Official Launch of the SE4 Companion

[Ruatha]

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

Anyone who has an old beta Version needs to delete the companion.gdb (Game database) before upgrading (or after) as it isn't backwards compatible.
This is Version 0.851.

This Version has less clutter, cleaner UI, no known bugs.
Good IRC functions (The LARGE mode).
And it has the complete Dogscoff plug-in pack as default!

Next Version in 6-10 weeks will have documentation.
And I'll propably switch place with the event editor on the main page instead of the music list editor, and perhaps an improved downloader.
Any feedback on this application is very welcome.

There is also the leisure plug-in pack at the same adress.

BTW, I haven't had time to alert CNN and the game magazines about this so feel free to tip them about this monumental news

[Ruatha]

What does the dogscoff plug-in pack do?

It can scan your games at PBW and see if you have all the used shiupsets/races installed, if not it will help you to install them.

It can scan your shipsets for missing design.txt files.

It can copy empty shipset folders to your mod directories to give you access to those shipsets in the mods aswell.

It can scan the entiore shipset directory for un-needed files, alert you for thosa and delete them if needed, and
it can scan all race AI files and see if they are compliant with ver 1.91 of SE4 Gold, and if not ait can fix them all if you want it to.

And also is included Andres Shipset viewer, that will show all installed shipsets in beautiful pictures and tell you if they are neo compliant, this plug-in will alert for Active-X, just press "Yes" and you are go.

[Fyron]

Would it be possible to get the auto-1.91 AI updater as a separate program, that scans zip files instead of the races folder? I would like to get all of the shipsets hosted on SpaceEmpires.net up to par with 1.91, without having to repack everything myself...

[Ruatha]

Quite possible.
But I'd like people to use the current plug-in first so I'll get to know if it works ok or is buggy.
Right now it sets all missing parameters to either 0 or false, don't know if that's optimal..
I can make a zip AI scanner when I get home from the army in 5 weeks, or you could get the source for the plug-in, but it's in delphi though....

I already know of a semibug that I thought to fix but forgot, it sometimes scans all shipsets twice instead of once.. can increase scanning time quite a bit when there are 50000 files to scan, most are ofcourse not deep scan as the Ai files, but only name scans to see if they are needed or not, but still.

For know (Until I fix it sometimes) the explanation for this behaviour is that the plug-in is very thorough and checks everyting twice to be sure!

[Fyron]

For know (Until I fix it sometimes) the explanation for this behaviour is that the plug-in is very thorough and checks everyting twice to be sure!

Spoken like a true programmer!

[Ed Kolis]

Cool!

I get this error when I open up the plugin options dialog, though. I can't use the send mail report because I don't use Outlook Express

date/time : 2004-09-03 15:47
computer name : EDS-LAPTOP
user name : Ed
operating system : Windows XP Service Pack 2 build 2600
system language : English
system up time : 31 minutes 29 seconds
program up time : 1 minute 19 seconds
physical memory : 278/511 MB (free/total)
free disk space : (C 949.51 MB (D 6.45 GB
process id : $be8
executable : companion.exe
exec. date/time : 2004-09-01 19:08
Version : 0.851
madExcept Version : 2.7b
exception class : EAccessViolation
exception message : Access violation at address 00C4DE73. Write of address 00000000.

main thread ($bec):
00c4de73 ???
77d4e361 USER32.dll CallWindowProcA
77d4bcc7 USER32.dll DispatchMessageA
005b57a9 companion.exe System GetSpaceAt
7c90f0a5 ntdll.dll RtlAnsiStringToUnicodeString
77d4b7a6 USER32.dll SendMessageW
77d4e361 USER32.dll CallWindowProcA
7c90eae0 ntdll.dll KiUserCallbackDispatcher
77d4bcc7 USER32.dll DispatchMessageA
005c56fe companion.exe madDisAsm DoItAll
77d4e2f2 USER32.dll SendMessageA
7c90eae0 ntdll.dll KiUserCallbackDispatcher
005f26f8 companion.exe RTLConsts initialization

thread $c14:
7c90eb94 ntdll.dll KiFastSystemCallRet
7c90e319 ntdll.dll NtRemoveIoCompletion
7c80cbd3 kernel32.dll GetQueuedCompletionStatus

thread $c34:
7c90eb94 ntdll.dll KiFastSystemCallRet
7c90e58f ntdll.dll NtSetEventBoostPriority
7c919074 ntdll.dll RtlpUnWaitCriticalSection
7c901105 ntdll.dll RtlLeaveCriticalSection

thread $a48:
7c90eb94 ntdll.dll KiFastSystemCallRet
7c90d85a ntdll.dll NtDelayExecution

thread $ec8:
7c90eb94 ntdll.dll KiFastSystemCallRet
7c90e9be ntdll.dll NtWaitForSingleObject
7c8025d5 kernel32.dll WaitForSingleObjectEx
7c80253d kernel32.dll WaitForSingleObject

modules:
00400000 companion.exe D:\games\se4 gold\tools\companion
01ab0000 RadExe.dll 2.1.1013.0 C:\WINDOWS\System32
10000000 events.dll D:\apps\trillian
5ad70000 uxtheme.dll 6.0.2900.2180 C:\WINDOWS\system32
5b860000 NETAPI32.dll 5.1.2600.2180 C:\WINDOWS\system32
5edd0000 olepro32.dll 5.1.2600.2180 C:\WINDOWS\system32
605d0000 mslbui.dll 5.1.2600.2180 C:\WINDOWS\system32
708f0000 asycfilt.dll 5.1.2600.2180 C:\WINDOWS\system32
71aa0000 WS2HELP.dll 5.1.2600.2180 C:\WINDOWS\system32
71ab0000 WS2_32.dll 5.1.2600.2180 C:\WINDOWS\system32
71ad0000 wsock32.dll 5.1.2600.2180 C:\WINDOWS\system32
71b20000 mpr.dll 5.1.2600.2180 C:\WINDOWS\system32
73000000 winspool.drv 5.1.2600.2180 C:\WINDOWS\system32
73dd0000 MFC42.DLL 6.2.4131.0 C:\WINDOWS\System32
746c0000 msls31.dll 3.10.349.0 C:\WINDOWS\System32
74720000 MSCTF.dll 5.1.2600.2180 C:\WINDOWS\system32
74b30000 webcheck.dll 6.0.2900.2180 C:\WINDOWS\System32
754d0000 CRYPTUI.dll 5.131.2600.2180 C:\WINDOWS\system32
75e90000 SXS.DLL 5.1.2600.2180 C:\WINDOWS\system32
75f80000 browseui.dll 6.0.2900.2180 C:\WINDOWS\System32
763b0000 comdlg32.dll 6.0.2900.2180 C:\WINDOWS\system32
76600000 CSCDLL.dll 5.1.2600.2180 C:\WINDOWS\System32
76990000 ntshrui.dll 5.1.2600.2180 C:\WINDOWS\system32
769c0000 USERENV.dll 5.1.2600.2180 C:\WINDOWS\system32
76b20000 ATL.DLL 3.5.2284.0 C:\WINDOWS\system32
76b40000 winmm.dll 5.1.2600.2180 C:\WINDOWS\system32
76c30000 WINTRUST.dll 5.131.2600.2180 C:\WINDOWS\system32
76c90000 IMAGEHLP.dll 5.1.2600.2180 C:\WINDOWS\system32
76f60000 WLDAP32.dll 5.1.2600.2180 C:\WINDOWS\system32
76fd0000 CLBCATQ.DLL 2001.12.4414.258 C:\WINDOWS\system32
77050000 COMRes.dll 2001.12.4414.258 C:\WINDOWS\system32
77120000 oleaut32.dll 5.1.2600.2180 C:\WINDOWS\system32
771b0000 wininet.dll 6.0.2900.2180 C:\WINDOWS\system32
77260000 URLMON.DLL 6.0.2900.2180 C:\WINDOWS\system32
773d0000 comctl32.dll 6.0.2900.2180 C:\WINDOWS\WinSxS\X86_Microsoft.Windows.Common-Controls_6595b64144ccf1df_6.0.2600.2180_x-ww_a84f1ff9
774e0000 ole32.dll 5.1.2600.2180 C:\WINDOWS\system32
77760000 shdocvw.dll 6.0.2900.2180 C:\WINDOWS\System32
77920000 SETUPAPI.dll 5.1.2600.2180 C:\WINDOWS\system32
77a20000 cscui.dll 5.1.2600.2180 C:\WINDOWS\System32
77a80000 CRYPT32.dll 5.131.2600.2180 C:\WINDOWS\system32
77b20000 MSASN1.dll 5.1.2600.2180 C:\WINDOWS\system32
77b40000 appHelp.dll 5.1.2600.2180 C:\WINDOWS\system32
77c00000 VERSION.dll 5.1.2600.2180 C:\WINDOWS\system32
77c10000 msvcrt.dll 7.0.2600.2180 C:\WINDOWS\system32
77d40000 USER32.dll 5.1.2600.2180 C:\WINDOWS\system32
77dd0000 advapi32.dll 5.1.2600.2180 C:\WINDOWS\system32
77e70000 RPCRT4.dll 5.1.2600.2180 C:\WINDOWS\system32
77f10000 GDI32.dll 5.1.2600.2180 C:\WINDOWS\system32
77f60000 SHLWAPI.dll 6.0.2900.2180 C:\WINDOWS\system32
77fe0000 Secur32.dll 5.1.2600.2180 C:\WINDOWS\system32
7c800000 kernel32.dll 5.1.2600.2180 C:\WINDOWS\system32
7c900000 ntdll.dll 5.1.2600.2180 C:\WINDOWS\system32
7c9c0000 SHELL32.dll 6.0.2900.2180 C:\WINDOWS\system32
7d1e0000 msi.dll 3.0.3790.2180 C:\WINDOWS\system32
7d4a0000 mshtml.dll 6.0.2900.2180 C:\WINDOWS\System32

disassembling:
00c4de73 sub_c4de73: ; function entry point
00c4de73 > add [eax], al
00c4de75 add [eax], al
00c4de77 add [esp+ebp*4-$21afffb3], bh
00c4de7e les eax, [eax]
00c4de80 add [eax], al
[...]

edit: also I get an error when I do PBW Scan Online:
date/time : 2004-09-03 15:57
computer name : EDS-LAPTOP
user name : Ed
operating system : Windows XP Service Pack 2 build 2600
system language : English
system up time : 41 minutes 44 seconds
program up time : 22 seconds
physical memory : 267/511 MB (free/total)
free disk space : (C 948.48 MB (D 6.45 GB
process id : $b00
executable : companion.exe
exec. date/time : 2004-09-01 19:08
Version : 0.851
madExcept Version : 2.7b
exception class : EInOutError
exception message : Invalid filename.

main thread ($3bc):
005ed016 companion.exe Variants @VarToBoolean
77f7a8ab SHLWAPI.dll #283
77d4bcc7 USER32.dll DispatchMessageA
005f26f8 companion.exe RTLConsts initialization

thread $7a0:
7c90eb94 ntdll.dll KiFastSystemCallRet
7c90e319 ntdll.dll NtRemoveIoCompletion
7c80cbd3 kernel32.dll GetQueuedCompletionStatus

thread $7bc:
7c90eb94 ntdll.dll KiFastSystemCallRet
7c90e58f ntdll.dll NtSetEventBoostPriority
7c919074 ntdll.dll RtlpUnWaitCriticalSection
7c901105 ntdll.dll RtlLeaveCriticalSection

thread $8e0:
7c90eb94 ntdll.dll KiFastSystemCallRet
7c90e9be ntdll.dll NtWaitForSingleObject
71aa150a WS2HELP.dll WahReferenceContextByHandle
>> created by main thread ($3bc) at:
71ab2e64 WS2_32.dll select

thread $8e4:
7c90eb94 ntdll.dll KiFastSystemCallRet
7c90d85a ntdll.dll NtDelayExecution

thread $22c:
7c90eb94 ntdll.dll KiFastSystemCallRet
7c90e319 ntdll.dll NtRemoveIoCompletion

thread $6c:
7c90eb94 ntdll.dll KiFastSystemCallRet
7c90e319 ntdll.dll NtRemoveIoCompletion

thread $21c:
7c90eb94 ntdll.dll KiFastSystemCallRet
7c90e9be ntdll.dll NtWaitForSingleObject
7c8025d5 kernel32.dll WaitForSingleObjectEx
7c80253d kernel32.dll WaitForSingleObject

thread $8ec:
7c90eb94 ntdll.dll KiFastSystemCallRet
>> created by main thread ($3bc) at:
7c90e9a9 ntdll.dll NtWaitForMultipleObjects

thread $8e8:
7c90eb94 ntdll.dll KiFastSystemCallRet
>> created by main thread ($3bc) at:
7c90e397 ntdll.dll NtReplyWaitReceivePortEx

thread $8f8:
7c90eb94 ntdll.dll KiFastSystemCallRet
7c90d85a ntdll.dll NtDelayExecution
7c8023e7 kernel32.dll SleepEx
>> created by main thread ($3bc) at:
7c80244c kernel32.dll Sleep

thread $90c:
7c90eb94 ntdll.dll KiFastSystemCallRet
7c90e9be ntdll.dll NtWaitForSingleObject
7c8025d5 kernel32.dll WaitForSingleObjectEx
7c80253d kernel32.dll WaitForSingleObject

thread $630:
7c90eb94 ntdll.dll KiFastSystemCallRet
7c90e9a9 ntdll.dll NtWaitForMultipleObjects
7c8094ec kernel32.dll WaitForMultipleObjectsEx
7c809c81 kernel32.dll WaitForMultipleObjects

thread $62c:
7c90eb94 ntdll.dll KiFastSystemCallRet
>> created by main thread ($3bc) at:
77d6ea80 USER32.dll GetMessageA

thread $638:
7c90eb94 ntdll.dll KiFastSystemCallRet
7c90e319 ntdll.dll NtRemoveIoCompletion

modules:
00400000 companion.exe D:\games\se4 gold\tools\companion
01050000 SPGRMR.DLL 5.1.2600.2180 C:\WINDOWS\IME
01070000 SKCHUI.DLL 1.0.1038.0 C:\Program Files\Common Files\Microsoft Shared\Ink
01cd0000 xpsp2res.dll 5.1.2600.2180 C:\WINDOWS\system32
10000000 events.dll D:\apps\trillian
20000000 shdoclc.dll 6.0.2900.2180 C:\WINDOWS\System32
5ad70000 uxtheme.dll 6.0.2900.2180 C:\WINDOWS\system32
5b860000 NETAPI32.dll 5.1.2600.2180 C:\WINDOWS\system32
5c2c0000 sptip.dll 5.1.2600.2180 C:\WINDOWS\ime
5e310000 pngfilt.dll 6.0.2900.2180 C:\WINDOWS\System32
5edd0000 olepro32.dll 5.1.2600.2180 C:\WINDOWS\system32
605d0000 mslbui.dll 5.1.2600.2180 C:\WINDOWS\system32
662b0000 hnetcfg.dll 5.1.2600.2180 C:\WINDOWS\system32
66880000 ImgUtil.dll 6.0.2900.2180 C:\WINDOWS\system32
708f0000 asycfilt.dll 5.1.2600.2180 C:\WINDOWS\system32
71a50000 mswsock.dll 5.1.2600.2180 C:\WINDOWS\system32
71a90000 wshtcpip.dll 5.1.2600.2180 C:\WINDOWS\System32
71aa0000 WS2HELP.dll 5.1.2600.2180 C:\WINDOWS\system32
71ab0000 WS2_32.dll 5.1.2600.2180 C:\WINDOWS\system32
71ad0000 wsock32.dll 5.1.2600.2180 C:\WINDOWS\system32
71b20000 mpr.dll 5.1.2600.2180 C:\WINDOWS\system32
722b0000 sensapi.dll 5.1.2600.2180 C:\WINDOWS\system32
72d10000 msacm32.drv 5.1.2600.0 C:\WINDOWS\system32
72d20000 wdmaud.drv 5.1.2600.2180 C:\WINDOWS\system32
73000000 winspool.drv 5.1.2600.2180 C:\WINDOWS\system32
746c0000 msls31.dll 3.10.349.0 C:\WINDOWS\System32
746f0000 msimtf.dll 5.1.2600.2180 C:\WINDOWS\System32
74720000 MSCTF.dll 5.1.2600.2180 C:\WINDOWS\system32
74c80000 OLEACC.dll 4.2.5406.0 C:\WINDOWS\system32
754d0000 CRYPTUI.dll 5.131.2600.2180 C:\WINDOWS\system32
75c50000 jscript.dll 5.6.0.8820 C:\WINDOWS\System32
75cf0000 mlang.dll 6.0.2900.2180 C:\WINDOWS\system32
75e90000 SXS.DLL 5.1.2600.2180 C:\WINDOWS\system32
76080000 MSVCP60.dll 6.2.3104.0 C:\WINDOWS\system32
763b0000 comdlg32.dll 6.0.2900.2180 C:\WINDOWS\system32
769c0000 USERENV.dll 5.1.2600.2180 C:\WINDOWS\system32
76b40000 winmm.dll 5.1.2600.2180 C:\WINDOWS\system32
76c30000 WINTRUST.dll 5.131.2600.2180 C:\WINDOWS\system32
76c90000 IMAGEHLP.dll 5.1.2600.2180 C:\WINDOWS\system32
76d60000 iphlpapi.dll 5.1.2600.2180 C:\WINDOWS\system32
76e80000 rtutils.dll 5.1.2600.2180 C:\WINDOWS\system32
76e90000 rasman.dll 5.1.2600.2180 C:\WINDOWS\system32
76eb0000 TAPI32.dll 5.1.2600.2180 C:\WINDOWS\system32
76ee0000 RASAPI32.DLL 5.1.2600.2180 C:\WINDOWS\system32
76f20000 DNSAPI.dll 5.1.2600.2180 C:\WINDOWS\system32
76f60000 WLDAP32.dll 5.1.2600.2180 C:\WINDOWS\system32
76fb0000 winrnr.dll 5.1.2600.2180 C:\WINDOWS\System32
76fc0000 rasadhlp.dll 5.1.2600.2180 C:\WINDOWS\system32
76fd0000 CLBCATQ.DLL 2001.12.4414.258 C:\WINDOWS\system32
77050000 COMRes.dll 2001.12.4414.258 C:\WINDOWS\system32
77120000 oleaut32.dll 5.1.2600.2180 C:\WINDOWS\system32
771b0000 wininet.dll 6.0.2900.2180 C:\WINDOWS\system32
77260000 URLMON.DLL 6.0.2900.2180 C:\WINDOWS\system32
773d0000 comctl32.dll 6.0.2900.2180 C:\WINDOWS\WinSxS\X86_Microsoft.Windows.Common-Controls_6595b64144ccf1df_6.0.2600.2180_x-ww_a84f1ff9
774e0000 ole32.dll 5.1.2600.2180 C:\WINDOWS\system32
77760000 shdocvw.dll 6.0.2900.2180 C:\WINDOWS\System32
77920000 SETUPAPI.dll 5.1.2600.2180 C:\WINDOWS\system32
77a80000 CRYPT32.dll 5.131.2600.2180 C:\WINDOWS\system32
77b20000 MSASN1.dll 5.1.2600.2180 C:\WINDOWS\system32
77b40000 appHelp.dll 5.1.2600.2180 C:\WINDOWS\system32
77bd0000 midimap.dll 5.1.2600.2180 C:\WINDOWS\system32
77be0000 MSACM32.dll 5.1.2600.2180 C:\WINDOWS\system32
77c00000 VERSION.dll 5.1.2600.2180 C:\WINDOWS\system32
77c10000 msvcrt.dll 7.0.2600.2180 C:\WINDOWS\system32
77d40000 USER32.dll 5.1.2600.2180 C:\WINDOWS\system32
77dd0000 advapi32.dll 5.1.2600.2180 C:\WINDOWS\system32
77e70000 RPCRT4.dll 5.1.2600.2180 C:\WINDOWS\system32
77f10000 GDI32.dll 5.1.2600.2180 C:\WINDOWS\system32
77f60000 SHLWAPI.dll 6.0.2900.2180 C:\WINDOWS\system32
77fe0000 Secur32.dll 5.1.2600.2180 C:\WINDOWS\system32
7c800000 kernel32.dll 5.1.2600.2180 C:\WINDOWS\system32
7c900000 ntdll.dll 5.1.2600.2180 C:\WINDOWS\system32
7c9c0000 SHELL32.dll 6.0.2900.2180 C:\WINDOWS\system32
7d1e0000 msi.dll 3.0.3790.2180 C:\WINDOWS\system32
7d4a0000 mshtml.dll 6.0.2900.2180 C:\WINDOWS\System32

disassembling:
[...]
005ecffb lea eax, [ebp-$21c]
005ed001 call -$1e9e4e ($4031b8)
005ed006 lea eax, [ebp-$21c]
005ed00c call -$1ea0c9 ($402f48)
005ed011 call -$1ea5fe ($402a18)
005ed016
005ed016 sub_5ed016: ; function entry point
005ed016 > mov edx, $5ef54c
005ed01b lea eax, [ebp-$21c]
005ed021 call -$1e7892 ($405794)
005ed026 call -$1e94cb ($403b60)
[...]

I tried deleting my companion.gdb file but that didn't help...

edit: ah, I found the problem... I deleted my savegame directory because that caused me trouble Last time I installed the companion but I forgot to re-create it!

[Ed Kolis]

Oh yeah, a few more things...

How do I keep the music playlist repeating? It seems to play through and then stop, and I can't start it again; the play button is disabled and the other buttons give errors.

I can't see the combat replays; the game is looking for them in SE4\mods\adamant\savegame for some reason but they're really in SE4\savegame...

[Fyron]

Why would you have combat replays in the base savegame folder? They should be in the mod's savegame folder, with the savegame files...

[Ed Kolis]

Because I don't keep mod savegames in the mod savegame folders in the first place... I find it too much trouble to download the files to so many different locations, so I just put them all in the base directory.

[Ruatha]

Worst of all is the existance of a password corruption bug, so that after having used the settings screen the passwords got corrupted.


CHECK COMPANION HOMEPAGE FOR UPDATE TO VER 0.853, WILLBE THERE AS SOON AS SJ UPLOAD IT, UNTIL THEN:
http://ruatha.homelinux.org/companion0853.zip

0.853:
Fixed password corruption bug.
Fixed plugin editor crash bug.
Fixed Shipset cleaner checking all files twice bug.

The error check now sends bugmail with internal mail server, then it doesn't matter what mail client you use, (for the bug mail server to work no settings need to be entered).

The mod thing, yes it changes the path.txt setting when it starts a modded game, will have to think on how to solve this...
If you try to run the game from the command line (Run...) with PATH\SE4.EXE PATHSAVEGAME\SAVEGAME.GAME PLAYERNUMBER PASSWORD MODNAME
ie "c:\spel\spaceempires Iv Gold" "c:\spel\sapceempires Iv Gold\savegames\test.gam" "1" "mypass" "testmod"
and see if the combat works I'd appreciate it



In the PBW scan error I could use some more help if you're up to it..
Set the log mode in settings to DEBUG and when the error occurs, mail me the log file companion.log from the logs directory, don't continue the app before you send the log, as I'd like to know what it was about to do when the error occurs.
But you could continue the app again and send me the log after you've continued aswell..