Would an In Game Combat Parser be Possible?

[cyber_zombie]

Hi,

Not a programmer at all, but I was wondering if some sort of .xml Combat Parser would be possible to implement In Game? I don't currently use any combat parsers as the thought of running EQ2 windowed doesn't appeal to me.

Thanks for any replies!!!!


EDIT: I did read this thread - http://www.eq2interface.com/forums/s...ghlight=parser

and the final post seems to indicate that an in game program that simply displayed Combat DPS in a seperate UI window would not violate the EULA...

So my question would be, anyone working on this or figured out a way to do it or interested in taking it on if they know how??

Thanks.

[dc_roenfanz]

By seperate window, im pretty sure it means its own special window within the client. ANYTHING that is a third part app that affects online gameplay is against EULA, IIRC.

Im pretty sure the DPS caluclator would be within the client not ouside of it. Don't think anyone has been very accurate with one though. Closest is maybe laffs??

[Lange]

There already is a popular damage parser that offers a windowed mode within EQ2.

EDIT: Better yet, here is an official SOE forum post on it
http://eqiiforums.station.sony.com/e...essage.id=2283

Shouldn't be able to get in trouble for linking to their own forums I wouldn't think.

[dc_roenfanz]

Originally Posted by Lange

There already is a popular damage parser that offers a windowed mode within EQ2.

EDIT: Better yet, here is an official SOE forum post on it
http://eqiiforums.station.sony.com/e...essage.id=2283

Shouldn't be able to get in trouble for linking to their own forums I wouldn't think.

Nifty, didn't know that existed. And I talk to ger alltha time. However, that only works in windowed mode, and the poster/threadstarter pretty much doesnt want windowed mode

[cyber_zombie]

Originally Posted by dc_roenfanz

Nifty, didn't know that existed. And I talk to ger alltha time. However, that only works in windowed mode, and the poster/threadstarter pretty much doesnt want windowed mode

Actually looking over the posted features of the CSM (combat stats) program, I'm wondering if this -

Originally Posted by Aliantha

** Mini-monitor - EQ II like UI window with damage bars that show damage done, taken for all group members

would work? Has anyone seen what this looks like in game?


Also I should clarify something from my original post -

Originally Posted by cyber_zombie

and the final post seems to indicate that an in game program that simply displayed Combat DPS in a seperate UI window would not violate the EULA...

I was basing this on this information from the linked thread -

Originally Posted by Killarny

Moorgard told him that he couldn't make a program that would paste the results into the chat window. That isn't what the poster in this thread is asking about - he just wants a window to show DPS. I don't think that is against the EULA, and in fact, it looks like Moorgard has indirectly stated that such a program would be okay.



So, a window overlayed on the game view that only displays information gleaned from the log file in realtime, without interacting with the game window would not violate the EULA, and, if I have interpreted Moorgard's comment correctly, wouldn't be frowned upon at all by SOE.

So anyway.... more debate on this would be great

Thanks again for the discussion!!!

[cyber_zombie]

Another Clarification thought...

The one thing that I've read that makes an in game UI window (that simply references and displays results in that window of the realtime parsed logfiles that are generated in Combat Stats) seem possible to make, is the following post -

Originally Posted by Killarny

Moorgard told him that he couldn't make a program that would paste the results into the chat window. That isn't what the poster in this thread is asking about - he just wants a window to show DPS. I don't think that is against the EULA, and in fact, it looks like Moorgard has indirectly stated that such a program would be okay.

I would refrain from calling this tool an in-game utility. I'd call it something generic related to DirectX, and make it function for multiple applications. (ie, not EQ2 specific - make a browse button for the user to specify a logfile, not autodetecting the EQ2 logfile)

"A MMORPG logfile parsing utility to display your realtime DPS in a small window on a DirectX overlay surface."

I don't have the first clue about programming and so don't really know if this would be possible or not, it just appears to me from what I've read that it is, and that would be very handy.

And while MOORGARD did not directly say it was ok to do, he did say that while they would not condone a program that automatically pasted Combat Stat results into a chat window, it was ok to manually paste them.

[dc_roenfanz]

Originally Posted by cyber_zombie

Another Clarification thought...

The one thing that I've read that makes an in game UI window (that simply references and displays results in that window of the realtime parsed logfiles that are generated in Combat Stats) seem possible to make, is the following post -



I don't have the first clue about programming and so don't really know if this would be possible or not, it just appears to me from what I've read that it is, and that would be very handy.

And while MOORGARD did not directly say it was ok to do, he did say that while they would not condone a program that automatically pasted Combat Stat results into a chat window, it was ok to manually paste them.

Here is the direct Moorgard quote, from Combat Stats

FROM: Moorgard
SENT: 02-01-2005 10:16 AM

Re: Auto-Sending Stats to the EQ II Client
Thanks for the clarification.

While your application sounds non-intrusive, we can't condone anything that alters the flow of game inputs. In order to hold a firm stance against macroing, we have to draw the line that any software that inputs text to the game client in an automated fashion is against our rules.

Manually pasting from the clipboard into the game is fine, of course. It's just the automated step that we can't support.

I appreciate you asking.

and from elsewhere on the same site:

In a word, no.

Maybe I did too good of a job making it look like it would - but that window is just that - an "always-on-top" standard window. The Mini-Monitor functions the same way that email, a web browser or Media Player function - when you go full screen in EQ II, everything goes away including the Mini-Monitor.

Now - if there are any DirectX programmers out there that would like to help me create a version of the MM for DirectX9, please don't hesitate to contact me. However, until that happens I am completely, 100% DirectX illiterate. Sorry

The Mini-Monitor is basically an in-game look-alike window that is out of game. This window is always on top, however it only works when the game is in windowed mode fullscreen mode, nothing shows on top of the game.

[cyber_zombie]

Ahh, gotcha...

Thanks for the clarifying Quotes and also taking the time to reply and involve yourself in this topic.

[Zonx]

Its theoretically possible (and within the EULA) to write a 3rd party log parser that generates results as an HTML page that could be viewed/refreshed in-game via the HTML window.

The tricky part of getting any external data into the client is updating the data during play. Currently I don't think anyone has found a way to do this except by using the HTML window.

I haven't tested this to confirm, but I'm fairly sure XML files aren't reloaded if closed and reopened and I don't know of any reload command.

[Laffs]

I haven't tested this to confirm, but I'm fairly sure XML files aren't reloaded if closed and reopened and I don't know of any reload command.

I tried this before even if you remove a few files and zone it still wont look for them or new one's.. I seems to me that once the UI is loaded up to start with thats it until you exit and load game back up... Only stuff that gets updated as we all know is the dynamic data there seems to be a pause of upto 10secs on some of that at times...

I also tried to push data from one of my sites to the html window but it would not reflect any changes either, tried it with page refresh timers and all sorts of stuff, hell I even tried to get it to play mp3's lol ... In short that html window is a biatch it dont seem to want to do anything that would be of much use to anyone lol.... Only way I can think of would be to force a window running outside of the game to stay in focus and that would have to be written in DX9 right?

[dc_roenfanz]

Originally Posted by Zonx

Its theoretically possible (and within the EULA) to write a 3rd party log parser that generates results as an HTML page that could be viewed/refreshed in-game via the HTML window.

The tricky part of getting any external data into the client is updating the data during play. Currently I don't think anyone has found a way to do this except by using the HTML window.

I haven't tested this to confirm, but I'm fairly sure XML files aren't reloaded if closed and reopened and I don't know of any reload command.

I think maybe you're right. say the combat stats were pushed to an html window on some website. the html window in eq2 is just pulling the data from that window. this gets around the program directly inputing into game, no?

[Arismath]

Originally Posted by dc_roenfanz

I think maybe you're right. say the combat stats were pushed to an html window on some website. the html window in eq2 is just pulling the data from that window. this gets around the program directly inputing into game, no?

No Dice, as the post above mentions and as I have tested myself there is no way to refresh the content that is loaded into the HTML window. I have tried the META reload tags, manual edits, EVERYTHING I can think of without success. Once the HTML loads the content on the launch of the game its there to stay.

Arismath

[serion]

I dont know if this info is any good, and im sure some of you already realize this. I notice that the guild window updates player location constantly, as do other windows update. Anyone try to duplicate that process?

[Deathbane27]

Originally Posted by serion

I dont know if this info is any good, and im sure some of you already realize this. I notice that the guild window updates player location constantly, as do other windows update. Anyone try to duplicate that process?

Nope, that stuff is controlled by the game client and/or server, not the UI files. The HTML window is the only thing we have with which to get data from an external source.

[Magus]

That data is fed directly from the server, it is not updated by the UI files.