Combat Record Exports

[Rigel]

Dan, I have tried my hand at creating a VERY basic hcr file and I have a couple observations.


The sort by DEX does not seem to be working. At least, I tried sorting by SPD and they looked OK, but tried it sorted by DEX and that didn't work.
Can you not send any of the <!--TEMPLATE_NAME--> (and TEMPLATE_DESC and FILE_EXTENSION) tags to the final file?
Would it be possible to have an "open record?" option on the selection screen to automatically open the combat record after creating it?


I have attached my basic.hcr combat record export file (with a superfluos .txt on the end to be post-able) for anyone to look at.

[rjcurrie]

The "sort by DEX" works for me. It sorted the characters in descending order by the secondary DEX value.

Dan, will there be a way to export a phase chart for each character. For example, something like:



X X X X X X X X X X X X (for SPD 12)
X X X X X X (for SPD 6)
X X X X X (for SPD 5)


Of course, this would require the combat record template to output this part of the record in a fixed font (such as Courier). Alternatively, I suppose the program could use 12 export tags named <!--PHASE_1--> through <!--PHASE_12--> set to either "X" or " " (space) depending upon whether or not the character acts in that phase or not. This option would allow more control of the final export format. Ideally, the combat record template would be able to specify the character used for "X" and default to "X" if none was specified.

[Simon]

Originally posted by Rigel
Dan, I have tried my hand at creating a VERY basic hcr file and I have a couple observations.


The sort by DEX does not seem to be working. At least, I tried sorting by SPD and they looked OK, but tried it sorted by DEX and that didn't work.
Can you not send any of the <!--TEMPLATE_NAME--> (and TEMPLATE_DESC and FILE_EXTENSION) tags to the final file?
Would it be possible to have an "open record?" option on the selection screen to automatically open the combat record after creating it?


I have attached my basic.hcr combat record export file (with a superfluos .txt on the end to be post-able) for anyone to look at.
Sort by DEX works fine...it's sorting on secondary DEX value.

I'll make sure that those tags are removed from the final output...that was an oops.

[Simon]

Originally posted by rjcurrie
The "sort by DEX" works for me. It sorted the characters in descending order by the secondary DEX value.

Dan, will there be a way to export a phase chart for each character. For example, something like:



X X X X X X X X X X X X (for SPD 12)
X X X X X X (for SPD 6)
X X X X X (for SPD 5)


Of course, this would require the combat record template to output this part of the record in a fixed font (such as Courier). Alternatively, I suppose the program could use 12 export tags named <!--PHASE_1--> through <!--PHASE_12--> set to either "X" or " " (space) depending upon whether or not the character acts in that phase or not. This option would allow more control of the final export format. Ideally, the combat record template would be able to specify the character used for "X" and default to "X" if none was specified.

The spd chart is coming shortly as an export tag....the font used for outputting is up to the creator of the template...they'd specify the font before the tag.

[Talon]

I get a sort in /ascending/ order by DEX...I'd love to see descending, since that's the order I normally want (fastest people at the top).

I don't like the order of the UI screens: pick a template, pick a file name (including overwrite), and only then pick who to output and the sort order. Ideally, the template choice and character/sort order choice would all be on one screen -- having to go through three screens for each output will be a drag.

Rather than a "open it right away" checkbox, I'd suggest remaining consistent and having a Preview Combat Record menu command (in line with Preview Character).

Lastly, a pair of sorting dropdowns (Primary and Secondary) with "Random" as an option would be awesome.

[Talon]

Oh yeah -- the SPD thing.

I'd much rather see <!--GOES_IN_SEGMENT_1...12--> tags than a single tag that spits out the whole thing. Gives the template designer more flexibility.

[Rigel]

Dan, it appears when I include <!--DEX_SECONDARY--> in the hcr template, the sort by DEX works. When I include <!--DEX_TOTAL--> instead, the sort by DEX does not work.

And, I like Geoff's preview combat record idea over the checkbox. That would work well.

[Simon]

Originally posted by Geoff Speare
I get a sort in /ascending/ order by DEX...I'd love to see descending, since that's the order I normally want (fastest people at the top).

I don't like the order of the UI screens: pick a template, pick a file name (including overwrite), and only then pick who to output and the sort order. Ideally, the template choice and character/sort order choice would all be on one screen -- having to go through three screens for each output will be a drag.

Rather than a "open it right away" checkbox, I'd suggest remaining consistent and having a Preview Combat Record menu command (in line with Preview Character).

Lastly, a pair of sorting dropdowns (Primary and Secondary) with "Random" as an option would be awesome.
UI Screens remain the way they are...the template selection dialog is almost too big as it is.

I'll look into adding in ascending/descending options as well as a primary/secondary sort option and a "preview".

[Simon]

Originally posted by Geoff Speare
Oh yeah -- the SPD thing.

I'd much rather see <!--GOES_IN_SEGMENT_1...12--> tags than a single tag that spits out the whole thing. Gives the template designer more flexibility.
Good idea...I'm glad I haven't started on that yet ;-)

I'll most likely work it in in that manner.

[Simon]

Originally posted by Rigel
Dan, it appears when I include &lt;!--DEX_SECONDARY--&gt; in the hcr template, the sort by DEX works. When I include &lt;!--DEX_TOTAL--&gt; instead, the sort by DEX does not work.

And, I like Geoff's preview combat record idea over the checkbox. That would work well.
It still works with DEX_TOTAL. Look at the secondary DEX value (listed after the "/" in the total display). That's what it's sorting on.

[Talon]

Can you change the order of the UI screens? It just seems odd to be selecting who you want to output after you have chosen the file name (and potentially overwritten the previous file).

[Simon]

Originally posted by Geoff Speare
Can you change the order of the UI screens? It just seems odd to be selecting who you want to output after you have chosen the file name (and potentially overwritten the previous file).
You haven't overwritten (or written) anything at that point...you've just told the system that it's ok to do so if you complete the process.

[rjcurrie]

I agree with Geoff that the current order of the dialogs for the combat record export feels backwards. I would prefer seeing one dialog where you specified the characters to use and how to sort them and once that was chosen, then be presented with the dialog for selecting the template. That just feels more natural to me.

Rod

[Simon]

OK...here's what I've got:

1. I've flipped the order of the character selection/template selection dialogs

2. I've inserted a new secondary sort criteria...if you don't want to use it, just leave it selected to the same value as primary.

3. I've inserted ascending/descending sort order specifications.

Hopefully that will take care of it.

[Talon]

But wait, there's more!

It should at the very least remember and auto-select the last combat record template you used...and ideally, should have a setup like normal export templates (where HD remembers the last one you used overall and defaults to that unless you select a Change It) command. Most people are going to have a single combat record style they use, I imagine -- no need to make them re-select it each time.

[Simon]

Originally posted by Geoff Speare
Oh yeah -- the SPD thing.

I'd much rather see &lt;!--GOES_IN_SEGMENT_1...12--&gt; tags than a single tag that spits out the whole thing. Gives the template designer more flexibility.

Hrrm...ok...I'm looking into doing this now and am running into one issue: what SPD value to use?

If the character has a different primary/secondary SPD, I need to pick one value to use for this evaluation.

My feeling on this is to go with the secondary value. Thoughts?

[Talon]

Hm.

How about tags for each? :)

If you have to pick one, I'd go with secondary.

[Simon]

Originally posted by Geoff Speare
Hm.

How about tags for each? :)

If you have to pick one, I'd go with secondary.
Sigh. I was hoping to avoid that, but you're probably right.

Here's what I've got in place for the next update:

&lt;!--IF_PRIMARY_PHASE_1--&gt; . . . &lt;!--/IF_PRIMARY_PHASE_1--&gt; -- prints the contents of the container if the character moves on phase 1 with their primary speed

&lt;!--IF_NOT_PRIMARY_PHASE_1--&gt; . . . &lt;!--/IF_NOT_PRIMARY_PHASE_1--&gt; -- prints the contents of the container if the character does NOT move on phase 1 with their primary speed

&lt;!--IF_SECONDARY_PHASE_1--&gt; . . . &lt;!--/IF_SECONDARY_PHASE_1--&gt; -- prints the contents of the container if the character moves on phase 1 with their primary speed

&lt;!--IF_NOT_SECONDARY_PHASE_1--&gt; . . . &lt;!--/IF_NOT_SECONDARY_PHASE_1--&gt; -- prints the contents of the container if the character does NOT move on phase 1 with their secondary speed


Repeat for phases 2-12.