[X] My Assistant

[Fireleaf]

Changing data in the actual programs folder breaks windows security rules dating from Windows NT 3.51 and has been strongly slapped down by vista and windows 7.

I don't know what version of Visual Studio you use but here is some code for 2008 that will allow you to use the AllUsersProfile to store user changeable data.
it only includes warnings for errors so it needs just a little work to make it more robust.

CODE

Option Strict On
Option Explicit On

Imports System.IO
Namespace DaisyBox.SR4CG
    Public Class customFiles

        Private _templateFilesPath As String

        Friend ReadOnly Property templateFilesPath() As String
            Get
                Return _templateFilesPath
            End Get
        End Property

        Private _customFilesPath As String
        Friend ReadOnly Property customFilesPath() As String
            Get
                Return _customFilesPath
            End Get
        End Property

        Friend Sub CopyCustomFiles()

            Dim dirInfo As DirectoryInfo
            Dim destFile As FileInfo
            Dim origFile As FileInfo

            'make sure the folder exists in all users profile, if not create it.
            dirInfo = New DirectoryInfo(_customFilesPath)

            If Not dirInfo.Exists Then

                Try
                    dirInfo.Create()
                Catch ex As Exception
                    MsgBox(ex, MsgBoxStyle.Critical, "Error")
                End Try

            End If

            'make sure source exists
            dirInfo = New DirectoryInfo(_templateFilesPath)
            If Not dirInfo.Exists Then
                MsgBox(dirInfo.FullName & " Not Found", MsgBoxStyle.Critical, "Path not found!")
            End If

            'copy files from install dir to Program Data folder
            For Each file As FileInfo In dirInfo.GetFiles()
                origFile = file
                destFile = New System.IO.FileInfo(file.FullName.Replace(_templateFilesPath, _customFilesPath))
                If Not destFile.Exists Then
                    Try
                        System.IO.File.Copy(origFile.FullName, destFile.FullName, True)
                    Catch ex As Exception
                        MsgBox(ex.Message, MsgBoxStyle.Critical, "Error")
                    End Try
                End If
            Next

        End Sub
        Sub New()
            _templateFilesPath = My.Application.Info.DirectoryPath & "\Data Files\Custom"
            _customFilesPath = Environment.GetEnvironmentVariable("AllUsersProfile") & "\" & _
                               My.Application.Info.CompanyName.Trim & "\" & _
                               My.Application.Info.ProductName.Trim & "\" & _
                               My.Application.Info.Version.ToString.Trim & _
                               "\Data Files\Custom"
        End Sub
    End Class
End Namespace

If you use vs2003 I'll see what I can dig up on the differences. It has been a long time and I think I cleaned my 2003 snippet library out.

[dobbersp]

Changing data in the actual programs folder breaks windows security rules dating from Windows NT 3.51 and has been strongly slapped down by vista and windows 7.

I don't know what version of Visual Studio you use but here is some code for 2008 that will allow you to use the AllUsersProfile to store user changeable data.
it only includes warnings for errors so it needs just a little work to make it more robust.

CODE

Option Strict On
Option Explicit On

Imports System.IO
Namespace DaisyBox.SR4CG
    Public Class customFiles

        Private _templateFilesPath As String

        Friend ReadOnly Property templateFilesPath() As String
            Get
                Return _templateFilesPath
            End Get
        End Property

        Private _customFilesPath As String
        Friend ReadOnly Property customFilesPath() As String
            Get
                Return _customFilesPath
            End Get
        End Property

        Friend Sub CopyCustomFiles()

            Dim dirInfo As DirectoryInfo
            Dim destFile As FileInfo
            Dim origFile As FileInfo

            'make sure the folder exists in all users profile, if not create it.
            dirInfo = New DirectoryInfo(_customFilesPath)

            If Not dirInfo.Exists Then

                Try
                    dirInfo.Create()
                Catch ex As Exception
                    MsgBox(ex, MsgBoxStyle.Critical, "Error")
                End Try

            End If

            'make sure source exists
            dirInfo = New DirectoryInfo(_templateFilesPath)
            If Not dirInfo.Exists Then
                MsgBox(dirInfo.FullName & " Not Found", MsgBoxStyle.Critical, "Path not found!")
            End If

            'copy files from install dir to Program Data folder
            For Each file As FileInfo In dirInfo.GetFiles()
                origFile = file
                destFile = New System.IO.FileInfo(file.FullName.Replace(_templateFilesPath, _customFilesPath))
                If Not destFile.Exists Then
                    Try
                        System.IO.File.Copy(origFile.FullName, destFile.FullName, True)
                    Catch ex As Exception
                        MsgBox(ex.Message, MsgBoxStyle.Critical, "Error")
                    End Try
                End If
            Next

        End Sub
        Sub New()
            _templateFilesPath = My.Application.Info.DirectoryPath & "\Data Files\Custom"
            _customFilesPath = Environment.GetEnvironmentVariable("AllUsersProfile") & "\" & _
                               My.Application.Info.CompanyName.Trim & "\" & _
                               My.Application.Info.ProductName.Trim & "\" & _
                               My.Application.Info.Version.ToString.Trim & _
                               "\Data Files\Custom"
        End Sub
    End Class
End Namespace

If you use vs2003 I'll see what I can dig up on the differences. It has been a long time and I think I cleaned my 2003 snippet library out.

I use 2008 express. I don't really know anything about these security procedures, so could you provide me with a link to where they're written?
I find it odd that It's illegal for a program to modify files in its own install directory....

[Fireleaf]

The simple fact is that by default "user" accounts do not have write access to the program folder. It has been this way since the adoption of NTFS as a file system as a simple security measure to make sure that installed programs could not be tampered with to subvert the system. Since windows vista came out and locked down even the administrator account it makes old programs an even bigger headache.

I am a computer tech for a community college and I could tell you many nightmares about programs not working for our students because they write to the Program Files folder.

here are a couple of links

Someone asking how to make their app Vista/Win 7 compliant
http://social.msdn.microsoft.com/forums/en...b-0b35b7852ecd/

Windows Vista Application Development Requirements for User Account Control (UAC)
http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/aa905330.aspx

The Windows Vista and Windows Server 2008 Developer Story: Application Compatibility Cookbook
http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/aa480152.aspx

[Fireleaf]

Seems there is a difference between Vista/Win 7 and 2000/XP I assume it goes back even further but I don't think it matters.

On XP, he %AllUsersProfile% environment variable points to a root folder that contains "Application Data" as a sub folder on XP/2000. The "Applicatioin Data" folder contains the data from the programs.

On Vista and Windows 7 the Application Data" folder does not exist as such. It is a symbolic link that points right back to the "C:\ProgramData\"

I guess I'll have to tinker with my code and see if it works on Win XP too. I'll let you know.

[Fireleaf]

This fixes it. It works in Windows XP SP3, Windows Vista (Home, Pro, Enterprise (x86/x64) and windows 7 Enterprise x64/x86
I added "\Application Data\" & _ and remove the trailing slash from the line above "\"

CODE

        Sub New()
            _templateFilesPath = My.Application.Info.DirectoryPath & "\Data Files\Custom"
            _customFilesPath = Environment.GetEnvironmentVariable("AllUsersProfile") & _
                               "\Application Data\" & _
                               My.Application.Info.CompanyName.Trim & "\" & _
                               My.Application.Info.ProductName.Trim & "\" & _
                               My.Application.Info.Version.ToString.Trim & _
                               "\Data Files\Custom"
        End Sub

[Brooks G. Banks]

I was building an adept, and added a standard bow. On the weapons sheet, it lists the range correctly (STR7 bow with ranges of 7/70/210/420), but on the print sheet, under range it has 2. Not the actual range. The other ranged weapons I've added all seem to be working fine. Also, with the bow, the price is showing as a flat price, instead of the bows RatingX100. I changed it in my copy to work correctly, but figured you'd like to know about it, too.

[dobbersp]

I was building an adept, and added a standard bow. On the weapons sheet, it lists the range correctly (STR7 bow with ranges of 7/70/210/420), but on the print sheet, under range it has 2. Not the actual range. The other ranged weapons I've added all seem to be working fine. Also, with the bow, the price is showing as a flat price, instead of the bows RatingX100. I changed it in my copy to work correctly, but figured you'd like to know about it, too.

The weapons print has a bug in it, although the program displays everything correctly outside of the print preview and the actual print as far as I know.

[loboaureo]

I just discover it, and already love it. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

Feature suggestion: it would be nice if you could maximice the window (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

[Logic]

Hey I just wanted to report a bug really quick:

Create: Ork
Special: Mystic Adept (10)

Qualities:
Ambidextrous (5)
Guts (5)
Aptitude (10)

This adds up to 30. However, in the Build Points under Positive Qualities it's listed as 35. That's all.

[dobbersp]

The fix for the special dropdown/quality points total bug will be pushed with the next update.

[overcannon]

Quick little error, the price of the Attention Coprocessor cyberware from Augmentation doesn't scale.

[dobbersp]

Quick little error, the price of the Attention Coprocessor cyberware from Augmentation doesn't scale.

can you give me a page number and what its supposed to be so i dont have to go looking for it?
that would be uber awesome.
d:- D

[overcannon]

No problem; Augmentation, pg 36.

The only actual problem is that it is supposed to cost Rating*3000Y; i.e. Availability and Essence do not scale.

[dobbersp]

No problem; Augmentation, pg 36.

The only actual problem is that it is supposed to cost Rating*3000Y; i.e. Availability and Essence do not scale.

Fixed. Thanks for the catch!
d:- D

[dobbersp]

I was building an adept, and added a standard bow. On the weapons sheet, it lists the range correctly (STR7 bow with ranges of 7/70/210/420), but on the print sheet, under range it has 2. Not the actual range. The other ranged weapons I've added all seem to be working fine. Also, with the bow, the price is showing as a flat price, instead of the bows RatingX100. I changed it in my copy to work correctly, but figured you'd like to know about it, too.

Fixed bow price...working on the print thing. Thanks!
d:- D

[McDougle]

I love ur generator n just joined to give my cred to u, humble sir and post a suggestion:
It´d be great if the other sections beside "gear" had a search-function, too.
Furthermore i somehow couldnt find the mounted weapons for the vehicles(maybe i just missed it somehow) and
Last but not least it would be awesome for the far future to have descriptions of the skills n stuff so u dont always have to look em up in the books(that french gen i used before had that). (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

Keep up with ur great work! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/spin.gif)

[dobbersp]

I love ur generator n just joined to give my cred to u, humble sir and post a suggestion:
It´d be great if the other sections beside "gear" had a search-function, too.
Furthermore i somehow couldnt find the mounted weapons for the vehicles(maybe i just missed it somehow) and
Last but not least it would be awesome for the far future to have descriptions of the skills n stuff so u dont always have to look em up in the books(that french gen i used before had that). (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

Keep up with ur great work! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/spin.gif)

The vehicle weapons are on the weapons tab, under ranged weapons (If i remember right)
Thanks for the feedback, and happy chargening!

d:- D

[McDougle]

Fast respond. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/nyahnyah.gif)
Yeah, got it. ^^

Another suggestion: i kinda miss the field for the chars name.

[Pollution]

I do love this program.

Any chance for a good print out in the near future (i.e. one that looks like an actual character sheet rather than text only?). Or at least prints everything on the same (or continuous) page(s)? I love the software but hate the print out.

[dobbersp]

I do love this program.

Any chance for a good print out in the near future (i.e. one that looks like an actual character sheet rather than text only?). Or at least prints everything on the same (or continuous) page(s)? I love the software but hate the print out.

Ya...the printout sucks. I pretty much have to do the whole thing by hand, so its not likely that it'll be of really high quality any time soon. I do plan to use the standardized character format soon, so you can export it and print it with a different chargen eventually. sorry.
d:- )

[Delarn]

Quick info : Can't choose Mentor Spirit/ Paragon.
Do you want me to put the infected part in the Database with the Running Wild updates ? Oh yeah, why do you use this kind of Data ? It dates from the SRCG from the 2nd ed from Paolo. You could make the program works with a nice xml database.

I really love the program, you could upgrade a lot of stuff in it. If you want to include xml in it, I could point you a friend of mine. He's working on a character advancement program with an xml back bone.

I hope you continue your good work.

--- edit ---

Did you update the Databases using SR4A ? There are some stuff that don't work in character creation ...

[dobbersp]

Quick info : Can't choose Mentor Spirit/ Paragon.
Do you want me to put the infected part in the Database with the Running Wild updates ? Oh yeah, why do you use this kind of Data ? It dates from the SRCG from the 2nd ed from Paolo. You could make the program works with a nice xml database.

I really love the program, you could upgrade a lot of stuff in it. If you want to include xml in it, I could point you a friend of mine. He's working on a character advancement program with an xml back bone.

I hope you continue your good work.

--- edit ---

Did you update the Databases using SR4A ? There are some stuff that don't work in character creation ...

I used this data structure for no apparent reason. I just made it up as i went along. xml would have been nicer, but it would also take up more space.
In retrospect, using more space would have been better for human readability, but the space efficient part makes it load everything quicker.

I also didnt use a database because I wanted the data to be accessible to users so that they can edit the data files as they wish. I started with this format before I implemented the custom item GUI (which I just added on a whim).

This is not up to date as far as SR4A is concerned, and yes, there is a whole store of things that could be added.


d:- D

[Delarn]

I've changed some Adept power in my database. They have a lower cost now.

[HeckfyEx]

Say, is chargen's grabbing a 1gb of ram normal? I'm running Vista x64.

[dobbersp]

Say, is chargen's grabbing a 1gb of ram normal? I'm running Vista x64.

unfortunately, yes it is. Its an issue with the .NET framework on the vista 64. There's nothing I can do about it (that I'm aware of).