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Post by Ultima on Sept 10, 2007 20:06:49 GMT -5
I've ResHacked the interface a bit to be less... ugly. I changed the fonts from size 9 "Arial" to size 8 "Ms Shell Dlg 2," which should make the fonts look more natural and fit in more nicely with surrounding applications (this was an obvious change coming from me, since I tend to dislike hardcoding xD). Because the fonts were made smaller, I was able to make the interface more compact without affecting visibility of things. I realize these changes aren't essential to CEP, but just opening the application irked me because of its overall design xD
Oh, I also removed all the hardcoded applications and base address lists, as CEP already reads them directly out of APPLIST.TXT and BASESEARCH.TXT anyway. If you still want the old hardcoded entires, you can already find them in the respective .BAK files.
So um, enough talking about my not-so-great "accomplishments." I'm wondering... Gamesoul Master, do you have an updated "CEP Instructions.txt" that you'd like me to include before I update the links in the first post?
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Post by Gamesoul Master on Sept 10, 2007 20:28:30 GMT -5
Hmm... I should probably get working on one of those. If nothing else, I should certainly include more instructions for making codes work and finding codes for offset values. I'd say go ahead and update the links if you want, but I'm gonna update it within a few hours, just as soon as I get done my other tasks.
You made these updates... I'm wondering how you did so. If I had to guess, I'd say... you modified the language file? Is there a program to properly interface with that file? Because in that case, I could possibly try to update the translation of the program to use better terms where needed.
Edit: The original links in the first post... why would a person even try the second link when the first one (the one from me) works perfectly fine and is a *direct* link compared to other ones from people who seem to like QuickShare, RapidShare, etc...? In any event, once you update the links, let me know so I can upload the updated file and give you that link to add to the list.
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Post by Ultima on Sept 10, 2007 20:33:43 GMT -5
The first think you need to do is get UPX and run "upx -d cep.exe" to unpack the executable. From there, you can mess with the file using ResHacker. Be sure to keep backups, as ResHacker has b0rked executables up for me before on save. Anyway, after you save the changes (be sure you compile changes), run "upx --lzma --best cep.exe" to repack the executable. The repacking isn't necessary, but it's not that difficult anyway, and compresses the executable by ~55%, so why not ultima.psx.googlepages.com/cep_2007-09-10.rarHere's what I've got so far. I've actually had it (with the modifications) lying around for the longest time now, but never got around to posting it Edit: Hm, now that you mention language, I just realized that using the Japanese translation causes the interface to look... funny. I guess that's why Dr.Hell made the widgets so large and spaced out to begin with It's an easy fix though, so I've modified NIPPON\CEP.LNG as well. I'm not sure if the translation is even up-to-date though, since a lot of the widgets look improperly translated (blank label for the Process tab, 1000 for the About tab? O.o) All in all, I think the English translation for the interface is fine. There isn't anything that needs better translation; it's just that some of the buttons may need some explanation. Honestly, I think those explanations should go in some help file instead, as the interface doesn't leave much leg-room for longer explanations :\
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Post by Gamesoul Master on Sept 10, 2007 21:27:56 GMT -5
Well... there is *some* work that can be done. Little stuff of course. "Advance" should be "Advanced", "Flag" should be... something clearer, like "Status", with the button under it being "Reset". Maybe I should crack on writing some kind of significant readme/help file for the damn thing. And I'd like to say... nice work on what you did thus far. The font and size make it look a lot nicer. Edit: Alright, I've played around with it a bit, changing some things here and there. I didn't mess with the sizes of anything yet, as there was little need to. Anybody who cares... let me know what you think of the new labels and such... You can get it here.
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Post by Ultima on Sept 10, 2007 23:03:14 GMT -5
Looks good ultima.psx.googlepages.com/cep_2007-09-10.rarSome more changes (with your changes incorporated): - I stretched "Search Status" a bit horizontally so that the grouping label doesn't hang off the right edge - I gave the Dec/Hex groupbox the name "Value Type" and the "8 bytes/4 bytes/2 bytes" groupbox the name "Value Size". Those two boxes were also stretched vertically by 8 pixels so to make them more consistent with the other groupboxes - Some other minor stretching on the Search tab (horizontally so that right-edges of groupboxes match the right-edge of the Process tab's groupboxes' right-edges); basically, more nitpicking xD - I added a .manifest file so that the controls get an XP look for those users that are using themes A comprehensive help file would definitely be great. CEP is confusing enough that even I'm often deterred from using it (though after enough fussing around, I eventually get it working -- sometimes xD). Then again, I rarely use GameShark cheats Screenshots would be a big plus, though not absolutely necessary. You should probably write it after all the interface strings that need to be modified get modified. Edit: And um, I think I'll hold off on updating the first post until we finalize everything -- guide included. Unless you think I should do otherwise...? Edit: While we're polishing up the package, maybe we can compile a better, more organized, more comprehensive, and more updated list of cheats in CODELIST.TXT? It's a LOT of work, but the end result is even greater ease-of-use. And better maintainability of the list in the long term.
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Post by Gamesoul Master on Sept 10, 2007 23:23:48 GMT -5
Good changes. I had been debating whether to make "Search Status" longer or not, but decided not to in case I decided to change it again or not. I made a couple tiny changes on the first tab this time around, as well as making a tiny cosmetic change to the entry in the APPLIST and BASEARCH files. I too think we've made just about all the changes we need to make at this point... at least for the interface. I'm thinking of trying to find a way to batch-modify the codelist, but that is low priority right now compared to a help file. I'll start work on that tonight, though I can tell you now it's gonna be a .txt file, so no screenshots. As you may have noticed by now though, I'm pretty good at being descriptive when I give directions on how to do something. My current thought... is trying to think of a way to at least partly automate finding the offset for codes in a game when needed. It'll probably end up being well beyond any skills I have (or possibly near impossible anyway), so I'm not gonna spend too much time trying to think about it. Either way, I'm starting the help file tonight, now that I've already been spending some rather intimate time with CEP... Edit: I see we're both looking at that codelist in disgust. Well, as I said, I want to figure out some way to batch modify it. Or if not... It doesn't seem *too* bad to work on. And... yeah, probably best to wait until the help file is done. That way, you could sort-of announce the update in the thread name. As a matter of fact, it might be a good idea to amend an "Updated XX/XX/XX" label to the thread name for when the links are updated... that way people will know to update their copy when we update.
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Post by Ultima on Sept 10, 2007 23:29:26 GMT -5
Hm, more changes? Mind posting the updated executable? I updated the file a tad bit since I posted it ~30 minutes, so I'm not sure if you caught those changes xD I'm planning on making a few other interface adjustments as well (just moving some controls around and resizing some others). Getting my consistency freak on! Edit: Yeah, I was planning on updating the thread title too; hence the reasoning behind the naming scheme for my files We're like... totally on the same wavelength here XD
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Post by Gamesoul Master on Sept 10, 2007 23:35:24 GMT -5
Oops... yeah, I thought I added the link already. I have the link in the clipboard, I guess I forgot to add it. Here it is. I grabbed your file about 5 minutes after you posted a half hour ago, so if that link (which is the same as your last, and thus an update) is what you're referring to, then yes, I got it... Alright, I was thinking of moving some things too, but I'll just wait and see what you do, and I'll get started on the help file.
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Post by Ultima on Sept 10, 2007 23:38:59 GMT -5
Thanks, I grabbed your files; will incorporate the changes after I finish nitpicking At this point, I doubt there's any reason to wait around for updates from me, as nitpicking means minor control placement modifications -- interface polish. If there are any string changes, I'll post them directly here. Other than that, you should be set to go with the help file. Enjoy!
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Post by Gamesoul Master on Sept 11, 2007 0:06:43 GMT -5
I meant I'd wait and see about making any interface changes too, in case you get all the little things that were bothering me. I pretty much meant I'd be working on the help file in the meantime. I also updated the "CEP Instructions.txt" file to reflect the changes and the WIP help file. I'm debating whether to make it a tab by tab descriptive file for pretty much describing everything, or a file for describing how to do various things in depth, like searching out custom codes. Probably both.
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Post by Ultima on Sept 11, 2007 0:28:27 GMT -5
Yep, both would be a good idea ultima.psx.googlepages.com/cep_2007-09-11.rarI think I've incorporated all your changes... You only changed "Select Region" to "Select Memory Region" and modified the .txt files, right? I made the dialog wider by around 25 pixels so that the code selection list would be wider. It's still not wide enough to fit all of "FIRESTORM THUNDERHAWK 2 - UK", but it gets most of it anyway I tried adding horizontal scrollbars for the lists, but they did absolutely nothing but waste space, so gone they are! Finally, no string changes (as expected). I might try messing with the .LNG files next time, and might make an English template for translators... in case anyone wants (though that might make this mini-project a bit more complex, what with managing tranlations and all ). Anyhow, no guarantees on my part for this facet of the project /me gots to sleep now; classes in the morning... Edit: I've made a few more changes to strings in the executable so that translations can be made for some more controls... Will post later.
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Post by Gamesoul Master on Sept 11, 2007 15:32:51 GMT -5
I probably won't have that file today. I started the help file last night, and have some decent progress on it, but I have little time today to finish it... I'll have time to work on it tomorrow, more specifically tomorrow night.
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Post by Ultima on Sept 11, 2007 18:55:58 GMT -5
No need to rush; I'd value quality over speed. ultima.psx.googlepages.com/cep_2007-09-11.rarTranslation template included. There are some lines that either can't be translated, or I haven't found the corresponding strings for. Those are the lines with the square brackets. At the end, I've got a bunch of unknown lines because I'm not really sure what the last line the program uses is. I think that's my final spit-shine Edit: /me pokes Gamesoul Master
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Post by darkknight on Oct 30, 2007 7:16:37 GMT -5
Hi there, this is a very nice post, however, the links to quicksharing.com has already been deleted while fileden.com is prohibited in our internet settings in the office, can someone please help me how can i locate CEP program uploaded in other websites (not in rapidshare, megaupload or fileden since they are all blocked website in our Company.) if the file is not so large (less than 10mb) can you email me the file please at john.reaner.i.nocum@ph.ey.com. I've been looking for this one. THanks a lot!!!
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Post by darkknight on Oct 30, 2007 7:19:16 GMT -5
hi there, please ignore my message, I downloaded it already, thanks a lot!
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