The problem with NWN2 PW worlds is , that the players have to download parts of the module before they login into the PW world..
And if the Builders of the PW server change or add an area inside of the module , must they update there local data as well.
In some cases means this , that the players have to update there local files each day.
This program should close the gap and gives the players and server admins a easy free solution for this problem.
The concept of this program is a download in two steps.
You download first only a small Ini-file, with a list of all necessary files.
This List includes a MD5 checksum + the Download URL for the file.
The program will now check with the MD5 checksum all local files.
So it can notice outdated and missing files.
After this can the program download the missing files with an mouse click.
This works for the module files as well as Hak files or other changes inside of the NWN2 folders.
This Package includes several files.
----- for the players ----
A GUI Program so you can start the download easy. (NWN2_Audolo.exe)
----- for the server admins ---
A DOS Program, so you can generate the necessary INI file. (CreateNWN2_DM_MD5.exe)
This should be added to a DOS Batch system , so you do all the necessary steps at once.
I have added a example Batch that runs on my server , so you only need to adjust it to your local server.
----
I have setup a working system on the server of our PW , so you can test it and see all the things in action.
((My test module isn�t very good yet. This is mainly to demonstrate the technique.))
Pro:
* You don�t need to release your module all few days. Just work on your module
your players always get the latest version.
* They player can�t miss an update. They can�t install the files to a wrong
folder.
* The players will just download the missing files! This will be a big plus,
when the PW modules reach a size of 100+ Mbytes.
* The program is supporting the 7z Format and can decompress this files during
the download. ( The 7z Format is smaller than the rar format !)
Con:
You need some web space for the files somewhere. This must be a place with an
fix URL. This can be a FTP or a normal Web server.
Installing the Download Program on a Game PC:
Unzip it and place the files in your Main directory of NWN2
You need to start the program : NWN2_Audolo.exe
Select the test address from the combo box and press the first Button.
I hope you will see the rest on your own
This is a C# 2.0 program , so you need the .Net Framework from Microsoft.
You already own this version, if you use the toolset.
-----------------------------------
Update: 18 Nov 2006
Version 1.1
bug fix:
* Some dialogs run now in a Background thread, so the GUI don't freeze any longer
Improvement:
* New Warning Message Boxes, if the Program runs in a wrong folder or if the use starts the program direct from the RAR file.
* New Dialog for Server Admins to provide an easier way to create your own INI File.
* Progress Bar during download.
-----------------------------------
Update: 2 Feb 2007
Version 1.2
bug fix:
* Fixed a small problems with Space characters inside of the file name.
* added a link to this page to the About dialog.
-----------------------------------
Update: 2 April 2007
Version 1.3
* some UI changes
* new description in INI URL Field possible
* All URL that I collected on the forum are now in the INI file
* NWN2_Audolo is now free software and the source code is downloadable as well. (--> GNU General Public License)
Please publish your changed Source Code as well! (This is part of the GPL)
I plan to merge all changes to this version, so we don't end with a lot different versions.
-----------------------------------
Update: 20 May 2007
Version 1.3.1
* I added the INI-URL of my our own PW Server to the tool. We start a Public Beta today. *Yeah*
-----------------------------------
Update: 7 June 2007
Version 1.3.2
* new entry in INI file
-----------------------------------
Update: 10 July 2007
Version 1.3.3
* change in INI file
-----------------------------------
Update: 27 August 2007
Version 1.3.4
* new entry in INI file
-----------------------------------
Update: 02 December 2007
Version 1.3.5
* new entry in INI file
* new Deploy batch example for server admins. ( Subversion support / easier for Subdirectories )
-----------------------------------
Update: 15 December 2007
Version 1.3.6
i love the program but i am having a problem with the KoW PW its puting the .tlk files in the nwn2 folder insted of the nwn2/tkl folder (i just move the files but still) 10.00
Posted by TheStoryteller01 at on07/29/08
forgot to vote ^^ _________________________ In case you find my grammar/spelling weird sometimes -----> native german speaker ;-)
Posted by TheStoryteller01 at on07/29/08
After coming back to NWN2 after quite some time and having a new PC I probably wouldnt visit my old PWs without this tool - thanks! :) _________________________ In case you find my grammar/spelling weird sometimes -----> native german speaker ;-)
Posted by notsiggy at on04/20/08
Excellent! We're a big fan of Audolo on Dor Maeglin. It wouldn't be possible without it.
Posted by SnakeZ at on04/02/08
brilliant
Posted by Xaltos at 2007-12-1502:29:32
Just added a new world to the INI file. ( Welcome PW Dor Maeglin :o) )
Posted by Sherincal420 at on09/12/07
@ Xaltos Thank you sooo much for responding. I will definitely let our developers know there are alternatives. However, if someone was to create a utility that sweeps through each players folders, why not just make it a manditory download, just like how every PW is already using Audolo and Worldgate. Its not horrific that someone would have to re-install each PWs files prior to start up, remember, the utility looks only for missing files. The only files they would need to re-download are the overrides and haks. _________________________ The darkness and howling wind before you is frightening. Dare ye continue into the darkness?.... Adventure Begins... The Forgotten Realm: The Island of Elben Aator A NWN2 Persistent World
Posted by Xaltos at 2007-09-1500:55:09
I just found a weakness of Audolo and want to inform you about it. The used MD5 checksum logic run into problems with very big files. The border is around 1GB and I assume that user with less RAM maybe get a problem earlier. So if you use HAK files for your PW world, don't let them grow so much. The limitation is just for a single file, so you can split the HAK file into several pieces and don't need to remove context for this problem. xaltos
Posted by Xaltos at 2007-09-1406:13:59
@ jaz Adding some files to the override folder isn't a bad thing in general. Audolo is just spreading the files that the builder of a PW world need on the local PC. You only get some problem, if a player plays on several servers and Server A need some files inside of the override folder and server B crashes with this files. I have already noticed the problems from Sherincal420 (= Link ) I play on this world myself from time to time till Soul Forge gets online. The problem here is: there is no easy solution. So if you delete the files, the player can't continue on Server A and B runs more stable. If you don't remove the files, is Server A working and B has a problem. A possible way would be maybe some kind of warning that can be switched on and off with the ini-file and a kind of file management for the files in the overwrite folder. So the player can easy switch between server A and B. This all isn't so hard to write, I have here more a time problem.
Posted by jaz at 2007-09-1405:24:19
Hi. I have just learned that Audolo can be used to place files in the override folder (which is a bad thing). Is it possible to restrict Audolo to only allow trx/pwc files?
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