Glest Guide v5

[Omega]

Glest Guide v5: Now Released!

http://glest.110mb.com/

Today marks a great day in human history... Ok, maybe not, but it marks the release of GGv5.

Changelog:
-Stylesheet and images were overhauled to create a new "theme", which resembles the Glest Board's default
-Archives now use a WYSIWYG editor instead of the proposed BBCode one
-MDC can now edit the existing mods
-MDC can also create new mods
-MDC has a "mod of the month" area. starting with the megapack of course
-Site is now IE compatible in all the pages, fixing the bug with fixed content
-All pages are declared as XHTML v1 Transitional
-MegaGlest Page added
-GAE page brought up to date
-MegaGlest button is added to main page
-Page that lets you change the version numbers of GAE and MG available (NOTE TO SELF: Give GAE/MG teams link)
-Added GAE functions to Lua page
-Updated the map editor page so its for the Mega Glest Map Editor
-Fixed some errors in the XMLs
-Improved the strategies page
-Fixed broken images in magitech page
-Fixed numerous things that were broken from theme change
-Updated several pages to keep them up-to-date, or to reword better
-Numerous smaller changes

[Sir modman]

It has some bugs...especially in the animation and texturing parts--just the ones I was hoping to see.  I'll download it again...

Nope.  Doesn't work.  I can't see the images on those pages.

[Sir modman]

Woa woa!   I see what you wrote and (I'm not taking offense, I'm questioning facts) I agree with most of the facts, but I don't get what you said about the images.  I plan to have all TGAs done by the end of the month as well as all new unit sounds.  You didn't mention that I have new music, unlike some other factions either.  Sorry if I sounded like I took offense; I took none.

I beg to differ on the "overly well balence" of Nihilirian.  Its balence needs tons of work.

[Trappin]

Playing Glest > swordsman177px × 550px jpeg overlays on text ( at least on my firefox browser).

Tips for Glest > Play styles vary but its a good basic start.

Exploring Magitech > all images overlay on text (at least on my firefox browser).

Final Word (Closing) > legal disclaimer(s) and not a summary/closing statement.

I don't code so the rest is gibberish.

 

[Omega]

Playing Glest > swordsman177px × 550px jpeg overlays on text ( at least on my firefox browser).

Tips for Glest > Play styles vary but its a good basic start.

Exploring Magitech > all images overlay on text (at least on my firefox browser).

Final Word (Closing) > legal disclaimer(s) and not a summary/closing statement.

I don't code so the rest is gibberish.

 

This doesn't work right on Firefox. On the first page, it says that it was made for IE. Firefox has HORRIBLE alligning skills! Map making... did I forget that? There is no code in there, that's the xmls. (For modders)

It has some bugs...especially in the animation and texturing parts--just the ones I was hoping to see.  I'll download it again...

Nope.  Doesn't work.  I can't see the images on those pages.

To see the Images, YOU MUST UNZIP THE FOLDER!!! Also, try using IE, since it has the best aligning between browsers.

And BTW, where is the bugs in modeling/animation?

[Sir modman]

Of course I unzipped the folder!

The error is the pictures overlaying the text.  Plus, I wish you could be a little more clear.  You lost me when you started talking about the sphere.  I might make a video titled "what am I doing wrong?" with a screen capture program so someone can help.

And there already is a guide to making maps in the maps/tilesets/scenarios forum by Martino.

[pgraham]

Hi,
Thanks for putting this together.  As someone new to glest this is very helpful in getting to know the game's interface.
I have however found a minor error in the main page:

Code:

<IMG style="Z-INDEX: 100; POSITION: absolute; TOP: 24px; LEFT: -2px" border=0 alt="" src="images\glest_main.jpg" width=800 height=600>

should be:

Code:

<IMG style="Z-INDEX: 100; POSITION: absolute; TOP: 24px; LEFT: -2px" border=0 alt="" src="images/glest_main.jpg" width=800 height=600>

The change is that you have backslash (\) in the image source instead of a forward slash (/).

Also, you may want to consider not using the ALIGN attributes of the HTML spec.  While browsers do still support them they are deprecated and may not always be .  A good rule of thumb for web development is that if it works better in IE than Firefox you're doing something you shouldn't.

[Omega]

Ok, I admit, that was my first (and last) attempt at using a visual editor. When I made that, I wasn't very good with HTML. Now I am more than competant and now use MS VS Web developer 2008, which relies on code and is good at spotting errors and can complete tags. If I were to write that now, I would size the image perfectly, maybe center it (I forget where I placed that pic)
Unless it's a link, the border=0 is unneccessary. I would align it normally, not absolutely. (which is what caused the poor alignation in firefox)
I would also add an alt tag so that if it didn't load, we'd see a description. And of course, when manually doing the code, I would never screw up like that. (Blast you fricken visual editors!) I didn't notice because both IE and Safari didn't pick up the error.

If I were to do this now, I would use a CSS to allow backgrounds and text effects throughout the webpage.

I'm not going back to visual editors. They are unreliable, use more space than neccessary, and have limited support for some objects, and some don't offer good JS compatibilities.

You know, maybe I should redo this thing from scratch... Lets see if I have the time. (Ok, I don't have the time right now, but sometime...)

[Omega]

All right! The new version is out. This version is online, and was done completely long hand. It also includes sections on map making, improved modeling/animation/texturing pages, better XMls, ability to submit tips, improved format, and much much more!

Please comment it via the contact page. http://glest.110mb.com/contact.html

[Sir modman]

404 Error!

[mictes]

http://glest.110mb.com/
Look at the url.

[martiño]

Hi, I've uploaded the manual to the glest server:

http://glest.org/files/contrib/manuals

[battle machine man]

I've created a compiled help for glest, in the HTML format. It has to be downloaded, and can be viewed completely offline. It boasts a number of sections:
~How to play Glest
~Tips for glest
~Full list of magitech units nwith pictures and advice
~Full list of a number of mods available with RANKINGS. See how your mod did on my judgement.
~Lau Scripting commands and example scenario
~How to make basic models in blender, and getting them ready for glest
~How to basic animate
~How to edit TGAs, list of programs that may be used
~Final word, sums up all with contact, legal, and a final word of advice.

Download it here: LINK DOWN

I realized that there is no tutorials on making tilesets, so I made the most complete one ever! It too is HTML format. Just download the zip, unzip it, and open main.html. Now you've got you're tutorial. Here's the link to that Tilesets download:
http://www.mediafire.com/?zqdt510c8db

Post your comments, questions, and concerns, and of course, rate it!
~OMEGA

EDIT// Here's the new version: glest.110mb.com

didnt u make a site or was that the first? I looked at 1 of them last week

[Omega]

Simplified: It's new, its everything. It's here: http://glest.110mb.com

[Assassin]

Could we have a list of changes please?

Oh and there are these guys spamming up your forums...

[Omega]

Oh and there are these guys spamming up your forums...

Yeah, I know. I was going to clean it until I realized that there is next to no users, and almost no posts. No sense cleaning a board that isn't used... *sigh* Kinda makes sense since there is the Glest Board.

LIST OF CHANGES (note that not all changes might be listed):
-PHP Powered
-Ability to post ideas for improvements
-Forums board (ABANDONED)
-New unique layout
-Services such as scenario creator and soon to come faction creator.
-Tips for playing, and ability to add your own easily.
-Mod Download Center, which allows downloading finished mods, scripted scenarios, tilesets, and map packs. Has ratings and allows everyone to rate as well. *Modders please tell me if yours is missing from the list. Make sure it is in the FINAL format.
-Tutorials for modding, including XMLs, Layout, Planning, Modeling, Texturing, and Animating.
-EVERY aspect of XMLs covered in detail with a new method, showing details in a floating box
-Lua details given in a lightbox, providing high details on scripting, and including one sample scenario
-Scenario creator can create scenarios in just a few minutes.
-Fan art posting, and ability to submit your own
-List of ways to maximize your glest experience
-Tutorial for using the map maker
-Hosts the military and elfs sites, as well as labyrinth and omega map pack
-Map pack with over 40 maps to download with images of each one(!)
-TO COME: GAE page
(note: some are features that are not new, but simply improved or even just features)


EDIT://
IE Trapper. Enter the main page with IE and you will get a warning that looks exactly like how IE shows its 'Not a safe site' warnings. After all, browsing with IE is a security risk! Code finished, just need to upload.

BTW: Try to go to the main site with IE to see the sweet spit in microsoft's face! Be sure to hit the 'diagnose' button for a good laugh!

[Sir modman]

  Dude, I love the IE warning!  I tried it out, and it's pretty cool.  "Get Firefox, Recommended".

[Coldfusionstorm]

OMEGA!. what the hell is that bullcrap about IE that you have on your homepage, are you crazy? or just dump and ignorant, that "ANTI" ie crusade you are going on is send new users running away....

if anyone wonders what i talk about visit his homepage with IE and push dianoctics....

new non-technical users will run screaming away, this is NOT approiate....

and i find it horrible that glest links to such rubbish. you have loads of good articles on your homepage but THAT is just giveing glest a bad reputation......

[-Archmage-]

No, IE gives glest a bad reputation.
Telling people to get firefox, is saving them from IE.

[John.d.h]

While IE may be (probably is) the worst web browser ever made, it's still extremely snobby to deny someone access to your website just because they're misguided enough to use it.  Plus, sometimes people don't have a choice, like if they're at the library and the computers only have IE.

[-Archmage-]

Give them access but before, just tell them to get firefox.
If they can;t then they'll just view it on IE anyway.

[Sir modman]

You can go into the site.  It just says "Continue to site: not recommended".  And then it takes you to the site.

[-Archmage-]

Oh

[Omega]

GRAHHHHHHHH!

DO NOT USE IE! DO NOT USE IE! DO NOT - *collapses from a virus, obviously caused by an IE security error*.

Well, the real reason I do not allow IE on the site is because some of the most important pages CANNOT DISPLAY on IE properly. You see, I find it better to get an appropriant browser that will display the site 100% GUARANTEED without SECURITY RISKS, BUGS, DISPLAY ERRORS, CRASHES, and NON-FUNCTIONAL PAGES. Having a page claim to do something and end up not doing it because you came with IE would really suck.

If anyone goes running away because of this, who cares? I just (possibly) saved them from a very nasty security risk. Of course, this beats the alternative I considered, which was to plant a virus on the page, and if the person has IE, then hack their computer and delete IE's executable, but I decided that was a bit dangerous, and possibly illegal. Of course, still a possibility for the future *a glint rises in Omega's eye, and you think for a moment you saw a flash of red, but as you look back, everything appears normal*.

Besides, that only affects if they enter glest.110mb.com from the starting link. The main page is actually glest.110mb.com/main.php, which is redirected to from the glest.110mb.com/index.php page. In short, every page will give you a proper link, unless you visit through the main page. Of course, that means that the IE users that come from a direct link are in for an unwarned scare... Which is why I have alert boxes and cookies to help there. I got nothing against IE users. Inside every IE user is a professional firefox user.

Of course, don't expect me to lose that warning for as long as it fails to display incorrectly on IE. You never know, maybe microsoft will smarten up someday and get better.

Of course, I may change it to a lighter warning, but that would ruin my fun.

NEWS:
Version 4 of the GG is coming out soon!
Features:
-Archives, a news directory with articles for everything, such as blender tutorials, modeling tips, XML features explained, indepth articles, and eventually, user submitted content.
-Ads on specific pages, in hopes of generating enough profit to upgrade to get some new features, including PHP mail function use
-GAE section, with XMLs, tips, features, etc
-Updated MDC
-fixed errors in XML pages
-add how color-no-energy and size-no-energy work. I finally figured it out!
-updated military page (short)
-DTDs for all XMLs except the unit XML (see below for why) available
-Hopefully a schema for the unit XML, but have to check features

WHY THERE'S NO DTD FOR THE UNIT.XML:
You see, glest's XML was, to put bluntly, poorly planned. It is completely unnacceptable to have the same element (ie:type) appear in multiple tags if it is not the same one (ie: skills, commands). While some such as type are fine, others are just not. I need a way to define only the elements that are children to certain elements, so I will check if XML schemas allow this. I am completed DTD's for all other formats. Testing has proven them functional, and they are GAE compatible! Tested with various XMLs, including my own and ones from Magitech and FPM.

[-Archmage-]

hmm

why don't you create a virus that delete the IE exe AND installs firefox.