MMF2 Build #248

Hi everyone,

The build #248 is available :

MMF2 Standard
MMF2 Developer

(ps: this is the normal version of MMF2, not the HWA version, the HWA version will be updated asap)

This build contains a beta version of the Java runtime.

Yves.



Fixes and [color:red]new features[/color] in the build 248


- Event editor : crash when you create an object in the event editor, delete the action, save the application, reload it and recreate the Create Object action.

- Player control setup : help button not working in player control keyboard setup dialog box.




Fixes and [color:red]new features[/color] in beta 7

- Animation editor : hot spot position not saved after you move the hot spot with the mouse (appeared in beta 6).

- Transition setup dialog : transition not selected in the list when you edit an application created with MMF 1.5.

- [color:red]Java runtime[/color] : new Active Picture object.

- Java runtime : cannot build Java applications with extensions on Windows Vista.

- Java runtime : movement extensions not working in beta 6.

- Java runtime : transitions not working in some applications created with MMF 1.5, or with some versions of MMF2.




Fixes and [color:red]new features[/color] in beta 6

- Edit box : scroll to end action may generate odd issues

- Any extension object with images : (dialog box object, button object, etc) images may disappear if you edit the object from the workspace window or property bar when the frame editor is not opened.

- Java runtime : frame and object transitions are now supported.




Fixes and [color:red]new features[/color] in beta 5

- Animation editor : screen flickers while dragging the hot spot/action point around.

- Animation editor : selected animation not displayed as selected the first time you click it.

- Event editor : the comment editor is now resizable.

- [color:red]Menu editor[/color] : new "Permanent shortcut" option in the properties of a menu entry. If this option is selected, the shortcut triggers the command even if the menu is hidden.

- Runtime : the End of music condition was not triggered at the end of the music after a Pause / Resume action.

- Layer object : object z-order messed up after a Sort action and a scrolling.

- BMP filter : problem with BMP files exported by some graphic tools.

- [color:red]Java[/color] : new Array object




Fixes and [color:red]new features[/color] in beta 4

- Runtime : objects with the "Visible at start" option not checked are no longer shown when they are created with a Create Object action.

- Runtime : when an active object having a fade out transition and being scaled is destroyed, the object fades out at its original unscaled size.

- Runtime : bug in new expressions that return alterable values and strings by index.

- General : crash when loading some applications with the build 248.

- Properties : Global Values are 1-based but in the Properties box of the application the first Global Value is displayed as "0 (Global Value A)".

- Expression editor : the animation number is displayed as 1-based in the expression editor although it's 0-based.

- Expression editor : the variable number in Set Alterable Value is displayed as 1-based althought it's 0-based.

- Event editor : Run Frame button disabled in behavior editor.

- Draw object : doesn't release mouse events if you quit the frame when the user clicks inside the object.

- [color:red]Timer-based movements[/color] : new property in the Frame properties. When this option is selected, the movement and animation speed of the objects in this frame is based on the exact time difference, making it independent from the machine speed. Note: for compatibility reasons, this option is not selected by default in frames of old applications. If this option is not selected, the speed is based on a frame count, less precise. A second property, Movement Timer Base, allows you to specify the value (frames per second) of the timer on which movements are based when the Timer-based Movements option is selected. It allows you to define the frame rate of the movements and animations independently from the frame rate of the application. Note: these options have no effect on the Invaders movements.

- [color:red]Movement speed[/color] : the maximum value of the speed of movements is now 250 instead of 100 (except for the Invaders movement).

- Java : known issue, the Windows controls don't work in Java applets. This issue won't be fixed in this build. They work fine in Java stand-alone mode (MMF2 Developer).

- Java : new AVI object. Note: this object requires Java Media Framework to be installed.

- Java : Layer object IsVisible condition reported always false

- Java : the object collision mask was not created from the alpha channel, resulting in a boxed collision detection.

- Java : String object, Set Text action was based on 0 instead of 1.




Fixes and [color:red]new features[/color] in beta 3

- Application corruption : sometimes MFA files could become corrupted. We have fixed a possible reason for this issue (hopefully the unique reason) and have also fixed a bug in the routine that was saving applications to a temporary file before overwriting the MFA file (on some machines it was directly overwriting the MFA file without using a temporary file). Additionnally if the autobackup feature is not enabled, MMF2 now proposes you to activate it. So theoretically nobody should get corrupted applications anymore.

Note: for applications that are already corrupted, you might get a new error message that asks you to contact us. Please do it, thanks. :)

- Random images : also we might have fixed the problem of images randomly switched in some applications. Hopefully the 2 or 3 users who have reported this issue can test this build and confirm if it's fixed or not. This problem was happening after you change the colors or frames of an active object and at least 2 instances of this object are present in the next frame.

- General : the application is no longer marked as modified when you open the global event editor, a behavior editor or some tabs of the Data Element editor.

- [color:red]Navigate toolbar[/color] : the frame index is now displayed in the frame list

- Property window : properties being edited not validated before Run Application command. This was also causing issues with image and animation properties.

- Library window : on Windows Vista, crash when trying to view 2 objects without closing the preview window (the preview window was not closed automatically).

- [color:red]Frame editor[/color] : the number of selected objects is now displayed in the status bar on the right of the mouse coordinates.

- Frame editor : objects created at an incorrect position when you drop files to the frame.

- Frame editor : objects created in the event editor and then removed from the event editor were not always removed from the frame and couldn't be deleted. They are now automatically removed from the frame when you reload the application.

- Properties / Alterable values : fix in routine that checks if a name is allowed or reserved.

- Event editor : the Select Group dialog box is now resizable.

- Event editor : cannot enter more than 4 digits in the edit boxes in the Pick object from zone dialog box.

- Event editor : top condition incorrectly selected in some cases.

- Picture editor : problem when importing some animated GIF files.

- Picture editor : sometimes in zoom mode you have to enlarge the window to edit the bottom row and the right column.

- Animation editor : "non empty" mark of animations not always updated.

- [color:red]Animation editor[/color] : new shortcut keys to crop images : SHIFT + CONTROL crops all the directions of the current animation, SHIFT + CONTROL + ALT crops all the animations of the current object.

- Stand-alone applications : sound filters are now automatically added if you use only Play Sound File actions (and no Play Sound action).

- Stand-alone applications : graphic filters are now automatically added if you use the Load Frame action of the active object.

- Installer : internal error after adding an external file and building the installer.

- [color:red]Runtime[/color] : new Get Alterable Value & String By Index functions.

- Runtime : possible random crashes in Save/Load Frame Position.

- Runtime : memory leak for objects that contain alterable strings after Save/Load Frame Position.

- Runtime : sounds sometimes swapped when you load a position from a different frame.

- Runtime : data of movement extensions not saved after Save Frame Position.

- Runtime : crash when using SET DIRECTION action in some cases with the platform movement

- Runtime : speed increase in some cases when colliding with a platform and tweaking the X and Y coordinates of the object.

- Runtime : crash when you close an application and the same sample is being played on several channels at the same time.

- Runtime : Set Layer action not working correctly for hidden objects.

- Runtime : frame collision mask not resized after Set Frame Width / Height.

- Runtime : layers without "visible at start" option not hidden after a frame restart.

- Runtime : crash when the maximum number of objects is reached and collisions between lots of objects occur at the same time.

- Runtime : "Include external files" option not compatible with embedded binary files.

- Runtime : backdrop objects are hidden one frame too late when you hide a layer.

- Button object : when you use the TAB key to give the focus to a button with a text and a picture, the picture disappears.

- Counter object : bar / set color action not working in solid color mode.

- Counter object : when a counter is set to Numbers mode the font listed under Text Options is garbled.

- Dialog Box object : Set Control Position action also resizes the controls when it's used when the dialog box is closed.

- Explorer object : tree control not correctly resized if you resize the object and the tree has a vertical scrollbar.

- [color:red]List and Combo Box objects[/color] : new "Change line" action to modify the text of a line.

- Quiz Object : fix in wrong answer dialog.

- [color:red]Special object[/color] : new "Arc tangente of y/x" expression.

- [color:red]Storyboard object[/color] : new "Frame position has just been saved" condition. This condition is true the next frame after the frame position has been saved (as a frame position is always saved at the end of frame).

- Storyboard object : conflict between the Save Frame Position and the Previous Frame / Next Frame / Jump to Frame actions.

- Sub-application object : sub-application objects created by a Create Object action or restarted by a Restart action are now immediately initialized (one frame loop is executed just after the object is created) so that you can immediately modify their global values and strings.

- SDK : cSurface::GetPixelFast was bugged in 32000/65000 color mode.

- GIF filter : fixed a transparency bug in animated GIFs.

- [color:red]Java runtime[/color] : new objects have been converted - button, edit box, file, ini, rich edit, active system box, background system box

- Java runtime : Frame background color Red and Blue value were inverted

- Java runtime : Layer is visible returned FALSE even if the layer was visible



Fixes and [color:red]new features[/color] in beta 2

- Event editor : insertion of spaces in object folder messed up the display. It is no longer possible to insert space just after a folder open and before a folder close icon.

- Event editor : deletion of imbricated event groups only deleted the top most group, leaving "New condition" all over the place.

- Event Editor : floating point values less than 1.0 always displayed in exponential format.

- Picture Editor : some keys were disabled in the file selectors.

- Global and Alterable values : incorrect error message when you edit the name of a value and don't change it. You can also now change the case of the name.

- Animation object : pastes itself to background in scrolling applications.

- Animation object : the animation now automatically starts when you load a new file in an empty animation object.

- Counter object : floating point values less than 1.0 incorrectly displayed if a fixed number of digits was selected.

- Dialog Box object : Spin control position not updated when you manually change the content of the attached edit box and close the dialog box.

- Runtime : better bouncing in Ball movement.

- Runtime : potential crash or malfunction if a Stop action was on a line begining by a "Is group activated" condition.



Fixes and [color:red]new features[/color] in beta 1

- Event list editor : Delete key did not always delete the line under the cursor

- Event list editor : Return now opens the popup menu relative to the element under the cursor

- Event list editor : SPACE+LEFT MOUSE KEY scrolls the display around

- Event list editor : Space selects or deselects the element under the cursor

- Event list editor : hilighted elements are now cancelled when moving the cursor (preventing mistakes when they went out of sight)

- Event list editor : Left and Right keys now select in order the event, the conditions, and the actions

- Event list editor : Cursor stays on the complete event when going over remarks and groups

- Event list editor and event editor : a first click on a line with shift pressed selected all the lines from first line

- Event editor : when pressing Return, popup menus appear now on the left of the element under the cursor

- Question & Answer object : correct answers not copied when you clone an object or a frame

- [color:red]Java runtime[/color] : ability to save Java Applets and Web start apps (MMF2), as well as Java Stand-alone apps (MMF2 Developer only).

Link to build #247

excellent! I'm was going to re-install the beta 7 in a few minutes now I'll install this one.. thanks Yves!

Good- more Great work, I'm getting a little impatiant though, how many more beta releases before the final is released?

Cooo It's getting close to release time :) More and more updates.

Quote:

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how many more beta releases before the final is released?

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Hopefully 0...

Awesome job Yves :)

Quote:

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Originally Posted by dragonguy

I'm getting a little impatiant though

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Be a bit more appreciative! Its a FREE update!? Stop being a **** around the forums please.

Ummm might need to check the background image object.
I've pasted a large image into the editor and Okayed it.
But the image is still cropped 32X32 in the frame editor.

Quote:

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Its a FREE update!? Stop being a **** around the forums please.

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Updates like bug fixes etc. should always be free.

Good work anyway with new features :)

Can we request simple features? Something like being able to use the number pad to auto place the Hot Spot or Action Point? I am tearing my hair out over not being able to do that in MMF 2.

That got replaced with Buttons that do the exact same thing.

I think he means that it would be easier if we were having to do a whole bunch of images (and for some reason or another cannot use the alt+click method).

Yves

As usual you guys are doing great. I came by yesterday to post what I thought was a bug I found in 7 but found 8. Just installed 8 and I am still seeing the same thing. I hope it me and not another update for you.

In application porperties for some reason when I go to preview the install of an application from the applicaiton settings window nothing happens. It happen in 7 and might have even been an issue in 6 but I am not sure. Anyway I wanted to bring it to your attention though I am still not sure if it's something I am doing wrong or a setting I don't have right.

Dragonguy, keep this in mind. The OS your using, if your on a windows box, was sold to you and they knew of over 500 bugs in the OS when they sold it to you with the intention of updating it for free when they get the chance. MMF is cheap to begin with, all the patches for the version you got ON CD were free, I don't even think there were any patches to the CD Release but I could be wrong.

Any updates you get from the CD version up that you don't have to pay for is a bonus. These guys work around the clock to make sure their customers are happy. Look at it from this perspective. If your frustrated about the new update think how Yves and the team feels when they put out a version they think is solid and in less than 24 hrs people are pointing out what is not working. While thats good, and the point of the Beta, they still have to deal with going back in to the code and finding the issue then fixing it. Nobody pays them for that time and if they work anything like I do they most likely put more time in to getting this software working for free than the average person does at a job they get paid for.

Your frustration is understandable but you always have the choice to not use the beta, be happy with the version you currently use and wait until the current beta of any upgrade is ready for public release. With beta you don't get the option to complaine about anyting, only point out what you see. If you don't like that then don't use beta's. This is not a digg but just a reality. Hopy you understand what I mean by that, I do understand your frustration and dont mean for this to be a flame but rather a perspective from someone who spends about 18-20 hrs a day in front of a computer programming. Why do I do this to myself?

Quote:

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In application porperties for some reason when I go to preview the install of an application from the applicaiton settings window nothing happens.

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Ah, Vista issue, I forgot to report this fix from Install Creator, it doesn't preview the installer because it has admin privileges. I'll fix it (maybe only in the next build though). To make the preview work in the meantime you can execute MMF2 in administrator mode.

See, I knew it was my fault.

Thanks,
K

Err... no it's not your fault LOL :D

Yea it is. It's my fault I purchased Vista! LO... :|

Did I say that out loud?

Haha :D

Quote:

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Originally Posted by 00J

That got replaced with Buttons that do the exact same thing.

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Well, I say not good enough. It isn't quick and time effective to have to click 'next frame,' move mouse, click move hotspot button, repeat for so many frames. And I am not saying that I can't use alt click, it is just that not ALL frames are the same size. Doesn't the hot spot just choose the X position of the open frame to match all frames selected? Sometimes it just doesn't work out the way I want.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by KingToast

Well, I say not good enough.

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Thats kinda harsh! I do think you have an option here your overlooking. I think, though I might be mistaken, you could take the time to learn C programming (if you don't already know it), study the MMF SDK (if you have not already), and write an object that does this for you.

I am a developer who writes in many languages, just not C, and it's the same option I have whenever I don't have something I need. You might even be able to use the .net object if you know VB but that extention is one I have not explored yet. So the question now becomes are you willing to do what it takes to create a solution yourself until, if ever, Clickteam is able to produce a product you are 100% happy with? If so I bet the wonderful people in this forum would be more than happy to direct you in the right direction for the resources you need.

Just a thought.
K

You can't do that with the SDK. ;)

The problem with the shortcuts in the picture editor is that there are conflicts with the controls that take the focus and I haven't taken enough time to find a solution for that. It's in the todo list, but I don't know when I'll time to look at this issue.

You cant control the postion of the hot spot within an object?

Sorry for coming across as harsh. I was (and still am) really frustrated with these animations my friend sent me (He is UBER new to MMF 1 and set had the hot spot in a rather bizarre location because he would resize and change frame size and stuff.)

I understand KingToast. There are times when I want to pull my hair out while working on a project. Your frustration is something all developers feel at some point in any project. Try to keep in mind that these guys are here to help and I can tell you that you will get more support from the people here than you will get from any other company with a product that is half as good and the last thing, I would think, you want to do is piss off people that have the answer you may never know they just are not giving it to you since you were harsh with them in another post. I know it shows I have registred with the forum in 07 but I have been around since the first version and your dealing with one of the best products on the market for it's intended purpose and you pay nothing to get the support you get.

Just a thought,
K

When you have a sub-app from the same application but of a different frame, and you run the frame (not application), the sub-app is not run. R247

Yes, this is normal. When you run a frame, only that frame is built. In a future version will probably add a new "Run frame as application" command.

Oh. :)

Also, in R247, sorting objects in the workspace toolbar does not work well:

1. Place 3+ objects on the frame. Now move the first object you created (the first on the list of the workspace toolbar) down by one. Instead of moving between the 2nd & 3rd objects, it goes to the bottom of the list.

2. Make a folder, and drag at least 3 objects into it. Move the first object in the folder down by one, to put it between the 2nd & 3rd objects. It will move out of the folder to the bottom of the list.

The Alpha Channel Object does not work with ink effects set at runtime. R247

You can't have semi-transparency and ink efffects, I just don't see how that's possible.

Well, obviously. Semi-transparency is also an ink-effect.

And you can't have more than one ink effect at a time, which is why alpha channels don't work with ink effects.

Pardon? Last I checked my objects could have alpha channels and ink effects...

EDIT: Oh right you're thinking semi-transparency and alpha channels are the same thing... Alpha Channels aren't really an ink effect, and since built in objects support them coupled with ink effects the Alpha Channel Object probably can (it might be hard though, I'm no expert).

I just had something funny happen. MMF2 Dev build 248...

I have about 20 button objects in a frame. I made all the graphics (.png files) for the up, down, & disabled images then I took the up image and pasting it in to the icon of each button. When I got done, at some point shortly after, all the icons went back to the original. Now that sucked. You know what it's like to have to read the tag for every button to make an action. lol.

Anyway, could just be me but I thought I would bring it up.

Sorry Yves!

Take care,
K

Kimera : the "Create automatic icons" option is probably selected in the preferences of the frame editor. In this mode, MMF automatically updates the icon of the object as soon as you modify it and probably the button object just sets the default icon given the button type. You have to unselect the Create automatic icons option if you want to keep your customized icons (note: I know this is quite limited, we'll add additional options in a future version).

@Dwidge: this thread is for bugs in the build 248, not for the build 247, nor for 3rd party extension objects. If I remember correctly the Ink Effect action menu is automatically displayed by MMF for some extensions even if the object doesn't support ink effect, and apparently the Alpha Channel object doesn't support ink effects as they are not available in his properties.

No worries, thanks for the info. I new about the check box I just did not realize it worked in that manner.

Thanks again,
K

im sorry if this has been mentioned already in previous threads, but what is the likelyhook of having the ability to rename flags for active objects etc??

It's in the wish list for MMF3 (we won't do that in MMF2).

When I build I keep getting %appname%.000 files left as a result. Is this a backup file?
It appears to contain a backup MMF file.
Just want to confirm.

It's the auto-backup feature. When you save the application, MMF2 renames the existing MFA file to .001 before saning the new MFA file (and it renames the .001 file to .002 etc if you have selected more than 1 backup copy in the preferences).

You can turn this option off in the preferences.

This would be useful:

The ability to edit the alpha channel at the same time as the RGB channels. Right now there seems not to be a facility to do this.

So for instance, I have one PNG file, and if I want to select and move a bit of it, I have to move the alpha channel and display channels separately.

While this can be useful, it would be nice to have an option to edit alpha at the same time as the inks. :)

Agreed, this already annoyed me a little, too. Would be a really cool way to speed up the progressing!