How to take screenshots?

[Grotius]

Hi,

How do you take screenshots in HTTR? I did a search and couldn't find the answer. Is it Printscreen? Also, in what folder do they end up?

Thanks!

[MadScot]

I don't know if the game has a specific feature.

I always use the PrintScreen (or Prnt Scrn) button whatever game I'm playing, then open MS Paint (using the "windoze" button to open the start menu and then start it from there) and just paste it into the open blank image and save the file. If I'm taking multiple screenshots (for an AAR say) I'll leave Paint open and Alt-tab between that and the game to take the screenshots.

Later I'll go back and iopen the screenshot images with a better imaging program and crop and annotate them as required.

[W Thorne_MatrixForum]

Download MWSnap and you can take multiple screenshots. You can specify a folder for the screenshots. The program is freeware. Go here to download .................. http://www.webattack.com/get/mwsnap.shtml

[Grotius]

Thanks for the advice!

[Arjuna]

Print Screen works fine. Then Alt Tab to your favourite paint program and paste it in. Bob's your uncle![:)]

[Grotius]

I have a follow-up question. I notice that people post screenshots here all the time. Are they hosted here in a way that I could reproduce the shots in other forums (e.g., a separate board where my friends and I post about other games)? Or can I only post links? I'm trying to talk up HTRR and WiTP to my friends, but screenshots in my posts would help.

[W Thorne_MatrixForum]

Grotius when you post a message look at the bottom of the message window and you will see File and a link to click to upload. The forum lets you upload 1 picture per post. You can do several post if you have several pictures. I don't think you can then link these to another forum.

[Grotius]

I don't think you can then link these to another forum.

Ah, that's what I was mostly wondering about. Oh well.

[Marc von Martial]

You can use:

FRAPS: http://www.fraps.com/

or

UO Screenshot Utility: http://www.hh.iij4u.or.jp/~kmatuoka/uosu/indexe.html

both are very easy to handle.

[Grotius]

Thanks, Mark. I just now tried alt-tabbing out and pasting into Photoshop, and that worked very nicely.

As I understand it, Matrix doesn't "host" the screenshots in a way that I could post the shots themselves on a separate board. Only links to the threads containing the shots. Is that right? If I want to repost the shots on a separate board, I have to host them myself on my own webspace?

[Marc von Martial]

Thanks, Mark. I just now tried alt-tabbing out and pasting into Photoshop, and that worked very nicely.

Yes that works too, but is very laborious. With these tools you can simply take one screenshot after the other, while playing.

[Grotius]

With these tools you can simply take one screenshot after the other, while playing.

Ah, that does sound nice. Hmm, ok, I'll try one of 'em.

I assume, then, that you guys don't "host" screenshots in a way that I can display them on other boards without hosting them in my own webspace? Just trying to conserve my own bandwidth.

[MarkShot]

For the stuff that I have done for my threads, I actually take save games with the simulated time in the filename which cross references against a personal commander's log which I keep. The screenshots for my threads are actually taken by reloading save games and doing the screen shots after the battle is over. This allows me to:

(1) At a later point, get very good illustrative screenshots and apply the advantage of hindsight in capturing what was important. I have total control over game display options, panning, and cropping. In fact, I even changed the terrain tiles from the ones that I was actually playing with at the time.

(2) Edit orders in the reloaded game and other options so that I can highlight just the units/orders of relevance.

(3) Not interrupt the continuity of the game while playing it by worrying about producing a tutorial/training materials. I just play. After the battle is over, I can then think if there was anything worthy of posting and if so how to present and describe it. That keeps my mind on the game, but allows me to later produce a very methodical presentation just the same.

[MarkShot]

Here a small example from something which I was beta testing to give you an idea (this is only a portion of the files and log entries). I had wanted to turn this battle into a COTA AAR, but for lack of time, I don't think it is going to happen.

Save game checkpoints:

1_0400_e.aag
1_0400_n.aag
1_0447_e.aag
1_0611_e.aag
1_0611_x.aag
1_0632_e.aag
1_0655_e.aag
1_0655_x.aag
1_0709_e.aag
1_0736_e.aag
1_0736_x.aag
1_0737_e.aag
1_0737_x.aag
1_0740_e.aag
1_0740_x.aag

The commanders log:

1 04:47

Point 107 is now ours. However, some enemy troops
have been spotted in the trees to the East.

1 05:04

The sun is coming up and the enemy infantry in the
trees appears to be withdrawing.

1 06:11

First enemy arty barrages are starting. Exhaustion
has proved a major problem in terms of getting in
position. Put the short range mortars on call to
deal with close threats.

1 06:32

Enemy forces are continuing to retreat back towards
Pyrgos.

1 06:55

Pyrgos assault is starting. Release other mortar
battery as they crest Point 107.

1 07:09

A HMG platoon heading for the Church has been driven
back.

The companies defending the Eastern Maleme trees is
retreating.

[MarkShot]

These are the filenaming conventions which I use in check pointing:

Save games:

D_HHSS_?

e - existing orders
s - airstrike targetting
n - new orders
x - bombard (X marks the spot)
f - dead end leading to game crash
i - informational checkpoint

Thus, there will often be pairs of files for a given time with before and after order states. Great for writing those, tutorial AARs.

[Grotius]

Whoa, impressive, MarkShot. Heh, I've just posted two little AARs with no screenshots at all. Come to think of it, I think I'll edit one screenshot in Photoshop and add it to one of the AARs.

MarkShot, I've also been asking a separate question: are these shots hosted by this Matrix forum in such a way that I could reproduce the shots themselves (not just a link) on another board?

[MarkShot]

I tried yesterday when you asked, and I think the answer is "no".

[Golf33]

Yes, you can link to the images. First, upload an image file to your post, making sure to check "Embed picture in post". Like this:

[Golf33]

Next, once the post has appeared, right-click on the image and select "Properties". Copy the image location (it will usually be a couple of lines long, make sure to get all of it). For example, for the image above, the location is:

Code: Select all

http://www.matrixgames.com/forums/upfiles/8865/Ki186672955.jpg

This can be displayed in remote pages without difficulty.

Regards
33

[W Thorne_MatrixForum]

Steve thanks for the info. I had no idea that was possible.