MTM2.com

Thanks for hanging in there Smurf, hehe, and thanks for the efforts to keep things rolling along in this old game. I've yet to try the new tool, and I may have some feedback a bit later but for now I'll say the feedback so far has been good, and if it seems too much you must know that since plenty of good mounters are already out there you will be expected to raise the standard when offering something new. I


> being able to move pods up and down the list would be a great feature

Indeed it would, theoretically speaking. And as for alphabetization (I must say the best thing about the mtm2 pod.ini is that the ini order is the in-game order, unlike 4x4evo1) and control over sorts, drives and folders and such - all of that is important, and as such I rarely use any mounter other than Notepad.

Phineus: "Winterkill may one day actually update his beta"

Hehe, <a href=http://mtm2.com/~forum/pages/Forum16/HTML/000016.html>IT</a> has been version 1.0 (fully distributable) since October 18, 2000. (sorry, it isn't much different than the beta as I recall)

Phineus said: "my drivercheckin is not widely used"
Fila with a sig thrice the size of his message asks: "What does the DriverCheckin do?"

It's a "replacement" pod that changes the driver check-in screens. See <a href=http://mtm2.com/~mtmg/utilities.html>here</a>

On a related note: <a href=http://mtm2.com/~forum/pages/Forum13/HTML/000098.html>How to place fixall.pod always on top</a>

[This message has been edited by Winterkill (edited 03-08-2002).]

I love the ability to move files up and down the list within the mounting program, and your's works well except when I open the mounter again after arranging things how I'd like it resets them all alphabetically again, the same goes when I press the "refresh list" button, the list of prefered order needs to stick.

perhaps a couple list options would be the way to go such as...
"list files alphabetically"
"list files by preference"

and although I do not have any pods in sub directories at this time, support for this is a definite plus, and will make life much easier for me in the future with so many tracks on my hd.

the only suggestions I can offer at this time is a little rewording on the gui ...

... and would it be possible to delete pod files from the mtm2 directory within this mounter? if so I'd love to see it as I do a lot of testing and many are not worth the hd space.

nice work so far man, thank you

[This message has been edited by Malibu350 (edited 30-06-2002).]

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Malibu350:
<B>I love the ability to move files up and down the list within the mounting program, and your's works well except when I open the mounter again after arranging things how I'd like it resets them all alphabetically again, the same goes when I press the "refresh list" button, the list of prefered order needs to stick.

perhaps a couple list options would be the way to go such as...
"list files alphabetically"
"list files by preference"

***** This Part will Take me a little while to figure the way i load them i use a hidden file box it automatically shows the files in Alphabetical order. i have to think on this one for a little while *****


and although I do not have any pods in sub directories at this time, support for this is a definite plus, and will make life much easier for me in the future with so many tracks on my hd.

**** the for the Sub directories you'll have to thank Phineus he was the one who told me about it. (ty Phineus) =) ******

the only suggestions I can offer at this time is a little rewording on the gui...
<IMG SRC="http://www.mtmc4fun.com/temp/smurf2.jpg" border=0>

**** the gui changes have been made (all but tatoo on the belly) thanks for the suggestions ******

... and would it be possible to delete pod files from the mtm2 directory within this mounter? if so I'd love to see it as I do a lot of testing and many are not worth the hd space.
***** I added a "delete selected file" option that was a good ideal as well. i hadnt thought of it either. after thinking about it for a while i came to the conculsion that the purpose of a pod mounting utility is to prevent having to goto the mtm2 folder as little as possible. *****

nice work so far man, thank you

***** no need to thank me. i would like to personally thank evryone who is offering all these great ideals. i just had one of my own =) and i will try to have it out on the next fix. *****

ps to PG, that other smurf proggy saved my butt today, absolutely one of the top 5 progs on me hd... thnx again.</B><HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

***** i am glad to see that the_smurf proggies are help. *****

here is the latest from the smurf:
http://smurfs_quest.tripod.com/The_Smurf's_Pod_Adv/
if ya have any more ideals feel free to drop them by. I am always open for suggestions.

<u>>>humour </u>

hehheh, that was a test eh?

razor sharp as usual I see

[This message has been edited by Malibu350 (edited 04-07-2002).]

>>the patch.

Bingo, we got it.

>>the inifinte loop is just reaaaaaal loooooonnnng

three clicks = infinite ;

LOL

>>i went ahead and added them

Welp, since I'm behind the times, better add "mtm2mtm2.pod" to the list (right to the top).

btw, wk, Jump by Monsta Driva has several shine throughs

>>moving the files Up and down the list

Excellent !

>>placing selected files at the top

Fantastic !

>>list of prefered order needs to stick.

Yep, that's a help

>>reworking the gui

Here's another suggestion

glossary: "refresh" would be your current update; "restore" would be to remount and reorder the stockers

Note. If stockers are missing, can we get a note (not a nag) about it somehow? This needs more thought because sometimes we don't want stockers (ie, rumbles). And, I don't think we need the prompt for updating/refreshing the list.

>>deleting files right there in the program

Wow wee !

----------

It's late here and I spent too long making that graphic, lol. I still got other work to do. But anyway, you've made excellent progress and we're an inch away from making this my new favorite pod mounting program. I think the ini file thing needs some explaining before I'm ready to take full advantage of that (or even to test it out). The help file needs work. And we need a concise name. SmurfMount or Smurfini would be just fine. Sorry, my friend, but I got just plain ol' smurf already and we should really avoid naming conflicts. Like Malibu350 says, we really didn't expect to see another program with the smurf name. Also, I didn't mean to be presumptious about suggesting an alternate interface, but, and you can ask a few of the others around here, but it's something I stew about all the time. I love the way you have the patch pics integrated with the program, but on regular use I don't always need to be staring at it. Like the mount count. Unless you're getting close or slightly over, the count isn't critical. For those it is important for, they could just open it up. (note, reg setting so the preference sticks on change).

Last thing, and I haven't tried it, will this preserve custom entries in the pod.ini file? I mean, suppose mtm is on c drive, but I make a d:\tracks folder and type in a path to that? Eg

d:\tracks\frottage.pod

Will smurf keep that valid even though it's not in the mtm folder or sub directory?

And that's it for tonight. I'll check back in sometime tomorrow afternoon.

Okay okay, one more. I just did a test. If a pod is listed in pod.ini but you delete it from the hdd. Great news, smurfie automatically adjusts. Good show all around. I'm very impressed with what you have so far.

>>hehheh, that was a test eh?

lol, eh?

Weee pretty nice. Works great now.


One more personal thing that i want to add (i think it's personal) i usually mount 2-3 tracks more (if i want to mount new ones) and then search and unmount 2-3 that i think i rarely played them (searching for them is very very rough) and that dang pop up just killed me to death. It kept appereaning everytime i was clicking on a file and while i was unmounting also it kept appereaing until i reached 99 pods.


I think perhaps this is a more personal move of mine and not alot of people use it but it's very annoying. However if there is not a way around it i don't find it a biggie.

------------------
The humans think it is a poison of the blood that makes us what we are.
Fools, the blood only feeds the bodies we live in. To create a vampire,
one must steal a soul from the abyss to reanimate the corpse.

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Phineus:
<B>>>the patch.

Bingo, we got it.

>>the inifinte loop is just reaaaaaal loooooonnnng

three clicks = infinite ;

LOL

>>i went ahead and added them

Welp, since I'm behind the times, better add "mtm2mtm2.pod" to the list (right to the top).

btw, wk, Jump by Monsta Driva has several shine throughs


>>moving the files Up and down the list

Excellent !

>>placing selected files at the top

Fantastic !

>>list of prefered order needs to stick.
***working on this part and i think i got it just gotta code it and test it****


Yep, that's a help

>>reworking the gui

Here's another suggestion

*****New Form Looks Kinda like this with a few more options *****


glossary: "refresh" would be your current update; "restore" would be to remount and reorder the stockers
***added the restore button **** just gotta code it******


Note. If stockers are missing, can we get a note (not a nag) about it somehow? This needs more thought because sometimes we don't want stockers (ie, rumbles). And, I don't think we need the prompt for updating/refreshing the list.

**** the message box has been removed ****

>>deleting files right there in the program

Wow wee !

----------

It's late here and I spent too long making that graphic, lol. I still got other work to do. But anyway, you've made excellent progress and we're an inch away from making this my new favorite pod mounting program. I think the ini file thing needs some explaining before I'm ready to take full advantage of that (or even to test it out). The help file needs work. And we need a concise name. SmurfMount or Smurfini would be just fine. Sorry, my friend, but I got just plain ol' smurf already and we should really avoid naming conflicts. Like Malibu350 says, we really didn't expect to see another program with the smurf name. Also, I didn't mean to be presumptious about suggesting an alternate interface, but, and you can ask a few of the others around here, but it's something I stew about all the time. I love the way you have the patch pics integrated with the program, but on regular use I don't always need to be staring at it. Like the mount count. Unless you're getting close or slightly over, the count isn't critical. For those it is important for, they could just open it up. (note, reg setting so the preference sticks on change).

Last thing, and I haven't tried it, will this preserve custom entries in the pod.ini file? I mean, suppose mtm is on c drive, but I make a d:\tracks folder and type in a path to that? Eg

d:\tracks\frottage.pod
**** it currently it doesn't support alternate locations ****

Will smurf keep that valid even though it's not in the mtm folder or sub directory?

And that's it for tonight. I'll check back in sometime tomorrow afternoon.

Okay okay, one more. I just did a test. If a pod is listed in pod.ini but you delete it from the hdd. Great news, smurfie automatically adjusts. Good show all around. I'm very impressed with what you have so far.
****************************************
I got several new things going for it and i hope to get them done pretty quick. my goal it to virtually eliminate the "having to open the MTM2 folder to do something" if all works well then this "could almost be the best tool yet" my main concern for the moment is making it do too much i'll let ya now as soon as i get these few new things i am working on done so evryone can see how bad they hate it lol...
</B><HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Fila:
<B>Weee pretty nice. Works great now.


One more personal thing that i want to add (i think it's personal) i usually mount 2-3 tracks more (if i want to mount new ones) and then search and unmount 2-3 that i think i rarely played them (searching for them is very very rough) and that dang pop up just killed me to death. It kept appereaning everytime i was clicking on a file and while i was unmounting also it kept appereaing until i reached 99 pods.

***** This has been Fixed the only time it alerts you now is when you try and pod the files, however i havent posted the updated version yet due to try to figure out a few thing i got them all figured out but one thing and i am on the edge of figuring it out so as soon as i get it i drop the link by *****
I think perhaps this is a more personal move of mine and not alot of people use it but it's very annoying. However if there is not a way around it i don't find it a biggie.

</B><HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

A note on prompting.

Anything that can adversely affect the game deserves a prompt. For example, if you unclick a stock pod, then you should be prompted the first time for each stock pod (Are you sure: yes, no?). But never after, unless you recheck then uncheck again. Unchecked stockers should still appear in their proper place in the list, and refreshing should not effect the selection. If a person tries to delete a stock pod, they should not be allowed (You cannot delete stock pods!). If somebody is bent on it, let them use explorer. We should not be party to unrecommended game file management. If a person has deleted a stocker, then it should still appear in the list, but unchecked and grayed out so the person knows what's missing and where they can look should they encounter problems. That would be excellent trouble shooting help.

Anything that effects preferences only should not get a prompt. For example, refreshing the list. However, if you were to include a 'recreate factory pod.ini' feature (which is occasionally handy, if that's not already in there), then a prompt might be okay because it would over-write previous configurations.

A note on too complex.

I think my suggested gui resulted from the clutter that sometimes happens as you add features bit by bit. I'm sure you have this under control now that you're gettig closer to being done. That said, there is nothing wrong with including all features on the menu, but only the more frequent ones having buttons. Another thing to think about is if you feel you're on the verge of including too much, there is no harm in creating a second app. One that specifically addresses pod mounting, and another that addresses the other things you want to do. There was a guy around here who was making a pod mounter that also extracted pod contents, turned on or off the torture pit track, messed with profiles, and on and on. Rather than make an easy-to-use pod mounter, he created an unweildy labyrinth that was anything but intuitive and it was buggy to boot. I am a fan of the mdmre school. Ten tasks get ten apps. When a euro decimal glitch turned up in my evo smurf thingie, I could have added the fix to the menu. I did not, since it was a rare issue. Instead, I just made a tiny app and included it in the zip. Anyway, you should get my idea by now.

Suggested stat: pods on disk. To incude near the Pods mounted, remaining limit spot.

BTW, what programing language are you using?

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Phineus:
<B>A note on prompting.

Anything that can adversely affect the game deserves a prompt. For example, if you unclick a stock pod, then you should be prompted the first time for each stock pod (Are you sure: yes, no?). But never after, unless you recheck then uncheck again. Unchecked stockers should still appear in their proper place in the list, and refreshing should not effect the selection. If a person tries to delete a stock pod, they should not be allowed (You cannot delete stock pods!). If somebody is bent on it, let them use explorer. We should not be party to unrecommended game file management. If a person has deleted a stocker, then it should still appear in the list, but unchecked and grayed out so the person knows what's missing and where they can look should they encounter problems. That would be excellent trouble shooting help.
**** delete prevention of stock pods can be easily done and i got it set so they cant be deleted from within the program. ****

Anything that effects preferences only should not get a prompt. For example, refreshing the list. However, if you were to include a 'recreate factory pod.ini' feature (which is occasionally handy, if that's not already in there), then a prompt might be okay because it would over-write previous configurations.

**** i fixed the prompt on the refresh list too that is one of the parts that i am working on(howto keep the list in the same order) ****

A note on too complex.

I think my suggested gui resulted from the clutter that sometimes happens as you add features bit by bit. I'm sure you have this under control now that you're gettig closer to being done. That said, there is nothing wrong with including all features on the menu, but only the more frequent ones having buttons. Another thing to think about is if you feel you're on the verge of including too much, there is no harm in creating a second app. One that specifically addresses pod mounting, and another that addresses the other things you want to do.

**** the kool thing is that all the added features have to do with the pods. I dont really think that is has too much it more the fact i dont think ppl will use alot of it. even though it will be there. ****

There was a guy around here who was making a pod mounter that also extracted pod contents, turned on or off the torture pit track, messed with profiles, and on and on. Rather than make an easy-to-use pod mounter, he created an unweildy labyrinth that was anything but intuitive and it was buggy to boot. I am a fan of the mdmre school. Ten tasks get ten apps. When a euro decimal glitch turned up in my evo smurf thingie, I could have added the fix to the menu. I did not, since it was a rare issue. Instead, I just made a tiny app and included it in the zip. Anyway, you should get my idea by now.

Suggested stat: pods on disk. To incude near the Pods mounted, remaining limit spot.
**** not clear on this part here please explain =) ****


BTW, what programing language are you using?
**** all this proggy comes from the heart of Visual Basic 6.0 =) what all programs were meant to be programmed in, but never were. lol****

*** i'm still having a little trouble with the last part but i figure if i study here long enough it will come to me. ***
</B><HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

>>i dont think ppl will use alot of it. even though it will be there.

Yes, but you offer choice. For those who do want the extras, they will be there. You can't use what doesn't exist. And for those who don't, you can console yourself with the fact that over 70% of most big programs never get used. But that a feature is available when we want it makes us happy. Please, fill 'er up with everything you want. If nothing else, you'll be pleased with the result.

>>Suggested stat: pods on disk.
>>** not clear on this part here please explain =)

You know how you have two stat boxes. One for the number of pod files that have a check mark, the other for how many more you can check off. Well, the extra one would just count how many pods you have on the hard drive. You mention you load the pods into a file list box. Just put the count in another stat box. Like so:

Pods Mounted [ 23 ]
Remaining limit [ 76 ]
Pods on disk [ 55 ] Includes mounted & unmounted

The only time it would change is if you delete, or quit the program, unzip more pods and reopen.

>>BTW, what programing language are you using?
>>** all this proggy comes from the heart of Visual Basic 6.0 =) what all programs were meant to be programmed in, but never were. lol

Ah, okay. I've encountered a couple obstacles in my programming endeavors. Maybe when you're done with this one, you might like to look at more challenges.

>>** i'm still having a little trouble with the last part but i figure if i study here long enough it will come to me.

Good show. Keep up the good work.

***** the select User preference (which is what has been about to drive me batty) is coming along smoothly i am having to go back and re-program the entire program for it but in the end i feel it will be worth it. after studing the responses on this form i notice that user control is a vital thing. by the time i get this thing finished users should have "just about" complete control over there pod files from within this one interface. i still got a bit of coding to do though to and having to make sure that it will all work to my expectations. *****

>>Suggested stat: pods on disk.
>>** not clear on this part here please explain =)

You know how you have two stat boxes. One for the number of pod files that have a check mark, the other for how many more you can check off. Well, the extra one would just count how many pods you have on the hard drive. You mention you load the pods into a file list box. Just put the count in another stat box. Like so:

Pods Mounted [ 23 ]
Remaining limit [ 76 ]
Pods on disk [ 55 ] Includes mounted & unmounted

The only time it would change is if you delete, or quit the program, unzip more pods and reopen.

**** aaaahhhhh i get it lol that is kinda one of those duuuh things. it should be easy to do for mtm2 and it subs. ****


>>BTW, what programing language are you using?
>>** all this proggy comes from the heart of Visual Basic 6.0 =) what all programs were meant to be programmed in, but never were. lol

Ah, okay. I've encountered a couple obstacles in my programming endeavors. Maybe when you're done with this one, you might like to look at more challenges.

**** I'm almost always up for a challenge ****
i'm still having a little trouble with the last part but i figure if i study here long enough it will come to me. ***** <<== Scratch this note just started figuring it out and thus far what i have done is working almost perfectly.==> *****

Good show. Keep up the good work.[/B][/QUOTE]

******************************************************************

Welp... i have got my master piece complete (except the restore button). it should take me around 45 minutes to get that finished then i'll run my own tests on it for a little while and then i will post the lastest link. it's kinda late / early i wasnt aware of the time until just a second ago it's amazing how time flies when your not paying attention. one thing that i have noticed it that on slower machines this new tool runs kinda slow =( of course the mini test i ran was on a Pentium 133 which is slow on my PIII 500 it works great, just have to see how it goes... well i'm off to bed for the night.

******************************************************************

[This message has been edited by The_smurf (edited 01-07-2002).]

There has been a lot to read here and I have enjoyed watching the evolution of this project.

Is this possible...?
<info> I use multiple pod.ini files, as do others I'm sure. I use a Dos based bat file to switch from one *.ini to another and this works fine.
<Question> Could it be possible to incorporate this function into the program. Requiring manual file name input in a 'save as' drop down menu and a select box to choose what *.ini to make current. Of course an auto rename to pod.ini would be required in the save function.
>> God I hope this has not been addressed before and I missed it !!!

Thanks for all your work. It is appreciated.




------------------
<IMG SRC="http://www.smp-creations.50megs.com/mouse2tm.gif" border=0>

SMP-Creation's

*******************************************************************
well i think i got it whooped lol i figure there are alot of unaddressed error that i havent found yet, i been playing with it for about an hour and it seems pretty solid. it's gotta a new name however it's still a smurf =)(gotta respect the smurfs dont have to like them though. lol) i changed it to SmurfIt which i think is kinda ironic because the smurf would call it "smurfing a pod" instead of "mounting a pod" so "Smurf It" is basically "Mount It" in smurf talk. any way this file has tons of new features. the reason for the 2 different podders is kinda like 1 is for advanced pod mounters and the other is for the not advanced. i figure if someone wants to pod but doesnt want all the other stuff then let them have a basic pod mounter (Smurf's podder) and for the others then there will be (right now Smurf It).

here are a few:
it has the ability to move or copy files from one location to another, add and remove sub directories from MTM2 (set to Prevent deleting of MTM2 Folders ie. System, Videos, and the MTM2 Folder itself).
in the last version when you ran the ini option you were limited to the files that were already selected this fixes that by allowing to update the selected files on the fly.
Pod (not stock) files can be deleted.

it restores stock file list inorder

it allows user preferences. (finally got it =) )

the refresh updates the list and showes the selected file at the top ( if using user preference they will be in the order that they were in the list but all together)

it now has the Status option to hide the pod count and if user is patched( if user is not patched the status will automatically open. to show the user, when you close and re-open Smurf It it will look just like you left it (ie. if your status was open then it will be open when you re-open Smurf It.


one HUGH NOTE: some of the actions on this form take a while to preform, this mainly depends on how many files you have in the MTM2 folder and it's subs, the more you have the longer it takes this it because of the ways it checks files. it uses the "listname.list(listname.listindex)" i did this because it allows for what you see is what you get so there is never any conflict in the in what the user sees and what is in the Pod.ini. Another huge reason that it takes so long is beacause of having to write user preferences to file. alot of the procedures to this because of changing this list. on my PIII it doesnt take a real long time but i dont have alot of pods in fact i have 37 so if you have like 100 million it could take a little while so be patient.

other than that i think i have said about all there is to say except for the link

i havent fixed the readme yet because i am still trying to figure out how to explain how 1/2 this stuff works, i got it on there and i no how it works, but i kinda lack the ability to explain how stuff works (which isn't a very good thing). any ways here is the link to the lastest fix.
http://smurfs_quest.tripod.com/SmurfIt/

testit out and see what ya think.

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Mouse:
<B>There has been a lot to read here and I have enjoyed watching the evolution of this project.

Is this possible...?
<info> I use multiple pod.ini files, as do others I'm sure. I use a Dos based bat file to switch from one *.ini to another and this works fine.
<Question> Could it be possible to incorporate this function into the program. Requiring manual file name input in a 'save as' drop down menu and a select box to choose what *.ini to make current. Of course an auto rename to pod.ini would be required in the save function.

**** Good News Mouse this feature is in this proggy however the ini files must be located in a sub directory of MTM2 named "INI_Folder" when you run the program just select the 'INI File' Button and it will allow for the ini's in that folder to be loaded, if that folder doesnt exist fear not the proggy is designed to test for the folder and if it doesnt exist it will create it then all you have to do is copy your current INI's to that folder then the Smurf will show them (note they Need the .INI extension) ****

>> God I hope this has not been addressed before and I missed it !!! **** hehe it was already addded but i am glad to see that you are offering suggestions that is why all this is here. i wanted the 'Pod Mounters' input. what good it a pod mounter if it has features no one wants? ****

Thanks for all your work. It is appreciated.
**** no need to thank me for my work, i thank you for the suggestions. ****

</B><HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Okay, looks great. However, there are issues with refresh and restore and the user preferences. If I click to change between alphbetical or user sort order, the refresh unchecks any changes I made. If I click restore, the 'Pods Mounted' value resets to zero, whether there are any mounted or not.

image 1

Also, and I'm not entirely sure how, but somewhere along the line I got two sets of stock pods listed. Probably one of the times I clicked restore.

image 2

I'll let Mouse handle the batch switching function.

When you're done, if you really need it, I'll help put together a help file for you. Lemme know when the time comes.


P.S. I'd like to see a menu option for sort preferences, with a check mark beside the currently active selection. Then you could make the pod list taller (ie. bring the bottom down so it comes closer to the save buttons).



[This message has been edited by Phineus (edited 01-07-2002).]