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create_your_first_cartridge [2012/08/25 20:00] – [Backup of your cartridge] Boettcherscreate_your_first_cartridge [2016/06/25 11:03] (current) – [Uploading media files] Boettchers
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-====== Table of Contents ====== +====== Wiki related issues ====== 
-Please open the table of contents that is located to the top right of this statement. It will help you to locate information in the tutorial. You can use the Wiki search (top right below "EARWIGO WIKI") to locate topics in the whole Wiki. You can also use CTRL F to search for keywords on the current page+will start this tutorial with some Wiki related informationIf you are familiar with this Wiki frontend, skip this paragraph 
  
-If you want to print the tutorial or save it on your computer. Click here to download {{:create_your_first_cartridge:earwigo_tutorial_081.pdf|Earwigo_Tutorial_081.pdf}}+  * I sugest to open the table of contents that is located to the top right of this statement. It will help you to locate information in the tutorial. 
 +  * You can use the Wiki search to locate topics in the whole Wiki. It is located in the top right corner.  
 +  * You can also use the search function of your browser. Use CTRL F to search for keywords on the current page. The search field will pop up above (IE) or below (FF) the main text window. 
 + 
 +If you want to print the tutorial or save it on your computer download the pdf copy {{:create_your_first_cartridge:earwigo_tutorial_081.pdf|"Earwigo_Tutorial_081.pdf"}}
  
 ====== Foreword from the Author ====== ====== Foreword from the Author ======
  
 Before we start with the tutorial I have to admit that I (Geo-Magician) am merely the poet of this tutorial. The Earwigo software itself was written by Nick (aka sTeamTraen). He came up with the idea and he has written the entire program (with the help of many individuals from all around the world ;-) ).  Before we start with the tutorial I have to admit that I (Geo-Magician) am merely the poet of this tutorial. The Earwigo software itself was written by Nick (aka sTeamTraen). He came up with the idea and he has written the entire program (with the help of many individuals from all around the world ;-) ). 
 +
 +If you want to work with the latest version of the tutorial it is currently best to download the {{:create_your_first_cartridge:earwigo_tutorial_081.pdf|pdf version of the tutorial}}. It contains some yellow markings that will help me to find my way around but it should not disturb you to much.
  
 Having said this ... let us have a look at Having said this ... let us have a look at
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 ==== Uploading media files ==== ==== Uploading media files ====
 +
 +=== Image format ===
 +Wherigo Players will not display all image formats. The safest way is to stick to jpg images.
 +
 +  - Make sure that the images are .jpg or .jpeg and NOT .png
 +  - Use an application to remove all EXIF (Exchangeable Image File Format) data from photos and pcitures
 +  - Software that will do the trick PC: IrfanView, Mac: ImageOptim
  
 === Copyright side note === === Copyright side note ===
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 Once Maronion is in your list, click on the "Properties" link to go to Maronions "Properties" sub-tab.  Once Maronion is in your list, click on the "Properties" link to go to Maronions "Properties" sub-tab. 
  
-{{:create_your_first_cartridge:characters_tab.jpg|}}+{{:create_your_first_cartridge:character_maronion_in_clearing.jpg|}}
  
 You will recognize that Character "Properties" and Item "Properties" are very similar. The following is almost a copy of the text that I have used for Items. If you feel comfortable with the Properties tab, enter the values depicted above and take [[create_your_first_cartridge#Tutorial_tasks_(character_creation)|this short cut]]. You will recognize that Character "Properties" and Item "Properties" are very similar. The following is almost a copy of the text that I have used for Items. If you feel comfortable with the Properties tab, enter the values depicted above and take [[create_your_first_cartridge#Tutorial_tasks_(character_creation)|this short cut]].
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 === Message Button Event === === Message Button Event ===
  
-The buttons are handled on the Events tab of the message. Since we are only using one button we can use the button event without the need to check for the pressed button. Since there is only one butto the Event “When a button is pressed” is always invoked by our “OK, I will go back” button. We will react on this button by presenting the direction to the bridge (which is our Zone “Start”) to our human player. +The buttons are handled on the Events tab of the message. Since we are only using one button we can use the button event without the need to check for the pressed button. If there is only one button the Event “When a button is pressed” is always invoked by our “OK, I will go back” button. We will react on this button by presenting the direction to the bridge (which is our Zone “Start”) to our human player. 
  
 {{:create_your_first_cartridge:buttonevent.jpg|}} {{:create_your_first_cartridge:buttonevent.jpg|}}
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 You might be wondering why we have not used the more convenient Wherigo command: “Show_a_screen Zone:Start”. Good thinking but due to a Garmin bug this is not a good idea. Since we want to keep our cartridge usable for all players we have used a slightly different approach to ensure the cartridge will work on all devices. You might be wondering why we have not used the more convenient Wherigo command: “Show_a_screen Zone:Start”. Good thinking but due to a Garmin bug this is not a good idea. Since we want to keep our cartridge usable for all players we have used a slightly different approach to ensure the cartridge will work on all devices.
  
-Only one Show_a_screen command is save to be used on all devices. It is the command “Show_a_screen Standard_screen:Main”. This command will show the home or main menu page. The home page will not directly guide the human player back to the starting position but we can point him towards it with a little extra work. The idea is to present a message with instructions followed by the “Show_a_screen Standard:Main” command. If you have a look at the “ToLateToTalk” message you can see that we have already provided the required extra information for the human player. All we need to do now is to present the main menu and hope that the player can find the described page (they typically do ;-)+Only one Show_a_screen command is safe to be used on all devices. It is the command “Show_a_screen Standard_screen:Main”. This command will show the home or main menu page. The home page will not directly guide the human player back to the starting position but we can point him towards it with a little extra work. The idea is to present a message with instructions followed by the “Show_a_screen Standard:Main” command. If you have a look at the “ToLateToTalk” message you can see that we have already provided the required extra information for the human player. All we need to do now is to present the main menu and hope that the player can find the described page (they typically do ;-)
  
 ===== Backup of your cartridge ===== ===== Backup of your cartridge =====
 Hey, I see you have followed the tutorial all the way down to this section. You are obviously seriously determined to learn how to build your own cartridge ;-). I will give you a quick break and introduce a WWB builder feature that will come in handy every now and then. we will continue building after this interlude. Hey, I see you have followed the tutorial all the way down to this section. You are obviously seriously determined to learn how to build your own cartridge ;-). I will give you a quick break and introduce a WWB builder feature that will come in handy every now and then. we will continue building after this interlude.
  
-If you have followed the tutorial you should have found some instructions on [[create_your_first_cartridge:|how to save your cartridge]]. And you might have found out that the cartridge is actually saved on the WWB-server. So right now you have no copy of your own cartridge should the server catch fire or if the [[http://hitchhikers.wikia.com/wiki/Vogons|vogons ]] blow up the earth to clear the path for the next intergalactic highway (SCNR).+If you have followed the tutorial you should have found some instructions on [[create_your_first_cartridge#saving_the_cartridge|how to save your cartridge]]. And you might have found out that the cartridge is actually saved on the WWB-server. So right now you have no copy of your own cartridge should the server catch fire or if the [[http://hitchhikers.wikia.com/wiki/Vogons|vogons ]] blow up the earth to to make way for a hyperspace bypass (SCNR).
  
 If this concerns you there is a way out. I will use this little break to describe how you can posses your very own copy of your cartridge. Save your cartridge and go to the "Manage Cartridge" screen as depicted below. If this concerns you there is a way out. I will use this little break to describe how you can posses your very own copy of your cartridge. Save your cartridge and go to the "Manage Cartridge" screen as depicted below.
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 ===== If Else EnfIF Statements ===== ===== If Else EnfIF Statements =====
  
-[[create_your_first_cartridge#ToDo_List|ToDo List 6)]]+[[Quick_and_dirty_IF_Then_Else_Intro|(the quick and dirty IF Then Else intro can be found here)]] 
 + 
 +[[create_your_first_cartridge#ToDo_List|(ToDo List 6)]]
  
 Item 6 on the ToDo list is to enable the Zone "Tree". I know that you can enable Zones by now ( Set_value Zone:Tree:Active => true) but this time we have to remember a condition. We have started the last 5 sections of this tutorial because we need to built an IF ELSE EndIF Statement. You might want to [[create_your_first_cartridge#Decisions_(Continued)|read this section again]] to remember what we intend to achieve. Item 6 on the ToDo list is to enable the Zone "Tree". I know that you can enable Zones by now ( Set_value Zone:Tree:Active => true) but this time we have to remember a condition. We have started the last 5 sections of this tutorial because we need to built an IF ELSE EndIF Statement. You might want to [[create_your_first_cartridge#Decisions_(Continued)|read this section again]] to remember what we intend to achieve.
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   * Use this command to display the previously created [[create_your_first_cartridge#Displaying the completion code|completion code message]]   * Use this command to display the previously created [[create_your_first_cartridge#Displaying the completion code|completion code message]]
  
-You might be curious why I am using a command and a message to display this information. The item description looks like a much easier way to do this without all the trouble of creating commands and messages. This is actually a good question and if you have really asked yourself something along this line I think you are ready to put your own cartridges out there ;-)Coming back to the question: the item description is created together with the item itself when the cartridge is started for the first time. At this time the cartridge is still incomplete and there is no completion code available. If you display a message however this will look up the current value of any variable (for example Player.CompletionCode) and display it to the human player.+You might be curious why I am using a command and a message to display this information. The item description looks like a much easier way to do this without all the trouble of creating commands and messages. This is actually a good question and if you have really asked yourself something along this line I think you are ready to put your own cartridges out there;-) Coming back to the question: the item description is created together with the item itself when the cartridge is started for the first time. At this time the cartridge is still incomplete and there is no completion code available. If you display a message however this will look up the current value of any variable (for example Player.CompletionCode) and display it to the human player.
  
 == Presenting the "Completion code" item at the end of the game == == Presenting the "Completion code" item at the end of the game ==
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   * Save the cartridge   * Save the cartridge
   * Inform the player about his new item   * Inform the player about his new item
 +
 +=== Testing the "Completion Code" ===
 +The emulator and the test compilations will not have a working completion code in it. You will see a dummy code "completion code".
 +
 +This is the theory behind it: The completion code is connected to the human's GS player account and can only be used by this account. If you get the code from someone else, you can not mark a cartridge as completed. The test run and compilations will not create a valid useable code.
 +
 +Should you really desire to see a working completion code, this is how to get there:
 +  - Upload the cartridge to GS www.wherigo.com
 +  - Secretly publish the cartridge (invisible, not referenced in search engine)
 +  - Download this published cartridge with your own GS player account
 +
 +If you run the resulting *.gwc in the emulator things should work out as expected (I would not really do this because I have done it once and I now believe that it works. ;-)
  
 ==== Uploading your cartridge to wherigo.com ==== ==== Uploading your cartridge to wherigo.com ====
create_your_first_cartridge.1345917625.txt.gz · Last modified: 2012/08/25 20:00 by Boettchers