Log file reader program

[MrWhipple]

I recently discovered the joys of log files. For those of you who haven’t found out about this pastime, they are text files that are produced for each battle. They will show up in the Logfiles directory if you have the option selected on the options:game menu. You can look at them with Notepad or any text processor.

The problem is that they are just text files and are a bit hard to extract the good bits to get any meaningful data that will help your game-play. Therefore I have decided to write a modest program in Python to massage the text a bit and add up some columns and do some analysis on the data. Like what is the mode and median of the valor of the remains of a unit, and would it be profitable to merge it with another unit. Friendly fire is another concern.

I know that others are working on such a program but I am just an old (and I mean OLD ) disabled hacker with a new language (Python) and nothing much to do all day except hang out on Forums and play MTW .

What I want to know is: What would every one else like to see in such a program. Please jump in and throw around a few ideas. I plan to share the results as freeware if I can get it looking good enough for visitors. *franticly cleans the office as the doorbell rings* http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/wacko.gif

Thanx in advance.

[motorhead]

There is another online log reader (http://www.thiep.com/cgi-bin/ffmtw/logread.pl) out there that seems to regurgitate just about everything in the logs on a per unit basis. However, as much as i appreciate this writer's efforts, this log reader seems to have difficulty with more than half of the logs i try to analyze with it, larger logs especially - which are the ones that i would really like to see. I guess what i'm looking for is a log reader that shows it all (unit type,cost,valor,weapon upgrade,armor upgrade,kills,etc., but on a per unit basis) and can also handle the larger files accurately.

[MrWhipple]

Thanx for the link Moterhead. It was a good start, but I plan for mine to be much more extensive and be more usefull. Also mine will be an .exe file that you can download. I was not to keen on the idea of a website prowling around on my system. (I know that this paranoia is unfounded, but hey, just 'cuz you are paranoid dosen't mean that they are NOT out to get ya) http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/eek.gif

Thanx again and keep those cards and letters comming in. http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/wacko.gif

[Kongamato]

Perhaps you could find a way to read every logfile on the computer to get some career stats and unit effectiveness. You might also be able to find out when you get your millionth kill.

[HopAlongBunny]

Sounds like a great idea http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif

Some sort of breakdown vis. melee missle cavalry might be nice. As it is, they are all lumped together.
http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/wave.gif

[Vanya]

GAH

Vanya has existing MTW log reader. Vanya's Olde Shoggy reader had some nice features. Vanya not know if its still around here to download... youz could check that one out and see what it has to offer.

Vanya's new reader took the olde code base and simplified it dramatically... not so heavy on the dependancies any more. Now it makes HTML reports youz can see on browser (though its an EXE). Has nice charts and stuff. And it allows youz to make your own "custom" reports if youz want to.

Furthermore, Vanya's reader, in keeping with the tradition of the Olde Shoggy one, shows you nice reports that cover your aggregate battle experience.

Or, you can view individual battles to see all the gory details. And unlike the previous Shoggy version, this one allows you to view a log without importing it first.

The code will not have to undergo any significant changes to handle RTW unless the logfiles change (no changes at all were needed to VI http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif ).

Vanya sez... There are so many log readers out there, Vanya did not feel compelled to distribute His. Vanya sez... make tool for your own consumption FIRST. If youz think its cool, then give it out to the community.

GAH

[Foreign Devil]

Career stats for a particular general/unit would be very cool. Not sure if this is possible, though. Do the logfiles track individual units?

[MrWhipple]

Quote[/b] (Foreign Devil @ Oct. 04 2003,21:16)]Do the logfiles track individual units?
Yes, they track by General's name. I plan to try to include such a feature. It would require that you keep all the logfiles in for a game in one directory, or just delete the files in the logfile dir before a new game. It won't be truly accurate because there is no way that the logfile can track merging or rebuilding of units, so it can't keep track of individuals, but it can keep track of battles under a general's command or a single unit that keeps the same general. I hope that makes sense.

[solypsist]

moved to Dungeon