Version 1.0d4 introduces some new features to Ultima III Editor, as well as some good old-fashioned improvements. At this point in time, I'm not sure what I'll be working on for 1.0d5. While I was initially planning on adding Dungeon Editing support, I've added Monster editing instead (at the request of Leon). I'll probably spend some time fleshing out the functionality I've hinted at in this release. I'll also probably add multi-window support (FINALLY). I might add more online help while I'm at it. You want something done? Send me some e-mail! Get instant (sorta) gratification!
Itemized Version History
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Version 1.0d4
• Added a new tool for viewing/editing Monsters from the Map Editor. Added a placeholder for a tool to add new
monsters to existing maps;
• Added balloon help for menus and some dialogs. Balloon help can be toggled on and off using the "help" key on
extended keyboards, or using "control e" on those less endowed keyboards.
• Compiled with Metrowerks Codewarrior 8; compiled as Fat Binary;
• Finalized scenario format. See Warning below.
• Selected Tile Type resets itself when the Map Editor is closed.
• More neat changes to color cursors;
• Removed graphics from manuals;
• New splash screen graphic
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
A Word About Old Scenarios
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Version 1.0d4 changes the format for the Scenario File. Rather than simply storing Map information, it now stores a variety of resources used in the Ultima III application. Scenarios created with the Ultima III Editor versions 1.0d2 and 1.0d3 are completely incompatible with 1.0d4 and later; furthermore, the Ultima III Editor will make no attempt to distinguish between these files, or perform any intelligent error handling. Remember, we aren't even in Alpha yet!
If you have an older Scenario File you want to use with version 1.0d4 or later, there is a workaround for you:
1) Make a copy of the Sample Scenario that came with the Ultima III Editor. Give it the name of your older scenario (or something similar).
2) Open the Sample Scenario copy and your older scenario with ResEdit.
3) Copy all the resources (should be one: 'MAPS') from the old file into the new file. ResEdit will ask you if you want to replace resources with the same ID. Say "Yes".
4) Quit ResEdit after saving changes to the new file. Open the new scenario with the Ultima III Editor and verify your changes still exist.
If someone wants to hack up a small utility to do this automatically, I'd be grateful.
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.
• Under some circumstances, the grow icon will not draw properly. Weird.
Bugs & Such
~~~~~~~~~~
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)?
