I just downloaded the latest Meow from Meow Playtesters, but this observation is to the mepbm list as it's more broadly relevant.
Meow is still built around the preference that the user should put his xml files in a sub folder of the Meow directory. Palantir suggests that the user puts his xml files in a sub directory of Palantir.
You need to rationalise this. I currently have folders for each game, which I've just moved to a sub directory of C:\ , instead of the XP desktop (as these progs do not seem to recognise XPs virtual structure or browsing the desktop on a higher level than C:\ even though it's really buried in the user's "documents and settings") For me, sticking the pdfs and xmls in a one folder per game, is quite handy. But now, with Palantir & Meow defaulting to different preferences, you have me not knowing wether I'm coming or going. I don't really want to have 4 copies of each xml (Eudora, game folder, Palantir, Meow).
So I think you need to come up with some sort of recommended directory structure, so that you can suggest where players might best store their pdfs and xmls, and have Meow, Palantir, AutoMagic and any future marvels, agree to look in the same place by first default.
Meow is still built around the preference that the user should put his xml files in a sub folder of the Meow directory. Palantir suggests that the user puts his xml files in a sub directory of Palantir.
I agree that MEOW and Palantir should cooperate on this. Unfortunately, I had no info on how Palantir worked until release.
You need to rationalise this. I currently have folders for each game, which I've just moved to a sub directory of C:\ , instead of the XP desktop (as these progs do not seem to recognise XPs virtual structure or browsing the desktop on a higher level than C:\ even though it's really buried in
Palantir should, and I know MEOW will using Java 1.4.
So I think you need to come up with some sort of recommended directory structure, so that you can suggest where players might best store their pdfs and xmls, and have Meow, Palantir, AutoMagic and any future marvels, agree to look in the same place by first default.
Yes sorry, I see that Meow does. I don't think Palantir does though.
I've just found of course that now I either have my game folders on the desktop, where it's quicker to find them with Meow, but a long hunt with Palantir OR have them off C:/ where it's easier in Palantir but a degree harder in Meow. Argh.
> (as these progs do not seem to recognise XPs virtual structure or browsing
> the desktop on a higher level than C:\ even though it's really buried in
Palantir should, and I know MEOW will using Java 1.4.
I've just found of course that now I either have my game folders on the
desktop, where it's quicker to find them with Meow, but a long hunt with
Palantir OR have them off C:/ where it's easier in Palantir but a degree
harder in Meow. Argh.
Now, I'm not a Windows guy, but surely you can solve all this using
shortcuts...? Have the game folders where you want them and put shortcuts
where Palantir and MEOW want them.
Take a look at the setup instructions. It _suggests_ that you put them in a sub-folder of Palantir. I know that you _can_ stick them 17 directories down on your removable z:\ drive, but not all users will deal well with conflicting advice. Less skilled computer users like to be told where to put files, and have programs look there first, to avoid frustrating "browsing" ("browsing" a euphemism for "looking for a needle in a haystack".) Palantir and Meow need to agree on the default location to look for files.
I've put shortcuts on the desktop to these folders (directories) so that I can have them off C:/ but still get at them - manually that is, to view the pdfs. And I was quite pleased with my wizardly technical accomplishment until you said this! As far as I know, programs which select files via browse boxes do not usually respond to shortcuts - they try to load the file with the shortcut information, rather than the file to which the shortcut points. But perhaps Meow and Palantir are clever than that.
But in any case, you are suggesting a "workaround" which was not obvious for me, and would certainly be difficult for some of the less computer skilled players I know. (Yes, _even_ less skilled than Yours Truly) . The more complex demands you make of users, the more likely they are to say "Oh blow this for a game of soldiers! I'll stick with Alex Maetzing, e-mail, snail mail and the dodgy old DOS mapper"
Mepbm Games should be looking (in the longer term) for a nice zipped package, that new players can download, and which will install Palantir & Meow in default directories, and tell them where pdfs and xmls are "best usually" kept. This will save hair pulling with technical help, firstly it will reduce problems, secondly it will mean that the Harlequin on the end of the phone will have a starting point for where Low-Tech Lenny from Leominster might have put his missing xml.
> I've just found of course that now I either have my game folders on the
> desktop, where it's quicker to find them with Meow, but a long hunt with
> Palantir OR have them off C:/ where it's easier in Palantir but a degree
> harder in Meow. Argh.
Now, I'm not a Windows guy, but surely you can solve all this using
shortcuts...? Have the game folders where you want them and put shortcuts
where Palantir and MEOW want them.
