UI Installer

[Kosmos]

Deleted the two files you mentioned.

Put Zip folder in UI/Custom along with the .exe and .dll files.

Droped Zip folder onto the UIinstaller.


Same results.

No click,clicky action on any buttons except the 'EXIT' Button.
The program did display the skin info in the little window this time.
But thats. it.
EDIT:
Once it creates those two files, it gets the error and the font end doesn't even show. the font end only shows the first time you run it, after that it's dang broke and stuff.


EDIT:
I've also tried to rename my zip to a EQ2Interface.EQI
and drag and drop on the UIInstaller. Still same results.
Here is the archive I'm using.
I also tried a couple of others with the same results.
I do have all the updates for .NET Framework also.

[Kosmos]

Ok. Deleting the two files created by the UIInstaller.

And dropping a .zip folder onto with with the
SkinInfo File and .xml files together in the same folder.

gets the 'Find' Button to work.
The program did scan the hardrive and I picked the correct director.
Switch tabs, selected the eq2ui_mainhud_tracking.xml and
then went to install and the

Install button is disabled.

Exit program.
Broke again.

Bummer.

[ger]

Originally Posted by Kosmos

Deleted the two files you mentioned.

Put Zip folder in UI/Custom along with the .exe and .dll files.

Droped Zip folder onto the UIinstaller.


Same results.

No click,clicky action on any buttons except the 'EXIT' Button.
The program did display the skin info in the little window this time.
But thats. it.
EDIT:
Once it creates those two files, it gets the error and the font end doesn't even show. the font end only shows the first time you run it, after that it's dang broke and stuff.


EDIT:
I've also tried to rename my zip to a EQ2Interface.EQI
and drag and drop on the UIInstaller. Still same results.
Here is the archive I'm using.
I also tried a couple of others with the same results.
I do have all the updates for .NET Framework also.

Check your PMs. I left you one about that archive earlier.

As to selecting the directory, make sure that you select UI\Something, you can't select just UI. The status bar will tell you why you can't click install, but once you get the install button enabled and run it you won't have the crash problem anymore.

Attaching the version with that handles that problem more gracefully, just in case.

Edit: new version attached below.

[Kosmos]

Ok, I got it to work (sortof)

Again Deleted the two files created by the UIInstaller.
Dropped the attached .ZIP file on UIInstaller. (Which is in my Custom Folder)

Did a find.
It found two choices my backup folder I use for modding. and the the one n my Crive.
I selected the Crive choice.
At that point the Install button is disabled.
I navigated to the My Custom folder, then the install button becomes available.
Click installe and it puts the files in my custom folder.
If there are any other files there though, it wants to overwrite them.
like readme or skininfo files.
Shouldn't it.
So I still don't think thats working right.

Or perhaps it's user error?

[ger]

Originally Posted by Kosmos

Ok, I got it to work (sortof)

Again Deleted the two files created by the UIInstaller.
Dropped the attached .ZIP file on UIInstaller. (Which is in my Custom Folder)

Did a find.
It found two choices my backup folder I use for modding. and the the one n my Crive.
I selected the Crive choice.
At that point the Install button is disabled.
I navigated to the My Custom folder, then the install button becomes available.
Click installe and it puts the files in my custom folder.
If there are any other files there though, it wants to overwrite them.
like readme or skininfo files.
Shouldn't it.
So I still don't think thats working right.

Or perhaps it's user error?

The overwrite feature is to allow users to install multiple component mods in the same UI directory, otherwise it'd only be useful for complete sets. If you want to create a new UI directory use the Make Folder button on in the ... dialog.

[Kosmos]

I see.

Well getting it to run the first time is a little tricky. Once it produces good file it seems ok though.

I really, really think it should create the directory by default named the same as the Zip title.
KosmosTrackingWindow.zip shoudl by defualt create a directory in UI/KosmosTrackingWindow.zip with the skin info file.
That way when /loadui works it will show all the available mods.

For people that want to piece these together they can select the directory they use for thier mix and match pieces.
But I really, really think the 'default' action should be to create the directory.

[Kosmos]

Couple of questions.

How do we make .EQI files? Just rename the tag on the .ZIP file?

On our uploads, if we upload the files as .EQI files, if the end users don't have the UI-Installer or Don't have Associate checked, than won't they get a message indicating that it's an unknown file type?

There maybe potiental problems with virus scanners, and adware/spyware programs blocking the unknown file types?

[ger]

Originally Posted by Kosmos

Couple of questions.

How do we make .EQI files? Just rename the tag on the .ZIP file?

You don't. Switch that toggle Dolby mentioned and download something. That was the surprise—just make mods same as you always have.

Originally Posted by Kosmos

On our uploads, if we upload the files as .EQI files, if the end users don't have the UI-Installer or Don't have Associate checked, than won't they get a message indicating that it's an unknown file type?

Again, you'll be uploading a ZIP. Don't worry about locking anyone out of using your mods.

Originally Posted by Kosmos

There maybe potiental problems with virus scanners, and adware/spyware programs blocking the unknown file types?

That's not how virus scanners work, nor ad/spyware scanners.

Edit: waking up before posting is always a good thing. Fixed some sleepy mistakes.

[Kosmos]

Ah, that sounds kewl!

[ger]

Updates:
* First-time run detection now includes all files in Default and its subfolders. Autoupdate is still important, though. (I don't want to have to release a new version every time SOE adds an XML or image file to that folder )
* Find will now parse eq2.ini if it exists in its detected locations and use the info gained to suggest an install directory (Unless it ever becomes possible to apply mods in multiple folders I'm not making it default to a folder named after the archive)
* UI_Default.dir shouldn't be written unless UIInstaller is pretty sure it will actually have something to write
* Fixed instanced where UIInstaller read the wrong archived file for eq2ui_skininfo.xml data

Known Issues:
* UIInstaller won't detect localization folders correctly. Not sure how they're set up so I can't fix that yet.

Edit: newer version below.

[Kosmos]

Originally Posted by ger

Updates:
* (Unless it ever becomes possible to apply mods in multiple folders I'm not making it default to a folder named after the archive)

I'll try this new one out when I get home this evening.

About the furture and the possibility fo /load ui.

The way it's supposed to work is each of your mods are in seperate folders in the /UI/Folder with separate Skin Info files.

/UI/Default
/UI/NightElf
/UI/FetishNightfall


That sort of structure. Each of those folders has a SkinInfo file in it.
So when you do /loadui in game it will display an option for each of those folders. IF YOU DON"T have the EQ2.INI file set to point exclusively to one folder.

Remove your EQ2.ini folder.
Put 3 or for mods in the /UI/ folder.
So you have ones other than the /UI/Default folder.
As long as they each have the skin-info file.
Go into game and do /loadui and you will now have listings for each of the UI's taht you can switch between.
When this works. It should work the same way as the eq2.ini file. Meaning it will look in that folder first for a file, and if its' not found it will check the default folder.

As far as custom pieces, you would create a folder just as we do now called custom and install your pieces in that folder, with the skininfo file for 'custom'.
From what you said before, the character.ini files would also be included in each of the folders, so that when it loads the UI it loads things in the proper places.

So, the UI Installer 'suggesting' a new folder the name of the .ZIP file, I don't htink is a bad thing, The end-user coudl accept it, and if it's not there perhaps the program can create (or as it is now. the user can manually create the folder at that time)

It's confuseing to not have the option to click 'install' unless you manually select a directory.

Suggesting the Folder that eq2.ini is pointed to is going to get to always give you a overwrite message for the readmen and the skininfo file each time you donwload a mod.

Hope that makes sense!

[ger]

Originally Posted by Kosmos

I'll try this new one out when I get home this evening.

About the furture and the possibility fo /load ui.

The way it's supposed to work is each of your mods are in seperate folders in the /UI/Folder with separate Skin Info files.

/UI/Default
/UI/NightElf
/UI/FetishNightfall


That sort of structure. Each of those folders has a SkinInfo file in it.
So when you do /loadui in game it will display an option for each of those folders. IF YOU DON"T have the EQ2.INI file set to point exclusively to one folder.

Remove your EQ2.ini folder.
Put 3 or for mods in the /UI/ folder.
So you have ones other than the /UI/Default folder.
As long as they each have the skin-info file.
Go into game and do /loadui and you will now have listings for each of the UI's taht you can switch between.
When this works. It should work the same way as the eq2.ini file. Meaning it will look in that folder first for a file, and if its' not found it will check the default folder.

As far as custom pieces, you would create a folder just as we do now called custom and install your pieces in that folder, with the skininfo file for 'custom'.
From what you said before, the character.ini files would also be included in each of the folders, so that when it loads the UI it loads things in the proper places.

So, the UI Installer 'suggesting' a new folder the name of the .ZIP file, I don't htink is a bad thing, The end-user coudl accept it, and if it's not there perhaps the program can create (or as it is now. the user can manually create the folder at that time)

It's confuseing to not have the option to click 'install' unless you manually select a directory.

Suggesting the Folder that eq2.ini is pointed to is going to get to always give you a overwrite message for the readmen and the skininfo file each time you donwload a mod.

Hope that makes sense!

/loadui is broken. It is not currently possible to load more than one UI subdirectory at a time. Until such time as it is, I won't be giving users the idea that it can be done.

When /loadui is fixed and it's possible to apply mods from more than one folder, then I'll change it. Until then, it stays as-is.

As for confusion, that's why there's a status bar. It tells you what you have to do to be able to click install. That's also why there are directions in the download description and in a ReadMe.html in the archive. And yes, you will likely get overwrite warnings. But if I did it so that it defaults to a folder named after the UI filename how many people do you think would download and install UI components to the default location, then come here and post saying it installed correctly, but it doesn't show up in-game?

In short, I understand where you're coming from. I don't agree with you. I think what you suggest would only make things even more confusing for the end user, and I won't implement it.

[Kosmos]

Originally Posted by ger

/loadui is broken. It is not currently possible to load more than one UI subdirectory at a time. Until such time as it is, I won't be giving users the idea that it can be done.

When /loadui is fixed and it's possible to apply mods from more than one folder, then I'll change it. Until then, it stays as-is.

But...But.. what if you are in a car wreck! Or you are abducted by aliens and Ermm. probbed and they make you forget who you are?

Gotach though, I see your point on not encouraging people to think that UIs can be loaded from different directories.

I don't think the intent will ever be to have /loadui load pieces from multiple directories at the same time.

I think it's intended to 'switch' between entire directories, not load pieces from multiple directories. So even when it's fixed, if you want to use indeividual pieces they will still need to be put in a single folder. That I do not expect will change.

But I might be missing the intent for the /loadUI command.

[ger]

Updates:
* Fixed instances where status bar didn't display apropriate instructions on loading UIInstaller
* Fixed cases where UIInstaller.cfg would erroneously not be written
* Fixed cancel button on Find selection window to reset install location to whatever it was before you clicked Find
* Handled not finding UIInstaler.cfg more gracefully

Known Issues:
* Still doesn't handle localization

Edit: Newer version available in downloads section.

[Kosmos]

Originally Posted by ger

Updates:
* Fixed instances where status bar didn't display apropriate instructions on loading UIInstaller
* Fixed cases where UIInstaller.cfg would erroneously not be written
* Fixed cancel button on Find selection window to reset install location to whatever it was before you clicked Find
* Handled not finding UIInstaler.cfg more gracefully

Known Issues:
* Still doesn't handle localization

What a project!
Does your brain hurt yet?

[bderry71]

Originally Posted by ger

Submitted for download. Once it gets approved, please try to break this thing so I can make it better. I'm especially interested in comments on the status bar messages and the directions, although all bug reports/feature requests are welcome. (Enjoy the teaser screenshot while you wait for Dolby to aprove the download )

Will UIInstaller and UISwitcher be made to work from subfolders in the EQ2 folder. ie. C:Program Files\Sony\EverQuest II\UIInstaller or UISwitcher. I don't want to add to the clutter in the EverQuest II folder.

Thanks,
Ben

[ger]

Originally Posted by bderry71

Will UIInstaller and UISwitcher be made to work from subfolders in the EQ2 folder. ie. C:Program Files\Sony\EverQuest II\UIInstaller or UISwitcher. I don't want to add to the clutter in the EverQuest II folder.

Thanks,
Ben

UIInstaller already works from anywhere. UISwitcher could be relatively easily changed to work from anywhere, but then I'd have to add a find button. We'll see once I finish with the root autodetection code on UIInstaller.

[Dolby]

Suggestion, maybe add an installer for ui-installer. That way once the site integration happens people dont even have to know how to unzip something.

Also maybe add a "install as new" button and it will auto create the folder. Then a "install as addon/patch" and when you click that it will list their current interfaces so they can select where the addon/patch should go.

I can't seem to exit the program when scanning for my EQII folder. Also on my system it crashes after about 1min of scanning because EQII is on my 2nd HD.

Add a checkbox that says "make this my main interface" OR make it part of the "install as new" button and it will auto generate the eq2.ini or maybe merge the uiswitcher into this program?

Great work so far.

[ger]

Originally Posted by Dolby

Suggestion, maybe add an installer for ui-installer. That way once the site integration happens people dont even have to know how to unzip something.

An installer is on the list for when I move from beta to release.

Originally Posted by Dolby

Also maybe add a "install as new" button and it will auto create the folder. Then a "install as addon/patch" and when you click that it will list their current interfaces so they can select where the addon/patch should go.

I like the install new/install patch & add-on idea, I'll consider it.

Originally Posted by Dolby

I can't seem to exit the program when scanning for my EQII folder. Also on my system it crashes after about 1min of scanning because EQII is on my 2nd HD.

That's odd. Does it display the folder it's scanning in the status bar? I've had it scanning up to 4 drives on my system, and granted it isn't speedy, but it doesn't crash. Any more info you can provide would be greatly appreciated.

[Dolby]

It displays the folders then after about 1min the uiinstaller window goes white.

[ger]

Originally Posted by Dolby

It displays the folders then after about 1min the uiinstaller window goes white.

Yeah, it will do that occassionally. Unfortunately, it has to do with how fast UIInstaller scans directories, how many directories it's scanning at any given time, and how fast Windows/.NET can update a window.

I'll try to give a brief rundown of how the find function works so this makes more sense. Find starts with a list of every possible drive and scans to see which ones exist. Once it knows which drives exist it starts at the beginning of the alphabet and scans each drive one at a time. Now, this is where things get wacky. When scanning the individual directories it will look for EQ2.exe and if it finds it add the location to an array. Regardless of whether or not it finds it it will then launch a scan on every subdirectory in the directory it's looking in. It will continue doing that until it runs out of directories to look in, but that means that when you get to directories with a lot of subdirectories (basically, any Microsoft product) you end up with a lot of scans going on at once. While each scan in and of itself only takes a fraction of a second (think typing "dir EQ2.exe" on the command-line) having a couple hundred running at the same time can overload the refresh function.

Each directory that's scanned triggers not only the scan itself, but also a change of the status bar text box, and then an update of the status bar text box. Without forcing an update you wouldn't see any change in the status bar until the scan was complete, and by that time what's the point? So, combine looking through a couple hundred directories at the same time, with trying to change and redisplay a text box a couple hundred times in the same instant, and you end up with a white program window. But the program isn't locked or crashed at this point. It's still scanning and once it reaches the last subdirectory in the string it's working on it'll refresh the display.

The thing that has me wondering is why is it taking a full minute to scan your machine? On mine I routinely scan an 80GB primary HDD, 160GB secondary HDD (USB), a DVD-ROM, and an emulated DVD-ROM, and it never takes nearly that long, even if it does flip out and go white briefly.

[Dolby]

Ok I timed it, its about 10sec until it locks up. Feels like a minute in my little world.

[taco-man]

hey ger i would be happy to provide you the code i use for detecting, and setting the eq2 directory if you like, hit me up on aim tomorrow and i think i know an easy way to keep the window "alive" while its scanning for directories.

[taco-man]

Originally Posted by Dolby

Ok I timed it, its about 10sec until it locks up. Feels like a minute in my little world.

I just grabbed it and told it to find my eq2 directory, its been white for over 5 minutes according to the stopwatch thing on my watch....i finnaly killed it, but i admit i have ALOT of files / folders on this computer(over 300GB) takes my anti virus more than an hour to do a full scan of all my files.

EDIT: well, after killing it and running it again it found it about 30 seconds after going white, maybe it was just a glitch???? but definately talk to me on aim tomorrow i think i know an easy way to keep it from going white.

[ger]

Originally Posted by taco-man

I just grabbed it and told it to find my eq2 directory, its been white for over 5 minutes according to the stopwatch thing on my watch....i finnaly killed it, but i admit i have ALOT of files / folders on this computer(over 300GB) takes my anti virus more than an hour to do a full scan of all my files.

EDIT: well, after killing it and running it again it found it about 30 seconds after going white, maybe it was just a glitch???? but definately talk to me on aim tomorrow i think i know an easy way to keep it from going white.

Yeah, I know, grab it from HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\AppPath\EverQuest2.exe ... but where's the fun in that? I'm considering switching to that method of grabbing the EQ2 folder name, but I need to check on TestCenter detection if I go with that method.