Version 1.0d3 introduces no new features to Ultima III Editor. It does fix a few bugs and improve the performance of a number of other features; including: color cursors, reverting, flood fill, and menu hilighting.
I'm getting this version out now because I'm about to start work on the Dungeon Editor. In addition to coding this significant new feature (arguably one-quarter the final program), I'll need to re-write a good deal of the existing code. That's the price of hasty software design.
Most of the graphics are done for the Dungeon Editor. Now all I need to do is write a new MDEF (or generalize my existing one); create a new window; generalize tile plotting, edit tools, and basic window functions; create a new LDEF (easier than it sounds) so that the Scenario window can jive with different types of maps; multi-window support for cursors; and so on. While I'm at it, I might just go ahead and allow multiple Map windows. Then I might as well implement cut and paste between similar maps (cutting and pasting graphics, if trying to paste out of Ultima IIII Editor). Oh! What a can of worms!
Itemized Version History
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Version 1.0d3:
• Improved Reverting. Reverting no longer hits the disk. It's nearly instantaneous.
• Sped up the fill operations. Owners of slower computers should (?) experience a dramatic speed increase.
• Re-wrote color cursor code - fixed bugs. A dramatic improvement all around.
• Fixed some menu hilighting bugs
• Name change
Known Problems
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• Multiple Monitor isn't very good.
• There are no error messages, and there is virtually no error checking.
• Some small memory leaks.
• Program and documentation still recovering from name change.
• Absolutely Positively will not work with Ultima III 1.3.
• There seems to be a problem with the Map Window and certain Extensions/Control Panels. As soon as I narrow it down, I'll fix it. Symtoms include: while trying to resize the Map Window, the application will hang. I suspect Apple's 8.24 Control Panel is at fault.
Bugs & Such
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As you've gathered by now, this is a development release of Ultima III Editor. I'm releasing it now well before it's done for two reasons: first, people might find it useful; second, so that I can get valuable feedback on how I should develop this program.
First of all, I don't have a bank of beta-testers willing to test my program on a Myriad of Macintosh system configurations. If the Ultima III Editor crashes, I would appreciate it if you'd fill out the form at the end of this file and e-mail it to me (pre-supposing you have access to Internet e-mail). Before filling out the form, I'd appreciate it if you'd try running the program without extensions; if it works then, chances are an INIT/CDEV is unhappy.
Secondly, there are so many features I want to work on for this program, I don't know where to start! That and my day-job is getting really tense, I don't have the copious free-time I once had. If there are any features you would especially like to see, if there is a feature I have on my list and you think I should be working on it now (or soon), or if you think a current feature is bogus or just not doing what you think it should, please drop me a line.
I can be reached at: mtrent@msn.fullfeed.com.
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Ultima III Editor Bug Reporting Form
v1.0d3
Please fill out this form and e-mail it to mtrent@msn.fullfeed.com. I'll fix it as soon as I can.
1) Describe your system (Mac model, MacOS version number, monitor size, number of colors running, etc.)
1.5) Did the program work correctly when Extensions were disabled? If so, do you suspect any specific Control Panels/Extensions as being unfriendly?
2) What were you doing when the program crashed (be specific)?
3) Is this repeatable?
4) If the Macintosh Operating System reported an error number, what was that number?
5) What version of Ultima III were you working with (if applicable)?
