Fighting--and losing--to the Sync Bug

[John 3rd]

NY Giants 57 (Michael) and I have started a new campaign using Big B's 1.4 Extended Map campaign. We are only a week intot he campaign but Michael is having massive problems with the sync bug. I have done all that I can procedure-wise to try to alleviate it from my end. Does anyone have any ideas on how to help?

I've had this strike twice--once as Japanese and once as Allies--in new campaigns. Both times, we simply started over and things went a lot better with only minor problems. Is this the only real answer?

Ideas???

[jwilkerson]

I've played hundreds of PBEM turns with Nik and Moses in the past several months - and synch issues have been nil.

Things I do (I am playing Japanese):

(1) Never hit buttons (like done or escape) during the animations.
(2) Make sure we are both running exactly the same version of the EXE.
(3) Always send combatreport just in case .. and if playing Allies (rare but did some with NIK) always read the combatreport before watching the replay ( to set expectations - since the combatreport will be right if the 001 file is wrong).

To my knowledge we have only had synch issues surround EXE upgrades which have disappated after a turn or so. So the first step is to check your EXE files .. make sure the datetime stamps are pretty close ... they might be a little off due to variations around timezones).

[John 3rd]

EXE files?  I am computer illiterate.  Where and what are those?  Once I know what to look for I can find and check that.  We cannot be having any sort of version problem because we are playing the Mod.  I don't accelerate the combat annimations at all and let them play out.  I don't reduce the game in the middle of a replay.
 
Michael has me send the Ops Report, Combat Report, as well as 001 and the game file.
 

[jwilkerson]

ORIGINAL: John 3rd

EXE files?  I am computer illiterate.  Where and what are those?  Once I know what to look for I can find and check that.  We cannot be having any sort of version problem because we are playing the Mod.  I don't accelerate the combat annimations at all and let them play out.  I don't reduce the game in the middle of a replay.

Michael has me send the Ops Report, Combat Report, as well as 001 and the game file.

There is a folder - which can be called anything - so I can't tell you want your are called - but it is the level above the folders SCEN and SAVE and ART ... and in this folder that is one level above the SCEN etc. folders ... there will be a file .. probably called

War In The Pacific.EXE

This is the executable which is the game. So you both need to have exactly the same version of the EXE (game engine) in order to avoid synch issues (as well as avoid hitting buttons during the animations).

Are you playing Allies or Japanese? I though

[John 3rd]

OK--found it--I am playing the Japanese and my exec is 1.8.0.6.  Is this what you are asking about?
 
I will email Michael and see if he is running the same.

[rtrapasso]

ORIGINAL: John 3rd

OK--found it--I am playing the Japanese and my exec is 1.8.0.6.  Is this what you are asking about?

Yes.

Actually, i've had lots of problems with sync/replay bug... i find that i must boot my computer before running turn results, otherwise the issue will pop up. As soon as i get the fresh boot, i load WITP and the results, and then run the turn. Sync issues are very prone if i've had large programs running, or if i've been doing other stuff with WITP (i.e. - looking at another WITP game file, for instance).


Here is my current standard writeup on the problem:

One thing that can at least reduce the frequency of the problem is to make absolutely sure you both are using the same EXE file ... you can compare byte count ... date time stamp (which will usually be adjusted by time zone) or even use a CRC utility, there are a number of easy downloadable ones.

As Allies (or Axis) - there are a couple of things you can do to try and prevent sync bug... it is related to the amount of memory you have.

SO - run the file from a (preferably cold) boot, ie - don't load anything else before you finish running the turn. Make sure you have any memory hogs in the background turned off (i had some problems with things like screensavers, esp things like SETI@HOME).

Set your virtual memory settings up to maximum.
Control panel -> System -> Advanced (tab) -> Perfomance (click on Settings button) ->
Advanced (tab) -> Virtual Memory (click on the Change button) -> select Custom Size and make the size as large as you can make it

This can SOMETIMES get rid of problems.

You can also ask your IJ opponent to not use the ESC key during replays - some people insist that this can cause (or intensify) the bug.

Actions with PT boats seem to also cause problems, esp. strafing PTs. One game i had would invariably start a replay problem when this happened.

Otherwise use the Pompack Patented Procedure to restore sync:


1. Japanese player, receives Allied turn.

2. Japanese player turns off COMBAT REPORTS

3. Japanese player watches combat, enters orders and sends to Allied Player. (Japanese player does without combat reports and SIGINT for one turn; take good notes during combat)

4 . Allied player watches replay with COMBAT REPORTS ON (AFAIK)

5. Allied player enters orders and sends to Japanese Player

6. Japanese Player receives allied turn, turns ON COMBAT REPORTS

7. Japanese player watches combat, enters orders and sends to Allied Player.

[John 3rd]

Thanks Sir.  On the Exec files, am I not looking at the right thing?  You mention byte count and date time stamp.  Where do I find these at?  Maybe better question is how?
 
I have been doing the steps 1-7 for the last 4-5 turns and it does not seem to be helping.
 

[jwilkerson]

ORIGINAL: John 3rd

OK--found it--I am playing the Japanese and my exec is 1.8.0.6.  Is this what you are asking about?

I will email Michael and see if he is running the same.

I am talking about the EXE .. but I would check the datetime stamp .. (and ideally a CRC but that might be too advanced for this lesson!

Here is a screen shot ...

And BTW I used to do all sorts of other things like the "POMPAC" method - but I've found that having the exact same EXEs and never hitting to done or esc buttons during the animations is pretty much a complete solution!

[John 3rd]

OK.  I am a visual learner and that screen shot REALLY helped.  Will check and see.  It doesn't say anything about bytes...
 

[John 3rd]

Mine says the exact same thing as what is listed above except in lists the time as 2:52pm.  That is the only difference--size is the same, application, and 4/1/2007.  What does the differing time stamp mean?
 

[ny59giants]

Here are my WitP files.
I may have had it only up to 1.8.0.4
I have a copy with CHS on it and I may have just that install.
Please check to make sure I'm up to snuff. [:D]

[John 3rd]

I see the 1.8.0.6 Whats New file.  Did you find out if it is 1.8.0.4 or .06?  That could be our problem.
 

[2ndACR]

When you are on the main screen..............the one that looks like the radio, upper right corner will say what version you are running. Mine say 1.806.
 
I use the esc key like crazy, but as far as I know, have never been hit with a sync bug. None of my opponents have said anything anyway. I do always exit WITP and restart the game before running each turn though.

[rtrapasso]

ORIGINAL: 2ndACR

When you are on the main screen..............the one that looks like the radio, upper right corner will say what version you are running. Mine say 1.806.

I use the esc key like crazy, but as far as I know, have never been hit with a sync bug. None of my opponents have said anything anyway. I do always exit WITP and restart the game before running each turn though.

Well, with my machine - i find that is not enough... i usually have to reboot. There have been more than one occasion where i did not do this, and got sync issues. i would immediately reboot, and run the turn again and this time get the correct results.

Note that this does not always work... [:(]

[John 3rd]

I found out that my other computer had been updated to 1.8.0.1 and NOT 1.8.0.6.  I upgraded but now I am getting Fatal Error 818 on my screen.

Anyone know what this is?  I FIX one problem to create ANOTHER...

[ny59giants]

I just transferred the files to the SAVE folder and then shut down the computer (took an hour nap [:D]).
Ran the Replay and no sync problems.
Will hold my breathe for a few more turns before saying anything else.