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New Plugin / Utility - "AM Transformer"

PostPosted: Sat Oct 08, 2005 5:18 am
by RealmWarrior
This program can be downloaded by visiting the address http://www.odysseyforge.com or clicking on my "www" icon.

-- Introduction --

You would probably not argue that AM is a great program for designing their creations. I agree, but as good as AM is...it's runtime (the end-user distributable part of AM excluding the (inno) "setup" portion written by another author) still leaves much room for improvement IMHO. This is no fault of AM, nearly all programs have room for improvement.

Instead of just complaining and hoping for change though, I have made my some of my own wishes a reality. :D

-- FAQ --

Q: What is it ?

A: AM Transformer is AM companion utilty which requires AM to be installed (Free or Paid) that "transforms" your AM project "source" (doesn't work with already compiled AM projects) into a compiled, more "portable" form. For example, many projects could now run from directly from CD (typically without modification).

Q: Why use it ? (The most obvious reasons)

A:
* To create "autorun" versions of your AM projects.
* To create emailable (no installation required) viral demos / games.
* To provide extra security to your game's data / assets.
* To debug a problem client PC.

Q: How to use it ?

A:
When AMTransformer.exe is run, you will just need to do three things:

1) Click a button to tell it where the "AM Project Source" folder is.
2) Click a button to tell it where to put the "transformed" output.
3) Click a button tell it to actually do the transformation.

After a while (it's fairly quick even with large projects), typically a message will popup to indicate completion. That's about it!

Visit http://www.odysseyforge.com or click on my "www" icon to learn more and / or download the program.

I will read & consider all feedback, feature requests, bug reports, etc sent via email & PM. My contact email is included in the readme.txt of the download.

Best regards,
RealmWarrior

PostPosted: Sat Oct 08, 2005 7:49 am
by Candle
Seem to work fine for me and run a non script game with no problems.

PostPosted: Sat Oct 08, 2005 4:17 pm
by GM-Support
Very nice.

GM-Support

PostPosted: Sat Oct 08, 2005 6:50 pm
by RealmWarrior
I'm glad to hear it! :D

If anyone has any suggestions on usability, features to add, etc...please let know. 8)

:idea: I'm thinking of adding the ability to output screensaver (.SCR) files complete with integrated preview / setup capability in the Display properties control panel.

Anyone interested in this ? :?

PostPosted: Sat Oct 08, 2005 9:54 pm
by Candle
I would add a hotkey for a help file .
Add the Keyboard shortcuts:

Toggle Audio On / Off (Mute) - press "M"
Inventory - press 'I'
Save Game - press 'S'
Load Game - press 'L'
Quit or Close Dialog - press "Esc" (Escape)
To the splash screen before game starts.

PostPosted: Sat Oct 08, 2005 11:13 pm
by RealmWarrior
Candle,

A help file shortcut. Got it. 8)

I'm also thinking of implementing (project) author defined hotkeys that will allow the author to define his/her shortcuts for whatever need or reason.

However, these "author defined" shortcuts will not conflict or be allolwed to replace any of the current "reserved" set of existing shortcuts detailed in the "readme.txt" included with the download.

The following text of your previous post is from the program's "readme.txt" and are already implemented / working...

Toggle Audio On / Off (Mute) - press "M"
Inventory - press 'I'
Save Game - press 'S'
Load Game - press 'L'
Quit or Close Dialog - press "Esc" (Escape)


However, this line is not and by itself...I don't know what it means. Could you explain it further. Perhaps it's a feature or behavior rather than a new shortcut ? :?

To the splash screen before game starts.


Thanks for your time and input,
RealmWarrior

PostPosted: Sun Oct 09, 2005 1:18 am
by Candle
Sorry about that , I mean it would maybe be good to show those for a few sec's on the splash screen before the game starts so users could see the hotkeys.with maybe press enter to start game . see what I mean.

PostPosted: Sun Oct 09, 2005 3:06 am
by RealmWarrior
Ah, yes. That makes plenty of sense. :idea:

I will think on the best way to accomplish this. :D

PostPosted: Thu Oct 13, 2005 9:52 pm
by Skye
Hi Realm Worrior,

This sounds very interesting! Do I understand that your AM Transformer creates the executable version of the game instead of the installer that AM currently does when we select Distribute from the Project Menu?

I woul certainly be interested if this is the case, particularily for people who have older or slower machines. I did a test install of my game on a Win95 350 MHz system and it took 1hr 45 min it install compared to 6 mins on a WinXP 1.3 gig system.

Skye

PostPosted: Thu Oct 13, 2005 9:57 pm
by Candle
What it does , is create a file DATA.OFG that is your AM files .
Then it has a exe file start.exe that runs the DATA.OFG file.
You can rename the start exe to anything you like it and it still runs.
The only thing is the icon for the start exe you can't change .
Well you can but you would have to something else to do it .

PostPosted: Fri Oct 14, 2005 12:32 pm
by RealmWarrior
That's a good summary. :D

FYI, in my experience one large file has been known to copy faster than several smaller files which in total amount to the same size.

I may be able to add an option for specifying your own icon for the START.EXE. Let me know your thoughts about this.

I'm working on a bunch of requests now and will release when it's ready and tested. 8)

PostPosted: Tue Nov 01, 2005 11:47 am
by Taretia
So if I use your program, I don't need to distribute?
And it makes a single .exe, that contains everything or I need to use an installmaker program to make it?
I think you should add an option to change the icons, the "WizardImage" and the ability to add registration codes.... :wink:
maybe...if you can...? :lol:

PostPosted: Tue Nov 01, 2005 1:08 pm
by RealmWarrior
Technically, no installation is actually required.

How the transformer generated files are distributed outside your machine is left up to you. The simplest way is to archive them is to use a ZIP file / a SFX (Self Extracting) EXE.

However, you are also able to use the free InnoSetup to create your more complex installations. It has the ability to change the Setup / Installer's EXE Icon.

Distributing the contents of the ZIP/ EXE package is all you need to do. If you read the message that pops up after tranformation is complete before pressing "Ok", you should know what to include in this package.

You are only allowed and supposed to distribute START.EXE (which can be renamed to whatever you like). So, there is really only one icon to change and the user "may" never see it if the "Setup / Installer" icon is changed instead.

Additionally, the windows shortcut that starts your project can already show any icon you want just by assigning a special one to the shortcut. You can have this shortcut created "on the fly" during installation using InnoSetup or another tool.

The following changes not already documented elsewhere will likely become available in a future update:

- The ability to change the icon.
- A registration system.
- The ability to have the "Transformation Complete" not show after every completed transformation.
- Of course, there's more... :wink:

I don't know what you are calling the "WizardImage", is that a separate request from changing the icon ?

Bye! :D

PostPosted: Tue Nov 01, 2005 1:45 pm
by Taretia
Wizard image is the picture shown on the left side of the install-window during intallation.
Good luck for further updates! :D

PostPosted: Tue Nov 01, 2005 2:24 pm
by RealmWarrior
I understand now. Since there is no "installation", there is no "Wizard Image".

This would be handled by your chosen installer. :wink:

PostPosted: Tue Nov 01, 2005 2:41 pm
by Taretia
:) Ok! Thanks and good luck again! :)

Am transformer is great...small porblem

PostPosted: Tue Nov 01, 2005 8:14 pm
by skee
I think that what you have done is great, I have a small porblem tho..
My video that I have attached to a hotspot will not play until I click on the spot. I don't know if I am making myself clear or not. An AVI that plays on a hotspot before it is clicked does not show.
What am I doing wrong?

skee

PostPosted: Tue Nov 01, 2005 9:08 pm
by RealmWarrior
First of all, please verify whether it works correctly in AM itself.

Second, does the project make use of any scripting ? If so, that's the problem.

Scripting is a publicly documented limitation. Whether this will ever change is quite uncertain.

Perhaps it may also be possible to do what you are trying to do without scripting should that be the problem.

If it works as expected in AM AND doesn't use any scripting, you can email me (in readme.txt) a zipped project (under 4 MB)
that has the same issue so I can work to resolve it. :D

PostPosted: Tue Nov 01, 2005 10:35 pm
by skee
Thanks I'll take a look. It works in AM( the game runs fine) I will check on the scripting.

PostPosted: Wed Nov 02, 2005 4:45 pm
by skee
I seem to have a problem if the game has an inventory item. Once the game is converted. Is this because that is scripted? The item does not show.
skee

PostPosted: Wed Nov 02, 2005 5:17 pm
by RealmWarrior
Unfortunately..Yes. :(

If "any" scripting is used at all, it will be ignored and the project will execute like it didn't exist. :wink:

Whether this will ever change is quite uncertain.

PostPosted: Wed Nov 02, 2005 5:24 pm
by skee
Thanks, It's a great program, now if I can just learn its limits.

:roll:

PostPosted: Wed Nov 02, 2005 6:22 pm
by RealmWarrior
Thanks for the compliment! :oops:

The most important known limitations are publicly detailed at my website which accessible by clicking the "www" button here. :D

As things progress I aim to remove as many limitations as I can. :wink:

PostPosted: Thu Nov 03, 2005 10:21 pm
by skee
I can now say that my problem with this program has been solved. YA horay.
I have never had more help with a program that I have gotten than I have on this. RealmWarrior has gone out of his 0r her way to be of service thur email and PMs .
Please make note that this is one great program and a great person.

I don't know if this is the place to put this, so if not please make sure it get to the right people.
Try the program you'll love it.

skee

Site doesn't work!

PostPosted: Sun Jan 01, 2006 4:29 pm
by Guest
I can't download the program... the download doesn't work!

PostPosted: Mon Jan 02, 2006 4:09 pm
by RealmWarrior
The download issue has been corrected. 8)

If anyone continues to experience problems like this let me know. :wink:

PostPosted: Fri Apr 14, 2006 5:10 am
by ShadowHunter
Hi Realm,

Nice new website :D

Too bad this topic isn't getting more hits than it does...

I assume that you no longer require my webspace for hosting this file by the looks of your new site...

Please notify my... otherwise I will delete the file without further notice next week since I do lack server space.

I whish you the best of luck though it would have been nice if you kept me updated so I didn't by have to learned the above by coinsidence.

I can't help feeling a bit used :(

Kind regards,

ShAdOwHuNtEr

PostPosted: Fri Apr 14, 2006 5:42 am
by RealmWarrior
I haven't released any updates for it or promoted it much which might explain the lack of hits. However, you can expect that to change. :wink:

Sorry. I apologize for the lack of communication on my part.

Yes, you can reclaim your webspace. :oops:

The new site has never linked to your website for bandwidth reasons if you're wondering since it's inception. Nearly everything about the new site is still a WIP.

BTW, it's only been live "as is" since March 24th anyway.

PostPosted: Fri Apr 14, 2006 6:04 am
by ShadowHunter
Hi Realm,

No hard feelings :wink:

I'm very much looking forward to your updates and progress.

I hope you'r new "great looking" website will be a huge succes !

Kind regards,

ShAdOwHuNtEr

PostPosted: Sat Jul 28, 2007 9:14 pm
by cpkspikyhair
It doesn't seem to work on the Othello scripted demo that AM comes with...