Chapter 17 (QuArK) corrections
by Ray Depew · in Torque Game Engine · 09/02/2004 (6:46 pm) · 8 replies
(Note to Kenneth Finney: we're not complaining when we post things like this. We're just trying to help each other. It's still a good book, and we love it even with the warts.)
-- Ray
Corrections to Chapter 17
-------------------------
504: Starting on this page, Finney refers repeatedly to a directory called C:\aEmagaCh6. Change all these references to C:\Emaga6.
504, Step 6: not only does the path have the "Emaga6" problem, but it needs to go down one more level. The correct path is C:\Emaga6\control\data\structures\hovels.
504, Step 10: "~data/structures/hovelb.dif" should be "~data/structures/hovels/hovelb.dif".
"~data/structures/newmap.dif" should be "~data/structures/hovels/newmap.dif"
505, Step 11: position = "8 50 198" doesn't work, at least not for me. Try increasing the altitude (the third number) 20 steps at a time, and look around. I finally gave up and inserted the building in the game using the Mission Editor.
507, Step 11 (not the same Step 11): when you save the map file, name it "bridge.map".
507, Step 13: Copy the bridge.dif file, not the bridge.map file. Again, the path is incorrect. There is no "bridge.dif" file in the directory given, or any of its subdirectories. Put the bridge anywhere in the "structures" directory tree you want to, then use the Mission Editor to manually add the bridge to the game.
-- Ray
Corrections to Chapter 17
-------------------------
504: Starting on this page, Finney refers repeatedly to a directory called C:\aEmagaCh6. Change all these references to C:\Emaga6.
504, Step 6: not only does the path have the "Emaga6" problem, but it needs to go down one more level. The correct path is C:\Emaga6\control\data\structures\hovels.
504, Step 10: "~data/structures/hovelb.dif" should be "~data/structures/hovels/hovelb.dif".
"~data/structures/newmap.dif" should be "~data/structures/hovels/newmap.dif"
505, Step 11: position = "8 50 198" doesn't work, at least not for me. Try increasing the altitude (the third number) 20 steps at a time, and look around. I finally gave up and inserted the building in the game using the Mission Editor.
507, Step 11 (not the same Step 11): when you save the map file, name it "bridge.map".
507, Step 13: Copy the bridge.dif file, not the bridge.map file. Again, the path is incorrect. There is no "bridge.dif" file in the directory given, or any of its subdirectories. Put the bridge anywhere in the "structures" directory tree you want to, then use the Mission Editor to manually add the bridge to the game.
#2
09/12/2004 (6:48 am)
Glad I could help. About your QuArK config question: no, the stuff that appears in the "9th program" slot is just bogus. Go ahead and delete it. 
#4
If you're using QuArK 6.3 and you try to get Contextual Help, you will get a message about "not a valid filename" or something. If you try to pull up the Help Contents or the FAQ, chances are you will get a complaint from your browser that "c is not a registered protocol" and you will be left with an empty browser window with "C:\QuArK 6.3\help/index.html" in the URL entry window.
The correct file location is not
"C:\QuArK 6.3\help/index.html",
but
file:///C:/QuArK%206.3/help/quark-help-20031122/index.html
.
To correct this and make the Help menu work correctly, you need to do two things:
1. Move everything from the help\quark-help-20031122 directory up one level to the help directory.
2. Edit C:\Quark 6.3\quarkpy\queditor.py. Look for Help2 and Help3. These are the Help Contents and FAQ entries in the Help menu. Below each of these lines is an htmldoc call. Change the forward slashes in the htmldoc calls to backslashes.
Since QuArK 6.3 is the final version of QuArK, it's not dangerous to go messing with the help directories and scripts. The last update to the help files was in November 2003, and file locations aren't going to change anymore.
09/20/2004 (1:39 pm)
Here's another correction to QuArk, not to the book.If you're using QuArK 6.3 and you try to get Contextual Help, you will get a message about "not a valid filename" or something. If you try to pull up the Help Contents or the FAQ, chances are you will get a complaint from your browser that "c is not a registered protocol" and you will be left with an empty browser window with "C:\QuArK 6.3\help/index.html" in the URL entry window.
The correct file location is not
"C:\QuArK 6.3\help/index.html",
but
file:///C:/QuArK%206.3/help/quark-help-20031122/index.html
.
To correct this and make the Help menu work correctly, you need to do two things:
1. Move everything from the help\quark-help-20031122 directory up one level to the help directory.
2. Edit C:\Quark 6.3\quarkpy\queditor.py. Look for Help2 and Help3. These are the Help Contents and FAQ entries in the Help menu. Below each of these lines is an htmldoc call. Change the forward slashes in the htmldoc calls to backslashes.
Since QuArK 6.3 is the final version of QuArK, it's not dangerous to go messing with the help directories and scripts. The last update to the help files was in November 2003, and file locations aren't going to change anymore.
#5
09/20/2004 (6:24 pm)
Thanks again for the continued help. Hey I saw on your profile that you are an extremely expierienced programmer and I was wondering. I purchesed the Visual Studio Visual C++.NET 7.1 delux learning edition so that I could compile and modify Torque. the book that came with it teaches you how to use VS and not how to program in C++. So i was wondering what some good books are for learning C++ syntax and all the different commands and keywords etc. Oh and one more thing, is there a different (syntax wise) between VC++ and regular C++?
#6
C++ is an object-oriented programming (OOP) language, and old farts like me had to learn C++ and OOP both at the same time. Most older C++ books understand that and do a good job of integrating the two. OOP is a different paradigm, one that works in a world with fast processors and plentiful (and cheap) RAM.
The best book today is Steve Heller's "Learning to Program C++" (ISBN 0-13-032410-8, cover price $44.99 US but less if you get it used). It's an update of his older "Who's Afraid of C++?" (ISBN 0-12-339097-4, cover price $39.95 but make sure you get a used copy at a bargain price). Both are presented as a dialogue between an experienced programmer and a new user. Neither one uses MS VS or VC++.
Another really good book, but much higher priced, is Deitel and Deitel, "C++ how to program" (ISBN 0130384747, Barnes&Noble price $88 - ouch). Deitel and Deitel have a great teaching style no matter what language they're teaching.
You don't need the "Visual" component to learn and use C++. Both Heller and Deitel include on CD an excellent public-domain C compiler that works from either the command line or a text-based IDE.
For Visual C++, I learned from "Ivor Horton's Beginning Visual C++6" (ISBN 1-861000-88-X, cover price $49.99). It was okay, but I wish I'd had a Deitel and Deitel solution instead. With Horton you end up building a drawing program as your learning tool, which is okay I guess. Every programming language has a "hello world" application, and creating a drawing program helps you learn the concepts of OOP and Visual C++. After a few hundred pages, though, you get really tired of going back and rewriting it.
Horton does not have a .NET offering at this time, but ding ding ding ding ding Deitel and Deitel do! Their "Visual C++.NET: How to Program" (ISBN 0134373774) lists for $88 at Barnes and Noble.com, but is also available used for a more reasonable $66. I don't have VC++.NET, so I can't recommend the Deitel book from experience, but I would recommend it based on the calibre of their previous offerings.
Microsoft Press may also have a good VC++.NET beginner's book; I don't know.
09/21/2004 (5:25 am)
Learning to program in C++ is a lot bigger task than learning to manipulate TorqueScript.C++ is an object-oriented programming (OOP) language, and old farts like me had to learn C++ and OOP both at the same time. Most older C++ books understand that and do a good job of integrating the two. OOP is a different paradigm, one that works in a world with fast processors and plentiful (and cheap) RAM.
The best book today is Steve Heller's "Learning to Program C++" (ISBN 0-13-032410-8, cover price $44.99 US but less if you get it used). It's an update of his older "Who's Afraid of C++?" (ISBN 0-12-339097-4, cover price $39.95 but make sure you get a used copy at a bargain price). Both are presented as a dialogue between an experienced programmer and a new user. Neither one uses MS VS or VC++.
Another really good book, but much higher priced, is Deitel and Deitel, "C++ how to program" (ISBN 0130384747, Barnes&Noble price $88 - ouch). Deitel and Deitel have a great teaching style no matter what language they're teaching.
You don't need the "Visual" component to learn and use C++. Both Heller and Deitel include on CD an excellent public-domain C compiler that works from either the command line or a text-based IDE.
For Visual C++, I learned from "Ivor Horton's Beginning Visual C++6" (ISBN 1-861000-88-X, cover price $49.99). It was okay, but I wish I'd had a Deitel and Deitel solution instead. With Horton you end up building a drawing program as your learning tool, which is okay I guess. Every programming language has a "hello world" application, and creating a drawing program helps you learn the concepts of OOP and Visual C++. After a few hundred pages, though, you get really tired of going back and rewriting it.
Horton does not have a .NET offering at this time, but ding ding ding ding ding Deitel and Deitel do! Their "Visual C++.NET: How to Program" (ISBN 0134373774) lists for $88 at Barnes and Noble.com, but is also available used for a more reasonable $66. I don't have VC++.NET, so I can't recommend the Deitel book from experience, but I would recommend it based on the calibre of their previous offerings.
Microsoft Press may also have a good VC++.NET beginner's book; I don't know.
#7
09/21/2004 (6:01 pm)
Alright thanks a lot man. I'll go check out those books on Amazon tonight. Oh and this isnt my first language ya know. I mean I taught myself QBASIC, HTML, Blitz Basic (which is a cross between BASIC and C++) and now I am teaching myself C++. I have created a few simple programs, stuff like paper, rock, scissors, and a number guessing game, but nothing too serious. Well thanks a gain. Seeya round 
Torque Owner Eric Prem
Oh yeah and I agree this book does rock. Easily the best Game Dev book I have read for beginners and intermediate folk.
THANKS KEN!