Solaris Skunk Werks and Me -- Volume the Second

[Charlie Tango]

As the previous thread had reached the page limit,  this is the new thread.

Link to previous thread:  http://bg.battletech.com/forums/index.php/topic,297.0.html

[Diamondshark]

Done. So, how possible is it to make proper trailers in SAW yet?

[Sagittaire]

How compatiable is BFB with Alpha Strike? Be playing around seems okay but still learning all about AS, is there anything I need to know? Can I add SPA to the units in my force with BFB?

[nckestrel]

How compatiable is BFB with Alpha Strike? Be playing around seems okay but still learning all about AS, is there anything I need to know? Can I add SPA to the units in my force with BFB?

The errata to conversion, nor the updated stat list, that was used by the Alpha Strike rulebook haven't even been released yet, so they can't have programmed anything to use it.
Being able to add pilot abilities might be good feature, but no they haven't added it yet.  It wasn't even a thing until just now :).  (They're not even mentioned in the Alpha Strike rulebook).

[StCptMara]

SSW is always so popular. It gets full threads like, every year or so..
When should we be looking for the next updates to SAW, and what comes next?

[Wrangler]

I have old question.  How heck do i download the vehicles to allow SAW to work.  I don't know where they would go when i do download them.

[DarkSpade]

Repeat from the last thread, but it was shortly before locking.

Last week I finally got around to installing SSW on the new computer.   I got the latest version and the recommended Java.  Program runs really slow.  To the point where I can't tell if it's froze or not sometimes.

I'm running windows 8 and I've heard microsoft put some heavy restriction on java after that security scare awhile back.

Anyone running it successfully on windows 8?

[nckestrel]

I use SSW regularly on Windows 8.

[StCptMara]

Repeat from the last thread, but it was shortly before locking.

Last week I finally got around to installing SSW on the new computer.   I got the latest version and the recommended Java.  Program runs really slow.  To the point where I can't tell if it's froze or not sometimes.

I'm running windows 8 and I've heard microsoft put some heavy restriction on java after that security scare awhile back.

Anyone running it successfully on windows 8?

I have a similar problem on my desktop, using Windows 7.
Been unable to figure out the cause. It only effects SSW and SAW, and does NOT happen on my
laptop. No clue why. :(

[ralgith]

I have a similar problem on my desktop, using Windows 7.
Been unable to figure out the cause. It only effects SSW and SAW, and does NOT happen on my
laptop. No clue why. :(

Java version would help. Also whether it is Oracle's official Java or an OpenJDK version.

[calendraug]

Im on vista and had problems when java updated itself. unistalled it and installed version 6 update 38 manually and disabled auto update , all running with no problems for several months now.

[SCC]

Done. So, how possible is it to make proper trailers in SAW yet?

The previous version (0.6.81) handled them well enough, but the latest version doesn't

[OpacusVenatori]

Any chance to update QSP for the new card format? there is another "stat" to show.

[SteveRestless]

converting a large number of ssw designs to mtf, and I would love a few features:

1. the ability to disable the "this mech has changed, do you want to save it?" nag, OR get SSW to recognize that Export To MTF != Changed Design

2. a keyboard shortcut for export-to-mtf

3. a batch-convert utility.

[greatsarcasmo]

If you have updated to Java 7u25, it deletes previous versions of Java on your system (That was a fun day at work...). Try uninstalling 7u25 and using a previous version as stated in the above posts.

[AbeSargent]

News post from Sarna.net

http://www.sarna.net/news/whats-that-smell-solaris-skunk-werks/

[Kojak]

converting a large number of ssw designs to mtf, and I would love a few features:

1. the ability to disable the "this mech has changed, do you want to save it?" nag, OR get SSW to recognize that Export To MTF != Changed Design

2. a keyboard shortcut for export-to-mtf

3. a batch-convert utility.

On that last one, there actually is a way to do that: you open up the Force List, add any units you want (and you can add multiple units at a time), and then click the button that says "Export All to MTF" (or you can even stat out the entire force in the Force List and export it all as a .MUL via the "Export MUL" button right next to it).

[LightGuard]

Just noticed, when I build a mixed-tech design using Clan LRMs, the weapons brackets charts on the charts tab show as having to-hit modifiers from range 6 back to range 0. This is not reflected in the weapons tables under equipment for the LRM packs themselves, however, the {CL} LRM ammuntion DOES have minimum ranges. 

Is this something I did wrong or is it something that needs to be fixed?

I'm currently running 0.6.82.1 on a 2009 Macbook running Ubuntu 13.04, Java is OpenJDK Java Runtime 7.

[Maelwys]

Hmm. Something to look into. Probably something to do with the equipment files, I'd have to check.

Yes, I'm aware 3145 came out with all the goodies. Yes, they'll be integrated into SSW at some point.

When, I'm not exactly sure but I hope to work on the bits I can this week.

Unfortunately however, Skyhigh is out of town (way way way way out of town), so any major work will have to wait until he gets  back and recovers from his trip (and then recovers from everything that piled up while he was out of town, and then recovers from catching up on everything that got pushed aside while he was catching up, but you know how it goes).

[Wrangler]

Hmm. Something to look into. Probably something to do with the equipment files, I'd have to check.

Yes, I'm aware 3145 came out with all the goodies. Yes, they'll be integrated into SSW at some point.

When, I'm not exactly sure but I hope to work on the bits I can this week.

Unfortunately however, Skyhigh is out of town (way way way way out of town), so any major work will have to wait until he gets  back and recovers from his trip (and then recovers from everything that piled up while he was out of town, and then recovers from catching up on everything that got pushed aside while he was catching up, but you know how it goes).

How much work needs to be done to it.  I think only major one aside from adding new armor & weapons types to the program is technology change overs.  In old thread i had asked if it was possible to allow for Tech levels/rule levels to change per era your 'Mech is in.  TRO: Prototype's  Jihad Technology page 206+207 shifted alot tech from Experimental to Advanced and some to Tournment legal.   I'm pluggin in most of the new mechs that came out with 3145 PDFs series as experimental  due need update.

I hope its not big bother try to do it.

[wantec]

How much work needs to be done to it.  I think only major one aside from adding new armor & weapons types to the program is technology change overs.  In old thread i had asked if it was possible to allow for Tech levels/rule levels to change per era your 'Mech is in.  TRO: Prototype's  Jihad Technology page 206+207 shifted alot tech from Experimental to Advanced and some to Tournment legal.   I'm pluggin in most of the new mechs that came out with 3145 PDFs series as experimental  due need update.

I hope its not big bother try to do it.

Unless I missed something, back when TRO:Prototypes came out people asked about this and the answer at that time was "It will require a bunch of recoding to allow for different eras". That could have changed, but that part I think might take a bit.

Plugging in the weapons and equipment should be easier.

[ralgith]

Unless I missed something, back when TRO:Prototypes came out people asked about this and the answer at that time was "It will require a bunch of recoding to allow for different eras". That could have changed, but that part I think might take a bit.

Plugging in the weapons and equipment should be easier.

The Era code is already in and has been for at least 6 weeks. I'm pretty sure it's been even longer but with college classes time tends to blend a lot for me lately.

[ralgith]

The Era code is already in and has been for at least 6 weeks. I'm pretty sure it's been even longer but with college classes time tends to blend a lot for me lately.

Bah, I didn't notice this was SSW thread instead of a MegaMek thread. That's why it annoys me that SSW isn't elsewhere. SSW is not MegaMek.

[Stinger]

Has anyone been able to create a custom equipment file for the new 3145 Stuff? If so, can then post their .dat file?

[OpacusVenatori]

 Hi there. A few months ago I updated the battleforce stats file for QSP with the 3085 units using the MUL. Now, I'm updating the file with the data of the 3145 available in MUL per today.
 My question is, if you guys have the plan in the short term, to update the QSP for Alpha Strike (things like using updating the "card" image, removing the Extreme range bracket, adding the "Type" entry to the card, etc).
 Same as that time, I have no problem to sent to skyhigh the new "updates" bf stats. But if you will release a "Alpha Strike Printer" and you will use a different entry format, please tell me.
 I can try to complete this possible "alpha_strike_stats.*", but i will need to know the new format for the lines.
 I wanted to ask this to avoid the risk of update this LARGE file, and then learn that you will use a different format so it will be incompatible with the ASP.
 Thank you and sorry for the spelling/grammar mistakes.

[SCC]

Unless I missed something, back when TRO:Prototypes came out people asked about this and the answer at that time was "It will require a bunch of recoding to allow for different eras". That could have changed, but that part I think might take a bit.

Plugging in the weapons and equipment should be easier.

I think the problem is that the Progression Table(s) work on years where as previously tech availability has been based upon era and most people probably don't set an exact year for their 'Mech when designing and that's where the complications likely come in. I'd think that the changes to the data structure itself and code that work it wouldn't be too hard, but may long to do

[Wrangler]

It will be interesting to see if the era shift for SSW will turn out.  Specially with new construction rules coming out for the Tripods, Quadvees and the Superheavies.

[StCptMara]

It will be interesting to see if the era shift for SSW will turn out.  Specially with new construction rules coming out for the Tripods, Quadvees and the Superheavies.

Frankly, I think Tripods and Superheavies would be easier for them to do as their own program...

[ralgith]

Frankly, I think Tripods and Superheavies would be easier for them to do as their own program...

Why? If SSW is built correctly these will just "extend" the existing classes. For example, in MegaMek VTOL extends Tank because it shares all of the Tank class's base properties except a few which it "overrides". That's one of the beautiful things about Java. Actually, the "Aero" tree is probably the best example of this in MegaMek.

Entity (Base Class) -> Aero (Extends Entity) -> Conventional Fighters, Small Craft, and Jumpship (All Extend Aero) -> Dropship (Extends Small Craft) & Warship (Extends Jumpship)

Extendable classes are one of the best things about Java. So, there really would be no reason to have another designer when a simple extension of the current classes should be a fairly easy solution. Unless I'm badly mistaken this is exactly how MegaMek will implement Superheavy Mechs... by either extending the various Mech Classes, or adding to them as appropriate. Of course, Bee would need to say for sure what his plans are, I'm only guessing ;)

Still, code-wise SSW seems to be fairly intelligently developed, so I'm sure a similar approach will be made there. Though sometimes I wish the developers had developed for MegaMekLab instead of starting their own project. :)

[SCC]

Tripods at least will need a different interface and there's a difference between doing a quick check to see if something is a Quad to all the changes need for Tripods and SuperHeavies

At the very least they'll be their own options on the unit type drop down