not normal to sphere).

To make it not such a preachy subject , did you get the roofs ok? If not, AXIS is open source and has a roof generator built into it.... friend of mine coded it for Tragena originally then offered it to AXIS when it went open source. http://sphere-axis.sf.net

Firstly, Before you go bashing my scriptng abilities, be at least informed as to what I'm doing.

1) I'm not using any .txt files.

2) I'm importing nothing.

3) Everything is built via a gump in game by looping sphere code, which is how all useful programming languages work.

4) As I said in #3, it's all being coded in sphere script, which allows users to build completely in game, and allows staff members to work without having to DL the file.

5) Open source for AXIS would be equally useless as open source for Pandora's Box, since I am writing it all to be completely server based and not rely on any third party programs.

Secondly, your 72,000 item city did not involve any loops, all it did was take items from a .txt file and insert them into a worldsave. The explosion potions involved only a minimal amount of simple looping. Want to see how my script causes server crashes? I've written the following script just for you, it's entitled "The Crash Me Function" I garauntee you that it will bring down the server but not the client. This function is a very simple breakdown of what my script does.





Thirdly, I retain the right to bash sphere whenever I choose because I use it and can work around the defects, unlike any of the RUNUO or POL users that bash sphere because it makes them feel good.


Moral of the story, do not bash someone based on your lack of information as to what they are doing.

--Xelah

PS Any harshness in the above post is not directed at anyone. I'm in a pretty bad mood due to my boss shorting me $20 when he cashed my check earlier. I appologize for the bluntness, but I'm not rewording any of it.

Not a bad idea to automate building.. But while you have been talking about it, I'v built 2 whole towns.

It only takes less than 5 min to make a simple L shaped building with foundations and an angled gable roof using Axis.
It would take longer to set up your program/gump (whatever) than it would just to build the thing manually.

As for very large buildings, if they are anything worth looking at, there will be too many problems in design (getting the weird UO art to work the way you want it to) for a program to fix itself. It really is much easyer to just build things yourself. Or hire someone who can do it for you!
Now if you could make me a script that auto deco's any given building, I would send you real money! Of coarse it would have to do it in the best taste!




And?
Like the lady said, its not ?sphere?, its your script that?s screwing up.

_________________
Dragonfire
http://www.tragena.net
New screen shots added!

Use the crashme function. It does nothing against sphere coding logic. It merely creates 61 items via a loop. If sphere were perfect, it would could handle a looping script that creates more than 60 items, but it can't and I have to work around it. TARAN and SWINDLER both agree that sphere is imperfect and you have to work around the defects (If you don't know who Taran and Swindler are, you have no business scripting in Sphere). And while you've built two whole towns, I've been to college for six hours, work for nine, and with my girlfriend for two. Some of us actually have lives.

Sphere isn't perfect. Deal with it or learn to write code in something else.

_________________
Xelah
--Admin of some nameless shard that is still in developement

x.x Lets not argue about this, as it's pointless. It's just the way of scripting logic you have, which make sphere seem stupid or good. Now shush and go make the program. We'll judge by the outocme :O

A bit hostile aren't you? Firstly, I didn't bash you, your scripting abilities, your idea, or your efforts. I said I probably -should- be bashing sphere due to it's gay administration.

1) You don't have to use txt files, it was an example of creating 72k items in one area at once

2) Congrats, you're importing nothing.... uh, read above

3) You said "interested in something that would build..." you didn't say "interested in a script that would build". I just finished re-reading just in case I missed it.

4) As I just said in #3, you didn't mention that before. Very difficult to comment on it as I didn't see it.

5) Read above yet again. We sure are repeating ourselves here

Secondly, my 72k item city did involve looping, just not the scripted kind. I'm fairly sure sphere had to loop to place them all. Your script is the reason sphere is crashing. You see, even C++ programs cannot handle infinite loops. If you add a lil bitty ENDIF to the end there, your script is fine.

[FUNCTION CRASHME]
VAR.NUMBER=0
SRC.CRASH

[FUNCTION CRASH]
IF (<EVAL <VAR.NUMBER>> <= 60)
SRC.NEWITEM I_RUNE_POISON
SRC.ACT.P=<SRC.P>
VAR.NUMBER=<EVAL <VAR.NUMBER>+1>
SRC.CRASH
RETURN 0
ELSE
SRC.SAY You will never see this message. Ever. Thank you for using The Crash Me Function.
RETURN 0
ENDIF

Voila! Your script works fine, sphere adds it fine. It does crash my client though

If you're doing any sort of 100+ item adding, I'd recommend you cancel this project or start using a 3rd party tool. Recursive functions are throttled by sphere eventually, after so many it assumes you've got an infinite loop and stops it and kicks your client off. That be this error: 07:32:ERROR:184:Client out overflow 15360+5!


Thirdly, you can bash sphere all you want, I didn't say you couldn't.

Moral of this post? Do not reply with bitchy and/or work-related harshness including scripts with very basic errors expecting me (or anyone else with sphere knowledge) to blame sphere that it's sphere's fault and not yours.

I have a 3 year old child and a 40 hour a week marketing job. You can give that line of childish trolling up right now, Dragonfire has children and a life as well.

Come on can't you Sphere users play nice with one another

Even though I have no use for Sphere anymore, the whole script looping thing is interesting. I didn't know that it crashing was by design. How do you get around that?

_________________
This space for rent.

You're right. I said "something" not "script" as I was still deciding whether to to it in VB or SCP format. I opted for SCP format in order for complete ingameness of it.


Where did I say infinite loops? That's right. I didn't.


Is that why I keep getting this message?



My script works perfectly. Tested up to 600+ items created, just changed what type of loop to use. It's amazing how much you can get done when some uninformed people start ticking you off.

About the lives bit, don't try throwing "childish" at me. You and I both know that you do not have to devote 100% of your free time to children, I'd wager there are spouses available to assist with this. You can build stuff while keeping an eye on them, you cannot however build while making your rent or furthering your education.

Mathematically:
40-45 hours of work each week. (at a physically demanding which leaves me tired constantly)
12 hours of school each week.
14 hours of travel each week (on average).
56-63 hours of sleep each week
10 hours of time with girlfriend (If I get that lucky)
8 hours of homework, more if I have a test that week
----------------------------------
153-140 hours devoted to just a few things in my life.
168 hours total in a week

That only leaves 15-28 hours to run all other less important errands (like household chores and spending time with friends) and maybe squeeze some time in for UO.

_________________
Xelah
--Admin of some nameless shard that is still in developement

...

The infinite loop I was referring to was the lack of an ENDIF, sphere doesn't know to stop if it's not there.

My original post had zero flaming or bashing in it. When I stated there was a reason for the crashing I didn't mean "haha you suck you crashed Sphere". I meant, hey something's wrong maybe we can fix it.

My second post was about as civil as I can get when I crawl out of bed and read your reply.

My third post was most definitely not civil nor intended to be. I don't -care- about your life or what you do with your time. FYI I'm single, so is Dragonfire. If your time is so short then you should consider managing it better or getting less things to do. Perhaps one less class at college?

Personally, your script is a waste of time. Like Dragonfire said, I could build a house faster than the reconnecting/setting up that it'd take to use your script.

Stormcrow, crashing is not intentional at any point in time. The client out overflow error is sphere disconnecting the client (I know I said my client bit the dust earlier, I meant disconnected rather than crashed, sorry) because it thinks that client is causing an infinite loop or somehow abusing the item count. Xeleh's sphere is crashing for some very bad script error or something, which I -would- have been happy to try to help with, had he not had the notion I was bashing him and start chatting about our lack of lives for being able to build cities without his script.

Look, I appologize for being an ass. I know we're all here to help each other, hence why I'm bothering to automate house building for others. It looks like we've just had a string of bad mood and not morning person oriented posts. I stated that my frustration wasn't directed at anyone, but I guess that doesn't make it alright. My second post, the mood was somewhat related to the first. That $20 comes straight out of my beer budget and I tend to get a little grouchy if I haven't had any alcohol in a few days. The third was just the tone of the thread. I appologize again for the harsh words, I have nothing but respect for you guys.

I didn't mean you guys couldn't build a city without my script, I merely meant that you guys seem to have more spare time than I do, which in the mood I've been in came off as an abrasive remark, I appologize for that also. With my limited time, and my map having 26 cities/towns/villages, cutting the five minutes it would take to build a house or shop via axis down to around 15 seconds will help with getting done quicker by several weeks.

About the crashing, I don't know why it works for you but not me. I've tested the Crash Me Function on two different computers and they both crash. Maybe it's bad luck.

We're all still friends here, right?

_________________
Xelah
--Admin of some nameless shard that is still in developement

I use RunUO through and through, Have been involved with RunUO since before the first beta, and have been working with it since the first release (Beta 1 )... Used POL for year or so before that.. I have only very briefly used sphere, around the time I was playing with RunUO Beta 1, and I shut it down within 10 mins. It just felt like it lacked a lot.. I cant even explain it.
Who cares you ask? exactly.

About your house/building tool.. all I have to say is.. whats the point, really. As I see it, you spend several days, a couple/few weeks creating somthing that will basicly build some neat boring square/rectangle/L-shaped houses. Sure, maybe 2, even 3 story.. and a roof.
I think you should really ask yourself this, though... And think about the actual realistic finished product.. "Will you really be more happy having this tool generate some basic square'ish' buildings?? Or wouldnt it be just as easy to have several styles of buildings on an export file, and just re-import them here and there, where you want some of the "Filler" buildings.
Having 26 towns, my god, I guess they are not yet built? cause if they are, I would assume you would have already thought about all of this carfully

As for the EMU bashing, and trashing.. nuff said already, we all have our oppinions, and preferences. Dont make me lock this thread

_________________
Forget what you know, know what you forget.

I do plan to use some import export stuff in my map, just I can't do large portions of it like that. Mainly due to the fact that I want regions to have certain styles to them, but not all the buildings to look exactly the same.

A point of note though, a little creativity with the tool would allow you to do more than simple square or L shaped buildings. For example: Tell the script you want a one story 16x16 square building with a flat roof made out of wooden planks (so it will look like a floor). Stand on top of the building on then tell it to build a two story 8x8 (or larger, just bigger than 16x16 would look odd) building in the upper corner with a triangular roof. Next, go back to the ground and create another two story 8x8 on one of the sides of the building.

It will look something like the first building on this page, only a little bigger. I cut it down to an 8x8 building with two 4x4 additions to get it all in one screen.

http://www.geocities.com/orcsdomain/houses.html

My script created every tile on those screenshots, from the time I told it to start to the time it stopped (not counting the time I spent to change a few numbers due to lack of user friendliness), it took about 45 seconds to build either of those two buildings.

_________________
Xelah
--Admin of some nameless shard that is still in developement

Hey, thats prety damn good. Nevermind the crap I mentioned then
At least up to te part where I said enough EMU bashing

_________________
Forget what you know, know what you forget.

Hey that is pretty good. Now write it in C# and we're all happy

_________________
This space for rent.

*coughs* Yeah

_________________
Forget what you know, know what you forget.

Just give up on Run UO and we're all happy


*edit*
That wasn't a dig at Run UO, just it's not likely that I'm going to redo my script in C#. For those that might care, I got creative and named the tool "Architect"

_________________
Xelah
--Admin of some nameless shard that is still in developement