VSC program is made for Warzone2100 AI designers to make their work much easier.
Computer player's intelligence is controlled by 8 .VLO and 8 .SLO files (each player has own SLO and VLO file). In definition SLO file contains main Artificial Intelligence script and VLO file contains additional information and references like content of constant variables, references for weapons, sounds, strings or templates stored in WDG files (e.g. mods, patches or standard 1.0).
AI designer who hasn't VSC program must modify each 8 VLO's and SLO's separately or use a program like Warzone Starter. Debugging of simple mistake in AI without VSC program would take even hours. When you screw something up seriously and you forget to backup, you're looser and your only chance is to rewrite that 3-pages long script you've been working on whole day from scratch. When developer creates AI for a mod, he always spend 4+ hours of soulless creating new mod-specific templates and copy&paste procedure to input all the new templates and structures into VLO files. In addition, there's much more to be done...
But you don't have to do that... that's what the VSC program stands for. VSC is designed to use all possible automation to make your work fast, safe and comfortable.
Screenshot of VSC program with descriptions:
SLO file - write whole SLO file in actual form here
VLO file - input .VLO file here without a head and last character (see field above "4)" )
Warzone Folder - input the Warzone2100 game installation path (e.g. 'C:\WZ2100')
-this folder is used to export AI scripts and run Warzone2100 game for testing
Write
SLO's & Write VLO's - those two buttons will compile current VLO & SLO script into all 8
VLO's or SLO's for each player and place them to your 'WZPath\multiplay\skirmish\' directory.
This button will instantly run Warzone2100 game from your selected WZ2100Patch.
One of customizations to VSC environment - resolution change (800x600 or 1024x768). NOTE: When you're running your desktop in 800x600 resolution and select 1024 mode, use upper-left corner of VSC window to revert back to 800x600.
TEXT-SEEKER: this function can search for any text given in both SLO and VLO windows. Input requested text (e.g. 'public') and hit SLO for searching down from selected place in SLO file and VLO for searching down from selected place in VLO file. You may use small '1st' button to find the very-first location of requested text in actual SLO or VLO file.
LINE-SEEKER: this function can search for any line given in both SLO and VLO windows. Input number of line (In SLO/VLO, not in VSC program. I namely mean that VLO file has additional head!) or input number of line given by Warzone when an error has been found. After you hit either SLO or VLO button, VSC will select given line in SLO or VLO window.
HELP FILES - External Help opens scriptLang.rtf in your document editor while Internal Help opens scriptLang.rtf in VSC's internal window with own search engine.
BACKUP - This button opens BACKUP CONSOLE window.
(See
Backup's)
NOTES & Copying - Button NOTES will open internal VSC notepad where you may write your scripts before pasting them to main window. You may use it also for personal notes and script samples, whatever. Buttons called 'SLO/VLO to NTS' will send any text selected in SLO or VLO windows to your NOTES window. (You may use shortcuts F10=SLO to NTS and F11=VLO to
NTS)
TEMPLATE SELECTORS - this button opens template selectors dialog
(see
TEMPLATE's)
The long slider immediately under SLO and VLO window is used to suppress SLO or VLO windows (or rather resize :)
VSC has also own RIGHT-CLICK menus and UNDO system.
VSC is still in development and new functions are on their way, if you have anything to suggest,
( mailto:Warzone2100@seznam.cz
)