show message for unknown keys

Lin Kuei Ominae · Seth **Joined**: 16 Aug 2006 **Location**: Germany

Suggestion:
When a newbie (and Noob) is writing one of those invented keys that don't exist, then let the game show a messagebox with
"The key xyz does not exist. Read the manual and don't invent stuff that can't work. CanMakeStuffUp=False!"

It's useless for modding, but it might reduce GD's blood pressure when he doesn't has to read topics about invented keys anymore Wink

It could also help when debugging a mod. Some people still write keys instead of copying them and thus add a typo or miss the case sensitiveness. In these cases the wrong keys would be shown as well.

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ApolloTD · Commander **Joined**: 19 Nov 2003

Ares has logging feature as is but do newbs read/use them? most likely not.

AlexB · Commander **Joined**: 31 May 2010 **Location**: Germany

The current logging feature checks some other thing: That existing keys have valid values.

Creating a check for key names existence would require an awful long list of tag names. A system that does not only check whether a tag name exists at all, but also whether the tag is applicable in a certain section would be much harder to implement, because it requires knowledge about what section represents what type.

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RP · Posted: Wed Mar 05, 2014 5:12 pm Post subject:

I'm not sure how deep that would go, but wouldn't it just be easier to create a separate tool that has a list of all existing keys for certain types?

I think comparing strings in this case is simpler (and probably faster) than working it into Ares.
I recently hacked a map validator tool together which checks the keys and values of a map.
It's relatively simple so it could be done for this kind of thing as well.

Simple log from about half a year ago: http://pastebin.com/5DPrd6b3
For those asking "What, duplicates?". TS/RA2/YR load the first occurence, and discard any others thus resizing the entire index in-game.

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Mental Omega 3.0 Mission creator - Creator of FinalOmega: APYR 3.0 Map Editor

/ppm/'s stupidity

OmegaBolt · Posted: Wed Mar 05, 2014 7:43 pm Post subject:

Or just link people to modenc. Most keys are on there and can be searched easily.