Ways for INIs to save multiple game files?

[Jax]

You can also use Ini++ and the subgroup feature. However it isn't too easy to do at the moment. The next version of Ini++ should make this a lot simpler.

[00J]

Shot at 2008-04-09

What Nick Said, that's the easiest way to do it. But the hard part is knowing how to get the edit box to save "when and what" that's up to you.

It's best to save your data on a timed sequence,

example
Edit Box [Name]
Group Save Data Open
00:00:01 save
00:00:02 save
00:00:03 save
00:00:04 save
00:00:05 close Group Save Data

Is that clear?

Now you also have to be able to Load your data also.
You will need to learn to use the File Object also.

If you learn this you can make Role Playing Games! [smile]
It's worth learning, especially if you want to allow a player to come back to your game and load a previous game.

Also check out MMF's built in Frame Saving routine, I believe you can save the state of your frame and load it back in.

[Jdsfrog]

It's best to save your data on a timed sequence,

example
Edit Box [Name]
Group Save Data Open
00:00:01 save
00:00:02 save
00:00:03 save
00:00:04 save
00:00:05 close Group Save Data

Could you please be a little more specific with this code please? It seems like this technique would definately work, anymore information would help a lot. Thanks.

[Jdsfrog]

Oh and where is the Frame Saving routine in MMF2 exactly? Sounds like it would be cool to use. :grin:

[00J]

You need the
-INI object
-File object
-an edit box
-A save button or a graphical collision save location like in final fantasy
-a group to Save all the data you want
-a group to load all the data you want
-1 global value named load, set to either 0 or 1

1 you'll be telling your next frame to open the load file selector
0 would be telling your next frame to start in the default mode
So if on your title screen you highlighted LOAD GAME then you set Global Value 1 to 1
If you select START GAME then set Global Value 1 to 0 [ default mode ]

The timed saving and loading sequence is just something i like to do to break up my code so I can comment each step in the loading and saving process.

MMF can save everything in one loop, but I like to be long and overly detailed.


Frame Simple Saving Routine

Shot at 2008-04-11

[Jdsfrog]

Thanks a lot 00J, I'm going to try what you said about the global values. Could you maybe post the code of what it would all look like? And maybe also post the code for what you do to save INI file names? Like naming the INI when you save it so that each file would be like "(Username).ini".Oh and I didn't get what you meant when you said MMF2 can save everything in one loop... Anyway, thanks a bunch! :grin:

[Jdsfrog]

Oh and by the way, do you know how the DataStore2 object works? Thanks.

[00J]

Thanks Popcorn! Popcorn's INI tutorial.

[00J]

The Datastore object is pretty straight forward, it can save your data out to an array file I believe, and load the data back in to your program. Another good way to save your game data.

Also there is the Save Game extension that is part of one of the Bonus Packs.

[Jdsfrog]

Thanks a bunch Popcorn, now I get INIs a whole lot more and am super close to having what I want!!! There's just one more thing in the way, and that's when you click on this active object that saves your data. So this is what the ini looks like once you've started a new game:

Group =(Player Name type in edit box)
Item X = X
Item X = X
String X = Player name typed in edit box

Then, when you click the save button, it looks like this:

Group =(Player Name type in edit box)
Item X = X
Item X = X
String X = Player name typed in edit box
()
Item X = X
Item X = X

So, it's saving everything in another untitled group. :confused: I tried making it so that when you click the button the first thing it does is set group to "ItemString$("ini", String " (Or the String X Item) so that it sets it to the same group but nothing changed. Any ideas? Thanks a million for all the info so far!