mars-sim-developers

FW: [Mars-sim-developers] Additions of the last week or so.

[<Sco...@bo...>]

I was experimenting with creating a tiled background image on the desktop
last night and got it to work OK.  I'm going to experiment with it further
tonight.

I was thinking of some kind of sandy texture type background, which needs to
be seamlessly tilable.  I'm really open for ideas on this, but I was
thinking of dark red.  The current background is just straight black, so the
new tiled texture will have to look good with the colors of the internal
windows.

I was also thinking of putting some kind of logo in the center of the
background (on the next layer up) and recentering it each time the main
window is resized.  I don't know if I can use a partially transparent image
(such as a transparent GIF), but I will be experimenting with that tonight.

If a partially transparent logo can be used, we could perhaps blend it into
the tiled background.

As for the logo, I'm not sure what would be best.  Perhaps just the name in
a cool font.  Maybe a shape or a picture of some sort.  Let me know if you
have any ideas.  It shouldn't be too obtrusive as it's still a part of the
background.

Scott Davis

-----Original Message-----
From: james barnard [mailto:ja...@ba...]
Sent: Wednesday, April 12, 2000 3:23 AM
To: Sco...@bo...
Subject: Re: [Mars-sim-developers] Additions of the last week or so.


I'll come up with something, any ideas what you want?
----- Original Message -----
From: <Sco...@bo...>
To: <mar...@li...>
Sent: Tuesday, April 11, 2000 8:59 PM
Subject: [Mars-sim-developers] Additions of the last week or so.


> I've added quite a few little things to the user interface of the project
> over the last couple of weeks.
>
> The project now has a menu bar with "File", "Tools" and "Help" menus.  I
> created an "About The Mars Simulation Project" dialog window that gives
> information about the project, contributor acknowledgement and a
description
> of the GPL license.
>
> I separated the toolbar into a tool toolbar and a unit toolbar.  The tool
> toolbar is placed vertically along the left side of window, and the unit
> toolbar is placed horizontally along the bottom of the window.
>
> I created a search tool that allows the user to search for people,
> settlements and vehicles, bringing up their detail windows and recentering
> the navigator tool on the unit.  I also removed the unit selector from the
> navigator tool.
>
> Currently the desktop background is plain black.  I was thinking of
> experimenting with tiling images on the desktop and perhaps putting some
> kind of logo centered in the background.  Let me know if you have any
ideas
> for that, James.
>
> Scott Davis
> sco...@bo...
> sc...@ex...
>
> _______________________________________________
> Mars-sim-developers mailing list
> Mar...@li...
> http://lists.sourceforge.net/mailman/listinfo/mars-sim-developers
>

[Mars-sim-developers] Additions of the last week or so.

[<Sco...@bo...>]

I've added quite a few little things to the user interface of the project
over the last couple of weeks.

The project now has a menu bar with "File", "Tools" and "Help" menus.  I
created an "About The Mars Simulation Project" dialog window that gives
information about the project, contributor acknowledgement and a description
of the GPL license.

I separated the toolbar into a tool toolbar and a unit toolbar.  The tool
toolbar is placed vertically along the left side of window, and the unit
toolbar is placed horizontally along the bottom of the window.

I created a search tool that allows the user to search for people,
settlements and vehicles, bringing up their detail windows and recentering
the navigator tool on the unit.  I also removed the unit selector from the
navigator tool.

Currently the desktop background is plain black.  I was thinking of
experimenting with tiling images on the desktop and perhaps putting some
kind of logo centered in the background.  Let me know if you have any ideas
for that, James.

Scott Davis
sco...@bo...
sc...@ex...

[Mars-sim-developers] Search Tool

[<Sco...@bo...>]

I added a new search tool to the project last night.  It works pretty well.
The code's in the CVS repository now, which you can browse on the
developer's site.

I've already found a few bugs in it, and I'm thinking of redoing its tool
button image a bit as it's too blocky.  Hopefully I'll get that done
tonight.  I also need to remove the unit search capabilities in the Mars
navigator tool as it's redundant (and a bit buggy).  Removing it will reduce
its size a bit which will be good as it takes up a lot of the desktop real
estate right now.

Scott Davis
sco...@bo...

"Time flies like an arrow, but fruit flies like a banana."
- Groucho Marx

[Mars-sim-developers] Search Tool

[<Sco...@bo...>]

Just letting you know I'm still alive.  I've been somewhat busy the last
couple of weeks and haven't gotten much done.

The new search tool window is almost done.  It will let the user search for
people, vehicles and settlements to bring up their info windows.  It will be
a little more advanced than what currently exists on the Mars Navigator
window.  I'll hopefully finish it tonight and look on the to-do list for
another feature to work on.

Scott Davis
sco...@bo...

FW: [Mars-sim-developers] RE: time to say something again!

[<Sco...@bo...>]

OK, now I remember that.  I'll have to talk with my friend about this again
to
see if he has any ideas on how best to use sound in the project.

An old college friend was staying over for the weekend so I didn't get much
work done.

I'm currently working on a search tool to locate units on the navigator and
bring up their dialog windows.

Scott

-----Original Message-----
From: james barnard [mailto:ja...@ba...]
Sent: Saturday, March 25, 2000 4:49 AM
To: mar...@li...
Subject: Re: [Mars-sim-developers] RE: time to say something again!


sorry to pick you up !! but this was in the first mail you sent me!

"Recently, a friend of mine who was testing the program mentioned that it
would be better if there was sound when unit detail windows were selected.
Maybe an engine sound for a moving rover, for example.  Also he thought
background music would be a good idea.  I'll have to look into the amount of
space required, processor load, etc. for this."

later
james

Re: [Mars-sim-developers] RE: time to say something again!

[james b. <ja...@ba...>]

sorry to pick you up !! but this was in the first mail you sent me!

"Recently, a friend of mine who was testing the program mentioned that it
would be better if there was sound when unit detail windows were selected.
Maybe an engine sound for a moving rover, for example.  Also he thought
background music would be a good idea.  I'll have to look into the amount of
space required, processor load, etc. for this."

later
james


----- Original Message -----
From: <Sco...@bo...>
To: <mar...@li...>
Sent: Friday, March 24, 2000 11:16 PM
Subject: [Mars-sim-developers] RE: time to say something again!


> Nice hearing from you again, James.  I think we're still the only ones
> working on this, although a guy from Quebec emailed me the other day
telling
> me he had problems downloading the project.  I fixed the problems and I'm
> hoping to hear back from him soon.
>
> According to the SourceForge project site, there have be 24 downloads of
the
> release file from there alone.  That isn't counting the number downloaded
> from the main site.  I should probably change the download link on the
> homepage to the one on the project page so it will measure all downloads
of
> the project.
>
> I'm not sure about the rover sounds.  I don't recall talking with you
about
> that.  If you can think of how that could fit in after getting the project
> running, let me know.  I'm open to all ideas.
>
> I think the splash window looks good.  If you want to make any changes,
I'll
> be happy to update it.
>
> I appreciate you help on this project, James.  I may put out a news item
on
> SourceForge calling for developers soon.
>
> Scott Davis
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> Mars-sim-developers mailing list
> Mar...@li...
> http://lists.sourceforge.net/mailman/listinfo/mars-sim-developers
>

[Mars-sim-developers] RE: time to say something again!

[<Sco...@bo...>]

Nice hearing from you again, James.  I think we're still the only ones
working on this, although a guy from Quebec emailed me the other day telling
me he had problems downloading the project.  I fixed the problems and I'm
hoping to hear back from him soon.

According to the SourceForge project site, there have be 24 downloads of the
release file from there alone.  That isn't counting the number downloaded
from the main site.  I should probably change the download link on the
homepage to the one on the project page so it will measure all downloads of
the project.

I'm not sure about the rover sounds.  I don't recall talking with you about
that.  If you can think of how that could fit in after getting the project
running, let me know.  I'm open to all ideas.

I think the splash window looks good.  If you want to make any changes, I'll
be happy to update it.

I appreciate you help on this project, James.  I may put out a news item on
SourceForge calling for developers soon.

Scott Davis

[Mars-sim-developers] time to say something again!

[james b. <ja...@ba...>]

sorry I've been so lazy in getting back to you lately, I'm finally
downloading the app now so I'll at last get a go at it! as for the engine
noise thing, when you first wrote to me you asked me to supply you with one
for when the rovers arrived or something, if you have changed your mind let
me know, if not I'll deal with soon........as for anything else I can do,
just ask when you want something gfx etc. I still need to improve the splash
screen but I haven't been able to face reloading it yet, as I put 10,000
rocks on the surface and my computer didn't like handling them (I have only
the onboard graphics card that came with my machine!) and when I reload it i
plan to delete 'em all which will mean hitting delete and then going and
making a cofee while I wait !
how many people are on this list now??

anyway I'll speak again soon---when I've got of my arse and done something!
james
----- Original Message -----
From: <Sco...@bo...>
To: <mar...@li...>
Sent: Thursday, March 23, 2000 10:46 PM
Subject: [Mars-sim-developers] Class diagrams now on site


> I added a page with 10 class diagrams to the Mars Simulation Project Web
> site.
> http://mars-sim.sourceforge.net
>
> I'm hoping this will help other programmers figure out how all the classes
> interact in the project.
>
> Scott Davis
>
> _______________________________________________
> Mars-sim-developers mailing list
> Mar...@li...
> http://lists.sourceforge.net/mailman/listinfo/mars-sim-developers
>

[Mars-sim-developers] Class diagrams now on site

[<Sco...@bo...>]

I added a page with 10 class diagrams to the Mars Simulation Project Web
site.
http://mars-sim.sourceforge.net

I'm hoping this will help other programmers figure out how all the classes
interact in the project.

Scott Davis

[Mars-sim-developers] Rover sounds

[<Sco...@bo...>]

I appreciate the rover sounds, but I'm still not sure how best to use them
in the program.  I'll have to think about that.

Let me know if you have any suggestions.

The tube at the top of the Cameron rover, if I remember right, was supposed
to be used to dock with the habitat so the crew could enter/exit without
having to put on their suits and go outside.  This would probably be pretty
convenient during early missions before pressurized garages are constructed.

Scott

--------------------------------------------------------

I've signed up to the mailing list, so we should go through there from now
on, I plan to do the engine noise tomorrow (a mono wav OK?) The Imax
rover.....I wasn't to sure about it, what was the tube above the drivers
compartment supossed to be!!, I gues it could be a very cool place to sleep,
but why have it poking out like that, it's just gonna get cold!!

later
james
----- Original Message -----
From: <Sco...@bo...>
To: <ja...@ba...>
Sent: Thursday, March 16, 2000 7:23 PM
Subject: Mars Sim Splash Page


> I added a splash window using your image to the program last night, but
I'm
> having trouble committing the code changes to the CVS.  I've only had
> partial luck with that.  Also the anonymous FTP server doesn't seem to
work
> very well, so I'll have to put the image somewhere else for developers to
> download.
>
> The splash window seems to work pretty well except that the window opens
> blank a half-second or so before the image displays.  I'll have to see if
I
> can find some way to fix that.  Sun's soon to be released 1.3 virtual
> machine may hopefully fix that.
>
> Currently the program looks for SplashImage.jpg in the current directory
and
> creates the splash window to the images size, so changing the image or
> changing its size should be easy to do.
>
> Scott Davis
>
> BTW, subscribe to the developer's mailing list on
> http://mars-sim.sourceforge.net
>