https://numbergamer8.itch.io/sheetsanddots
Ive made an app , to display a sheet on screen, and then display dots, like the SSD in star fleet battles , but you can use it for any game. the sheet and dots will remain on top of the screen, so you can run apps like vassal behind
Ok I added 20 types of dots, so you can have numbers, or different color dots, icons for tanks or planes infantry, missiles, exploisions etc.. you can use maps, wargames,and even RPG character sheets. all types of boardgame
Oooooo!
So we can create ship SSDs with it? And actually mark the boxes?
There are probably numerous ship/aircraft combat games that can be done with a simple digital hex map, but need some kind of digital SSD functionality to actually work.
yes, only thing I could not do was move dots with sheet, so don't move sheet , or move dots when you do. hires like you have Nef would be good for this. but I'm finding it good on 1024x768 for a couple of ships
And what's the program you're using for the hex map & 'counters'? Just a generic Vassal module?
That looks cool! But the link isn't working. :(
the link works for me, but I will attach it here, will someone else try the link?
Quote from: gameleaper on February 01, 2017, 11:21:01 AM
the link works for me, but I will attach it here, will someone else try the link?
Original link didn't work for me. Got 404 error.
I figured you might end up tweaking this some, per usual, so figured I'd pick it up a little later.
twang , I had saved it as a draft project, I just published it now, should work now.
I have found if you create dots and don't move them, so you would be creating dots precicly ontop of each other they don't drag until you select them in the taskbar, but normal create and move it is fine
I also think GJK multi monitor setup would be great for this app
I have included small sheets so you can have a few on screen, let me know if you want more types and sizes of sheets, I can make dots smaller if needed too
just updated, to allow small dots , so you can fit more on screen.
if you create 10 sub folders for dot.exe and dot.gif, you can create numbers from 0 to 9 and add them to energy allocation sheet, screen space is needed though
gameleaper, this works but I think it might be too difficult to use when playing a game. If you have a lot of ships to track, rules to look up, etc. it gets difficult because you can't move the windows easily.
Now, if you could put all of the sheets and dots inside one program it might work. Something like your excellent Map It RPG app. You could have multiple sheets and dots on each!
I just made a small dot so you can cut the space needed, and a multi monitor would help, but yes its hard for a lot of ships, but not all ships have to be used with this JUST IMPORTANT SHIPS and the rest use as normal, and probably best for scenarios with a small number of ships.
is there some way to use the taskbar to select all the sheet and dots? I think you can increase its size and autohide it, but its not best .
I will probably look at putting it in one app, but its not just for SFB
gameleaper, your Map It program works for this! Not only that but you can use it to create SSDs as well! I did this in just a couple of seconds:
(https://www.grogheads.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.aarcentral.com%2Fpics%2Fboard.jpg&hash=8fc3b2fe02f4bfc1c3763b4a56005f5a31551f4d)
All you need to do is create a 'Floor Map' tileset with the blocks and text (what I did). You could also pre-draw a ship outline on 'board.bmp' and then add the blocks/text and re-save it. Plus, you can have multiple instances of your app running (not sure if there's a limit). That makes it easier to track more than one ship (though it would be better for one program to track them all).
I realize this is probably SFB specific but I've been looking for a way to track SSDs and this could be it.
ok done it, its online now, I did a complete new app, that keeps all ssd info on one app, so just start an ssd for each ship, they also minimise so easy control,
https://numbergamer8.itch.io/sheetsanddots
I know what you mean about map it, but its not possible, I don't have that programing language anymore, and it was a real pain to setup.
but I think this is ok, if you try it out.
Wow, that's perfect! I think I will try this with a game to see how it goes. O0
Also, what are you programming in now? No more BlitzMax?
make sure you have the b version, I just updated it, all it is I forgot to put in the text file to right click a dot to delete it.
Map it was done in darkbasic pro, and the setup was terrible, I cant get it to run most times, I could if I wanted to do it, but I realy realy don't , I hated that setup.
I'm still using blitzmax
do you want bigger SSD size in this app? its set to 300x500, but I could make a big one if you want it?
Quote from: gameleaper on February 01, 2017, 01:27:50 PM
do you want bigger SSD size in this app? its set to 300x500, but I could make a big one if you want it?
Yes, I would need a larger one for Starbase and big ships!
just done one 500x700, its online, both included
I could do an even bigger one ? :) I think were ok already though.
ok 3 versions included
300x500
500x700
1000x680
so now you can have all the info on one big ssd, like charts
Can you save and load the SSD? That would also be helpful when you can't continue a game or if you have damage carryover to the next battle.
We Grogs are never satisfied. :D
Quote from: bbmike on February 01, 2017, 01:58:50 PM
Can you save and load the SSD? That would also be helpful when you can't continue a game or if you have damage carryover to the next battle.
We Grogs are never satisfied. :D
ok, done, your right didn't think of it, its because I get code blind doing one thing.
use my menu app to create a list of ssds to starup
https://numbergamer8.itch.io/mainmenu
ssds now have load save, draw a better save load button :)
https://numbergamer8.itch.io/sheetsanddots
O0
Yes Map it , can do some things , I never thought of that, you can paint red small squares then paint white ones to delete.
I think the apps I just did though allow for other apps to run Mapit is full screen, so you would need two PCs to play with Map it, but I'm glad you told me this bb. also Mapit has a size so it would only fit a certain number, I think its full screen anyway I will check
you can switch apps with Map it, I never knew that, I suppose this new app has a size to allow views of the board etc... and the new app isn't snap to a grid, I'm glad Ive got both, this is a great observation bb
https://numbergamer8.itch.io/sheetsanddots
prepare to say WoW bb, ecen I said it to myself, Ive made a multi SSD app with 20 separate SSDs big ones 1000x670 pixels, it has 20 buttons to swithch from each SSD, it has save and load for all SSDs not just one.
I'm absolutely impressed with myself :) Nef time to Jump :) remember I used the same ssd image for all 20 , so it will look the same, just edit them and add your own
I feel like its possible to play this now, I love SFB and why has no one done this sort of app before, it seems a game this good and that's been around could of had an app or two made for it, but Ive done great, I know I have.
Wow is right! Great work, gameleaper! O0
One last thought. Is it possible to center the damage box in the SSD box when clicking on it (snap to center of box)? I'm not so good at centering them. :P
I just loaded another SSD. I think instead of a crosshair you might want to just show the solid red box. That would be another way to position it before clicking.
I just made the delete more accurate.
bb , just reduce the size of the dot.png, it will fit better, I know what you mean I already looked at this and forgot to shrink the dot.
I cant auto snap, its a very big job to do that, but shrinking the dot will work honestly
I will do a select box now, thanks for the feedback
Quote from: bbmike on February 01, 2017, 06:07:53 PM
I just loaded another SSD. I think instead of a crosshair you might want to just show the solid red box. That would be another way to position it before clicking.
bb I did that, now its a slightly darkened dot that helps place, rather than a crosshaire, your right bb I miss these things, feedback definatly improves an app, I put you in the credits.
Yep, that did it! Much better now. I can't think of anything else it needs right now. Thanks, gameleaper, this will come in handy for SFB! :notworthy:
I think if you add a set of 20 boxes labelled 1 to 20 and have a missile target with a dot , it will cross reference with the ssd, you can have one version of the app for missiles only.
energy allocation can have an ssd slot ,boxes for 10s and 1s , so 2 dots space 3 dots, = 23 , we could do all sorts of recording with this app.
thanks for your help bb
Ok I added 20 types of dots, so you can have numbers, or different color dots, icons for tanks or planes infantry, missiles, exploisions etc.. you can use maps, wargames,and even RPG character sheets. all types of boardgame
I did the number dots, so you can do an energy allocation chart, AND give missiles actual numbered targets,
JUST INCREASED THE MAXIMUM SIZE OF ICONS TO 30X30, BUT YOU CAN OVERSIZE, I INCREASED BUTTONS SIZE TO CHOOSE ICON ETC.. MUCH BETTER
I left dots same size, but you can edit them and enlarge them to 30x30
Can you make the SSD sheets even larger to accommodate that?
You can still use ordinary dots, you don't have to increase the dot.png above 14x14, but you can if you wanted to put a small picture of kirk, or spock on the ships, Ive upgraded to warplaner2.zip I increased all the icon buttons regeons to switch from one icon to the next, and I increased all internal flages to 30x30, so 30x30 isn't oversized, but you can go beyond that.
blitzmax, is terrible for displaying maps bigger than the screen, you can, but the last time I did it didn't move uniformly so chits seemed to move when you move the map, but It may have been something else so Its an experiment yet to do.
you can make your ssds.pngs 1000x640 in size, you can goto 700 but the buttons are over the botton bit, but you could still see a name of a ship or something above 640 to 670
yes, just tried the big maps, there is a bad fault with the compiler blitzmax, it may be fixable if I track the error and fix it as it happens, but that's a fiddly trial and error job, I will probably try now you asked, but it may be unfixable
no just tried tracking the fault, it distorts different parts of the map, by different amounts, pretty sure big maps cant be done, you can view a map, but cant have chits saved on it and move it
Quote from: bbmike on February 01, 2017, 08:48:39 PM
Can you make the SSD sheets even larger to accommodate that?
I just got a tournament base, opened it in paint cut the edges off, and resized it to 1000x640, and it was fine, I could read it all, and I used a small dot for registering damage, but I have the option of making bigger dots too, or a mix, no ones downloaded the new version yet.
you may like to know Ive updated it to give 100 SSDs, so you can have ships ssds, missies ssds, enemy ssds, base ssds, charts, anything you want to do, there are 5 racks with 20 ssds in each, you can set each racks title, and each rack has its own set of ssds and dots and icons, so the racks can look very different, you can save or load one rack, or all 5 at once.
Quote from: gameleaper on February 01, 2017, 10:00:49 PM
Quote from: bbmike on February 01, 2017, 08:48:39 PM
Can you make the SSD sheets even larger to accommodate that?
I just got a tournament base, opened it in paint cut the edges off, and resized it to 1000x640, and it was fine, I could read it all, and I used a small dot for registering damage, but I have the option of making bigger dots too, or a mix, no ones downloaded the new version yet.
I have the color SSD books in PDF format from DriveThruRPG. The Starbase one fits. O0
I take that back. For some reason in the latest version I can't use 1000x640 anymore?
Quote from: bbmike on February 02, 2017, 10:58:19 AM
I take that back. For some reason in the latest version I can't use 1000x640 anymore?
I don't understand this, the program will accept any PNG even if it to big, it will just disappear at the bottom above 640, all you do is do a screenshot , open paint , then paste, then resize and sance as a PNG. I know its a little fiddly , but its just PNGs the app takes, you can resize your image in paint to any pixel size with one click, just ind the resiz button in paint..
I just guessed what it is, ssd.png isn't used, its ssd1.png , the ssd.png is a left over from old versions, the buttons are 1 to 20, but that is something I should delete, but its in the readme what files to use.
Ok, I figured this out. I have run into this before (a lot). It has to do with the Alpha channel of the image file. If I resize and paste into your image and save it only the 'smaller' SSD area appears (the original Alpha channel from the file doesn't change). If I create a new PNG at 1000x640, paste into that and save it everything works!
Just found this! There is an official SFB Cadet module (http://www.vassalengine.org/wiki/Module:Star_Fleet_Battles_Cadet_Training_Manual) for Vassal. O0
Quote from: bbmike on February 02, 2017, 12:39:28 PM
Ok, I figured this out. I have run into this before (a lot). It has to do with the Alpha channel of the image file. If I resize and paste into your image and save it only the 'smaller' SSD area appears (the original Alpha channel from the file doesn't change). If I create a new PNG at 1000x640, paste into that and save it everything works!
I found this Alpha channel thingy before, you cant resave a file or you lose it, what you do is select your image area, then copy, now close the image so you have the copy in the computers memory, now right click and create a new bitmap, now edit the new bitmap and paste, now resize and save, but don't edit this file again and save or you will lose transparency, but you can repeat this procedure on it, its worked for me on everything.
you may have, other alpha problems I don't know, I only deal with transparency, but I have had some odd things with alpha
Quote from: bbmike on February 02, 2017, 01:27:03 PM
Just found this! There is an official SFB Cadet module (http://www.vassalengine.org/wiki/Module:Star_Fleet_Battles_Cadet_Training_Manual) for Vassal. O0
Yes I have used it in the past, but the chits were blury, I have the vassal mod, but its only a few scenarios, but its still good, I may have to learn how to do a module.I bought the pocket version for $10 from drivethru , but I have a few real boxes, the main rules from drivethru for 50 has been tempting me on and off. I like Boardgamegeek to find things out.
SFO is an online app for sfb, the demo version is free and from what ive tried you can play a full solo version, but I havnt looked properly yet, and you have to be online, its on the developers site http://www.sfbonline.com/index.jsp :bd: its the best thing ive found so far
you know I had an alpha problem with Batlegrounds rpg, I added a border to the edge that fixed it for me.
you know with my app, I think you could keep an rpg organized with sheets and nots ,small map, rooms, locations, with icons for people etc.. each rack in my app can have different icons too
gameleaper, is it possible to make it so that when you switch between the 5 tabs (SSD Racks) that the program remembers what was selected? For example, if I'm in tab 1, sheet 13 and switch to tab 2, sheet 8, then switch back to tab 1 it still shows sheet 13?
Also, anyone who plays SFB should really check out this for managing SSDs in game. O0
Quote from: bbmike on February 08, 2017, 12:06:20 PM
gameleaper, is it possible to make it so that when you switch between the 5 tabs (SSD Racks) that the program remembers what was selected? For example, if I'm in tab 1, sheet 13 and switch to tab 2, sheet 8, then switch back to tab 1 it still shows sheet 13?
Also, anyone who plays SFB should really check out this for managing SSDs in game. O0
nice idea to remember the last SSD you were looking at, then return to it after looking at another rack. I have just redone my computer to do VR on my phone, so programing has stopped for now, but I will do as you say if I redo my PC for programing again.
Quote from: gameleaper on February 08, 2017, 10:41:00 PM
Quote from: bbmike on February 08, 2017, 12:06:20 PM
gameleaper, is it possible to make it so that when you switch between the 5 tabs (SSD Racks) that the program remembers what was selected? For example, if I'm in tab 1, sheet 13 and switch to tab 2, sheet 8, then switch back to tab 1 it still shows sheet 13?
Also, anyone who plays SFB should really check out this for managing SSDs in game. O0
nice idea to remember the last SSD you were looking at, then return to it after looking at another rack. I have just redone my computer to do VR on my phone, so programing has stopped for now, but I will do as you say if I redo my PC for programing again.
Any update on this feature? ^-^
I'm not using that language anymore, but maybe in the future