Crazy idea for spells...

[ChaosSlayerZ]

ah Trev, I may have a small objection
One thing about workign with spells, that txt file is far easier to swap around when something needs to be changed FAST. (like copy and paste for entire chunk of lines)

So instead of a define- could you make this option into a Rule instead? this won't even give an overhead since all spells load only ONCE when sever starts.

[trevius]

To change it to a rule would probably mean adding in duplicate of a ton of code in multiple files. I don't really think it is a good option or it probably would have been done already.

If you need to do some major changes like that, you can easily use the import and export scripts to export the spell file from the spells_new table, change it and them import it back into the table. That is what the scripts were made for

Another reason that the table is a really good way to go is because if people export it to create their server's spell file, the exported file will work perfectly with both Titanium and SoF, since it has the correct number of fields to function with both clients.

I think the binaries have been set to use the table loading for a while now. So, if you use those, you would have been stuck with the table loading anyway. If you don't want to use the table loading way, it is very simple to change the source to use the file loading way instead and then compile your own binaries. All you have to do is go to zone/spdat.h and change the following:

//#define NEW_LoadSPDat
#define DB_LoadSPDat  //load from DB vs spells_us.txt. for now, we're piggybacking NEW_LoadSPDat, so it will take precedence

to this

#define NEW_LoadSPDat
//#define DB_LoadSPDat  //load from DB vs spells_us.txt. for now, we're piggybacking NEW_LoadSPDat, so it will take precedence

[ChaosSlayerZ]

Trev, isn't the both codes allready there for #define to be used?

binaries wise - they stil were using spells.txt as of R535 i last dowloaded - how else would i have been using my own spells =P (speaking of which its time to update the binaries on the oficial site)

unfortunately i don't have option to do my own compile =(

ALso what kind of loading script you refering to - could you post a sample?

[trevius]

Everyone has the option to compile their own source. It is only a matter of taking the time to figure out how to do it the first time :P

The import/export scripts aren't included with the Binaries yet as far as I can see, but when this change goes in, they should probably get added to the Binaries. Otherwise, you can get the import and export scripts by downloading the source code through the SVN, as it comes with it in the main directory there.

Here is some more information on the import/export scripts and how to use them. It is in this very thread we are in right now:

http://www.eqemulator.net/forums/sho...t=24193&page=3

See post #45 by AndMetal

[ChaosSlayerZ]

Originally Posted by trevius

Everyone has the option to compile their own source. It is only a matter of taking the time to figure out how to do it the first time :P

well as you could see number of downloads of ready binaries is well over 200 =P so as you see people far from comfortable of compiling their own source =P

[pfyon]

Once you learn how to compile your own source, it's pretty much just as easy as downloading a pre-build binary, but gives you the option of making changes to the code.

[trevius]

This page has all the info you should need for learning how to compile it on Windows:

http://www.eqemulator.net/wiki/wikka.php?wakka=VS2008

Or, you could setup a Linux server and make compiling as easy as typing "make" :P

IMO, if your main concern is having options, then you should take the time to figure out how to compile your own source. If you are not worried about options, then just use the Binaries and you will still have plenty of options but not as many as compiling yourself. Your main concern has been options for so long, you should have learned how to do this long ago! There is only so much we can do to give options with Binaries, but with compiling yourself, the options are practically limitless :P