Administrative poll

[Maniac]

I've got some questions regarding the use of some (topped) threads.

Do you think we should keep using the turn reporting thread?

Do you think we should keep using the "Map of the Current Turn" thread?

Do you sometimes use the Factional Datalinks?

Do you sometimes use the Base and Unit Inventory?

Do you think the Base and Unit Inventory should be topped? Or is the link in the factional datalinks enough?

[Googlie]

By "stop using" do you mean discontinue, or de-top?

I voted with the meaning "de-top" rather than "discontinue"

[Modo44]

Originally posted by Maniac
Do you think we should keep using the turn reporting thread?

Yes. If you want, make it less detailed. OTOH, you and Googlie make a great job on micromanagement, so you might need the details more. Not having SMAX, I don't. The general info is valuable, though.

Originally posted by Maniac
Do you think we should keep using the "Map of the Current Turn" thread?

Yes. For those without SMAX, it's an important source of information. Updates are not happening, though.

Originally posted by Maniac
Do you sometimes use the Factional Datalinks?

Used it once, after joining. Don't need it anymore, except on rare occasions. It serves well for new members, so it should be topped, or new people should be directed to it.

Originally posted by Maniac
Do you sometimes use the Base and Unit Inventory?

Yes. I don't have SMAX to check it on my own.

Originally posted by Maniac
Do you think the Base and Unit Inventory should be topped? Or is the link in the factional datalinks enough?

Going through the factional datalinks to find shouldn't be necessary. If updates will be through post edits, top the thread. If you are going to add new posts, it will pop up without help.

[Kassiopeia]

In my opinion everything is working fine just as it is right now, although you could add a direct link to Googlie's Spartan website in the Factional Datalinks.

[DeathByTheSword]

as a 100% lurker i needs these threads so keep them up

[Kassiopeia]

DBTS sighting +1!

[Maniac]

Originally posted by Googlie
By "stop using" do you mean discontinue, or de-top?

I was gonna let the voter decide that.

Originally posted by Modo44
Going through the factional datalinks to find shouldn't be necessary. If updates will be through post edits, top the thread. If you are going to add new posts, it will pop up without help.

I was thinking to always edit the same post to:
a) keep the loading time of the thread small.
b) not always having to scroll down to the last post to get the information you want

Originally posted by Kassiopeia
In my opinion everything is working fine just as it is right now, although you could add a direct link to Googlie's Spartan website in the Factional Datalinks.

There is a link to Googlie's website in the datalinks.
I guess that's one vote for "I rarely use the factional datalinks".

[Modo44]

Originally posted by Maniac
I was thinking to always edit the same post to:
a) keep the loading time of the thread small.
b) not always having to scroll down to the last post to get the information you want

I like that. Gives less clutter. It would be good to top the thread then.

[Kassiopeia]

Originally posted by Maniac
There is a link to Googlie's website in the datalinks.
I guess that's one vote for "I rarely use the factional datalinks".

It hasn't been there ALWAYS. Did you add it in that 19/12/2004 edit? Because I sure as heck didn't catch it the last time I needed it when we were having a chat over something in the command centre. I use them when I need them, and lately that hasn't been much for reasons I've stated already several times.

[Snoddasmannen]

I voted some time ago, but I can sum up what I use and why not.

Originally posted by Maniac
I've got some questions regarding the use of some (topped) threads.

Do you think we should keep using the turn reporting thread?

Yes we should. How about adding some more diplo stuff in there, such as "Had a huge fight with the Gaians", "Botched negotiations with the Morgans over peace treay" etc ... So that lurkers who don't follow the boards too much can still get at least an overview of what happens in that arena. Just a thought.

Do you think we should keep using the "Map of the Current Turn" thread?

No I think we should start using it Not getting screenies when there's an invasion going on is frustrating. (but not as frustrating as forgetting to ask every time I post )

Do you sometimes use the Factional Datalinks?

I have used them, especially when I just joined. Now I use them very rarely.

Do you sometimes use the Base and Unit Inventory?

No ... But I have an idea to make that into a webpage, where you simply put units in a database, and then could go and edit them and stuff like that. Put in stories about them, battles they've participated in, how they were destroyed, maybe even store their location over time to track movement, etc ... Password protected of course. If I were at home and had some spare time I could code this up in PHP, if there is any interest for it. (Could of course be reused in future games as well as PBEMs).

[Maniac]

Originally posted by Kassiopeia
It hasn't been there ALWAYS. Did you add it in that 19/12/2004 edit? Because I sure as heck didn't catch it the last time I needed it when we were having a chat over something in the command centre.

The link was there before. Perhaps the problem is the link is named "The Spartan Federation's Official Website"? Would you prefer "Googlie's Spartan Website" or something?

Originally posted by Modo44
Yes. For those without SMAX, it's an important source of information. Updates are not happening, though.

Originally posted by Snoddasmannen
No I think we should start using it Not getting screenies when there's an invasion going on is frustrating. (but not as frustrating as forgetting to ask every time I post )

While the "Map of the Current Turn" isn't updated, Googlie does post lots of screenies in the turn planning and invasion thread. (At least that's my impression.) Are those insufficient to have a general idea of what's going on?

Btw, regarding screenies. IIRC Googlie will be busy golfing from mid-January to mid-February. That's why from mid-January I am supposed to take over turnplaying. Problem is my exam period happens to be around the same period: from IIRC 20 January to 11 February. While I should be able to play the turn without a problem, screenshots is more of a problem. As I don't have a decent graphic program on my laptop and because I can't work well with those programs, taking and editing all those screenshots takes lots of time I can use better otherwise. So unless there will be another Spartan present who has SMAX, having screenshots available might form a problem in the near future...

[Snoddasmannen]

Originally posted by Maniac
While the "Map of the Current Turn" isn't updated, Googlie does post lots of screenies in the turn planning and invasion thread. (At least that's my impression.) Are those insufficient to have a general idea of what's going on?

No, the current batch are brilliant, great job Googlie
I don't think there were any screenies last turn, my beef was probably with that. As far as I am concerned, I can find them wherever they are posted, but for not so active players I'm not sure. On the other hand they might not need extremely up-to-date maps.

Btw, regarding screenies. IIRC Googlie will be busy golfing from mid-January to mid-February. That's why from mid-January I am supposed to take over turnplaying. Problem is my exam period happens to be around the same period: from IIRC 20 January to 11 February. While I should be able to play the turn without a problem, screenshots is more of a problem. As I don't have a decent graphic program on my laptop and because I can't work well with those programs, taking and editing all those screenshots takes lots of time I can use better otherwise. So unless there will be another Spartan present who has SMAX, having screenshots available might form a problem in the near future...

That's a shame
But I'm glad we can still play the turns.

As for graphics programs for snapshots, maybe you can just use good ol' Paint. Just hit Print-Screen and paste it into paint. If you can just figure out a few obscure things in the UI you can whip up an acceptable screenshot in a minute or two (and even save it as a jpeg nowadays apparently).

[Googlie]

I can prolly still do screenies even when my guests are with me. I'm an early riser and should always have an hour or so in the am before my buddies stir and monopolize the second bathroom (I have one en-suite anyway)

I can prolly still play the turns as well as they really don't take much time after Maniac has outlined the worker re-allocations and unit rehomings (although as we grow the turns will become more complicated)

The hardest thing right now, frankly, is what to do with the formers. We have a road building program underway, mines, forests and the odd farm on the good rolling/rainy tiles. But having a former unproductive while moving to a new site is such a waste of the fabled "turn advantage" that I fret most often with these.

[Modo44]

Try IrfanView, if Paint doesn't work. It's free, and gives some more options, like easy resizing, and trimming images without too much hassle. It's usually a matter of 5 minutes to make a couple simple screenies, and the general ones are what matters most anyway.

I use the screenies from the turn report for now, that's true. But they don't always show everything, and I really like watching even small changes. If you guys could make them more complete (perhaps zoomed-out a notch?), that would be great, and the map thread could go.

[Maniac]

Originally posted by Modo44
Try IrfanView

[Googlie]

Originally posted by Modo44
If you guys could make them more complete (perhaps zoomed-out a notch?), that would be great, and the map thread could go.

One of the problems with displayed screenies is the 799 width limit. Over that and it has to be an upload (which is no problem as I think I still have 30 MB of my 50 allocation free - but it's just more of a hassle)

This means that zoomed in pics prolly would need 4 to cover our homeland versus the usual one, but I'll try to do a better job of updating the annual ones. I just got into the habit of upgrading them only when new territory had been incovered

[Modo44]

You can do normal attachments in the private forums. I didn't even know this was an issue before - they are available ever since I joined Apolyton. That's one speed-up.


No, I don't work for those people, but I think you should really try IrfanView. I play a bunch of succession games (Civ3), usually making something like 5 screenies for each of my periods. This takes 5 minutes tops.

Basic instructions, so you don't have to look for keyboard shortcuts: Zoom out to take the whole are you want visible. Hit "Print Screen". Alt+Tab to IrfanView. CTRL+v. To resize the picture you can hir CTRL+r - this will allow you to enter the desired resolution; make sure to use the slowest resample filter. Or, you can just drag a box around the area you want left (the size of the box will be shown in the top bar), and then hot CTRL+y. Now his "s" to save the file. Don't zoom out too far, because it loses many details.

You should be able to take a single picture of the whole Spartan home, which seems to be the most important one. Another one of the current invasion, two of the domestics (units, bases), and that should wrap it up, I think.

[Googlie]

Originally posted by Modo44
You can do normal attachments in the private forums. I didn't even know this was an issue before - they are available ever since I joined Apolyton. That's one speed-up.

Yes, I know. That's what most of the screenies I post are (normal attachments)

But what i'm saying is, they can't be more than 799 pixels wide.

Anything larger and one must go the upload/display img route (which is how the topped current map thread is diaplayed, as these are much larger than the 799 pixels width)

I use a combo of Microsoft Photo Editor and MS Paint - editor works exactly as you describe the other program, and paint is useful for adding routes, etc etc. Saving to paint initially distorts the graphics a little, which is why I like the PhotoEditor route (plus the define/copy/paste is really easy to use, as apparently it is with IrFanView as well)

[Googlie]

Current maps now updated to 2153

[Snoddasmannen]

Originally posted by Googlie
Current maps now updated to 2153

Brilliant!

[Maniac]

I tried yesterday to make an updated Unit Inventory picture with IrfanView.
However when I made a screenshot of the second half of the F7 nexus list, made a selection and wanted to paste it on the screenshot containing the first half of the F7 Nexus, the selection simply replaced the first-half screenshot, instead of allowing me to drag the selection to where I wanted it to be on the first-half screenshot.

Am I doing something wrong, or is it possible to paste part of one picture on another picture, using IrfanView?

[Modo44]

You need to drag a selection before you paste something new. It will appear inside the box, scaled to fit into it (not very useful). Or, you can save multiple images, and combine them into one with a Panorama image (in the "Image" menu of IrfanView). Copy+paste edits are not easy to do with IrfanView. It's a viewer after all.

I use GIMP for more advanced edits, although it could be considered overkill.

[Googlie]

I'm using Microsoft Photo Editor for capturing the basic screenshots (printscreen and paste) Selections of parts/all of screenies can then be copied and pasted to other screens

Then after saving, I open with MS Paint (on my desktop) or Ultimate Paint (my laptop) for color/text additions

Attachments to posts are restricted to a 799 pixels width - anything larger needs to go the file upload route with display via the < .. img> route

[Maniac]

Originally posted by Googlie
I'm using Microsoft Photo Editor for capturing the basic screenshots (printscreen and paste)

Unfortunately that doesn't work for me, as I don't have Photo Editor.

Originally posted by Modo44
I use GIMP

Thanks, I'll look into it.