Storing unit data - My advice

[GoneWacko]

Hmm well Since we are probably going to be using INI files I wanted to show you some stuff...

C&C Tiberian sun, Redalert 2 and Yuris revenge all use the same engine, and it works like this:

there is the Rules.INI file, which has a lot of variables about stuff that is activated, and it also has the 'unit' information and settings. for example:

snippet of the rules.ini file from Yuri's Revenge, Battle fortress information:

;Battle Fortress
[BFRT]
UIName=Name:Battlefortress This is the key that refers to code from the STRINGS file for Yuri's Revenge, where all text is located.
Name=Battle Fortress Name of the vehicle, obsolete for the game
Prerequisite=GAWEAP,GATECH Stuff that is needed to build it.
-------------- more stuff below
Primary=20mmRapid
Strength=600
Category=AFV
Armor=heavy
IsTilter=yes
TooBigToFitUnderBridge=true
TechLevel=10
Sight=6
Speed=4
PipScale=Passengers
Passengers=5
OpenTopped=yes;passengers can shoot out
SizeLimit=2;1 ;gs like half track and Blackhawk. Terror Drones and Brutes are allowed in.
CrateGoodie=yes
Crusher=yes
OmniCrusher=yes;gs can crush things not normally crushable
Owner=British,French,Germans,Americans,Alliance
Cost=2000
Soylent=2000
Points=50
ROT=5
IsSelectableCombatant=yes
AllowedToStartInMultiplayer=no
Explosion=TWLT070,S_BANG48,S_BRNL58,S_CLSN58,S_TUMU60
VoiceSelect=BattleFortressSelect
VoiceMove=BattleFortressMove
VoiceAttack=BattleFortressAttackCommand
VoiceFeedback=
DieSound=GenVehicleDie
MoveSound=BattleFortressMoveStart
EnterTransportSound=EnterTransport
LeaveTransportSound=ExitTransport
Maxdebris=3
Locomotor={4A582741-9839-11d1-B709-00A024DDAFD1}
MovementZone=CrusherAll;gs OmniCrush handles crushing tanks and such, this handles walls
ThreatPosed=40 ; This value MUST be 0 for all building addons
DamageParticleSystems=SparkSys,SmallGreySSys
DamageSmokeOffset=100, 100, 275
Weight=3.5
VeteranAbilities=STRONGER,FIREPOWER,SIGHT,FASTER
EliteAbilities=SELF_HEAL,STRONGER,FIREPOWER,ROF
Accelerates=false
ZFudgeColumn=8
ZFudgeTunnel=13
Size=6
OmniCrushResistant=yes; so Crusher can crush Crushable, OmniCrusher trumps Crushable=no, and then OmniCrushResistant trumps OmniCrusher

anyhow, we could use this kind of a setup as well! The game knows what's a unit and what is not by a list of all units. like this:

another snippet in the ini file:

[VehicleTypes]
1=AMCV;Allied MCV
2=HARV
3=APOC
4=HTNK
5=SAPC
6=CAR
7=BUS
8=WINI
9=PICK
10=MTNK
11=HORV
12=TRUCKA
13=TRUCKB
14=CARRIER
15=V3
16=ZEP
17=DRON
------- etc etc

Right... still on tracks??

Then there's the ART.INI file that has exactly the same names ( like [MCV] and [DRON]) but has information about what graphics to show and how to show them.

[MCV] ; Allied MCV
Cameo=MCVICON <-- the image for building the unit (in the sidebar)
Remapable=yes <-- are the shades of red to be changed into the player's color?
Voxel=yes <-- is this a voxel? (the way the engine generates it's units it by using a voxel engine...)

There's LOADS more like the place where the cannons should fire from, stuff like that...

hope you guys are still getting it

[orudge]

Hmm well Since we are probably going to be using INI files

Says who? That's currently undecided. XML would have several advantages, but is more complicated. INI files do have the advantage that they are very simple.

[rein]

ehh... final word: ini files
if someone will have time to convert data loading to xml ones, no problem, but i'm not taking it on

disscusion xml vs. ini took place already, isn't it?

[GoneWacko]

hmm... well... I thought It was going to be INI... But since i'm not around @ this forum much (I'm not feeling as exited about the project as you guys do), I don't know of all the discussions going on... I'm simply giving my advice about INI's...

[SHADOW-XIII]

I'm for INI ... I don't like XML ...

[GoneWacko]

XML is great and powerfull stuff if you know how to get to work... I've read about XSL or something

[SHADOW-XIII]

I have to learn MatML ...

[ChrisCF]

XML does have the advantage that there are already mechanisms in place for exporting XML data into a variety of formats. However it has the disadvantage that someone's gonna have to sit down one night and write a DTD. Not a particularly pleasant job.

[mp3Pro]

ini makes it easy for the end user to edit too

[GoneWacko]

I think XML is just as easy. We could always write a small tutorial document when the game is going gold

[SHADOW-XIII]

maybe a poll ??? can you create a pool in this topic ?


EDITED: LOL ....I did it again

[GoneWacko]

p00l? WTF?

[Hyronymus]

What about a poll? That is much easier voting!

[GoneWacko]

oh a poll I guess thats wat shadow meant
I don't think it's up to the forum members to decide, but the programmers should take a look @ what's the easiest thing to program...

[orudge]

Easiest to program isn't necessarily the best solution. I'd suggest we take a look at some XML parsers and see how hard it would be to implement it though.

[Hajo]

Easiest to program isn't necessarily the best solution. I'd suggest we take a look at some XML parsers and see how hard it would be to implement it though.

Volker evaluated the Xerces parser to be used for Simutrans' MakeObj tool and it seems to work fine.

But Xerces is a huge package, you might want to to find a smaller XML parser.

c.u.
Hajo

[GoneWacko]

Ya know what? Let's make our own hahaha

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