Announcing Util: FreeEdit

Wed Jun 18, 2003 5:24 pm by disorder

I am currently developing a "FL Specific Independant INI Editor" which will basically be a "notepad on acid" with lots of FL specific tools and features.

It will easily edit any of the Freelancer INI files seperately to each other by using a common resource with all IDS numbers for ships, weapons, items, bases etc contained in it. When opening the different files, it will display the sections in your chosen file on a side list *by name* for easy navigation to that section.

For example, with shiparch.ini the program will display:

Liberty Fighter (Patriot)
Liberty Elite (Defender)
Liberty Freighter(Rhino)
And so on...

The reason for this approach is that GUI's with fields for every item and dropdown lists are fine, but can sometimes be bulky. If you want to use notepad or wordpad to edit files it can be much more rewarding and quicker, and some people still like the 'hardcore' programming approach to FL.

But this notepad will have lote of nice FL specific stuff like:

* Tabbed Editing - Tabs are flat and tidy and do not restrict space.
* Full Error Checking - Will find missing entries after "Health = " etc
* Section Filtering - Filter out only [Cost sections in goods.ini file or whatever
* Full Search & Replace - May Include wildcards, multiple arguments and
value mathmatics (Change "Health = Value" to "Health = Value*2"

* Find In File - Will find your selected text in a different file of your choice and
display it in the window
* Undo History - Lets you backtrack to any undo 'point' by selecting it.
* File Compare - Compare to files side by side and see the lines that have changed.

Anyway, thats all for the moment.. this is being worked on by myself with most of the main ideas coming from one of the other members here.. its only in alpha stage so will not be fully ready for a few weeks yet.

If anyone wants to make suggestions then post it here and i'll check back.

I'm East Clintwood and I'm dumb.. well do ya punk..do ya what?.. i dont know[!

Thu Jun 19, 2003 12:03 am by vera lynn

i use a combination of ultraedit 32 and notetab light [each has its pros
but what would really be nice is a sort-thingie of this kind :

these is from my goods.ini
maybe it is possible to sort these :
[good
nickname=taiidanlightfighter_engine_01
equipment=taiidanlightfighter_engine_01
ids_name=263690
ids_info=264690
.....

[good
nickname=taiidanheavyfighter_engine_01
equipment=taiidanheavyfighter_engine_01
ids_name=263690
.....

to that:
[good
nickname=taiidanheavyfighter_engine_01
equipment=taiidanheavyfighter_engine_01
ids_name=263690
.....

[good
nickname=taiidanlightfighter_engine_01
equipment=taiidanlightfighter_engine_01
ids_name=263690
ids_info=264690
.....

meaning the editor looks for sections defined by [customizable, then it takes that hole section and sorts them alphabetically according to the first one [also customizable line after the section-brackets

so one can sort out things easily in the evergrowing ini-files
like all goods with sorted by nickname or all market_misc things sorted by base

what would be another good feature :

the editor sorts as section internally like :

this
[good <number 1 at line 121
1
5
3

[good <number 2 at line 126
6
4
8

to that
[good <number 1 still at line 121
1
3
5

[good <number 2 still at line 126
4
6
8

cause ive seen the lines in the section are often mixed and therefor it makes searching a bit complicated [yeah i know, most editors "all?" have a searchfunktion, but i rather look with my own eyes

by the way if youre wondering, yes i will be building ships anew, completely with their own engines, powerplants, and engine sounds.
but this is just to become used to modding freelancer, i dont have asked for permits for the ships i use, so that mod will never be released
firstly, it must be completed, and when i think its good, i ask the owners

godspeed Vera

"we will meet again, some sunny day"

Thu Jun 19, 2003 1:06 pm by disorder

I will take a look as there are already quite a few FL requested features going in, and i'm sure a section filter/sort will be in there somewhere..

Fri Jun 20, 2003 1:52 pm by bws

It`s a good idea, if it works.
(tried to do something simalar myself for an other game, error checking, colouring and all that kind of stuff takes an enormous amount of power from someones pc, so it became to slow)

Good luck

VINI VIDI REOR VICI SED....

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