Matrix Games Forums

I originally posted this in my AAR but I've since thought it might ought to have it's own thread.

Rhinobones [ Steve ] and I have been thinking about developing a tool [ written in Python ] to allow the user to pick a scenario, change the colors of any desired units in the scenario [ from either side ] and write a ".COL" file for the desired color changes, place that file in the GraphicsOverride folder for that scenario and then the user can start up TOAW, load the scenario and check that the colors are actually the ones wanted.

I'd like to produce a version of the program that will load a simple text file containing a list of the scenarios to update and the changes desired for each scenario, with which the program will produce the ".COL" files for each scenario and thereby automate the process to make it painless to do this process.

Actually it might be easier for the user to edit a simple text file rather than playing with a windows application. Then just input the file to the program, wait a few seconds, then go to your running TOAW application that's running the scenario in question and do a CNTL-R to refresh the colors and see the new unit colors. Easy Peasy.

Steve produced this image for me and he's got some great ideas. So I'm inviting you guys to sound off with your ideas and help out Steve and I to produce the tool you guys want, a tool that will be easy to use.

Ideas?

Here's what I've got so far:

#---------------------------snip--------------------------------------------------
from tkinter import *
# import tkinter as tk
from PIL import ImageTk, Image

root = Tk( screenName="ReColor Your Units" )
canvas = Canvas( width=100 , height=100)
canvas.grid(columnspan=6)

# scaffolding test file
path_to_file = "c:\\scripts\\Python Scripts\\Images\\b-29.jpg"

root.iconbitmap( path_to_file )
my_img=ImageTk.PhotoImage(Image.open( path_to_file ))

my_label=Label(image=my_img)
my_label.grid(row=6, column=0)

e=Entry( root, width="35",borderwidth=5 )
e.grid(row=0, column=0, columnspan=5)
# e.insert(0, "Enter Your text here ")

# this does nothing yet.
def button_add():
return

# for correcting the size of the buttons
x_padding = 40
y_padding = 20

# create a lot of buttons for your calculator
button_1 = Button(root, text="1",command=(button_add), padx=x_padding,pady=y_padding)
button_2 = Button(root, text="2",command=(button_add), padx=x_padding,pady=y_padding)
button_3 = Button(root, text="3",command=(button_add), padx=x_padding,pady=y_padding)
button_4 = Button(root, text="4",command=(button_add), padx=x_padding,pady=y_padding)
button_5 = Button(root, text="5",command=(button_add), padx=x_padding,pady=y_padding)
button_6 = Button(root, text="6",command=(button_add), padx=x_padding,pady=y_padding)
button_7 = Button(root, text="7",command=(button_add), padx=x_padding,pady=y_padding)
button_8 = Button(root, text="8",command=(button_add), padx=x_padding,pady=y_padding)
button_9 = Button(root, text="9",command=(button_add), padx=x_padding,pady=y_padding)
button_0 = Button(root, text="0",command=(button_add), padx=x_padding,pady=y_padding)
buttonAdd=Button(root, text="+", command=(button_add), padx=x_padding,pady=y_padding)
button_clear=Button(root, text="clear",command=(button_add), padx=x_padding-1,pady=y_padding)
button_quit = Button( root, text="Exit Program", command = root.destroy)

# put the buttons on the screen
button_1.grid(row=3, column=0)
button_2.grid(row=3, column=1)
button_3.grid(row=3, column=2)
button_4.grid(row=2, column=0)
button_5.grid(row=2, column=1)
button_6.grid(row=2, column=2)
button_7.grid(row=1, column=0)
button_8.grid(row=1, column=1)
button_9.grid(row=1, column=2)
button_0.grid(row=4, column=0)
buttonAdd.grid(row=4, column=1 )
button_clear.grid( row=4, column=2)
button_quit.grid(row=5, column=0)

# function that loops but does nothing yet
root.mainloop()
#-----------------------------------------------------------------end snip----------------------------------------

Here's what the running program looks like so far. Can you tell that I'm still learning how to do Python stuff?

Steve had some good suggestions. His comments are in black and my commentary is in green.

An ICON Coloring Application, you’d be a hero to a lot of people. For a functional application I would like to see:

1. Load a scenario in the TOAW editor.
I've had a look at the contents of the *.SCE file and it looks like this in NotePad++: As you can see it's in Binary and I've looked at it in the debugger and discovered that most of it is zipped up and would need to be unzipped before you can monkey with the contents.

The scenario needs to have a dedicated GraphicsOverride folder.
If it doesn't have one I can create one on the fly.

2. Open (or create) the scenario .col file using your application
If there's already an existing .COL file I can just modify that one. Which may be the easiest file to use for input

3. Make the desired changes

4. Save the .COL [file] in the scenario’s GraphicsOverride folder

5. Return to the TOAW editor, refresh the graphics (Control R) and view the changes in real time.

The application will need to have a way to select colors, view color changes in the application, perform all color hex decimal calculations and load the new/revised .col file into the scenario’s GraphicsOverride folder.

6. For the time being I don’t think you need to work on global adds/changes to the .col file.
I'd like to hear more about what Steve means by "global" changes.

Is it too much to ask of the user that he/she provides the *.COL file to use as input?

Here's the contents of the .COL file for "D21_lgf.sce" [ that I produced just now using the 'x' key ]

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<GAME>
<ICONCOLOR>
<COLOR ID="0" MainBackground="21125" Background="14549033" Foreground="15724527" Numbers="15527148"/>
<COLOR ID="1" MainBackground="21125" Background="8650752" Foreground="16777116" Numbers="15527148"/>
<COLOR ID="2" MainBackground="21125" Background="255" Foreground="16250871" Numbers="15527148"/>
<COLOR ID="3" MainBackground="21125" Background="16250871" Foreground="0" Numbers="43495"/>
<COLOR ID="4" MainBackground="21125" Background="0" Foreground="16250871" Numbers="16711169"/>
<COLOR ID="5" MainBackground="10257457" Background="16250871" Foreground="8652808" Numbers="15527148"/>
<COLOR ID="6" MainBackground="10257457" Background="255" Foreground="15724527" Numbers="15527148"/>
<COLOR ID="7" MainBackground="10257457" Background="33792" Foreground="15724527" Numbers="15527148"/>
<COLOR ID="8" MainBackground="10257457" Background="107" Foreground="14548992" Numbers="15527148"/>
<COLOR ID="9" MainBackground="10257457" Background="0" Foreground="16187392" Numbers="0"/>
[ file continues to COLOR ID=100]

Which is a simple XML file that I can parse easily. The important keywords are: "MainBackground", "Background", "Foreground", and "Numbers". The values of the keywords are the decimal representation of HEX numbers which I can use for the existing colors. I'd like to have a representation of a unit using the existing colors and change the colors of the units in real time as the user picks a different color pattern to use from a pallette of choices. And then when everything suits the user he/she can click on the "commit" button and write out the new .COL file. The application need not quit there. The user can input a different scenario's *.COL file and repeat the process with another scenario.

Thoughts anybody?

I see four steps to recoloring;

• Find which color IDs the designer used

• Developing the colors

• Entering the color decimal # into the COL

• Tinkering and tuning how they actual look in-game

This would make the 3rd and 4th steps a breeze; the second bullet is per the individual's preference and is irrelevant here.

It's that first bullet - figuring out what color IDs the designer selected. I find myself squinting at the editor thinking "Is that an ID10 or an ID70... wait...are those pieces ID108?... You have to know that before you start changing colors.

How do you tie that information in before starting changes; knowing what color IDs to change?

Cpl GAC wrote: Sun Jul 16, 2023 1:23 am
Entering the color decimal # into the COL

My suggestion was that a user would use a color palette/wheel to select the color desired, paste the color on the icon and let the application do all the col fiddling in the background. No need for the user to ever touch the col file manually.

Regards

Cpl GAC wrote: Sun Jul 16, 2023 1:23 am I see four steps to recoloring;

• Find which color IDs the designer used

• Developing the colors

• Entering the color decimal # into the COL

• Tinkering and tuning how they actual look in-game

This would make the 3rd and 4th steps a breeze; the second bullet is per the individual's preference and is irrelevant here.

It's that first bullet - figuring out what color IDs the designer selected. I find myself squinting at the editor thinking "Is that an ID10 or an ID70... wait...are those pieces ID108?... You have to know that before you start changing colors.

How do you tie that information in before starting changes; knowing what color IDs to change?

That first bullet "find which color ID's the designer used"......so um...fortunately the .COL file holds all the information the program will need including which color(s) the designer used, etc.

The second bullet: "develop the color(s)" ......I'm not sure what you mean by "develop" the color. There's nothing to "develop". Maybe I don't understand what you mean by "develop" here.

The third bullet: "entering the color into the *.COL file" ..........I intend to do that for all the colors needed for the file.

The fourth bullet: "Tinkering...." .......if the user has the scenario already loaded into the TOAW editor then upon production of the new *.COL file the user can just use the CNTL-R key combination to refresh the colors in the scenario and can "tinker" as many times as necessary to get the effect desired just by reproducing a new *.COL file as many times as needed.

Thanks for your input dude. I like the way you think.

Rhinobones, - I'm saying your color palette wheel is a great idea - it really smooths out and speeds up the 3rd and 4th bullet points I listed.

Larryfulkerson - the second bullet point just refers to what colors the person using the system would like to use. The creative part of the process.

It's my first bullet point - how is the user determining which color ID a piece has been assigned?

Here's the contents of a *.COL file:

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<GAME>
<ICONCOLOR>
<COLOR ID="0" MainBackground="21125" Background="14549033" Foreground="15724527" Numbers="15527148"/>
<COLOR ID="1" MainBackground="21125" Background="8650752" Foreground="16777116" Numbers="15527148"/>
<COLOR ID="2" MainBackground="21125" Background="255" Foreground="16250871" Numbers="15527148"/>
<COLOR ID="3" MainBackground="21125" Background="16250871" Foreground="0" Numbers="43495"/>
<COLOR ID="4" MainBackground="21125" Background="0" Foreground="16250871" Numbers="16711169"/>
<COLOR ID="5" MainBackground="10257457" Background="16250871" Foreground="8652808" Numbers="15527148"/>
<COLOR ID="6" MainBackground="10257457" Background="255" Foreground="15724527" Numbers="15527148"/>
<COLOR ID="7" MainBackground="10257457" Background="33792" Foreground="15724527" Numbers="15527148"/>
<COLOR ID="8" MainBackground="10257457" Background="107" Foreground="14548992" Numbers="15527148"/>
<COLOR ID="9" MainBackground="10257457" Background="0" Foreground="16187392" Numbers="0"/>
[ file continues to COLOR ID=100]

As you can discern from the above verbage that the COLOR ID is specified for every different color used in the scenario. Is that what you were
asking?

EDIT[ 08:35 am 07/16/2023 ]: I should specify that a lot of the colors have the same values for their fields, and that there are only 100 possible colors to chose from. I'd like to give the user the ability to click on the reference chart OR design their own color(s) using the color picker. I'd like to make this a quick process to perform.

Sophia is wondering the same question:

larryfulkerson wrote: Sun Jul 16, 2023 3:50 pm EDIT[ 08:35 am 07/16/2023 ]: I should specify that a lot of the colors have the same values for their fields, and that there are only 100 possible colors to chose from. I'd like to give the user the ability to click on the reference chart OR design their own color(s) using the color picker. I'd like to make this a quick process to perform.

Larry

A palette of 100 pre-set colors is not what I, and I suspect most users, envision. What I’m thinking of is selecting colors from a color wheel and then having the application convert the color to its decimal code equivalent. The application then enters the code into the COL file. This yields an almost unlimited number of colors.

Regards

A palette of 100 pre-set colors is not what I, and I suspect most users, envision. What I’m thinking of is selecting colors from a color wheel and then having the application convert the color to its decimal code equivalent. The application then enters the code into the COL file. This yields an almost unlimited number of colors.

When a *.COL file is created by TOAW it lists 100 separate COLOR ID's max. I've seen....I've created... *.COL files that have only about a dozen different colors...so you don't necessarily have to do all 100 of them. So the *.COL file that I write out also doesn't need to have 100 entries, just those unique colors that the user desires.

If we're going to use the color picker we don't necessarily need to show a reference chart [ it hurts nothing to show it however ], however I would like to show the user the "before" and "after" versions of the unit where the "after" version get's updated in real time. I'll get busy and see if I can't produce a prototype that other people can play with. Beta testers, as it were.

Thank you very much for your input....I value your advice. Hell, I appreciate all the input I can get. Keep it coming.

Here's what I've got so far:

Maybe I'm missing the point and you've already explained it 2x but I keep missing it, so I'll re-state my question and hope it becomes clear to me;

- Larry, when I go to recolor your scenario TGW 1941-1945 and I start the tool; where will it tell me you used color IDs; 3,4 10,11,12,13,14,20,21,22,24,30,36,60,62,63,70,75,90,91,92,93,94,100,101,108, and 109? Where does the user of the tool get that information so they know which ones to work with of the possible 110 IDs available?

I know how to edit a COL file ( I wrote this commentary on things to think about when designing scenarios with recoloring in mind; https://www.matrixgames.com/forums/view ... 6&t=396157 )

BTW - figuring out those #s above took a lot of staring and squinting and educated guessing like this;

Cpl GAC wrote: Sun Jul 16, 2023 11:09 pm
- Larry, when I go to recolor your scenario TGW 1941-1945 and I start the tool; where will it tell me you used color IDs; 3,4 10,11,12,13,14,20,21,22,24,30,36,60,62,63,70,75,90,91,92,93,94,100,101,108, and 109? Where does the user of the tool get that information so they know which ones to work with of the possible 110 IDs available?

If I understand correctly, the IDs you’re speaking of are the icon positions on the reference chart.

In my graphic shown in post #1, the five unit icons on the left represent the column which has been selected by the user. Next to the icons are the associated IDs, 35 thru 39. Colors on the icon will change as the user makes selections. I like being able to see all five icons simultaneously so I can work the column as a group and ensure formation colors are complimentary.

The graphic is the proposed solution I provided to Larry.

Regards

I'm not questioning how the tool works - it's a great idea and it's brilliant that you see the whole column at once.

Let's start at the beginning - I'm going to recolor TGW 1941-1945 and I'm doing this for the first time...

I open the tool and here is my question; how do I know what color IDs the designer used? Where do I start?

Larry and Company used 27 color IDs out of the 110 available - how am I supposed to know they used 27 colors and how am I supposed to know which 27 colors?

Cpl GAC wrote: Mon Jul 17, 2023 1:00 pm I open the tool and here is my question; how do I know what color IDs the designer used? Where do I start?

Does something like this answer the question?

1. ICON #39 is highlighted.
2. Action button shows which feature is ready for change and current color IDs for all features. In this example Background is selected.
3. The current color for the selected feature is highlighted on the color wheel/palette.

Selecting a different ICON or position on the color wheel automatically adjusts action button color IDs.
Cycling thru the individual ICONs will show the user both the color (on the wheel) and color ID (action buttons) used by the original author.

Regards

Cpl GAC wrote: Mon Jul 17, 2023 1:00 pm I'm not questioning how the tool works - it's a great idea and it's brilliant that you see the whole column at once.

Let's start at the beginning - I'm going to recolor TGW 1941-1945 and I'm doing this for the first time...

I open the tool and here is my question; how do I know what color IDs the designer used? Where do I start?

Larry and Company used 27 color IDs out of the 110 available - how am I supposed to know they used 27 colors and how am I supposed to know which 27 colors?

I'd like to use the *.COL file that's easy to obtain. When you're using the TOAW editor, after loading the scenario you'd like to recolor you use the ''x" key to produce a *.COL file for that scenario. Move the *.COL file you just now produced into the folder where the *RECOLOR* application that we're working on lives and ideally the RECOLOR app will show you the colors the scenario designer used for his/her units [ "before" ] and as you pick alternate colors for your units and you can judge for yourself what looks "best" and the RECOLOR app will produce a new *.COL file for you, slip it into the appropriate GraphicsOverride folder and then all the user has to do is open that scenario in the TOAW editor and save the scenario with either the same name or a different name and then you're ready to let the games begin. I wish there were a way I could automate that step as well but that's another app for a different thread.

Precilla Ortega Manwella Desilva really appreciates you helping out with this project

So um........Hey you guys....I'm making progress. I've installed a colorchooser dialog that actually works. I haven't figured out how to read in the reference color chart thingie but I'll figure it out and then we'll be in tall cotton. The colorchooser returns tuples in it's output. So in the image you can see that the red green and blue values are 255,255,255 respectively which is the representation of "White" and the output turns out to be:
( 255, 255, 255,)[#FFFE00]) as python prints it. I need the last entry in the string so what has to happen is use the colorchooser to grab your color and then click on the "OK" button in the bottom left and the above string gets parsed like this:

# Create the colorchooser and give it a default value
# just in case the user cancels out of the dialog
ColorChosen = askcolor("white")

# now that you have a 2-tuple answer you gotta decode it
# grab the second tuple from the answer
DecimalNumber = ColorChosen[1]

# strip off the "#" character
TempString = DecimalNumber[-6]
DecimalNumber=TempString

# okay now calculate what the base 10 number is
dec_num = sum(int(x, 16) *
math.pow(16,len(DecimalNumber)-i-1) for i, x in
enumerate(DecimalNumber))
# return the decimal number [int] to the user
return dec_num

So far so good

So um.......hey you guys....here's what I've got so far. The reference chart was supposed to be at the top of the app and none of my buttons are showing and the Title is missing and it runs without any errors showing up. I've got to do some more investigating to fix all the stuff that is wrong.

larryfulkerson wrote: Thu Jul 20, 2023 6:42 pm So um.......hey you guys....here's what I've got so far. The reference chart was supposed to be at the top of the app and none of my buttons are showing and the Title is missing and it runs without any errors showing up. I've got to do some more investigating to fix all the stuff that is wrong.

Larry, any update on the project?

Was thinking that maybe you’d be better off starting with a simpler application. Make an application which has a color wheel and converts colors into the code used in the COL file. Publish it and see if the community finds it useful. You can expand the application from there.

Regards

Once again you've decifered what's going on and suggested a really good idea. I'll get busy on it right now.