Official Launch of the SE4 Companion

[Aiken]

My email returned, so....

Situation: I have Companion folder inside main SE4 folder. Companion considers it as a mod. Since there is no modinfo.txt inside this "mod" is marked as "Unknown (Companion) N/A". Then, I clicked on the Mod Savegame Path Browse button and get error (see log). Error is reproducable.

Small annoyance: I can't disable mod which is not supplied with modinfo.txt from the Mod Info and Edit window.

Wish: Ability to remove mod record from the ini file without deleting entire mod folder.

PrePS: Ruatha, if you need a screenshot, I can post it here.

======Debug Log=======
date/time : 2004-09-03 22:45
computer name : HOSAKA
user name : Aiken
operating system : Windows 2000 Service Pack 4 build 2195
system language : Russian
system up time : 23 hours 50 minutes
program up time : 4 minutes 13 seconds
physical memory : 56/192 MB (free/total)
free disk space : (C 141,68 MB (D 114,48 MB
process id : $3a0
executable : companion.exe
exec. date/time : 2004-09-01 19:08
Version : 0.851
madExcept Version : 2.7b
exception class : EInOutError
exception message : File not found.

main thread ($3a4):
004c9a79 companion.exe
77f426f6 GDI32.DLL GetTextExtentPointW
77f83559 ntdll.dll RtlAnsiStringToUnicodeString
77e16e96 USER32.DLL CallWindowProcW
77b56d81 comctl32.dll #413
77e16e96 USER32.DLL CallWindowProcW
77f9ff54 ntdll.dll KiUserCallbackDispatcher
77e139e0 USER32.DLL SendMessageW
77e13d95 USER32.DLL CallWindowProcA
77e15f64 USER32.DLL DispatchMessageA
005c258e companion.exe madDisAsm GetLabel
77f426f6 GDI32.DLL GetTextExtentPointW
77f83559 ntdll.dll RtlAnsiStringToUnicodeString
77e16e96 USER32.DLL CallWindowProcW
77b56d81 comctl32.dll #413
77e16e96 USER32.DLL CallWindowProcW
77f9ff54 ntdll.dll KiUserCallbackDispatcher
77e139e0 USER32.DLL SendMessageW
77e13d95 USER32.DLL CallWindowProcA
77e15f64 USER32.DLL DispatchMessageA
005f26f8 companion.exe RTLConsts initialization

thread $3dc:
77f83310 ntdll.dll NtReplyWaitReceivePortEx

thread $3b0:
77f8289c ntdll.dll NtRemoveIoCompletion
79433c6d KERNEL32.DLL GetQueuedCompletionStatus

thread $454:
77f8290a ntdll.dll NtSetEvent
77f88261 ntdll.dll RtlpUnWaitCriticalSection
77f881ac ntdll.dll RtlLeaveCriticalSection
77f83410 ntdll.dll RtlReleasePebLock

thread $444:
77f8287e ntdll.dll NtWaitForMultipleObjects
79433c21 KERNEL32.DLL WaitForMultipleObjectsEx
79438f08 KERNEL32.DLL WaitForMultipleObjects

modules:
00400000 companion.exe D:\Games\SEIV\Companion
01510000 bbLeanSkinEng.dll c:\Shellz\bbLean\plugins\BBLeanSkin
03000000 TBMapi.DLL C:\Program Files\The Bat!
10000000 hook.dll C:\Program Files\Direct Folders
665e0000 umdmxfrm.dll 5.0.2134.1 C:\WINNT\system32
68060000 serwvdrv.dll 5.0.2134.1 C:\WINNT\system32
68c10000 CLBCATQ.DLL 2000.2.3511.0 C:\WINNT\system32
694c0000 olepro32.dll 5.0.4522.0 C:\WINNT\system32
6c840000 mapi32.dll 1.0.2536.0 C:\WINNT\system32
74930000 asycfilt.dll 2.40.4522.0 C:\WINNT\system32
74fb0000 WS2HELP.DLL 5.0.2134.1 C:\WINNT\system32
74fc0000 WS2_32.DLL 5.0.2195.6601 C:\WINNT\system32
74fe0000 wsock32.dll 5.0.2195.6603 C:\WINNT\system32
750e0000 SAMLIB.DLL 5.0.2195.6897 C:\WINNT\system32
75100000 netapi32.dll 5.0.2195.6897 C:\WINNT\system32
75150000 NETRAP.DLL 5.0.2134.1 C:\WINNT\system32
75950000 LZ32.DLL 5.0.2195.6611 C:\WINNT\system32
76590000 URLMON.DLL 5.0.3700.6705 C:\WINNT\system32
76ae0000 comdlg32.dll 5.0.3700.6693 C:\WINNT\system32
76bb0000 wininet.dll 5.0.3700.6713 C:\WINNT\system32
77070000 CSCDLL.DLL 5.0.2195.6713 C:\WINNT\system32
770f0000 RPCRT4.DLL 5.0.2195.6904 C:\WINNT\system32
773e0000 MSASN1.DLL 5.0.2195.6905 C:\WINNT\system32
77470000 RASMAN.DLL 5.0.2195.6604 C:\WINNT\system32
77490000 RASAPI32.DLL 5.0.2195.6625 C:\WINNT\system32
774e0000 TAPI32.DLL 5.0.2195.6664 C:\WINNT\system32
77520000 winmm.dll 5.0.2161.1 C:\WINNT\system32
77560000 SHELL32.DLL 5.0.3700.6705 C:\WINNT\system32
777d0000 winspool.drv 5.0.2195.6659 C:\WINNT\system32
777f0000 VERSION.DLL 5.0.2195.6623 C:\WINNT\system32
77800000 RTUTILS.DLL 5.0.2168.1 C:\WINNT\system32
77820000 cscui.dll 5.0.2195.6705 C:\WINNT\system32
77950000 WLDAP32.DLL 5.0.2195.6666 C:\WINNT\system32
77980000 DNSAPI.DLL 5.0.2195.6824 C:\WINNT\system32
779b0000 oleaut32.dll 2.40.4522.0 C:\WINNT\system32
77a50000 ole32.dll 5.0.2195.6906 C:\WINNT\system32
77b50000 comctl32.dll 5.81.3502.6601 C:\WINNT\system32
77c70000 SHLWAPI.DLL 5.0.3502.6601 C:\WINNT\system32
77e10000 USER32.DLL 5.0.2195.6897 C:\WINNT\system32
77f40000 GDI32.DLL 5.0.2195.6898 C:\WINNT\system32
77f80000 ntdll.dll 5.0.2195.6899 C:\WINNT\system32
78000000 MSVCRT.DLL 6.1.9844.0 C:\WINNT\system32
78e60000 USERENV.DLL 5.0.2195.6794 C:\WINNT\system32
78f40000 shdocvw.dll 5.0.3700.6668 C:\WINNT\system32
79060000 advapi32.dll 5.0.2195.6876 C:\WINNT\system32
79140000 SECUR32.DLL 5.0.2195.6695 C:\WINNT\system32
79430000 KERNEL32.DLL 5.0.2195.6897 C:\WINNT\system32
79500000 mpr.dll 5.0.2195.6824 C:\WINNT\system32
79620000 CRYPT32.dll 5.131.2195.6824 C:\WINNT\system32
7ca00000 rsabase.dll 5.0.2195.6619 C:\WINNT\system32

disassembling:
004c9a79 sub_4c9a79: ; function entry point
004c9a79 > mov eax, [esi]
004c9a7b call -$c4708 ($405378)
004c9a80 test eax, eax
004c9a82 jle loc_4c9af1
004c9a84 mov edx, [esi]
[...]
======================

[Ruatha]

Thanks for the bug report, don't know why the mail bounced.
Will have to look into this.
It shouldn't consider this directory as a mod directory, it searches for modinfo.txt files and adds those dirs to the mods.
EDIT:
If it finds something it thinks is a mod than it should add the modinfo.txt file to it.
PErhaps you could run it with the log in DEBUG mode and post the companion.log here, first check that you don't display any password in it.

Will have to think on this ..

[Ruatha]

The latest Version of the companion is 0.853, now up on the homepage:
http://imagemodserver.mine.nu/other/...atha/home.html

[Ruatha]

What was fixed in 0.853? :
Fixed password corruption bug.
Fixed plugin editor crash bug.
Fixed Shipset cleaner checking all files twice bug.

http://imagemodserver.mine.nu/other/...atha/home.html

Also there is a plugin with the two Ed Marshal SE IV games and SJ's Flying shipsets, this is an optional download.

NOTE:
I Recommend deleting the companion.gdb before updating (The game database) as leaving beta stage the database structure was slightly changed and old passwords will propably not function.
I do not foresee any more changes to the database structure in the future.

Current suggestions for next Version is:
-Remove SAVE button in small IRC and put back the USER button instead.
-Enable command line commands in IRC.
-Enable private chat and file transfer in IRC.
-Setup Wizard.
-Enable autoupdate as default.
-If a directory doesn't exist, create it (i e savegame dir deleted by user, logs and dl directory never created..) to avoid errors.
-Move most screens to main screen and make them tabbed instead. (If I ever make a SE5 companion this will be the way to go, with plug-ins aswell)

What is sure to be added:
-Documentation.
-Help files.

BTW:
NOTICE THAT IF YOU MAIL ME A BUG REPORT FROM THE COMPANION, I CANNOT SEE WHO SENT IT, IT'S ANONYMOUS, SO DON'T EXPECT ANY RESPONSE UNLESS YOU MAIL ME MANUALLY ASWELL!

[Joachim]

AAARRRRGHhhh It broke me SEIV.

Ok, I installed to take a look etc. Decided there where too many buttons and things and that I dont have the time to learn it, so uninstalled and went back to mod-launcher. Now all the save games have moved, the files from pbw dont go where they used to and the .plr files dont save to where they used to.

What happened???

[Ruatha]

Propably the path.txt has been messed up, just restore it to the original.
EDIT: SE SOLUTION A COUPLE OF POSTS UP, REMOVE SAVEGAME DIRS IN MOD FOLDERS
Never heard of this before..

And what do you mean with "the files from PBW don't go where they used to" ???

[Joachim]

It has made a save game folder in every mod folder, that is where the .plr goes now (so to which ever mod I am in and a new save game in that). Where as previously I just had one big save game folder that everything went into and I loaded the mod, loaded game played and sent .plr all from same spot so to speak.

What do you mean by path.txt and how do I fix that?

[Ruatha]

Hmm, perhaps you can delete those savegamefolders if you don't like them???
That is not PBW files, that's ordinary playerfiles....


there is a path.txt in the seiv folder, open tgat and make sure it says
none
and not a mod name in it, if not change that.
The companion saves a original copy of the path.txt but I'm at work now and don't remember what it's called.

The Modlauncher edits the same file, but the modlauncher only switches back when you close the program, the companion is supposed to switch it back after 200 milliseconds.


When you run modded games with the savegame in the main savegame directory, can you still view combats then??
Whne started from the modlauncher?
I though it looked for the combat.cmb in the mod directory.
Hmm, perhaps it doesn't if there is no savegame directory there..

[Joachim]

Ruatha said:
Hmm, perhaps you can delete those savegamefolders if you don't like them???
That is not PBW files, that ordinary playerfiles....


there is a path.txt in the seiv folder, open tgat and make sure it says
none
and not a mod name in it, if not change that.
The companion saves a original copy of the path.txt but I'm at work now and don't remember what it's called.

The Modlauncher edits the same file, but the modlauncher only switches back when you close the program, the companion is supposed to switch it back after 200 milliseconds.
When you run modded games with the savegame in the main savegame directory, can you still view combats then??
Whne started from the modlauncher?
I though it looked for the combat.cmb in the mod directory.
Hmm, perhaps it doesn't if there is no savegame directory there..

Couldn't view combats with companion, but can with mod launcher.

OK, and here I show my utter ignorance - where is the path.txt (and I mean exactly)?

[Ruatha]

Hmm, as I said I'm not at home now, can't check.

If it isn't in the base SE IV folder it's propably in the DATA folder.
Rightclick on the SE IV folder and select search, enter path.txt and press enter.


The reason you couldn't view combat in the companion was that it was looking for it in the mod folders savegame directory.
Will have to look into how the mod launcher has solved this..

When you start a game in the main savegame folder with the mod launcher, do you then first start the game with the mod and load the savegame in SE4 or do you click on the savegame in the modlauncher??
It's the loading of the combat.cmb that i can't get the hang of if it's outside the standard savegame folders..

This is what I found in the modlaunchers documentation:

Code:

---

To load a mod for a saved game you must make sure you

 save the game into �SE4Path\<modname>\savegame� 

(e.g. �D:\SpaceEmpires4\Pirates\Savegame\�).

Doing that will also keep your saved games organised and 

means you will never accidentally 

load a saved game using the wrong mod.

If you *really* want to load a saved game using a different

 mod, either move the saved game, or just launch into SE4

 having selected the mod on the left, then load the game

 using SE4�s built in interface

---

I'd really like to solve this for the next Version.