Global Campaign

[danzig70]

I fixed the problem with the 2nd test file. I forgot to change 321 to 401 in the "Altitudes" section of the file. If you open the file in an xml editor you can click on "Terrain" and then "Altitudes" and change the 321 to 401 and the file should work.

I've made alot of progress with the program too so now it will ask for a input file name and then attempt to open that file. This way it is easy to do multiple files. The program just has to be in the same directory as the data files. It also prompts for an output file name for making a series of maps easier, like chapters (0,1,2,etc).

It is also possible to choose where the maps are located using the tables I posted earlier. Ideally a grid will be layered over the area in WorldWind but I may also provide a pdf for those that dont install WorldWind. Again, the table will have icons representing the position of friendly and enemy units for planning chapters and campaigns. Eventually the icons will move depending on events.

I got the program to search the file for the correct starting row and column of data so Im pretty close to the finishing line.

I was hoping to have someone install my motherboard and processor so I dont fry it with static electricity but the guy wanted $150 and $250 to build the whole thing. So now I have to wait to buy or build an anti-static mat with a wrist strap. It's always something. If anyone has installed a motherboard and processor, some advice would be great.

[kaoz]

Aug 12, 2011 17:02:05 GMT 1 danzig70 said:

I got the program to search the file for the correct starting row and column of data so Im pretty close to the finishing line.

Looking forward to see this!

If anyone has installed a motherboard and processor, some advice would be great.

I've done that with all 4 pc's i ever had, it's easy really. Did it even without the anti-static thing, which doesn't mean you have to be careful... take the motherboard at its sides, it's ok to touch the green plate, not the electronics on it (if you're static). Lay down your case, so you can lay the motherboard in it horizontal(ly?). Fasten with screws... Today, most of the processors are simply to be clicked upon the motherboard, it is really hard to do it wrong, because they shaped most things in a manner that it only fits in that particular way, same counts for the electricity plugs. If you buy these separatly, ask for the manuals...

I remember a PentiumII where you had to screw bars at the sides, or a AMD where you had to put glue between the CPU and motherboard... those days are luckily gone!

Oh, same for the RAM, always take it at the sides!

[Jagged Steel]

I know a few things about assembling hardware Danzig. I actually just put together a new rig for me and then another for my dad. In the past couple of months I have assembled, changed and reassembled several incarnations of his and my rigs and I am pretty up to speed on these things at the moment. The equipment you are getting is a bit like alien technology compared to my stuff, but it all goes together pretty much the same. As far as static goes, my method is to assemble things standing barefoot on a stone floor. A bit cavemannish, I know, but you are not going to have any static build up in your body that way so there is no chance of zapping your gear.

Good to see that you are still plugging along on the Global Campaign, I hope you can get it up and running.

[kaoz]

Aug 13, 2011 17:11:57 GMT 1 Jagged Steel said:

As far as static goes, my method is to assemble things standing barefoot on a stone floor.

Exactly, and some say to grab at something iron or other metal before you start! I don't know how to explain correct in english...

[Jagged Steel]

Yes, you want to touch something grounded to dissipate static. Not having the static build up in the first place is even better. If you are in direct contact with a grounded surface like a stone floor, you won't get any static building up and you will dissipate any you already had built up. Using a static strap attached to a ground and even having a grounded mat will usually work, but if you are walking around in plastic shoes on carpeting then those precautions might not protect your gear from a static discharge. Wrist straps are a pain in the #$$ and there isnt really any assurance that you have decent contact with them all the time. If your entire house is carpeted, I would still go barefoot while you do the assembly. Going barefoot AND wearing a strap AND using a grounded pad would probably be the ultimate anti-static measure. It is pretty hard to build up static if you are barefoot regardless of what surface you are on. But put on some socks or plastic/rubber soled shoes and rub your feet around and you are going to be building up a nice charge like a capacitor.

[danzig70]

Thanks for the tips. I fashioned a wrist strap out 10 gauge wire and alligator clips and found a rubber mat. Its all SATA so my old drives didnt work. Still trying to install the OS. Having trouble with the new hard drive now. Aye caramba!

EDIT: Unbelievable. Cant Windows xp setup doesnt recognize SATA drives because it doesnt have the drivers. To use the F6 option to load drivers it has to be a floppy drive. My mother board only has SATA controllers - no IDE, and a IDE to SATA converter appears to do nothing at all. The only work around seems to be find a F6 compatible USB floppy drive or combine the windows xp and the drivers into new cd using something called nlite. I have just about had it.

[Jagged Steel]

I had a problem installing XP on this current Mobo- ASUS M5A97 EVO. This mobo was meant for my fathers build, and I intended to set up a dual boot with XP and Win7, the same as I just had installed on my Biostar A870U3 a few months ago. I had no problems at all when I installed both systems on the Biostar, but could not get XP to install on the new ASUS board. Wi7 installed fine. I tried everything I could think of, including reading the manual cover to cover and no go. It would go through the initial data load from the XP disk, and when it reached the point where the first real "install screen" would pop up it simply crashed. I wanted my dad to have the dual boot option, and a smooth running machine, so I gave him my Biostar and kept the ASUS to sort out later. After digging around and asking lots of questions on several forums (including this one) I finally tried doing the opposite of what the manual says in regards to XP installs. The manual states that you need the SOURCE drive that you are loading XP from to be set to IDE- regardless of what type of drive it is. I tried this several different ways- no results. When I tried the opposite of this and set the DESTINATION drive where I was installing XP to IDE it worked! This is spite of the fact that the drive I was installing to is a SATA 3 SSD!. The problem you are having with XP install sounds real similar. You may need to set the destination drives attribute to IDE during the install- regardless of what type of drive it is. You can then set the drive back to SATA after the install. The area in the BIOS where you change this is in the Southbridge settings. It sounds like you at least have the physical assembly done, so you are half way there. Keep swinging!, you will get it.

P.S. Please feel free to ask any question you have regarding your setup, I have been soaking up this information for the computer builds I just completed, so everything is pretty fresh in my mind still- Good Luck.

P.S. I am using an IDE to SATA drive adapter and has worked fine. I suspect that the culprit to your problems is in your IDE/SATA settings.

[danzig70]

Thanks JS. That is my problem. I spent the better part of yesterday (at work) reading up on it. I tried changing the settings from AHCI to IDE for HD in the BIOS without joy. I am surprised that your IDE to SATA worked. They only had two at Fry's Electronics. I bought a cheap $8 one at Fry's instead of the $12 one. I will try the other brand at some point. I guess Windows 7 has the SATA drivers on the CD and loads them when it needs them. For XP or windows 2000 server you have to press F6 during setup to load additional drivers. Unfortunately the process only recognizes floppy drives. Can you believe it?

There are two solutions according to what I have read and what the Intel site says. I can add the drivers to the installation CD by basically merging them and burning a new CD using nLite (slipstreaming) or buy a USB floppy drive that is F6 compatible.

I will try your method again to see if I missed something though. What brand of IDE - SATA converter do you have? I'll pick that up next paycheck. I spent way too much last weekend with a SATA CD and HD that I hadnt counted on. Live and learn I suppose.

I was so worried about frying it with static electricity I should have worried about throwing it out the window!

[Jagged Steel]

AHCI- yes this is the Southbride/BIOS setting I was referring to. New systems apparently are not geared for installing XP. Setting your destination drive to IDE instead of AHCI (not SATA- but it sounds like you knew what I was referring to) seems to be the answer to this. I tried all of the things you have mentioned, including trying a universal XP boot floppy , and XP simply would not install until I switched the destination drive to IDE. The IDe to SATA adapter I used was Rosewill- model 240 I think. I got it from Newegg for $10, but I went back to order another one and they have discontinued that unit. It is probably still available somewhere else. This was not the drive I installed XP on. I have Win7 on that old IDE HDD and XP on my new SSD- boots in about 15 seconds . So many typos this morning- typing on my laptop out in the shop right now. Hope you get things sorted out soon, your rig is going to kick some serious butt when you get it up and running.

[danzig70]

Thanks for the tips. I'll give it another try. Its doing an excellent job of holding down some papers for me now.

[kaoz]

Aug 16, 2011 16:26:26 GMT 1 danzig70 said:

Unfortunately the process only recognizes floppy drives. Can you believe it?

I do... been there also. XP is cool altho' outdated when it comes to new hardware!

There are two solutions according to what I have read and what the Intel site says. I can add the drivers to the installation CD by basically merging them and burning a new CD using nLite (slipstreaming) or buy a USB floppy drive that is F6 compatible.

I still have a floppy in my older XP pc, always wanted to slipstream, but still haven't done it. Should work fine in theory.

I was so worried about frying it with static electricity I should have worried about throwing it out the window!

I mostly worried on setting BIOS RAM speed and CPU speed and such... some combinations made windows also crash.

As far as i understood, AHCI is a newer and faster SATA, which you do have to turn on in Win7. I never heard of this in XP and think it's even impossible (at least for IDE), but i could be wrong. I recently installed this on my new system to get a faster I/O for my sata drives.

[danzig70]

That's just like me: Cool but a bit outdated.

[danzig70]

Some computer repair place said that it would be $250 to look at my machine. I bought win7 for $200 and the piece of crap installed in 10 minutes. Hopefully BK installs nicely on my other partition and everything else goes smoothly. Back in the saddle again:)

[Folgore]

There is a quick and dirty fix: install BK into a pen drive or into another removable USB/SATA device.
My best wishes...

[danzig70]

Everything went fine. Now I can finish some maps finally.