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Cool! After 8 years, we now have map hot spots!

Posted: Sat Jul 03, 2010 12:10 am
by MarkShot
Edit (speculative discussion removed as I am now done) ...

A brand new utility is born for HTTR/COTA/BFTB: PGE (Panther Games Enhancement).

Well, since the days of RDOA, I always wanted map hot spots added to the interface. When you are playing on a big map or a large scenario, you frequently spend a lot of time just going back and forth between different locations. I wanted a way to bind the current map position and zoom to a key and then recall it.

Additionally, this utility has an option to make HTTR's function keys behave in a manner that is consistent with COTA/BFTB. Thus, making it much easier to switch back and forth between these games.

You can download PGE from here. The zip includes an executable which you can simply run, the source code if you want to make changes yourself, and detailed instructions on PGE's use.

Enjoy!


http://home.comcast.net/~markshot/tempimages/PGE.zip

Cheat sheet:
You can simply run the PGE.EXE while you are playing one of the games. PGE is not a mod or patch, and will not alter your games in any way. (It behaves more like a programmable joystick program.) To exit PGE, simply right click on the big green H in the System Tray and select exit.
ORIGINAL: MarkShot

You have to keep the left mouse button depressed in the Strat Map when you press the function key. The left mouse button down while the function key is pressed is what triggers the special code to save the location. Otherwise, I just pass the function key to the game to set whatever unit info box option the user expects.

Again when you recall the hot spot, the right mouse button must be down when you hit the function key (this one you can do on the main map). Otherwise, the function key is again just sent to the game to be processed for setting the unit info box.

Quick cheat sheet:

Load hot spots from INI? = No (resets all hot spots), Yes (reloads previous settings)

LMB+FKey (in Strat Map) = Save hotspot

LMB+Number = Set zoom level last accessed hot spot

RMB+Fkey (Main Map) = Recall hotspot

RMB+Number = Set zoom level default and reset zoom of all assigned hot spots

LMB+Left/Right/Up/Down = Nudge hot spot in the given direction

* Initial default zoom is level 1

I hope that helps.
Set a zoom level: With the left mouse button down, press 1-6 (1 = max zoom in). The zoom level will be saved for whatever hot spot (F key) which you either set or retrieved most recently. So, you can set/reset the zoom level whenever you want. You will hear a double BEEP confirmation.

The default zoom level is set for 1. You can set/reset the default zoom level at any time. With the right mouse button down, press 1-6 (1 = max zoom in). This will reset all zoom levels to whatever you choose. Meaning it will override and individual hot spot zoom levels which you have already set. You will hear a triple BEEP confirmation.

HTTR consistency option:
USAGE - HTTR Consistency Option

The behavior of the function keys were changed after HTTR. If you are actively playing all three games, this could be quite an annoyance. This utility can make HTTR's keys compatible with COTA/BFTB.

You must start PGE.EXE with the following switch: HTTR+. Like:

C> PGE.EXE HTTR+

The following adjustments were made:

(1) Reverse mouse wheel handling
(2) Swap keys F1<->F4, F2<->F3, F7->F10
(3) Kill redundant keys F8, F9, F10, F11, F12
(4) Overload F5(F5|F6), F6(F7|F8|F9)

RE: Cool! After 8 years, I think we could have map hot spots!

Posted: Sat Jul 03, 2010 5:45 am
by MarkShot
Deleted - outdated.

RE: Cool! After 8 years, I think we could have map hot spots!

Posted: Sat Jul 03, 2010 5:53 am
by MarkShot
Deleted - outdated.

RE: Cool! After 8 years, I think we could have map hot spots!

Posted: Sat Jul 03, 2010 6:37 pm
by MarkShot
Deleted - outdated.

RE: Cool! After 8 years, I think we could have map hot spots!

Posted: Sat Jul 03, 2010 10:39 pm
by MarkShot
Deleted - outdated.

RE: Cool! After 8 years, I think we could have map hot spots!

Posted: Sat Jul 03, 2010 10:41 pm
by MarkShot
Deleted - outdated.

RE: Cool! After 8 years, I think we could have map hot spots!

Posted: Sat Jul 03, 2010 10:42 pm
by MarkShot
Deleted - outdated.

RE: Cool! After 8 years, I think we could have map hot spots!

Posted: Sat Jul 03, 2010 10:43 pm
by MarkShot
Deleted - outdated.

RE: Cool! After 8 years, I think we could have map hot spots!

Posted: Sat Jul 03, 2010 10:46 pm
by MarkShot
Deleted - outdated.

RE: Cool! After 8 years, we now have map hot spots!

Posted: Sun Jul 04, 2010 7:35 am
by Fred98
ORIGINAL: MarkShot

When you are playing on a big map, you frequently spend a lot of time just going back and forth between different locations. I wanted a way to bind the current map position and zoom to a key and then recall it.



What does that mean exactly for Battles from the Bulge

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RE: Cool! After 8 years, we now have map hot spots!

Posted: Sun Jul 04, 2010 9:51 am
by MarkShot
Deleted - outdated.

RE: Cool! After 8 years, we now have map hot spots!

Posted: Sun Jul 04, 2010 8:31 pm
by MarkShot
PGEv02 uploaded. Minor active window title matching correction.

RE: Cool! After 8 years, we now have map hot spots!

Posted: Sun Jul 04, 2010 10:13 pm
by Fred98
ORIGINAL: MarkShot

It was tested on and works for BFTB.

Feel free to download and try it.


I don't get it. What is it ????

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RE: Cool! After 8 years, we now have map hot spots!

Posted: Mon Jul 05, 2010 2:42 am
by Rebel Yell
Its a script that allows you to bind hot keys to go to a particular place on the map, at a particular zoom level, by hitting one key for each one you set up.

RE: Cool! After 8 years, we now have map hot spots!

Posted: Mon Jul 05, 2010 3:44 pm
by MarkShot
Deleted - outdated.

RE: Cool! After 8 years, we now have map hot spots!

Posted: Mon Jul 05, 2010 5:19 pm
by Prince of Eckmühl
ORIGINAL: MarkShot

Anyone else give it a try?

Hi Markshot,

I tried it on my W7 box and it's not working for me. I left click on the jump-map and then hit a fn key. No sound is audible, BTW. Then, I try to use the fn key while playing and nothing happens. My experience in no way reflects on the soundness of your proggy. As Dave and company can tell you, there is no facet of working with computer programs that's too easy for me to foul up!

RE: Cool! After 8 years, we now have map hot spots!

Posted: Mon Jul 05, 2010 5:29 pm
by MarkShot
Deleted - outdated.

RE: Cool! After 8 years, we now have map hot spots!

Posted: Mon Jul 05, 2010 5:47 pm
by Prince of Eckmühl
ORIGINAL: MarkShot

RMB+Fkey (Main Map) = Recall hotspot

Right-click + function-key took care of it.[8D]

Still no beep(s), though.

The computer that I'm working on doesn't have an internal/system speaker, so that may be the problem.

Anyway, nice work![&o]

RE: Cool! After 8 years, we now have map hot spots!

Posted: Mon Jul 05, 2010 5:51 pm
by MarkShot
Deleted - outdated.

RE: Cool! After 8 years, we now have map hot spots!

Posted: Mon Jul 05, 2010 5:55 pm
by MarkShot
Deleted - outdated.