Dynamic Forms ?

[azathool]

Has anyone thought of doing Dynamic forms yet ? What I mean for instance..



Take the maps mod.. Instead of having all pages loaded with the big memory overhead (and the tabbing problem), what you have is something that scans your log file (yes.. you'd have to switch it on).



When it detects a "zone", it generates a correct XLM page containing the map in question for that zone..



All you need do then is to issue a "/loadskin myskin 1" (which of course would be hot keyed) and hey presto.. Just the map you need.



Take this a stage further. Instead of maps being stored on on your disk, when it detects the zone, it downloads via the internet the page/map in question.. So any new maps that are issues (or changes) you pick up.



You could tie this into your "notes" function as well.



How far could you take this.. well, a long way.. You could tie it into your guild page for events postings, profiles etc. Issue a comand via hot key, it logs text to the notes file. Something picks this up, reads your guilds web site for content, generates an XML page as appropriate. You then hit the loadskin hotkey, and you get your dynamic content.



This program is not directly interacting with EQ. All it's doing is reading your log and notes file, and generating a UI skin from information contained in them files, so is not a "EULA" violation.



Thoughts ?






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</p>

Well, this idea is kinda screwed from the start... because we can't map commands to the keyboard. <img src=http://www.ezboard.com/images/emoticons/wink.gif ALT=";)">



Not to mention, wouldn't it be a huge memory sucker?


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</p>

[azathool]

You can map commands.. ;-)



Hot keys can write via the "/note xxx" command..



You have a very simple program in the background that looks at this file for changes (remembers where it was last).. Upon seeing a change, it reads/parses it, and writes out a new xml file... ready for loading via the next /loadksin.



So your hot key would be..



/note "DO ACTION XXX"

/pause N

/loadskin myskin 1





In a similar vein, you have a background program scan the log file, and upon see'ing a "LOADING" it detects which zone is being loaded, and generates a XML map file for that zone only.. and none other.

Then you simply hit your "LOAD MAP" hot key (which does a /loadskin myskin 1) to load the new map file.



Same way, have a parser that parses your log file producing all nice stats. Cash, faction hits, DPS etc etc. Either runns poll (every 60 secs) or on command (via the /notes method above). Generates a nice XML form to load via your issues /loadskin command 10 seconds later.. showing you all nice info..



The size of the background program would be minute.. A few K at most.


</p>

[Fatal]

The new version due out very soon actually has just one map window. As you zone and it gets the "You have entered $zonename" text from your logfile, it will load the correct map.



I have also requested someone send me lists of all the recipes for a certain tradeskill so we can make a tradeskill window that would watch for a certain command from the user and load that tradeskill.



The new method definately cuts down on the memory use and allows fr folks to load their own maps alot simpler.




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[azathool]

Ha !. I had an incling that was how it would be done..



OK, so how far can you take this...



Imagine having full access to combat stats. Total damage done, DPS, number of faction hits etc etc displayed right along side your combat window.. Just parse your log in real time (or even trigger via a /note command), format up the XML page and /loadskin xx 1 it, and hey presto.



And as I say, one step further. Loading content from the web on demand, and formatting that into XML pages for loading. Guild web pages, mob tactics/info searches. Hell, I bet you could even parse a message board for display and post to it ;-)... All legally without using EQW, and no need for a 2nd PC..



Combine it with use of the /notes command and you can pretty much do anything...


</p>

[Fatal]

Combine it with use of the /notes command and you can pretty much do anything...





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