New GB version coming... feature requests, anyone?

[Jimbo]

screen shot filename too big error.

EXAMPLE (90 chrs long)
gb\A\012345678901234567890Addams Family, The - Pugsley's Scavenger Hunt (USA, Europe).png

block with variable not set.
runtime error.

you can select the long filename as a pic, but it will crash the gamebase.
you need to close Gamebase in task manager afterwards.

only way to fix MDB is to edit screenshot file name entry in Access.

Fixed

As a bonus, you can now resize the screenshot selector window too.

More fields definitely

OK, I don't have the time to let you add an arbitrary number of fields, or to change GameBase to allow multiple publishers/coders/musicians etc per game (as separate linked fields). What I can do though, is add some new fields. I'm thinking Graphics artist, game rarity, developer, license (commercial/public domain/freeware etc), plus a weblink field for the game info, and a weblink field for the version info tab (could be used as a download link for example). Might have a few more yes/no fields too.

How does that sound. Would that be enough fields for now? Of course you can always change the meaning/name of them via the ini file.

Adding more fields will make the tab area bigger under the game lists, so the frontend will no longer fit on a 640x480 screen - which I'm assuming isn't a problem these days anyway.

Other (unmentioned) tweaks planned:

- Let you set the GBGame folder location.

- Split options dialog up into "Frontend options" and "Per Database Options"


James

[arthur_gill@hotmaIl.com]

it is possible to use the access database without needing it to create a ldb (IE run it from optical media).

http://onlinehelp.dwebpro.com/en/how_to ... d_dvd.html

When a temp directory is requred for unzipping disc images etc etc, it will still point to a C drive... (I presume... c:\temp or similar - if windows 7 allows for that?).

It means however (as I use relative pathings and a copy of all the needed ocx's, and dll's held locally to the database, and have it running 'standalone' already - see earlier post from myself), I can guarantee settings never get 'scr*w*d up).

Also great to lend to a friend who has no knowlege of 'using' software, and just wants a quick blast on the old amiga emulator, for example!!
The gamebase.uae settings are so easy to get wrong.

Nice work on getting the screenshot window to be resizeable ... hopefully with drag/pull bars and not editing ini's?
Regards, (and much Kudos), Arthur

[K.C.]

Other (unmentioned) tweaks planned:

- Let you set the GBGame folder location.

Yes, forgot to mention that one!
And (optionally) remove the folder after closing the frontend.

[Belgarath]

More fields definitely

OK, I don't have the time to let you add an arbitrary number of fields, or to change GameBase to allow multiple publishers/coders/musicians etc per game (as separate linked fields). What I can do though, is add some new fields. I'm thinking Graphics artist, game rarity, developer, license (commercial/public domain/freeware etc), plus a weblink field for the game info, and a weblink field for the version info tab (could be used as a download link for example). Might have a few more yes/no fields too.

How does that sound. Would that be enough fields for now? Of course you can always change the meaning/name of them via the ini file.

that sounds absolutely brilliant

[Jimbo]

Nice work on getting the screenshot window to be resizeable ... hopefully with drag/pull bars and not editing ini's?

No editing inis, you just resize or maximise the window.

it is possible to use the access database without needing it to create a ldb (IE run it from optical media).

I use 'DAO' in VB6 which doesn't open the database in the exact format in the weblink you posted, but I'll check to see if its possible tonight. Of course I'll have to skip writing to the db (e.g. times/last played stats) in this case also, so its a bit more work but should be doable. A lot of frontend features would be disabled too, such as any editing of fields, or creation/changes/removal of views. Then there's the GEMUS scripts - all the Set_INI_Value() etc functions won't work...

[hardmanm]

Would adding more fields not create compatability issues with older gamebases?

Any chance of letting you change the filename of a gamefile within the add gamefile screen? You can do this for screenshots already.

[Jimbo]

There would be no compatibility issue because GB would update the database to the newer version when it first loads (e.g add the new fields, setting them to default values). Once converted though, you won't be able to run the database on older versions of GameBase. This has always been the case though, when making structure changes to the db - it always requires the minimum version of GameBase that made the db changes.

I'll look into editing the filename in the game selector window.

[hardmanm]

When do you think it will be finished for release? Im currently working on a new big project, and would like it released for the new full version.

[Jimbo]

When do you think it will be finished for release?

Phew tough question. I'm currently working on adding these new fields, and I want to get the multiple columns finished before releasing too. I'll release staging betas as I get new stuff done, but as for a final v1.3 release, I can't say for sure. Hopefully by the end of the year though, I'll aim for that (no promises!!)

[arthur_gill@hotmaIl.com]

This would be acceptable for things like speccy, nes etc where there is no writeback.
As long GB tries a temp write to determine if it is being accessed from a DVD/CD or from hard disc. It would need to 'know' and report as such (perhaps have 'read only mode' in the titlebar), and grey out functions that are 'inappropriate', such as editing and adding to the database?
Nice to see this application getting some needed (said in the politest manner possible) upgrades to keep it fresh.
Arthur.


I use 'DAO' in VB6 which doesn't open the database in the exact format in the weblink you posted, but I'll check to see if its possible tonight. Of course I'll have to skip writing to the db (e.g. times/last played stats) in this case also, so its a bit more work but should be doable. A lot of frontend features would be disabled too, such as any editing of fields, or creation/changes/removal of views. Then there's the GEMUS scripts - all the Set_INI_Value() etc functions won't work...[/quote]

[Brataccas]

Regarding the issue of blank volume names:

I'm pretty sure the bug is in "clsD64.cls" - look in function GetName() for the comment "Trim trailing 0xA0 values".

The trim operation doesn't work correctly if it is passed a completely empty string (blank disc volume) - it should not trim for this special case.

See here for discussion on this topic (and disc images to try): http://www.gb64.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=2554

If you fix this bug, could you also fix the unhelpful error message:

The message "File already open" should probably be stricken from the error string, because the true error is "Invalid Emulator File" (shown at left, above the D64 file viewer).

Thanks

[Jimbo]

Thanks for the info. I'll take a look at clsD64.cls.

I've just finished adding the following fields to the new version:

Artist
Developer
License
Rarity
Is Playable
Is Original
Has Title Screen
Info Weblink (e.g. wikipedia url)
Version Weblink (e.g. download url)

Basically 4 new tables (artists, developers, licenses and rarities) and 3 new yes/no/unknown fields.

I've also increased field sizes to 255 chars for many fields, and changed the existing yes/no fields to yes/no/unknown.

Just started work on getting multiple columns working. Hopefully not long now for a new beta for you guys to test.

Cheers

James

[hardmanm]

Cant wait to get the Beta, great work Jimbo.

[Belgarath]

Really looking foward to trying it out

[Jimbo]

Can someone please PM me a D64 with an empty title? The one linked in that other thread seems to be a T64. (.mad. - the link you PM'd me doesn't seem to work).

Thanks