v3arcade Game ImpEx System

[Oblivion Knight]

Game ImpEx System
For v3arcade 1.0.6


Description
A tool to quickly and easily import new games, update previous games with new information or export games.

I stated in my original release of Addon Pack 1 (now merged with this) that ideally, it needed some kind of ImpEx feature to easily share the updated game information (author, instructions). This does exactly that, and more!! In fact, it provides a darn good replacement for v3arcade's current method of game installation - great news for those who are having problems with it!


Credits
A HUGE thanks to Dream (https://vborg.vbsupport.ru/member.php?u=406) for allowing me to release this, as the code is largely based on his "Import / Export vBRadio Stations" modification.


Version Notes
1.0.0 -- Initial release.
1.0.1 -- Critical update, fixed game import/update check routine.
1.0.2 -- Fixed missing "filesize" column query problem.


Future Plans
Fully phrased (yeah, I'm feeling lazy).

[Oblivion Knight]

+ Notes +

While I've tested the system, I haven't tested this installation package. If you previously used Addon Pack 1, I recommend you backup your data (author, instructions), uninstall it, install this and restore your backed up data.


+ FAQ +

What happens if I try to import a game that already exists in my database?
The system will automatically update your game entry with the new information.

I've installed it, what now?
With any of my future game releases (and hopefully it's a trend that catches on), a .xml file will be included in the package instead of the old .game.php file. You import the .xml file via the ImpEx system and voila! Game installed. If you want to test it, I've attached Pacman to this post (.xml exported from my site).

...

[ibuddy]

niiiice!

[Omranic]

Nice

thanks Oblivion Knight

** installed **

[rjordan]

Hmm... guess I will be adding XML files to my site downloads. About the only comment I would have on this is to not include the category ID and have the importer ask at the time of import what category you want it in. Some (like myself) have rearranged the games into diferent categories and this would prevent us from having to go back through the games and edit the category ID.

But I like! Have you suggested adding this as an option to John?

[Oblivion Knight]

Good call, I'll try and get that added sometime later today.. :)

No, I haven't suggested it to John.

[rjordan]

Great! I look forward to the change! All files on my site will start coming with this as soon as I write a conversion script to go from PHP to XML. That should not take long.

Thanks, OK!

[The Chief]

looks awesome, looking forward to this :D

[dvg323]

SCORE!

Thank you OK. You tend to make my my life much easier.

[DrewM]

One error this:
print_textarea_row($vbphrase['game_notes'], "notes[$game[gameid]]", $game['notes']):
should be:
print_textarea_row($vbphrase['game_notes'], "notes[$game[gameid]]", $game['notes']);

[Oblivion Knight]

Fixed, cheers.

[SMO]

Ok, perhaps I didnt do this correctly.

I went to imprt export and browsed for the pacman XML and when i was complete, I got this error.

Database error in vBulletin 3.5.4:

Invalid SQL:
UPDATE arcade_games
SET
shortname='pacman',
title='Pacman',
author='<strong>Paul Neave</strong><br /><em><a href=\"http://www.neave.com/\" target=\"_blank\">Please help to support the author and visit their homepage!</a></em>',
description='The yellow blob returns! Eat the pills and jack up your score in this arcade classic.',
instructions='<strong>Left arrow:</strong> Move Pacman left<br />\r\n<strong>Right arrow:</strong> Move Pacman right<br />\r\n<strong>Up arrow:</strong> Move Pacman up<br />\r\n<strong>Down arrow:</strong> Move Pacman down<br /><br />\r\n<strong>P:</strong> Pause/unpause game<br />\r\n<strong>M:</strong> Mute/unmute sound<br />\r\n<strong>L:</strong> Low quality on/off',
notes='This game is an unofficial clone of the original Pac-Man? game and is <strong>not</strong> endorsed by the trademark and copyright owners <a href=\"http://www.namco.com/\" target=\"_blank\">Namco Ltd.</a>',
file='pacman.swf',
filesize='38',
width='360',
height='420',

[DrewM]

you have to put the rest of the error it's impossible to tell what the error is.

[Snake]

This is quite good.

Thanks!

[zyad]

hey guys, i'm getting the same error as the dude above, it happens when uploading the .xml file in admincp ... a screen appears with an iframe:

There seems to have been a problem with the MI Career - Interact database.
Please try again by clicking the Refresh button in your web browser.

An E-Mail has been dispatched to our Technical Staff, whom you can also contact if the problem persists.

We apologise for any inconvenience.

Iframe below with the info he provided

How would i go about fixing that?? thanks in advance!

[Ski-Whiz]

This sounds GREAT!!! However, I'm going to wait til after the May 12th release of v3. I'm sure this will have to be changed..

I LOVE this hack, the installer is not v3's strong point. :D

[Oblivion Knight]

Ok, perhaps I didnt do this correctly.

I went to imprt export and browsed for the pacman XML and when i was complete, I got this error.I can't provide any help without the full error (error code).

Did you already have Pacman installed? If not it seems that the system tried to run the incorrect query..


---EDIT---
Yep, I just ran a test and although I didn't get an error - no new games appeared in the database.

I'm working all day today, but I'll try and get a fix out tonight. Sorry.!

[Oblivion Knight]

Fixed.

I would have had it posted sooner, but vbulletin.org went down for me this morning before work..

[forte]

Gives me the error

Database error in vBulletin 3.5.4:

Invalid SQL:
INSERT INTO forumarcade_games
(shortname, title, author, description, instructions, notes, file, filesize, width, height, miniimage, stdimage, categoryid, dateadded, system, isreverse)
VALUES (
'pacman',
'Pacman',
'<strong>Paul Neave</strong><br /><em><a href=\"http://www.neave.com/\" target=\"_blank\">Please help to support the author and visit their homepage!</a></em>',
'The yellow blob returns! Eat the pills and jack up your score in this arcade classic.',
'<strong>Left arrow:</strong> Move Pacman left<br />\r\n<strong>Right arrow:</strong> Move Pacman right<br />\r\n<strong>Up arrow:</strong> Move Pacman up<br />\r\n<strong>Down arrow:</strong> Move Pacman down<br /><br />\r\n<strong>P:</strong> Pause/unpause game<br />\r\n<strong>M:</strong> Mute/unmute sound<br />\r\n<strong>L:</strong> Low quality on/off',
'This game is an unofficial clone of the original Pac-Man? game and is <strong>not</strong> endorsed by the trademark and copyright owners <a href=\"http://www.namco.com/\" target=\"_blank\">Namco Ltd.</a>',
'pacman.swf',
'38',
'360',
'420',
'pacman2.gif',
'pacman1.gif',
'3',
'1146805881',
'0',
'0');

MySQL Error : Unknown column 'author' in 'field list'
Error Number : 1054
Date : Friday, May 5th 2006 @ 01:11:22 AM

[Oblivion Knight]

Did you import the product file?

It should add the column "author" to the arcade_games table.. :)

[forte]

I did, it even says 1.0.1 as the version number.

EDIT: Just tried uninstalling it then installing it again, it works now.

[Oblivion Knight]

Very strange, to say the least! I'm glad you got it working though.. ;)

[antialiasis]

I'm getting an error too. Re-installing didn't help...

Database error in vBulletin 3.5.4:

Invalid SQL:
INSERT INTO arcade_games
(shortname, title, author, description, instructions, notes, file, filesize, width, height, miniimage, stdimage, categoryid, dateadded, system, isreverse)
VALUES (
'pacman',
'Pacman',
'<strong>Paul Neave</strong><br /><em><a href=\"http://www.neave.com/\" target=\"_blank\">Please help to support the author and visit their homepage!</a></em>',
'The yellow blob returns! Eat the pills and jack up your score in this arcade classic.',
'<strong>Left arrow:</strong> Move Pacman left<br />\r\n<strong>Right arrow:</strong> Move Pacman right<br />\r\n<strong>Up arrow:</strong> Move Pacman up<br />\r\n<strong>Down arrow:</strong> Move Pacman down<br /><br />\r\n<strong>P:</strong> Pause/unpause game<br />\r\n<strong>M:</strong> Mute/unmute sound<br />\r\n<strong>L:</strong> Low quality on/off',
'This game is an unofficial clone of the original Pac-Man® game and is <strong>not</strong> endorsed by the trademark and copyright owners <a href=\"http://www.namco.com/\" target=\"_blank\">Namco Ltd.</a>',
'pacman.swf',
'38',
'360',
'420',
'pacman2.gif',
'pacman1.gif',
'3',
'1147224177',
'0',
'0');

MySQL Error : Unknown column 'filesize' in 'field list'
Error Number : 1054

[Oblivion Knight]

Whoops, I knew I forgot something.! :nervous:

"filesize" is added by the Alternative Layout addon, you don't need to install that though - I'll write an instruction to add the column when installing this if it doesn't already exist.

Sorry about the inconvenience..


---EDIT---
Fixed.. :)

[antialiasis]

Thanks a lot for the quick response. It's working now.

[Fointy]

Works supurbly! Thank you.

Any more games with the xml anywhere?

[RFViet]

My arcade games dont' have xml file, just php and swf file, what can i do ???

[Brainfried]

I am having trouble getting it installed. I cant find the files that I am supposed to change? I have checked in admincp, but cant find the files there that I am supposed to edit.

[Oblivion Knight]

Works supurbly! Thank you.

Any more games with the xml anywhere?Not yet, hopefully I can get something worked out with John.

vbulletingames.com have also expressed their interest in supporting the addon, although have requested that I make a change to the category handling (which is proving to be harder than I thought).


My arcade games dont' have xml file, just php and swf file, what can i do ???Unfortunately if there is no .xml file, it cannot be installed by this system. I'd suggest trying my "Manually Add Game" addon if you can't get it installed using the default game import system.


I am having trouble getting it installed. I cant find the files that I am supposed to change? I have checked in admincp, but cant find the files there that I am supposed to edit.You can't find admincp/arcadeadmin.php?

It should have been uploaded when you installed v3arcade.

[analog-x]

Thank you for this excellent Add-On.

Now I havent tried installing a game, but I love the fact that now I can type the game instructions on the side.

one Small problem is, when I enter the Game Authors name, it does not show up above the game instructions.

I uninstalled and re-installed this mod following the instructions very carefully.

Any idea where I'm going wrong?

[rjordan]

OK, were you able to get the category selection complete? Do you know if John will support this natively or if John will have something similar to this built in?

[Oblivion Knight]

I have ceased development on my v3arcade addons unfortunately, and have given permission for John to include and change whatever he wants in the next build.. I've no idea how far away that is though.

[rjordan]

Bugger. That is a shame. Well, for what it is worth, you have done a heck of a job with the work you have done.

[kallelm]

Hmm... guess I will be adding XML files to my site downloads. About the only comment I would have on this is to not include the category ID and have the importer ask at the time of import what category you want it in. Some (like myself) have rearranged the games into diferent categories and this would prevent us from having to go back through the games and edit the category ID.

But I like! Have you suggested adding this as an option to John?


Well it would be nice to visit your forum, but your image verification is not working properly making registration impossible.

Anyone else have a place to get converted games?