Log Parsing Incorporated into the new UI

[Swiftfisted]

Thats right, parsing your DPS, battle stats etc. in game, incorporated into the new UI. Has anyone found an official release of a mod like this? I've read its been done, but anything downloadable that I can get my dirty little hands on? <img src=http://www.ezboard.com/images/emoticons/devil.gif ALT=":evil">



Swiftfisted of E'Ci


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[Kurrlee]

Sweet mother of Abraham Lincoln! (a shiny copper for anyone who can name that movie)



That would be very nice indeed.



I've already thought about how it would work. It is actually pretty simple.



You would have to dynamically alter the XML code based on the output of the Log Parsing. Any changes to the XML would not be visible until either you zoned or run another /loadskin.



Initially the Parsing Program and the UI Mod would be tied. That way the program would know exactly where to put the new information. I would think eventually you could just have the parsing program read the XML file, look for the appropriate tag (user defined) then spit out the new XML file ready for loading.



XML strings are very small. You could have the current UI XML loaded into memory, then output the new UI either at a given interval or wait for a key phrase (e.g. "/say Take a dump") or sniff the keyboard for a certain set of keystrokes.



I was thinking of this for the Ramsus mod. Have a parsing program that loads the current zone map. That way you do not have to wade thru all of the maps to find the one you are currently in. You could even put a red O at your location on the map everytime you get a /loc line in the file.



Now if I just had the time to write the program....


Kurrlee

Shackle Of Tynnonium</p>

[Fatal]

Supposedly Verant has said this is a violation of the EULA. So I don't think I will play with that. But if I did.. what I would do is.. take a log parsor .. oh.. like.. i dunno.. eqcompanion.. and have it output the data to a text file that is saved in your skins directory. Then , you would need to make a window that read a text file.. like.. oh.. i dont know.. the help window.. or.. the action window on a tab..



you could convert the text file to a jpg and load it as a background.. the issue is .. er.. the issue would be that it only loads once.. you would have to zone again to load a refreshed version. But I would never do that.




http://amichi.not.net/~polyneices/Ramsus.gif
Ramsus (http://www.magelo.com/eq_view_profile.html?num=13934) </p>

[Nahsai]

When has VI said that parsing is a violation of the EULA?


Sensei Nahsai (http://www.magelo.com/eq_view_profile.html?num=245810)
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[Fatal]

Someone at eqtraders has a mod that parsers ur log info and displays it in a window.



They supposedly asked verant and verant said its illegal.



Thats what i was referring to.




http://amichi.not.net/~polyneices/Ramsus.gif
Ramsus (http://www.magelo.com/eq_view_profile.html?num=13934) </p>

Yeah editing their windows like the Help window to output something other than what was originally there violates the EULA. Or at least as much was said.


Zzorn (http://www.magelo.com/eq_view_profile.html?num=52439)

[57 Master]

Stormhammer</p>

I am the one who originally coded a log parser and a mod to edit the help files. I checked with Verant and they did say that any changes that affect game play are in violation of the EULA. One can discuss back and forth whether such changes will affect game play, but the bottom line is that Verant doesn't like it and if it's not against the EULA now it will be soon. Use at your own risk.



And no, I didn't realease the mod and don't plan to. I don't even plan to use it myself (don't really need it).




Knek (http://www.magelo.com/eq_view_profile.html?num=23465), 60 monk of Drakonis, Tunare Guild Alliance



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[Kurrlee]

Knek,



That is a VERY vague statement by VI.



EVERY mod effects gameplay. So if anyone asked if their mod broke the EULA they would get the same answer.



You got the standard out of the box answer from CS.






Kurrlee

Shackle Of Tynnonium</p>

I discussed in detail what the mod does and doesn't do and the clear response was that Verant would NOT view on it favorably. I did a live chat with a couple of higher placed people within Verant (director types. Had to explicitly ask for them to be present as I didn't want a Guide or Tech support rep to make a call on this).



In any case, I did what I set out to do. Namely to see if it could be done.


Knek (http://www.magelo.com/eq_view_profile.html?num=23465), 60 monk of Drakonis, Tunare Guild Alliance



<center>
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[Swiftfisted]

In my own opinion, adding a little window that shows what your DPS is currently while engaging a mob is no more useful that putting the % number next to your mana/life/exp. These as well are game changing characteristics, whether you like it or not. It's very very useful to watch your percentage of mana go down as a caster, I find it incredibly useful when I'm Canni dancing as my shaman so I directly see the health/mana ratio. I guess editing the help file to display other information may be "against the rules" but is there a way to maybe use the pet window to display info from a log file? Certainly parsing your DPS and displaying it can not be any more against the EULA than the other things i've discussed.



Swiftfisted of E'Ci


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This sounds like a pat answer to me IMO, but I wasn't there.



I can see things like ShowEQ being illegal, as it gives players access to data not normally available. But all a parser does is generate statistics on the data that scrolls along in your chat window, data that you were always intended to have access to. Admittedly the power of the parser is to do lots of fast math and statistics on that data...but would not *technically* return any statistical information you could not derive from looking at your chat window and using a pencil and paper to do the math. Just a hell of a lot faster.



If parsers violate EULA, then so by extension to the absurd is dividing a weapon's displayed damage by the displayed delay to derive a ratio. Weapon ratios are not normally displayed by the game so deriving them and using that information would be against the EULA. A ridiculous example but absurdities are needed to make a point sometimes.



Of course this ignores the fact that the game and all the data belong to Verant, and they can declare against the rules anything they feel like.




in Service...
...Sauria Soulfarer (http://eq.guildmagic.com/character.cfm?ID=109086) 41st scale Swifttail caste, New Sebilis Tradegear (http://www.magelo.com/eq_view_profile.html?num=222586>Gear</a>) <select name=Tradeskills><option>Tradeskills<option>Baking 191<option>Brewing 189<option>Fishing 168<option>Pottery 148<option>Smithing 122<option>Tailoring 107</select>
Alts Tolinu, Furria, Laresa, Ooabankone, Ooabanktoo, Ooaraidbank
Guild Bankmistress, The Order of Antondwer, Vazaelle</p>

In any case, I was made to understand that what they object to isn't necessarily showing DPS in the help windows. Or showing tradeskill recipes in the help window (Which is one of the uses I coded in to begin with). What Verant objects to is changing the help files to display information. The danger being that people can display ANY kind of information this way, _potentially_ affecting game play.



*shrug* I personally don't see what the big deal is. I wouldn't mind being able to display all kinds of info in game. But in the end there is nothing I can't print out on paper or write a parser to give me my dps in some other way.








Knek (http://www.magelo.com/eq_view_profile.html?num=23465), 60 monk of Drakonis, Tunare Guild Alliance



<center>
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toy story 2 kurrlee ) dont know if someone responded to that yet


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[Kurrlee]

Nope, you win!



It is my daughter's (2.5 yrs old) favorite movie at the moment.


Kurrlee

Shackle Of Tynnonium</p>