Little bit

Okay got it so it will load up an image and hold it on screen. Also can pull up an asset by name. It doesn't all show up yet, but I can open the startup.q3, index it, then pull up the opening asset by name.

It still has to get the code added to make the ui buttons function at least to the amount that you highlight when going over them. Then will add in a scripting language (lua) to make the buttons do something. (mainly just make the quit button quit. But also have the buttons that pull up other sub menu's actually do that.

This is the first step to getting a personal UI system that will read the whole Q3. As I get to know how the buttons work I will get a better feel for the UI system in general. If I ever get to read the code this should have given me a good foundation to work with it.

My scripting language will be Lua not QUIL as I have no access yet to how QUIL actually works or looks like. But off to bed, have to work in a few hours. Night all.

Oh, after I get this up and running my son wants me to make a teaser, so maybe next week sometime I shall do that.

A funny thing about memory

It is strange to go back over old code. To see what you were thinking at a specific spot in time. It is like a snapshot of a mindset. You can see how muddy the waters were, how much you have learned or forgotten from that point.

I am going back over some code that was in a folder Q3. (this under dev-c++, I was using three different compilers as I was working on this before). I was using the Setup.q3 from the CD. The initial install menu that comes up. I have to rework some of the code, but it loads all of it into memory and gets it ready to use for running the menu (without the actual function of installing). It will take alittle getting neatened up, and a few major changes on function but I hope to get a running simulation of that Q3 interface by tonight. Then it would be abit more work to expand out to make it work with the normal Q3. (will have to write UI scripts then)

Well, back to diddling.

a little time away

Well, was working on the plans of a sailboat I am going to be building over the next year or so. So took some time working over plans that were designed back in 1880's Picked one out so ready on that part.

Also have been going back over old code I have written. I have forgotten abit of how to do SDL and OpenGL over the summer. So gettting back in the swing of it. I need to know this so I can write the editor. I am hoping to get back up to speed in not to long a time. Got to get a program started that will load a Q3 image and then move it around on screen with a mouse. Then will work on getting it to do more. Baby steps.

newlife?

With anouncement on Dynaverse that maybe the development of SFC might start again, I have alittle more hope now.

So far I have been walking through the UI of the Mirak, getting about one little piece done a day. Still working on the top of the combat UI, did helm, engineering, science so far.

I am wondering if the combat interface is set in size from the images it uses, or the images are set by the size allocated by the interface. Logic says the first. If this is true, it might be possible to set up the side interface to be larger for higher resolutions. Will be looking into this as I move along.

working through assets

mapping out the asset trees now so I know what will change what. I want to get down how the UI runs, before making much in changes to it. So far found something like 180 major layout assets (combination of ones that just hold the buttons for general use, and radio button ones).

Each of these hold usually 3 or more other assets (buttons, images). With each button holding around 3 images each. So to totally change the Mirak UI, will take hundreds of images (mostly the buttons because each, have a normal, selected, and highlighted image) As I figure out each section, I will see about posting the images that work with it, first will be the helm controls.

so far.

Had a great idea last night, but checking it out today nixed it. I was thinking it might have been possible to add new races into the game after I get the hang of the race UI stuff. But from my research since I got back home, they use an enumerated type in the source for races, it is held in race.h (source code stuff so can't see it). So I was alittle let down this morning.

Bright side tho. I have gone through the 322 pages of the Mirak UI Q3 stuff. Took notes on the major assets (the ones that layout the basis of the screens, and hold the more detailed stuff in it). Now to go back through all 322 pages maybe two more times. Then match the assets to the images (find out how many images total are needed to change the UI). Then try and get it into a format so someone might be able to redo the UI's. Good thing is that every race has the UI done the same. So done once, it will work for all the races in case some tweaking is needed to images.

Rant first.

A little rant, I got most out of my system at work last night. But I just have to say, I have little faith in leadership in XC. Been waiting forever for an update to see if ever SFC is going to be worked on. Or if it is to just be scrapped as Frey seems to like STO alot now.

Going into year two since the announcement of SFC4 being worked on and seems not a thing has been done. I understand that leader doesn't want to be in charge of the project, but if no one is stepping up, please just announce that it is on hold. Someone should be at least going through the source to get it ready for when something might be done.

I had offered to help out (twice). Work on organizing and documenting the code. So much could be done faster if only some of the "precious" code would find itself in willing hands. I could be a half year or more ahead of where I am now.

We need server code working, games running, or what is the use of doing anything for the game.

Ah, better.