Jump to content
The Dark Mod Forums

New tdm_installer and dev builds


stgatilov

Recommended Posts

  • How about adding DR and other FM missions to the selection list.
    (and change the one-selection list to an multiple selection list)
  • To some it is nice to know how big the TDM installation shall be and what is added, remove, etc.
    But do the novice user want to know that?
  • And why did you add a button to remove darkmod.cfg.
    maybe for when i updated TDM? (then, how about adding a save-game delete button,..)
  • To look at the future, is there a way to manual add or change TDM mirrors?
    (or is that the custom manifest thingy?)

Got an error at version 0.19.
I ran the installer in the background and followed the download procedure.
At a moment the tdm installer stuck at "downloading finisched". Buttons are grayed out. (files are downloaded). Maybe its waiting for the repack procedure?
So i restarted the installer to resume the download procedure, but it automatically cleanup the downloaded files.

 

Edited by freyk
  • Like 1

Info: My portfolio and darkmod graphical installer
Amnesty for Bikerdude!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

2 hours ago, freyk said:

How about adding DR and FM missions to the one-selection list.

I had thoughts about providing FMs in the same installer the same way.
If I add it in future, it definitely won't have any fancy features like showing descriptions, screenshots, etc.

The only possible reason to download FMs in tdm_installer is the ability to preserve older version of FMs.
Suppose that FM was working in TDM 2.08, but was updated for 2.09, and the updated version stopped working in 2.08.

Quote

To look at the future, is there a way to manual add or change TDM mirrors?

It is all written in tdm_installer.ini. There is a related checkbox "Don't download config" or something like that.
One important exception: every official version must be present on TDM server (which is hardcoded in exe). If someone wants to use it for his own stuff, he will have to fork and rebuild the installer.

Quote

At a moment the tdm installer stuck at "downloading finisched". Buttons are grayed out. (files are downloaded).

I think that's the verification procedure that you already complained about

Quote

So i restarted the installer to resume the download procedure, but it automatically cleanup the downloaded files.

Yes, downloads are not preserved right now.

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

On 7/20/2020 at 2:27 PM, freyk said:
  • And please dont forget the filebrowser.

It turns out that in order to customize its look, I have to write my own instead.

Then I will remove:

  • "Show" dropdown
  • Favorites
  • New directory button
  • Preview checkbox

The only things that remain would be:

  • File tree
  • File input
  • OK and Cancel buttons

 

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

New version of installer is available.

I simplified file chooser.
Tried to also tweak alert messages, but it turned out to be impossible 😞

Also, I added one more progress bar for the downloads verification.

 

The only TODO I really have in mind now is some sort of unattended mode.
For the case if someone wants to run installer inside scripts and such.

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

i will check this new version, the coming days.

But,..

Could somebody please add an link to this installer (and/or my installer) to TDM's downloadpage?

Because the TDM updater is still not an installer. its not userfriendly to ask a noob to use the updater to install the game. (a dutch saying: "because has to be easy, so everybodies grandparent can install this game, without any help" )

(or do i really need to create my own account at the tdm bugtracker, to discuss these decisions??? ) 

 

Edited by freyk

Info: My portfolio and darkmod graphical installer
Amnesty for Bikerdude!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

8 hours ago, freyk said:

Could somebody please add an link to this installer (and/or my installer) to TDM's downloadpage?

The idea is to replace tdm_update with the new installer.
It just has not happened yet, but I hope it will happen by 2.09 release.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

The new HotReload feature by stgatilov in this latest build is a big one for any mappers. Now you no longer need to reload the whole map in TDM if you changed an entity's properties in DR (origin, model, light colour/radius, skin etc.), simply save in DR and enter reloadMap into TDM's console and the changes take effect ingame. This should save a lot of time in things like getting the lighting right, well worth getting if you're a mapper.

Even easier is to bind this to a hotkey by typing the following into the console (in this case binding to j):
bind "j" "reloadMap"

  • Thanks 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites

1 hour ago, Dragofer said:

The new HotReload feature by stgatilov in this latest build is a big one for any mappers. Now you no longer need to reload the whole map in TDM if you changed an entity's properties in DR (origin, model, light colour/radius, skin etc.), simply save in DR and enter reloadMap into TDM's console and the changes take effect ingame. This should save a lot of time in things like getting the lighting right, well worth getting if you're a mapper.

I wonder if it is worth creating a special thread about it in Mappers subforum.
Although I have already created one in dev subforum, and there is a sorta related thread in DarkRadiant subforum too 😞

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

I took a look at installer, build 28th july

  • Window size is still to big and please add a winforms switch-feature for windows version.
    (Linux users are used to it to see large windows)
  • I Dont like the filebrowser now, because i miss buttons to navigate and to create a new folder.
    (after closing the filebrowser, the "restart" button gives an error and the "next" button grays out)
  •  Maybe temporarily hide the advanced settings menu.
    Show these settings only when checkbox is checked. And hide, when its unchecked.
  • Hide the version selector, after when the custom version is not ticked.
    Because If i click on the "next"-button on the startscreen (without ticking custom version), i see the version selector.
    If i was a beginner, i should be confused ("because there are more versions?")
  • As i mentioned earlier, as a beginner, i would be afraid, when i see "removed size".
    (show these sizes, only when updating or change version)

Thanks for adding more progressbars.
But i miss a total progress bar.
I would design the download-window something like this:
(see also attached winforms sketch)
===
The darkmod <version> is being installed right now.
This download procedure consists of the following steps:

Total bar:
<total bar>
---
Step 1: downloading files:
<download progress bar>
Step 2: verify:
<verify progress bar>
Step 3: repacking files:
<verify progress bar>
Step 4: finalisation of files:
<finalize progress bar>
---
Status log
<textbox with logging>
<save log button>

Finished successfully
<button delete darkmod.cfg>
<button create shortcut in startmenu>
<button create shortcut in desktop>
<close button>
=====
(or just less: During download, only total progressbar and  status log textbox)

example.jpg

Edited by freyk
  • Like 1

Info: My portfolio and darkmod graphical installer
Amnesty for Bikerdude!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 4 weeks later...
  • 2 months later...

New version of installer is ready.

The improvements are:

  • Mirrors can be assigned weights to balance traffic.
  • The situation of a mirror going down should be handled gracefully now.
  • Added "unattended" mode which installs TDM without human intervention (run it with --help for more info).
  • Fixed a few crashes.

As of now, the tdm_installer is in "testing" phase, and only one mirror is attached to it. So the first two things cannot be tested yet.

  • Like 1
  • Thanks 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Nice work, works great.
What I only miss (for now) are some visual things, like:

  • The slashes inside the file-path (and folder selection).
    In windows they need to be displayed like backslashes, not forward slashes.
  • a method to select other tdm-mirrors.  (where is tdm_mirrors.txt?)
  • Textlabels next to the progressbars, during the download. (see example above)
    (And thanks for adding the additional progressbars)
  • Unhide the empty progressbars, when they have nothing to do.
    (so the user can see and knows there are some steps are coming)
  • an "100% - Done" textlabel inside the progressbars, when they are done.
  • A final-status progress bar.





 

Edited by freyk
  • Like 1

Info: My portfolio and darkmod graphical installer
Amnesty for Bikerdude!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

9 hours ago, freyk said:

ok. And what if an automatically chosen mirror, is up but doesnt work good/fast? 

The installer tries to download the manifest file, and if this download does not work, then the mirror choice is restarted without this option. So if mirror is down, or it does not have the wanted version (e.g. was not synced in time), then the installer should be able to ignore it automatically and find a better source.

If the mirror gives away bad data, than the whole install will stop with error during "verification" phase. That's a bad situation which I hope won't happen. In any case, I hope such issues will be reported quickly, so that we could remove the failing mirror from config and see what's going on.

If the mirror is slow... that's very sad 😭 Note that currently when you install fresh 2.08 version, you have to download full 2.00 version and 8 differential packages, and each of these 9 packages is downloaded from independently chosen mirror. So if one mirror of three is 100 times slower than usual, then everyone will suffer by various degree.

The user can manually remove some mirrors. To achieve it, run the installer at least once to the version choice page, then exit. Open tdm_installer.ini and comment out the failing mirror from [MirrorSet TDM_MIRRORS]. Then restart installer and check the "Skip config file download" in advanced settings.

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 2 weeks later...

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.


  • Recent Status Updates

    • Petike the Taffer  »  DeTeEff

      I've updated the articles for your FMs and your author category at the wiki. Your newer nickname (DeTeEff) now comes first, and the one in parentheses is your older nickname (Fieldmedic). Just to avoid confusing people who played your FMs years ago and remember your older nickname. I've added a wiki article for your latest FM, Who Watches the Watcher?, as part of my current updating efforts. Unless I overlooked something, you have five different FMs so far.
      · 0 replies
    • Petike the Taffer

      I've finally managed to log in to The Dark Mod Wiki. I'm back in the saddle and before the holidays start in full, I'll be adding a few new FM articles and doing other updates. Written in Stone is already done.
      · 4 replies
    • nbohr1more

      TDM 15th Anniversary Contest is now active! Please declare your participation: https://forums.thedarkmod.com/index.php?/topic/22413-the-dark-mod-15th-anniversary-contest-entry-thread/
       
      · 0 replies
    • JackFarmer

      @TheUnbeholden
      You cannot receive PMs. Could you please be so kind and check your mailbox if it is full (or maybe you switched off the function)?
      · 1 reply
    • OrbWeaver

      I like the new frob highlight but it would nice if it was less "flickery" while moving over objects (especially barred metal doors).
      · 4 replies
×
×
  • Create New...