MultiSH3 1.0 released

[Potoroo]

MultiSH3 is a utility that will change the folder name in My Documents that Silent Hunter 3 uses to save campaign and career information. It does this by patching a file in the game's root folder called FileManager.dll. Stock SH3 is hard-coded to save this information in a folder called My Documents\SH3, but given the large number of supermods and other mods it may be desirable to be able to separate careers by saving them in different folders. For example, you might want to have a stock SH3 1.4b installation, a TGW installation and an NYGM installation, each with their own career information.

The obvious benefit of this is that it prevents any possible confusion over which campaigns and careers belong to which installation. Mod developers may find it useful to have a known safe copy of SH3 and one or more development copies, each completely separate. Gamers may find it useful to be able to remove, repair or update supermods without having to uninstall the lot and start again (anyone who has needed to modify their Grey Wolves installation should see the benefit of this immediately).

It is available for download from http://u-boot.realsimulation.com (Martin was kind enough to put it in the "SH3 Must Haves" section). I have also contacted SubSim about having it uploaded here. Please read the instructions in the ReadMe file carefully!

Jaesen Jones has made a maintenance release of SH3 Commander that is compatible with MultiSH3. To run them together you will need SH3 Commander 2.6.1.124 or later.

[terrapin]

It's really a VERY HANDY utility, so it's in the 'must have' section!

Now...if anyone could manage to write something like a plugin, which puts all ship positions out in GPS format...? :D

[JScones]

I've been impressed with it - I've used it to keep my test and real careers separate so that I don't accidently stuff up a real career (not that I play many real patrols - last one finished in May this year!).

For all those SH3 players that have complained about having their separate-SH3-install careers all lumped together under the one \My Documents\SH3 folder, I recommend this tool to you! :rock:

(This tool is the reason for the "- Now supports save folder names other than the default "SH3" (will become apparent later)" addition to SH3Cmdr R2.6.1).

[Tuddley3]

I guess this means your Beta Testers were pleased, congrats on the official release.

I think I'll head on over to UBRS and grab it, with GWX on it's way and NYGM new release, MultiSH3 will be a must. Thanks for your hard work, can't wait to put it to use.

[Jimbuna]

Thanks...this is def a 'must have' :rock:

[GT182]

by Potoroo
Jaesen Jones has made a maintenance release of SH3 Commander that is compatible with MultiSH3. To run them together you will need SH3 Commander 2.6.1.124 or later.


That means SH3 Commander 2.5 won't work with it? Please say it isn't so.

[kylania]

by Potoroo
Jaesen Jones has made a maintenance release of SH3 Commander that is compatible with MultiSH3. To run them together you will need SH3 Commander 2.6.1.124 or later.

That means SH3 Commander 2.5 won't work with it? Please say it isn't so.

Why wouldn't you upgrade?

[GT182]

Cause I like 2.5 for now. ;) I'm using "No Fatigue" and understand that I won't have that with 2.6 and GW.... tho I could be wrong. Now if there was a mod to automatically switch the crew around when their shifts were up, I'd go for that. I hate babysitting the crew, they're old enough to know when it's nap time. ;)

I'm in May of '43 now with my career and don't want to take any chances and lose this one like I have the previous 4, just when thing were getting interesting. It seemed I'd screw up with something and lose everything I'd have, so I'm just want to playing safe for now. ;) Once this career is over I'll go to 2.6.1.124 and this mod to have multipule installs.

[HunterICX]

:up: that might come in handy someday.

(that would when I have an newer system :rotfl: )

[Tuddley3]

Cause I like 2.5 for now. ;) I'm using "No Fatigue" and understand that I won't have that with 2.6 and GW.... tho I could be wrong. Now if there was a mod to automatically switch the crew around when their shifts were up, I'd go for that. I hate babysitting the crew, they're old enough to know when it's nap time. ;)

I'm in May of '43 now with my career and don't want to take any chances and lose this one like I have the previous 4, just when thing were getting interesting. It seemed I'd screw up with something and lose everything I'd have, so I'm just want to playing safe for now. ;) Once this career is over I'll go to 2.6.1.124 and this mod to have multipule installs.
I was using v2.6 , and upgraded to v2.6.1 , and I still have no fatigue , and have same crew members I started with , besides those lost at sea. As far as I can see, each SH3 Cmdr upgrade doen't remove features , just adds more.

RELEASE NOTES
2.6.1
- Read-only attribute now automatically removed from any file that SH3 Commander modifies
- Number of days spent in base can now be between 0 and 2075 (ie the length of the war in Europe)
- Title bar now displays the full path to the SH3 installation (for easier recognition)
- Double clicking the "Existing careers..." entry no longer collapses the careers list
- Now supports save folder names other than the default "SH3" (the save folder name can be changed via TheRealPotoroo's MultiSH3)
- Clicking the "Existing careers..." entry now displays the full path to the SH3 save folder (for easier recognition)
- Now excludes "before patrol 1" careers from the careers list (such careers don't actually exist)
- Now checks if SH3 is running and advises user to exit SH3 first

2.6.0
- Added ability to change crew officer faces (includes automatic 3D head and hat wearing alignment)
- Crew transfer message now includes crewman's main qualification
- Added new "Static settings" feature
- Changes to "Randomised events.cfg" file - refer to instructions in header of file
- Added ability to recognise when docked at a milk cow or other friendly base and automatically adjust the number of days spent in base to 1 (plus any extra days required to repair damage)
- Improved backup mechanism for scene.dat and Basic.cfg files
- Improved copy mechanism for unique crew configurations
- Randomising new crew names now includes number of patrols, certain medals and experience (ie you're no longer limited to a purely "green" crew everytime you start a new career)
- US rank labels are now the same as stock SH3. SH3 Commander does not support rank "bumping", that is, changing your starting rank to anything higher than the SH3 default
- Crew Manager now warns where crewmen have been awarded the U-boat War badge prior to 13 October 1939
- Crew Manager now warns where crewmen have been awarded the Wound Badge but not the U-boat War badge
- Now looks for and runs SH3Weather if it exists just prior to launching SH3 (when in base during or at the start of a career)
- Added new fatigue model - Grey Wolves 24 Hour
- Added ability to randomise main screen banner - refer to "!!BANNER INSTRUCTIONS!!.txt" under the Banners folder
- Minor adjustments to main interface
- Minor adjustments to all Cfg files

[GT182]

Ok Capt, maybe I'll give it a go once I'm back in port. Gotta attack that westbound convoy first. Seeing it's running at 12 kts, there might be something special to sink. :D

Thanks for the info, it's appreciated.

[kapitanfred]

Ok Capt, maybe I'll give it a go once I'm back in port. Gotta attack that westbound convoy first. Seeing it's running at 12 kts, there might be something special to sink. :D

Thanks for the info, it's appreciated.

Yeh!! and v2.6 onwards has some great surprises in it also :up:

[kylania]

MultiSH3 totally rocks. :)

[supposedtobeworking]

quick question -- just dl multish3 and sh3cmdr 2.6.1 -- is this the one i need because the multish3 readme says i need 2.6.1.124?? thx

[Potoroo]

quick question -- just dl multish3 and sh3cmdr 2.6.1 -- is this the one i need because the multish3 readme says i need 2.6.1.124?? thx
The SH3 Commander 2.6.1 maintenance release is 2.6.1.126.

I'm pleased to announce that MultiSH3 is now available for download from http://www.subsim.com/subsim_files/patches2005.html. Jaesen told me he intended to include MultiSH3 in the SH3 Commander full download, but if you only download the 2.6.1 update then you need to download MultiSH3 separately.

I would also like to thank everybody for their kind words. I hope you are finding it useful. Any and all feedback from users would be appreciated.

[SquareSteelBar]

Hi potoroo,

I just noticed that 'FileManager.dll' gets corrupted when accidently pressing the 'Save' button while the text bar is empty. After that SH3 and MissionEditor don't launch no more. So it should be recommended to backup 'FileManager.dll' before using 'MultiSH3'.

Is it possible to fix this little issue?

Great tool, though:up:
Many THX,

SSB

[Potoroo]

I just noticed that 'FileManager.dll' gets corrupted when accidently pressing the 'Save' button while the text bar is empty. After that SH3 and MissionEditor don't launch no more.
Between 5 beta testers and myself we missed that.:damn::oops: You'd think it hard to get something wrong in a program as simple as this one. Maybe I should code for Microsoft.

I've fixed it in v1.0.1. At the time of posting I've sent the new version to both SubSim and UBRS but the respective admins haven't had time to put it up yet.

So it should be recommended to backup 'FileManager.dll' before using 'MultiSH3'.
Back it up? Just replace the corrupted copy with the original in the stock 1.4b installation. ;)

You're right, of course. I've added a warning in the ReadMe. As a side note, in the worst-case scenario you can use WinZip to recover FileManager.dll from the Data1.cab file on your DVD, as it's never been patched by Ubisoft.

I'll consider adding an auto-backup for a later version but with this fix I don't consider it urgent.

Thanks for alerting me to this.

[SquareSteelBar]

Thanks for reply, mate.:up:
SSB

[SquareSteelBar]

Hi mates,

could someone upload this update 1.01 to rapidsh.. or similar because subsim didn't update yet and I've no access to u-boot.realsimulation.com?

Greetz,
SSB

[Potoroo]

could someone upload this update 1.01 to rapidshSee your PM.
or similar because subsim didn't update yet
That's disappointing. I sent the update to Nick four days ago.
and I've no access to u-boot.realsimulation.com?
Why is that? You don't need to be registered anymore to download from UBRS.

[SquareSteelBar]

Why is that? You don't need to be registered anymore to download from UBRS.
Since terrapin's site was hacked I'm not able to get to UBRS no more. But some days
ago I got access for some hours and it worked without any problems. After these few hours it's impossible again. Don't know what's goin' on there. http://www.forosdelweb.com/images/smilies/chillando.gif

Greetings,
SSB

[terrapin]

Why is that? You don't need to be registered anymore to download from UBRS.
Since terrapin's site was hacked I'm not able to get to UBRS no more. But some days
ago I got access for some hours and it worked without any problems. After these few hours it's impossible again. Don't know what's goin' on there. http://www.forosdelweb.com/images/smilies/chillando.gif

Greetings,
SSB

Nothing has changed here. I really cannot know what's goin' on there - at your end of the cable...;)

[SquareSteelBar]

...I really cannot know what's goin' on there - at your end of the cable...;)
Me, too - very mysterious...;)

SSB

[Potoroo]

Why is that? You don't need to be registered anymore to download from UBRS.
Since terrapin's site was hacked I'm not able to get to UBRS no more. But some days
ago I got access for some hours and it worked without any problems. After these few hours it's impossible again. Don't know what's goin' on there. http://www.forosdelweb.com/images/smilies/chillando.gif
Can you do a traceroute to UBRS?

[SquareSteelBar]

Can you do a traceroute to UBRS? Could you tell me what this is and how do it?

BTW: Upload to UBRS works without any probs.

SSB

[terrapin]

Can you do a traceroute to UBRS? Could you tell me what this is and how do it?

BTW: Upload to UBRS works without any probs.

SSB


UBRS has various servers - check wikipedia.org for traceroute...I really recommend to check this, too.

[SquareSteelBar]

Thanks, mate - I'll do that...
__________________________

Did it already [I hope I got it right]:

- got many IPs for 'U-Boot.RealSimulation.com' and 'mpgtext.net' by tracerouting
- tried every IP
- result: no one works for me -> no access ["timeout - server doesn't answer"]

It's an enigma...http://pro.imagehost.biz/ims/pictes/209192.gif

[SquareSteelBar]

Hi terrapin,

yesterday I tried the link that you posted 2 days ago in the 'new OFF face skin' thread.
What happened? I got access to that page!!! DL was impossible, though.

Today I tried that link again. Guess what happened?
Nothing - no access anymore.
Do you know the meaning of that?

I think someone is fooling me.

So long,
SSB

[Potoroo]

Thanks, mate - I'll do that...
__________________________

Did it already [I hope I got it right]:

- got many IPs for 'U-Boot.RealSimulation.com' and 'mpgtext.net' by tracerouting
- tried every IP
- result: no one works for me -> no access ["timeout - server doesn't answer"]

It's an enigma...http://pro.imagehost.biz/ims/pictes/209192.gif
Can you traceroute to either 80.67.16.8 or 72.9.244.130? They are the host servers. They use aliasing to redirect the domain names to the respective servers so using http with those addresses won't resolve, but it's an important test. If you can traceroute to them then you have net connectivity to the servers and the problem lies higher in the protocol stack. If you can't the you have a more fundamental network problem. In fact, if you can't, please send me a copy of the traceroute via PM.

[terrapin]

Hi terrapin,

yesterday I tried the link that you posted 2 days ago in the 'new OFF face skin' thread.
What happened? I got access to that page!!! DL was impossible, though.

Today I tried that link again. Guess what happened?
Nothing - no access anymore. Only this message:
"Connection failed: Access denied for user: (Using password: YES)"
Do you know the meaning of that?

I think someone is fooling me.

So long,
SSB

No - the error message quoted above came from a severe database error lasting today for about 18 hrs...:cry: ...but now all is fine again from my POV

Could you please remove the 'db' part of your original post ASAP ? It *could* be of use for the 'dark side'...thx!

[SquareSteelBar]

Could you please remove the 'db' part of your original post ASAP ? It *could* be of use for the 'dark side'...thx! Done.:up:

[Potoroo]

I've had a look at SSB's traceroutes and, whilst he can get to www.u-boot.realsimulation.com (http://www.u-boot.realsimulation.com), it's definitely breaking down between gnax.net and planet.dnsprotect.com (which hosts mpgtext.net). What's odd is that my traceroutes also go through gnax.net to mpgtext.net. I'm at a loss to explain it.

My traceroute:

Trace www.mpgtext.net (http://www.mpgtext.net) (72.9.244.130) ...
1 203.55.229.88 96ms 93ms 90ms TTL: 0 (nexthop.vic.ii.net ok)
2 203.55.229.188 94ms 89ms 88ms TTL: 0 (vl17.mel-pipe-bdr1.ii.net probable bogus rDNS: No DNS)
3 203.215.0.245 111ms 103ms 105ms TTL: 0 (gi2-17.syd-pipe-bdr1.ii.net probable bogus rDNS: No DNS)
4 203.192.167.65 107ms 103ms 102ms TTL: 0 (Gi11-1.gw2.syd1.asianetcom.net probable bogus rDNS: No DNS)
5 202.147.50.130 261ms 257ms 256ms TTL: 0 (po0-0.gw2.sjc1.asianetcom.net probable bogus rDNS: No DNS)
6 63.218.7.93 318ms 270ms 270ms TTL: 0 (ge6-12.br01.sjo01.pccwbtn.net probable bogus rDNS: No DNS)
7 63.216.31.158 323ms 324ms 323ms TTL: 0 (gnax.ge2-3.br01.atl01.pccwbtn.net probable bogus rDNS: No DNS)
8 209.51.149.109 377ms 324ms 323ms TTL: 0 (No rDNS)
9 209.51.131.62 328ms 324ms 323ms TTL: 0 (l3-atl-7.gnax.net ok)
10 72.9.244.130 326ms 324ms 327ms TTL: 46 (planet.dnsprotect.com ok)

SSB's traceroute:

Tracing the route to planet.dnsprotect.com (72.9.244.130)

1 cr02.frf02.pccwbtn.net (80.81.192.50) 72 msec 4 msec 8 msec
2 gnax.ge2-3.br01.atl01.pccwbtn.net (63.216.31.158) [AS 3491] 288 msec 136 msec 240 msec
3 209.51.149.109 [AS 3595] 308 msec 108 msec 108 msec
4 l3-atl-7.gnax.net (209.51.131.62) [AS 3595] 104 msec 104 msec 104 msec
5 * * *
6 * * *

[SquareSteelBar]

So now you're at your wits' end, too?:hmm:
Thanks mate, though.

That's the state now:

- I'm unable to get to UBRS home page
- with terrapin's link mentioned above I'm able to get directly to the SH3 download center
- but the most download links don't work for me, though, some few do.

SSB http://img116.exs.cx/img116/934/z0tdntknw.gif

[SquareSteelBar]

Hey terrapin,

what's goin' on? Suddenly it works, got access to home page. Nothing changed on my side. Maybe a miracle...:o

SSB

[terrapin]

Hey terrapin,

what's goin' on? Suddenly it works, got access to home page. Nothing changed on my side. Maybe a miracle...:o

SSB

Nothing changed with the server config/routing since Sept. 23rd...

Do you have good connections to the pope's chief? :D :up:

[SquareSteelBar]

Do you have good connections to the pope's chief? :D :up: It's worse than to UBRS...http://users.pandora.be/eforum/emoticons4u/happy/046.gif

[terrapin]

Do you have good connections to the pope's chief? :D :up: It's worse than to UBRS...http://users.pandora.be/eforum/emoticons4u/happy/046.gif
:rotfl::rotfl:

[Potoroo]

could someone upload this update 1.01 to rapidsh.. or similar because subsim didn't update yet and I've no access to u-boot.realsimulation.com?
I've just been informed SubSim has uploaded MultiSH3 1.0.1, and Martin updated the UBRS copy a while back, so everything should be sweet now.

[SquareSteelBar]

...so everything should be sweet now. Yes, it is - hope it remains

Thanks for help,:rock:
SSB

[Potoroo]

I've been requested to expand MultiSH3 to try to make the process of creating multiple installations of SH3 easier for less experienced users.

What I could do fairly quickly (real life permitting) is write a V2 to cover the following areas:

1. Modify the SH3 save folder as V1 does now;
2. Do the actual file copying;
3. Provide a wizard to guide users through steps 2 and 1.

Going further, such as trying to help users install or configure SH3 Commander especially, would be more problematic although I'm prepared to entertain suggestions.

I would welcome thoughts or discussion on a MultiSH3 V2 in this thread.

[Zinmar]

What is the best way to put multiple copies of SH3 on my system? Just install it and than rename it, than have it install again? Or install it, patch it to 1.4 than make a new folder and paste it in?

[Potoroo]

What is the best way to put multiple copies of SH3 on my system?
Follow the instructions in the Readme.

[JScones]

I think there is merit in pursuing this idea. Perhaps a simple wizard or structured sequence of steps would be a good way to go? Something like (thinking on the fly here)...

Step 1 - user selects "source" SH3 folder. Ideally this would be the nice clean and patched "base" install of SH3, but I suppose it doesn't really matter. The player may want to "clone" another installation for some reason.

Step 2 - user enters the destination location and folder name.

Step 3 - user enters savegame folder name (maybe MultiSH3 can derive a "default" set of characters from the name entered at step #2 - user can always overtype).

Step 4 - user selects options like whether they want a new SH3 icon placed on the desktop pointing to the new installation.*

Step 5 - MultiSH3 copies the source to the destination.

Step 6 - MultiSH3 creates desktop icons as requested at step #4.

*MultiSH3 could also attempt to connect SH3Cmdr, but this may be dangerous, or may become quite convoluted. For example, the user may select their NYGM copy of SH3Cmdr to connect to their GWX SH3. Or they may want to "clone" their SH3Cmdr as well - so does MultiSH3 facilitate that? It could do it easy enough - ie user selects an option confirming that they want to clone SH3Cmdr, user then enters location of source SH3Cmdr, MultiSH3 then copies to a destination using "tag" already provided at step 3 and creates a new desktop icon pointing new SH3Cmdr to new SH3 installation. But do you want to get this detailed or specific?

EDIT: Of course, underpinning the above would be some kind of menu asking the user if they want to copy SH3 or just change the save game folder.

[Jimbuna]

I'd certainly like to see everything mentioned in your post embodied into the program JSc :yep: :up: