Rfb - Stop Watch And Tool Set For The Blind!

[I'm goin' down]

I just posted this comment in the RFB thread in the SH4 mods work shop. I couldn't take it anymore.

"WHY CAN'T YOU BRILLIANT MODDERS MAKE A RFB WITH A BUILT IN SMALLER HAMILTION STOP WATCH AND SMALLER TOOLS? For these excellent programs to have a GIAGANTIC TOOL SET AND STOP WATCH on the MAP SCREEN reflect, in my opinion, an inability of some of the programs' decision makers to see the forest for the trees, as the GIAGANTIC TOOL SET AND STOP WATCH ARE EVER PRESNT ON THE MAP SCREEN. I know that someone of you probably likes the GIGANTIC TOOL SET AND STOP WATCH, but I DO NOT. I humbly remind you of the words from the enlightened philosper Groucho Marx, who said, after a man told him he was happily married and that his wife had bourne him eight children, "I like my wife, too, but I take my cigar out of my mouth once in awhile." "

(Whew, I feel better now.)

Let's take care of business.

William S. Miller
(to hell with anonimity)

[AVGWarhawk]

Sorry man, I spend all day squinting at things. If I do not have to squint at a stop watch and some tools, life is all that much better. We do have a few with failing eyesight using RFB. I like to think we are looking after these folks as well. Besides, on a 22 in monitor, they do not look big at all BTW, there is a mod somewhere around here for smaller watch and tools. I suspect it will work just fine with RFB.

[tater]

Have you considered finding the mods that do what you want, then adding them as a mod to RFB?

Anyone can mod. The catylist is having something you want to change. You clearly have that. The tools are all here, and I'm SURE someone can help you (like if it needs menu.ini merging).

[peabody]

Originally Posted by I'm goin' down

I just posted this comment in the RFB thread in the SH4 mods work shop. I couldn't take it anymore.

"WHY CAN'T YOU BRILLIANT MODDERS MAKE A RFB WITH A BUILT IN SMALLER HAMILTION STOP WATCH AND SMALLER TOOLS? For these excellent programs to have a GIAGANTIC TOOL SET AND STOP WATCH on the MAP SCREEN reflect, in my opinion, an inability of some of the programs' decision makers to see the forest for the trees, as the GIAGANTIC TOOL SET AND STOP WATCH ARE EVER PRESNT ON THE MAP SCREEN. I know that someone of you probably likes the GIGANTIC TOOL SET AND STOP WATCH, but I DO NOT. I humbly remind you of the words from the enlightened philosper Groucho Marx, who said, after a man told him he was happily married and that his wife had bourne him eight children, "I like my wife, too, but I take my cigar out of my mouth once in awhile." "

(Whew, I feel better now.)

Let's take care of business.

William S. Miller
(to hell with anonimity)

I made some once but they were so small I lost them.
Peabody

[I'm goin' down]

Even though this is a game, and a great game at that, here is a quick response.

If you cannot see a a reduced-in- size stop watch (about 50% -66% of its current size), then you should consider and appointment with your optometrist. Seriously, it may be time to look into glasses if you do not have them or bi-focals if you are wearing glasses.

I do not want to fiddle with the ini file. I have tried JTex and had it working for awhile. It is too much of a pain for me to figure it out. My tech skills are limited. My response is fairly simple. Make smaller map tools and a stop watch standard issue, and if anyone wants bigger ones, they can certainly mod them into the game. It is set up ass backwards the way it is now in my opinion.

[peabody]

Originally Posted by I'm goin' down

Even though this is a game, and a great game at that, here is a quick response.

If you cannot see a a reduced-in- size stop watch (about 50% -66% of its current size), then you should consider and appointment with your optometrist. Seriously, it may be time to look into glasses if you do not have them or bi-focals if you are wearing glasses.

I do have bifocals, but I took them off and now I can't see to find them and put them back on. Ok, not funny. Seriously glasses are not right for the computer. The distance part is too far and the bifocal part is too close. You can get special prescriptions for "computer screen distance" but then you can't read close up.

My response is fairly simple. Make smaller map tools and a stop watch standard issue, and if anyone wants bigger ones, they can certainly mod them into the game.

OK, I am just joking around but seriously you should rethink that comment. "If anyone wants bigger ones, they can certainly mod them into the game" ???? Why should they be able to? Following that logic, then YOU should be able to.

There was a mod available for the smaller watch and I agree it is too big, but I don't know if the mod is still available or not. As for the tools, there may be one but I haven't seen it. There was a turorial on editing the menu1024_768.ini and it actually used those tools as an example of placement. Check it out, it may not be too hard to do. I don't know I never tried it.

Peabody

[I'm goin' down]

I am not an optomestrist or even a doctor, so I can't say that bifocals are the soluction for everyone. But I am in a profession where I had and have to read small print daily for years. I just assumed that most of the people playing this game are under 50, and would prefer small tools, etc. If I am in the minority, then I may have to figure out the ini conflict stuff, which I do not want to do. Let's see how many captains weigh in on this and what they say. In any event, the tools and stop watch are beyond the pale in terms of size and they should be modified, even if not to degree I suggested.

[magic452]

I'm goin' down What kind of monitor do you have and what resolution are you running?

I had a 16" flat screen and had very big tools and I changed the resolution and got smaller tools. Have you tried anything like this? Just a though.
If you are getting the JUMBO tools I was I can sure see your point.
I got a 24" now and they are just about right, big enough to click on easily but small enough to not be in the way.

By the way did you ever get a date for the sister in your Sig. The one on the right?
(been reading your post)

Good hunting magic452.

[ancient46]

Edit the sizing parameters in the ini file to make the clock smaller on screen. This includes the outer shape, the dials, the 5 hands, and the stopwatch hands. Start the game and look at the watch. Figure out what changes need to be made in the shape. Trial and error the shape until it looks right. But now the hands look odd in the smaller shape and the dial looks fuzzy. Resize the clock.dds to sharpen the image. Edit all the hands in the dds file to look right in the game. Trial and error it until it looks right. The clock has 19 different entries to change and all the tools have similar sections. It may appear to be a simple thing to provide but in reality it is not. There is no setting that says Set Clock to = xx%

You will need to study the tutorial on the ini file to find out what numbers apply to size of the objects and the position of the object. You will need to understand how to crop the dds file to display only the object you want from the file. You will need to understand how to edit a dds file and how to use an alpha channel.

Most mods come about by people wanting to fix something or just to add their brand of fun to the game. To get someone to do what it takes means you find someone who is interested in what you want and has the time and inclination to do it. Your best option to fix something most people don't think needs fixing is to learn how to do it yourself. That way you have exactly what you want.

[I'm goin' down]

I appreciate everything you said. I used to tune up my car. But I stopped there and did not want to learn how to change valves, fix the transmission, clutch, etc. I am not interested enough to spend the hours/days it will take to get the stop watch, etc. the way I would prefer. I would just as soon play without my glasses on. I will leave it to those with more interest. But I started this thread because what is on my screen sucks, and I wanted to call my opinion to the SH4 modders. My screen by the way is 13 or 14 inches wide and 10.5 inches high.

[I'm goin' down]

I have modified my post in some material respects.

Well, I solved my problem for now.

I looked up a post from Jamminadrid in one of my very early threads. He provides a link to FileFront (FileFont??) where you can download a "Mini_ChronoTools.ini" file, insert it into the .ini folder in SH4 v.1.5, and you will end up with a mini chrono and mini tools. You activate it using JTex.

To those critical of my initial post, try jamminadrid's mod and you might agree that the mini tools and chrono are not reduced in size to the point where they become useless. The dimensions of my compurter screen are 13" - 14" x 10.5".

Here is what I did. I downloaded jamminadrid's file from FileFront to my my Mods folder. The file is called "Mini_ChronoTools.ini." I transferred it to the .ini folder in the main SH4 file and activated it via JTEX.

Here is what you can do. I have two option you can choose from. Personally, I would follow option no. 2, as I am not a pro, but jamminadrid is.

(1) Paste the data below to Notepad. Save it to the mods folder. Label the saved Nofepad file "Mini_ChronTool.ini" which is the name jamminadrid gives it. Copy or move this file to your .ini folder in the main SH4. Activate via JTex. Jamminadrid's instructions say his mod works with with version 1.5. It is also working with my RFB/RSRDC mods, which I just updated this week.

Note, I am NOT a modder, so I guarantee nothing....NADA.

(2) Alternatively, if you prefer, you can look up my thread and find jamminadrid's post, follow his link to FileFront and download the file. Here is the link: mini chronometer problem/general question ( 1 2) posted by I'm goin' down. The link sends you to the last post in the thread which was on 11-24-2008 01:21 AM by jimimadrid 24669SH4 Fleet Boat Mods Workshop. He posted a couple of messages in the thread, so scroll up until you find the one that discusses his mod.


Below is the information I copied from the "Mini_ChronoTools.ini." that I downloaded and copied for you to see. It was derived (i.e. copied and pasted) from jamminadrid's post containing his link to FileFront.

As ancient46 pointed out, to modify the chrono and navagiation tools is not a simple job. I looks like it is a major undertaking.

Targetfile=Data\Menu\menu_1024_768.ini
[G29 I2]
Pos=412,0,312,300
[G29 I3]
Zone= 566 596 3 3 0 1 0x2902000C 0.5 -0.5 0x29020006 -0.5 0.5 0 0
[G29 I4]
Zone= 562 686 9 138 0 1 0x2902000C 0.5 -0.5 0x2902000E -0.5 0.5 0 0
[G29 I5]
Zone= 564 674 6 39 0 1 0x2902000C 0.5 -0.09 0x2902000F -0.5 0 0 0
[G29 I6]
Zone= 562 686 9 138 0 1 0x2902000C 0.5 -0.5 0x29020010 -0.5 0.5 0 0
[G29 I7]
Zone= 557 681 16.5 130.5 0 1 0x2902000C 0.5 -0.5 0x29020008 -0.5 0.5 0 0
[G29 I8]
Zone= 560 692 12 147 0 1 0x2902000C 0.5 -0.5 0x29020009 -0.5 0.5 0 0
[G29 I9]
Zone= 563 567 6 45 0 1 0x2902000C 0.5 -1 0x29020011 -0.5 1 -1 11
[G29 I10]
Zone= 564 567 7.5 46.5 0 1 0x29020007 0.5 -0.5 0x29020002 -0.5 0.5 0 -7
[G29 I11]
Zone= 565 583 6 60 0 1 0x29020007 0.5 -0.5 0x29020003 -0.5 0.5 0 0
[G29 I12]
Zone= 564 573 7.5 45 0 1 0x29020007 0.5 -0.5 0x29020004 -0.5 0.5 0 0
[G29 I13]
Zone= 564 674 6 39 0 1 0x2902000F 0.5 -0.5 0x29020005 -0.5 0.5 0 0
[G29 I14]
Zone= 529 583 60 60 0 1 0x2902000C 0.5 -0.965 0x29020007 -0.5 1 1 0
[G29 I15]
Zone= 558 720 15 14 0 1 0x29020000 0.5 -0.16 0x2902000D -0.5 0 0 0
[G29 I16]
Zone= 470 692 147 147 0 1 0x29020001 0.5 -0.505 0x2902000C -0.5 0.5 0 0
[G29 I17]
Zone= 450 702 177 176 0 1 0x29020001 0.5 -1 0x2902000B -0.5 1 0 0
[G29 I18]
Zone= 450 722 177 191 0 1 0x29020000 0.5 -1 0x29020001 -0.5 1 0 0
[G29 I19]
Zone= 544 758 36 27 0 1 0x29020001 0.5 0 0x2902000A -0.5 1 0 0
[G31 I47]
Name=Tool Helper
Zone= 20 506 112 56 0 1 0x31010001 0.1 -0.1 0x3101000A 0.5 1 0 0
Display=2;Linear
Crop 0=0.673828,0.859375,0.15625,0.078125
Crop 1=0.673828,0.774414,0.15625,0.078125
Crop 2=0.673828,0.859375,0.15625,0.078125
Crop 3=0.673828,0.774414,0.15625,0.078125
Crop 4=0.835938,0.859375,0.15625,0.078125
Crop 5=0.835938,0.774414,0.15625,0.078125
Crop 6=0.673828,0.859375,0.15625,0.078125
Crop 7=0.673828,0.774414,0.15625,0.078125
[G31 I49]
Name=Pen-Marker
Pos=140,-84,110,240
Zone= 140 236 77 168 0 1 0x31010000 0.3 -0.8 0x31010005 -0.6 0.9 6 0
Display=2;Linear
Crop 0=0.820313,0,0.107421875,0.234375
Crop 1=0.820313,0,0.107421875,0.234375
Crop 2=0.820313,0.432617,0.107421875,0.234375
Crop 3=0.820313,0,0.107421875,0.234375
[G31 I50]
Name=Compass
Zone= 110 230 45 105 0 1 0x31010000 0.3 -0.7 0x31010004 -1 1 0 0
Display=2;Linear
Crop 0=0.726563,0,0.087890625,0.205078125
Crop 1=0.726563,0,0.087890625,0.205078125
Crop 2=0.726563,0.432617,0.087890625,0.205078125
Crop 3=0.726563,0,0.087890625,0.205078125
[G31 I51]
Name=Zoom
Zone= -27 273 117 115 0 1 0x31010000 0.2 -0.8 0x31010003 -1 1.1 20 0
Display=2;Linear
Crop 0=0.475586,0,0.228515625,0.224609375
Crop 1=0.475586,0,0.228515625,0.224609375
Crop 2=0.475586,0.432617,0.228515625,0.224609375
Crop 3=0.475586,0,0.228515625,0.224609375
[G31 I52]
Name=Eraser
Zone= 8 340 28 50 0 1 0x31010000 0.08 -0.4 0x31010006 0.07 1.7 0 0
Display=2;Linear
Crop 0=0.9375,0,0.0546875,0.09765625
Crop 1=0.9375,0,0.0546875,0.09765625
Crop 2=0.9375,0.432617,0.0546875,0.09765625
Crop 3=0.9375,0,0.0546875,0.09765625
[G31 I53]
Name=Protractor
Zone= -88 218 132 132 0 1 0x31010000 0.3 -1 0x31010002 -0.4 0.9 0 0
Display=2;Linear
Crop 0=0.238281,0.0449219,0.21484375,0.21484375
Crop 1=0.238281,0.0449219,0.21484375,0.21484375
Crop 2=0.238281,0.477539,0.21484375,0.21484375
Crop 3=0.238281,0.0449219,0.21484375,0.21484375
[G31 I54]
Name=Ruler
Zone= -60 426 140 284.2 0 1 0x31010000 0 -1 0x31010001 -0.3 1 0 0
Display=2;Linear
Crop 0=0,0,0.1953125,0.396484375
Crop 1=0,0,0.1953125,0.396484375
Crop 2=0,0.432617,0.1953125,0.396484375
Crop 3=0,0,0.1953125,0.396484375