Broken Download ?

[O'ni]

I downloaded Heromaker on saturday and for some reason the file had no extension associated with it. Help would be appreciated.

[RPMiller]

Originally posted by O'ni
I downloaded Heromaker on saturday and for some reason the file had no extension associated with it. Help would be appreciated. Heromaker or Hero Designer?
If it is Hero Designer, you probably want to send an email to Ben. He is pretty good about helping folks with download issues.

[O'ni]

Doh Hero Designer. Stupido me

[Simon]

It's a Micro$oft thing....they don't like downloading .exe files.

All you need to do is rename the file to "setup.exe" and you're good to go.

[O'ni]

Regretfully thats not the ticket. Tried to do that and all I get is a Dos window with program will not fit in memory flashing up. 512M of ram on a 2.8p4 running xp pro.

[Simon]

Errr...when did you download this? If it was before yesterday, that sounds like an issue with some whitespace at the beginning of the file (I've fixed this on the server now).

You can either re-download or you can do the following:

1. Open the file in WinZip (right click on the file and Open With...)

2. Unzip the file into a temporary directory.

3. Go to that directory. You'll find a Windows directory. Go into it and you'll fine a file called "setup.exe". Run it.

That should start the installer for you.

Hope this helps!

[O'ni]

Thanks for the quick response. No luck with winzip.

I get a corrupted file message.

Can you reset me for the dl. I d/l on saturday the 15th

[Simon]

You're all set!

GIve it a shot and let me know if you have any further problems....the change to the download process should have fixed everything except for the file name (you'll still need to rename the file "setup.exe" -- thank you Micro$oft)

[RPMiller]

Originally posted by dsimon
You're all set!

GIve it a shot and let me know if you have any further problems....the change to the download process should have fixed everything except for the file name (you'll still need to rename the file "setup.exe" -- thank you Micro$oft) Hey Dan, do you have a link to a knowledge base article regarding this phenomenon? I personally have never experienced this issue, but I like to know about these things should they come up with the people I support and teach. Thanks!

[Simon]

Not really....I just noticed it start happening when I updated my WinXP.....it started stripping the .exe off of downloads.

Micro$oft's idea of security, I s'pose.

[O'ni]

Thanks again. You've solved all my problems.

[GradonSilverton]

Had the same issue with my DL last week and found an answer by doing the following....

Saved the file with a .zip extnesion not a .exe

Used winzip to open as the XP built in zip opener wont work....

then extract the files and go forth...

[Simon]

Yup....folks that download the file now shouldn't have the issue, however.....it was happening (in part) because of some stray whitespace at the beginning of the file.

[unmaker]

I just bought and downloaded Hero Designer today (feb 21st) and I'm having the same experience reported above. The install keeps failing and when I try to open it as a zip it reports that the file is damaged. I'm running Windows98SE.

Unmaker

P.S. I've downloaded the file several times now, each time has found me in the same situation. I hope I'm not getting charged for each and every download. I've tried everything that's been suggested but nothing seems to be working.

edit: I managed to decompress the files using WINRAR (winzip kept reporting a damaged file), but still no luck. The installer, when run from the decompressed directory, still fails at about the same point (right after is asks me to select an install directory).

My most recent install attempt popped out a log with an error message. Here's part of it:

An unexpected exception has been detected in native code outside the VM.
Unexpected Signal : EXCEPTION_ACCESS_VIOLATION occurred at PC=0x6D1B45ED
Function=[Unknown.]
Library=(N/A)

NOTE: We are unable to locate the function name symbol for the error
just occurred. Please refer to release documentation for possible
reason and solutions.

[Simon]

My suspicion is that you're not _really_ re-downloading it. A while back someone had a similar problem where they were actually caching the d/l and just ended up with the exact same file/error each time.

I just pulled the file from the server again as a test and both the file and the download process are working fine. Plus the error that you're getting is not the same as what happened for others when the d/l was inserting whitespace to the beginning of the file.....what you're seeing sounds very much like a bad d/l.

Please try the following:

1. Clear your browser's cache.

2. Restart your browser.

3. Re-download the file.

Hopefully that will take care of things for you....if not, please post the size of the download that you have (in bytes) so that I can compare it against what I have (and what's on the server).

Also, just as a side thought, what are the specs on your system (OS, RAM, processor, etc.)?

[unmaker]

I'd already tried emptying my cache, but I did so again without any luck. Then I downloaded and installed the latest version of Winzip, and after doing so I had a similar experience to the one I had with WINRAR (i.e. I was able to extract the files but still couldn't install the application from the extraction folder).

My filesize is [19,948,547 bytes] 19,955,712 bytes used

System Specs:
Windows 98SE (ver 4.10.2222 A)
Athlon XP 1800 w/ 512 RAM SDRAM
Geforce4 Ti 4400 (second to latest Nvidia Detonators)
Audigy2 (Running VXD drivers)
MS6330 MB based on KT133/A chipset

I'm also running Java2 RESE 1.3.1_07 because PC Gen won't run for me on anything more recent.

So far nothing's worked.

Unmaker

[Simon]

ok...the file size is dead on to what it should be (that is the size of the file on the server).

As far as the problem, I don't think it's going to matter whether you simply run the download (as setup.exe) or if you manually unzip it and then run the setup. It sounds like the error is on your system.

You may want to try pulling down a new release of Java from sun (http://www.java.sun.com) and installing that before you run HD's installer. It shouldn't matter, but it's possible that your current installation is having some issues.

Once HD is installed, it will have its own JRE to run with (it's part of the installation).

[unmaker]

I'd already tried using different version of Java without result. I just tried installing 1_4_1 again and once again it didn't help. I've been though several Java installation over the last few years and I'd always suspected that there was something wrong with my Java Libs (especially since I couldn't run PCGen on any of the more recent REs). Whatever the problem is... it's not corrected by simply resinatlling the RE.

Unmaker

[Simon]

well, then...I'm kinda running out of options....

Do you have access to another PC? Ideally one on the same network as the one you're looking to install to, or (at least) one with a CD burner or a zip drive.

If so, try installing HD to the other PC and then copying the install directory over to the "problem PC". You'll need to create your own shortcuts (and the uninstall won't work), but so long as the operating systems are the same between the two, it should work.

[unmaker]

That actually worked, but *man* talk about a workaround. The program seems to work as well (which is somewhat surprising considering my apparent java troubles). Hopefully I won't have any further difficulties. Thanks Dan, I appreciate the help.

I still need to figure out this java-problem business...

Unmaker

[Simon]

Well...that's part of the reason that I bundled Java with the app, rather than sharing the system's Java installation. It isolates HD from any problems that you're having on the rest of the system ;)

Anyway, glad it worked for you!

[unmaker]

Er, looks like the HD patch is in jar format... and clicking on it does nothing. I can see the files inside of it by opening it with Winzip...

Unmaker

[Simon]

the updates are all in jar format.

All you need to do is copy the file 'update.jar' into your install directory, over-writing the existing one. Then just restart HD and you're good to go ;)

[unmaker]

Yes, so I read.

Unmaker participates in class activities but does not follow directions.

Damn, you're very prompt in your replies. Thanks again Dan.

Unmaker

[unmaker]

Well, when it rains it pours. After installing the HD patch, the game crashes every time I perform function under the File tab... this assumes that I run the app by hitting the EXE rather than the Jar. If I run by clicking the Jar it appears to run without the patch...?

Unmaker

[Simon]

What happens when you run the following:

java -cp update.jar; HeroDesigner.jar com.hero.HeroDesigner

[unmaker]

Color me ignorant. What is it you're asking me to do exactly? Oh, and when I tried running HD using the Jar, it runs for a bit... but it still crashes when I try to do certain things.

Unmaker

[unmaker]

Just an update: I can't run Hero Designer for more than a few minutes without a crash. I have tons of error logs... I've attached one to this message. If anyone has any ideas, I'd love to hear 'em.

I also can't seem to run PC Gen, which is another java app... it produces is a similar error. Note that I've installed, uninstalled and reinstalled the J2 libraries several times... and all different versions. So far no luck.

Unmaker

[Simon]

Ok...that helps. A lot.

The problem that you're having is actually with the fonts installed on your system. Specifically, one of them is corrupted. One of the ones that Java is looking to use. This causes the system to throw an exception when Java asks it to render the font in question, which (in turn) crashes Java.

Fortunately, it can be fixed.

The fonts that Java is looking to use are defined in the file "font.properties". This file is located (for HD) in the directory: [HD INSTALL DIR]\jre\lib\font.properties

Open it up in any text-editor.

You'll want to go down to the section which begins "# Font File Names"

This defines the file names that Java will ask the system to load.

There are two options:

1. (Best) You can go through the list of fonts defined in this section and replace them all on your system. This will fix the root of the problem, which is a corrupted font file.

2. You can change the files that the various fonts point to. For example, you can change "ARIAL.TTF" to be "verdana.TTF" or any other font contained in your system fonts directory.

Please let me know if you need further clarification on this.....

[unmaker]

Thanks Dan, I appreciate the help and will give it a try.

Unmaker

[unmaker]

Nope. It didn't work. I copied over all the necessary fonts from my roomates computer (which the app works on just fine btw) and I'm still having the same problem.

Attached is my latest error log.

Unmaker

[Simon]

Are you absolutely sure you replaced all of them? For example, there are four different Arial font files (ARIAL.TTF, ARIALBD.TTF, ARIALI.TTF, and ARIALBI.TTF). I count 14 font file definitions in my font.properties.

If you're sure that you got all of them, then make sure you go through your control panel and install each of them....I'm not sure if it's enough to just copy the file on Windows or if you have to actually install the font through the font manager.

Finally, if none of that works, try going through the font.properties file and redefining the fonts that Java is looking for until you find the offending party.

[unmaker]

Yeah, I'm sure I replaced them all, and using the Control Panel as well. I'll try changing the names of the fonts that HM is looking for.

Unmaker

edit: Something just occured to me. What if the offending font is somewhere else in my path other than my Fonts directory? I'll check it out.

[unmaker]

Before I continue, let me first say that I've worked as a professional game test analyst (PC Games)... and yet nothing I'd experienced as an analyst could've possibly prepared for the constant aggrivation that this HD problem has inflicted on me.

If I have a corrupt font on my system, they must indeed ALL be corrupt, and further every font that I copy to my system, look at, or otherwise have casual relations with, they too must be denizens of Sodom, damned to hellfire for their boundless corruption.

I've tried everything I can think of just short of creating my own font based on a written language of my own invention. Nothing works.

I modified the font.properties (using wordpad) until my eyes cried out for mercy. All that did was make it so the app wouldn't even launch (and yes I'm pretty sure I did everything correctly). I finally went back to my backup font.properties.

I tried and succeeded in replacing all affected fonts... twice. All this did was waste about two hours and a liter of Mountain Dew: Code Red.

So far I have found two consistant ways to crash HD. While I do appreciate having options, I can't say that I much care for the selection.

First, if I launch HD using the JAR file... it appears to launch without the update (it's just 1.0) and it crashes immediately when I get to skill selection (actually, to be more specific, it crashes after I select my first skill). Note attached file: Crash 1.

Second, if I launch using the EXE, the app crashes just as soon as I try to create a new character under the File header. Note attached file: Crash 2.

Hmm, looks like it only let's you attach a single file...

I'm at the end of my rope.

Unmaker

Aha, the PCGen team found some information. Apparently I'm not the only one having this problem, and it does appear to have something to do with Java and its use of fonts. Here's a info link for those who care:
http://developer.java.sun.com/developer/bugParade/bugs/4482430.html

[Simon]

Ok....just got a juicy little tidbit of information: Swing's HTML components (which HD uses heavily) will scan ALL of the fonts on the system. This means that if <b>any</b> font is corrupt, it will crash out Java.

So...here's anothing thing to try:

1. Set up a system environment variable (let me know if you need help doing this) called JAVA_FONTS. Point it to a directory in your HD install....let's assume for the sake of argument that you make it JAVA_FONTS=C:\Program Files\HeroDesigner\fonts

2. Copy the font files mentioned in font.properties over to C:\Program Files\HeroDesigner\fonts

With luck, this will direct Java to use the named directory for fonts, so when the HTML components search all fonts, they will only find the ones that are in the directory, avoiding whatever font has been corrupted on your system.


Just as a note, I know that this is frustrating, but having a corrupt font file is not all that uncommon of an occurrence. My wife works (in part) in PC support and runs into corrupted font files routinely.

[Simon]

I'm also going to be turning on a "font debugger" in the next update (1.20). This will list every font that Java accesses or touches in any way as it is requested. The output will be placed in "trace.log"

If your system is still crashing at this point, what this should do is allow you to read the trace.log file and see the last font that Java tried to access. Either remove or replace that font and then try again.

I should have the update posted later this morning.

[unmaker]

So far I've yet to find to the offending font. I sent you an email with my trace log. Hopefully that helps.

Unmaker