Universe Manager Lite

I spent a good amount of time yesterday fixing the Universe Manager Lite (UML). I removed all the stuff that became obsolete when I implemented saving to the document database (RavenDb). I removed races, genders, and alignments. We still have Mud Configuration, Players, and World. Here is how it looks when you load the universe:

Here it is with the area expanded:

I'm planning on adding a new context menu to the room nodes called "Tunneling." I'm hoping that this will make adding rooms a bit more intuitive. I'll add the other nodes, as I learn about how to edit the different types of  MUD content.

I don't have any binaries for this, but the source is available here: svn://svn.wheelmud.net/UniverseManagerLite/trunk

I just checked in code that lets the Universe Manager Lite export areas and rooms to JSON formatted files. So here is what the sequence looks like now:

So there you have it, that's how you export an area.

Here's what I have left for exporting:

• Add code to attach JSON exit arrays to rooms
• Add code to attach JSON visual arrays to rooms

After that, I'll get working on importing these files. The code for the Universe Manager Lite is over here:

svn://svn.wheelmud.net/UniverseManagerLite/trunk

This uses the docking control from DivElements. Please do NOT get the trial for this control, as you won't be able to run the code, when the trial expires.

I finally got the exit stuff in Universe Manager Lite completely done. This means that I can mark 5192 - Fix the room exits in Universe Manager Lite as fixed.

I'm attaching a zip file with the latest binaries. As before, just unzip the files in the directory as your WheelMUD binaries.

I got part of the exit UI stuff done tonight. The UI will now place the new exit on the source room and exit room, at the same time. This is still not finished, as I still have to deal with updated nodes, and deleted nodes. I did tweak the config dialog to make more clear to users, why they are seeing database info. Here's the screenie:

I'm also attaching a zip file with the binaries. Just unzip this in the same directory as your WheelMUD binaries. You'll have to install the .NET SQLite driver, before using the connection string editing abilities. You can download this driver from here:

sourceforge.net/projects/sqlite-dotnet2/files/SQLite%20for%20ADO.NET%202.0/

The config file for the Universe Manager Lite can now be edited completely from the UI. I revamped the default dialog, by changing the "Connection String Name" from a textbox to a combobox. Here's what it looks like when it loads:

The information on the other controls changes, when you select a different name.

I did this, so that we have built in support for additional database engines. This will let people easily change database back ends once they become available.

The thing that I'm excited the most for, is that I found a custom dialog to edit connection strings. This looks a lot like the built in dialog that comes with Windows.

This is now part of the UML source code, and has all been checked in.

The only thing left now, is to deal with the Treeview stuff. I wanted to get the easy stuff done, so that I can concentrate on this little bit. After some testing, I realized that it was going to be non-trivial. I'm hoping that I get this last item done by tomorrow. I will put together a zip file with the binaries for UML, as I've been promising.

I finally nailed saving exits correctly to the database from the Universe Manager Lite just now. I still need a bit of Treeview magic, to finish this work item. I need to update the destination room when I add, delete, or update the exit on the Treeview. Fortunately, the hard part is finally done.

I revamped the dialogs to look a bit more like part of the OS. Here's the new revamped Exit Editor dialog:

The Room Picker dialog got the same treatment:

I'm going to be working on the Treeview issue, and on the config dialog for Universe Manager Lite (UML). Here's what it looks like right now:

I'm working on this dialog, so that users won't have to edit the UML's config file by hand. I will start putting out UML releases on CodePlex, once I get these two items completed.

I finished the room picker dialog. This dialog will be used for several different room related functions.

I only have a couple more things to work out, then I'll be done with the 0.4 iteration of the Universe Manager Lite. So these two things are:

1. Figuring out the A or B stuff
2. Saving new and changed exits to the database

There's still plenty of stuff to finish with the 0.4 milestone.

I've been working on the custom editor for the exits that is used in the property grid. At first I wanted to use something more graphical, but after much pondering, I thought that it would be confusing. So I decided to use a low-tech approach instead. Here's what an exit looks like in the property grid now:

Here's what the custom editor looks like now:

The main reason for the terseness is to keep loading times low. One of the most frustrating things about tools is waiting a long time for them to load. This design allows for a quick load. The "Change" buttons will contain another dialog to pick a room. That one will involve getting a LOT of data from the database. I rather have the wait be done here, than at the initial load. Anyways, this is as far as I've gotten today. I'm hoping to work on the room picking dialog next.

Here's a screenie of the little bit I've added since the last time:

I'm working on letting this UI edit the mud.config file. If I succeed, then we won't have to tweak that by hand anymore (if we don't want to).

ThunderCats! ThunderCats! Hooooooooooooooooooo!!!!

Erm, wrong show. Onwards and Forwards Ho! Arrrrrrrrrr, you landlubbers!

Just wanted to show what I'm working on...

I moved some nodes around. Currently working on finishing the Races and Alignments node code. This little bit is working and checked in.