Post: #1

Yes, I'm making automated events for SCP.. I'm adding two screenshots to better reflect the concept I have in mind. Calendar thing is pretty much done, I'll probably tweak the layout a bit because it's ugly as hell and optimise the code some. The other dialog is just a crude example and in no way done.

What I can't figure out is how to store the events.

Imagine adding events to Google Calendar or whatever you're using, but through a dialog in UO client. You select the event type (pvp, bomberman etc.), you type in player limits, rewards, entry fee, date and time, other stuff. Below that is the repetition section, you can select weekly, monthly and every X days, below that is until which date the repetition will occur. When you press the apply button, the event will be stored in some way. Repetitions will be stored separately so they can appear on the calendar.

So far I've considered these methods of storage:
LISTs - dismissed because they are not practical and flexible.
MySQL - would be the best options but I want to keep the system drag-and-drop.
Defnames - this was khaos' recommendation but dismissed because events can't be altered ingame which contradicts my idea above.
VARs - this is the idea I'm currently entertaining. Better control than LIST, doesn't have MySQL's ease-to-use and features like sort, and unlike DEFs, can easily be altered ingame.

So help me choose or recommend a new way I haven't thought of.

PS: With VARs I made this test function to add events:

Post: #2

I've never really tried lists before... why do you think they are less flexible?

Post: #3

Also, which events should be included in this? I've already thought of 1v1, 2v2, 4v4, Deathmatch and Team Deathmatch, and Bomberman.

Second, what are good places in the map to hold these events?

Post: #4

Your idea is just brilliant, can we work this concept for the script community pack?

Post: #5

(05-03-2012 09:33 AM)RanXerox Wrote:  I've never really tried lists before... why do you think they are less flexible?

Adding a new item is hard because I need to keep separate list for every data I need to store. I can't do:
I have to do:

Can't tell you the reason but I messed around with it enough when I was making SCP's gmpage system. Findelem doesn't work with the first way.


Selecting is pretty much impossible for what I have in mind because findelem only returns the first item it finds and ignores the rest. This makes it possible for only one event to take place in a day.

Updating is hard. First you have to find what you want to change with findelem and store its position, then you update it. It's a non-issue but this will probably turn out to be a thousand line of coding. It might grow tiring.

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(05-03-2012 09:43 AM)Valios Wrote:  Your idea is just brilliant, can we work this concept for the script community pack?

Yeah, see first sentence of first post I am making this for SCP and once I set the foundation, I am hoping to turn this into a collective project. Any input will be welcome.

Post: #6

Deflist would work. You can always edit and reload a script... and people should be doing a server restart daily in a maintenance hour. At least that is my opinion.

Every professional company ran server does a server down time. I do as well. I restart my computer. Clear any background resource using processes which arent neccessary. etc.

Again, that is just my opinion. I know you can reload scripts after an edit and I personally wouldn't make a last minute change in event planning. I'd be able to keep me upcoming events in order on maintanence days.

Post: #7

Here is something I made but haven't finished yet. You may be able to use this unless you're using a command for people to join the event instead of a physical portal. Also provided is a list of events ill be doing on my shard for more event ideas. This will probably have some initial flaws because I haven't really fully started working on my events just here and there so some of this may need fixed.

Post: #8

Storing the info or the whole event itself?
For the first one you can use speech events to store the info as strings ingame and then do the comparissons between these strings and your preset defnames

Click button > select event's name
Say the name ingame, i.e: Bomberman
If (player_spk_string"Bomberman" == defname"Bomberman")
store data in a string (var.eventname_date.dd.mm.yy.hr = player_spk_string)
else
message "that event is not listed in your database"

Post: #9

@Reflex Thanks for the input. At the very least I will include your events. I'll know what else I can get when I look through your code.

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(05-03-2012 10:18 AM)Valios Wrote:  Storing the info or the whole event itself?
For the first one you can use speech events to store the info as strings ingame and then do the comparissons between these strings and your preset defnames

Click button > select event's name
Say the name ingame, i.e: Bomberman
If (player_spk_string"Bomberman" == defname"Bomberman")
store data in a string (var.eventname_date.dd.mm.yy.hr = player_spk_string)
else
message "that event is not listed in your database"

I'm not sure what you mean here. What do you mean by speech events? And I can't quite figure out what the pseudo-code does but I suppose you are recommending me to group the events by their types. That would make it harder to call them in the calendar. I believe primary criterion should be date and then time to easily list them in the calendar and automatically start the event when its time comes.

I'd appreciate if you clarify.

Post: #10

Sorry for the misconception and poor explanation. Forget it, in that moment what crossed to my mind was to create an interaction between the dialog and the client by capturing player speech arguments to save all the event specifications into the scheduler this way, don't ask me why, I took a quick look at the post description and my mind processed the whole thing the way it liked. As for the pseudocode I tend to do this regulary when I'm messing with other programming languges.

What you're asking for is "how to" update the calendar once you have set the event dates and info right? If I'm still lost do not berate me
Anyways I can contribute coding some stuff you can use for the script including new dialogs if you don't like yours.