KzS Notepad
 

Youtube

http://oi59.tinypic.com/2rf4t8n_th.jpg

KzS_Notepad.7z

As mod it is very simple, just a bunch of edit boxes.
Like these when we type our player name or name the save.

Do not hurry to be happy, because this have flaws.
I use it successfully, but only because of my playing style and my installation is specific.
Most users would have problems.
Because of this, I release it as [TEC]Thread, not as a mod.
Will give you my files, but to install it, to deal with some problems and learn to use it is your job.
And I will try to explain, for who wants to use it.

First drawback: It will not go in your save.
The text will stay there only in your current game session. That's why I named it notepad, not a logbook.
When start SH3 again, the notepad will be clean.
Solution: To save it, before exiting the game just make screenshot with it.


Second drawback: While writing in this notepad, the keyboard commands of the game continue to work.
In the beginning I didn't realize it. My playing style is to play only with mouse.
Some time ago, I cleaned my Commands_en.cfg from key commands. Leave only few for time compression and for camera control.
Now, by default I don't have problem with this issue, my letter keys are free from game commands.

Solution: One way is to be like me: if your GUI allows you access to almost everything via menu commands.
Another way that I can think of is: to write in notepad only when the game is paused.
Most commands in Commands_en.cfg don't work in pause.
If there have any that possibly are obstacle, to make them to not work in pause is easy: just delete the digit 2 from Ctxt=
Another way is to edit your Commands_en.cfg: every key command that will be a problem, to be through Shift or Ctrl, and then write in notepad only lowercase.


Third drawback: it is not a problem to make one big edit box. But it have problems. The cursor didn't go, visually, to the second line. Will stay on the end of the first line. The text will go, but without cursor it is hard to do editings.
And it is not possible to go in new line when you want. You need to fill current line or pumps on key Space, to go for next one.
My solution: is to make what i made. Bunch of separate edit boxes.


Fourth drawback: The notepad in this form is composed of 21 lines, each line has three boxes with limited space for writing.
For me it is enough. This is a notepad for quick and short notes. But, what if this is not enough for you?

Solution: It's not a problem to have two notepads or three. Or to have them on different screens, one on map screen, another on mission order page or radio messages page...


And one bug that I found:
You click on edit box, the cursor is active, now you click keyboard key command that send you to different screen, when you go back to the screen with the notepad, the edit box is broken and writing in it is not possible.
Not a big problem, because of many edit boxes that the notepad have, you will just skip this one.
Solution: Just always click again to close the edit box, before you go anywhere.

At last an in game notebook!!!

Very nice and convenient addition ! I love it ! :yeah:

PS : KzS = Kampf zur See ?

Technically, would it be possible to make the notepad closing by clicking on it ? (I mean as in R/L, the two parts on each other). And then, move the closed notebook on the right to hide it ?

Ufff I was thinking on adding something like that some time ago !


Great work !:rock::salute:

Fantastic!

I do have one question though. Can it be copied externally? I usually hand-write my notes, then type them up when the patrol is over, then transfer them to Subsim. Can these notes be copied outside of the game?

Incredible. This is something we have dreamed of ever since the game came out. I just can't fathom how that was possible.

Just a fantastic addition to thw game, though! Tycho should get a an honorary Minimod Master title with this mod and the Analogue Clock, Gridxxxx mod etc.

And would it be possible to add several pages in the notebook ? :hmm2:

The answers to various questions are now in the second post.

I think of Kapitän zur See.

Curious to look at mod files. Wondering how you were able to put in edit boxes in the game. Could open alot of possibilities here.

Finding the memory location of the written text is a way to save it. Use cheat engine to find the pointer then save the string data.

Looking forward to see how this was done though. Good work!

Show us an example of your menu.ini file. Please.

Sounds like I might be able to make a maneuvering board with a possibility of short written notes. I do like to use keyboard shortcuts though.

The files are in first post!

As already mentioned:
They were just there, Type=1035 in menu_.ini.

Nice work, Tycho :up:

It would be a nice addition to the radio message screen in combination with the enigma. One could then write down the decrypted letters in-game.

Regards, LGN1

I like where this is going.... :yep:

Excellent mod! :yeah: :salute: Even if does have a high learning curve it's well worth it.

Hi Tycho,

is it possible to have a default message in the textbox (via menu.txt) which can be replaced by your own message? This might offer a way to save the text.

Regards, LGN1

Hi,

I think I have a solution to save the text:

- Use Autohotkey to log your key strokes during game-play
- Evaluate and process this log file with a script
- Use, e.g., SH3Commander to add the text back into SH3 via *_menu.txt for a chosen save-game (if necessary change the text box parameters, too).

For convenience this could be put into a single script.

This should all be straight-forward, however, it would require quite some coding...

Regards, LGN1

With a proper Autohotkey script one could type something like this:

#BE1742 1414 A 3000 GRT merchant spotted 174°##

# meaning Start text
## meaning End text

??

So I could write and save a war diary many pages long with the help of an Autohotkey script and the KzS Notebook?

Would it be possible to also have the script to save the text as a Word file?

Yes! Add in menu_1024_768.ini for the edit box "Text=any number" which leads to en_menu.txt. There write what you want, and the text will be in that edit box when start the game. In the game you can edit this text, but in en_menu.txt will stay original text.


Yes, I was thinking of adding one edit box for radio message screen. And if manipulated the font files, it is possible to type letter on keyboard and to appear different letter in the box. I'm going to do it, but when have time.


As for the script, it is too occupation for me. I continue to write log book on paper after patrol, I just want opportunity for quick notes in game.