Freelancer Path Generator

Just a small addition to say source code is back in (see first post).

Whilst the tool is entirely obsolete as FLServer will generate these files for you, the rudimentary source code will just show how I achieved what I did.

I am no pro programmer, this was cobbled together in how my mind designed and saw the thing. I am always open to comments about how I could improve aspects of coding, so please feel free to say what is not optimal, or just plain bad if you do look through and feel the urge to correct me (I honestly welcome it!).

I used Netbeans as my IDE, so if you also use netbeans, you’ll be able to see the GUI builder

it’ll make sure jumpgates have a destination to go to - if there isn’t the object there, it’ll tell you

Downside is it doesn’t do encrypted files. I think I could put it in, but can’t be arsed at present

Timmy51m wrote:
When you say FLServer does this for you, does that mean path files are not necessary in multiplayer but are necessary for single player?

What i mean is that if you have no path files (i.e. delete them) and start FLServer…they are created.

I do not know whether FLServer generated path files obey locked gates, or generates paths for impossible jumps (i.e. the jumpgate in one system that is missing the corresponding jump object in the supposedly connected system) as I haven’t investigated.

Timmy51m wrote:
So you do need accurate path files for singleplayer? Your tool is hardly obsolete if that’s a true statement.

Well, you do, yes. However, if you make a mod - then you would distribute the files with the mod - so players don’t need it. It’s a mod making tool basically.

If someone makes a mod and they’ve added systems though - they don’t need to download this and Java (although most PC’s have it installed anyway now), instead they can just run FLServer and let it generate the files for them and then copy them into their mod (i.e. Activate mod in FLMM, delete the shortest path files in the Freelancer Directory, then run FLServer, copy the files generated to desktop, deactivate mod, and then copy/paste the files over their mod files in FLMM).

Actually, that almost sounds like more work I’m happy if people do use it, and hope it is perfect in how it functions.

However, although path files were a major headache and I was lazy (to not want to create them by hand) - I made it after I finished modding - so it was simply because I enjoyed programming

It is actually very simple, you could remove 95% of the code as only a few lines really do the work… the rest is just to reassure users and make a nice usable interface
So the program itself is a little bloated, but meh

That message is bloody useless I should have made it display the errors it has found - whoops blushes

I think it’s an easy fix for me, but… unfortunately timing is everything, it’s silly’o’clock in the morning and I’m off to bed. In 24 hours I am flying off to Vienna for a week skiing in Austria

If it’s an RC I cannot download to check the mod.

edit Well, apart from having an issue with two versions (whoops, so clumsy of me) on my PC and being unsure which I was working upon - I’ve uploaded the current release with a small fix to hopefully display the errors window.

I did a preliminary test by just renaming Ku02.ini to Ku02a.ini - it throws an ioexception, but displays in the errors window afterwards “missing file KU02” - so whilst I dunno what your error is, I hope this will allow for some clarity in displaying the errors window

Try downloading the original link (file should be 102kb or so).

It will give exception still, BUT hopefully the errors window will then appear saying wtf it is Let me know

A note for “completeness”.

Alex sent me a link to the Flak mod, and the paths generated perfectly fine on windows XP - no issues.

Alex is on Windows 7 - which I currently do not have installed, so cannot verify 100% that this is the cause of his issue - or whether “run as administrator” (or whatever the usual fix is) allows the program to work as normal.

BUT

without further feedback about whether it is working, or installing Windows 7 here (I’ll see if I can get it within the next few days, I get a free copy under the academic alliance) I’m going to say that was the cause and therefore the solution should be “run as admin” :-? :-?

I also noticed that I uploaded a badly out of date source code version - whoops. I have therefore uploaded the latest source as well. See the first post.

Again, you don’t need the tool as FLServer apparently generates the path files if they are already missing