Blitz Media-Linker V1.0 Released!

Community Forums/Showcase/Blitz Media-Linker V1.0 Released!

AL90(Posted 2005) [#1]
Hi,

What is Blitz Media-Linker:
------------------------------

Blitz Media-Linker is a Wizard-Controlled Program with it you can Create Stand-Alone-
Executables (Single Executables) of your own Blitz-Programs. So you can add all Media-
Files to your Executable File and Create it as Stand-Alone (Single) File. So you must
not rewrite, change or add the ExtractEngine (like in BBCruncher) in your Blitz-
Sourcecode, but can accept the Sourcecode directly in Blitz Media-Linker when the
Sourcecode has a Final-State. Therefore is this Tool not only usable for Advanced
Users, but also good for Beginners. A Wizard (GUI) will you help with the Installation
in Step-by-Step.


Features:
------------

- Wizard-Controlled and Step-by-Step Installation.
- Easy Controlling, so also good usable for Beginners.
- Based on the known CrunchEngine of BBCruncher.
- Supports the ExtractEngines of BBCruncher. (optional - If available in Sourcecode)
- No rewrite or changes on Final-Sourcecode required.

Link: www.blitztools.de.vu


Clarks(Posted 2005) [#2]
This Tool Seems Interesting.

But it does not seem to work.


BlitzSupport(Posted 2005) [#3]
Worked well here!

What happened for you, Clarks?


Clarks(Posted 2005) [#4]
it gave me a compile error
i followed every command


fall_x(Posted 2005) [#5]
Great, I was considering buying Molebox, but this might do the trick.

Just one question : Will the entire .exe be loaded into RAM? So if my entire project is 500mb, will all of this be loaded into RAM, or will it only load parts when needed?


fall_x(Posted 2005) [#6]
I just tried it, and I'm getting "Unable to set graphics mode" when launching the .exe-file. That might be a bug, because when I compile it and run it normally, it works.
It's also possible to select the same file twice when adding files.
And what would really help, is if you could select a folder, and choose to add the entire contents (with subfolders). All my media is in subdirectories (sometimes 4 levels deep) and adding them all is a lot of work.


fredborg(Posted 2005) [#7]
I get the following error:

'Compiling Error, Please check your Sourcecode and try again!'

Although the code compiles fine in the BlitzIDE. (With Blitz3D 1.88 on a Win2000 machine)


BlitzSupport(Posted 2005) [#8]
Which folder are you guys selecting for the compiler?


fredborg(Posted 2005) [#9]
'E:/Programmer/Blitz3D/' which is the right one :) If I pick another one, it complains that it cannot find the compiler.

Hmm...It can compile a really simple file though...


fredborg(Posted 2005) [#10]
Ok, a lot of testing seems to show that there is a problem with include files, which include other files.

Ie.
;FileA.bb
Include "FileB.bb"
;FileB.bb
Include "FileC.bb"
;FileC.bb
Print "Hello"
WaitKey()
Make these files, and try to use the Media Linker on FileA.bb


BlitzSupport(Posted 2005) [#11]
Yeah, includes do seem to cause compile errors as you say. I wonder if it just needs to change the current directory to that of the source file before compiling?


AL90(Posted 2005) [#12]
Hi All,

Sorry I have forget to say in the DOCs that "Includes"
can use only in MainProgram. Do not use recursive-Includes
in more Sources. Here a simple Example for a Working method:

Main-Program:
--------------

Include"file1.bb"
Include"file2.bb"
Include"file3.bb"

It works so corectly on my System. (P4, XP-SP2)

The best method is if you add all Includes on your Main-
Code before Compile it with BlitzMediaLinker.

In the next version i will see what i can do to improve it.


fall_x(Posted 2005) [#13]
My source code includes all includes from one file, and it compiles correctly, the exe is also built correctly, but I still get a "Unable to set graphics mode" message :S


AL90(Posted 2005) [#14]
Can you me send a example Source for debug ? (not your
original but a simple testcode with the same problem)

BTW:

If you create a Exe with BlitzMediaLinker do not check
the exists of MediaFiles like Filesize()>0 and so on.
Type it ever directly.: For Example:

b=LoadBuffer(buffer,Filename$)

use NOT this Example (Its Wrong):

If Filesize(Filename$)>0 Then b=LoadBuffer(buffer,Filename$)

If you create a SingleExe and you have not forget a File,
the Files will be ever found and requires no checks for
the exists.


fredborg(Posted 2005) [#15]
Hi,

Got it working, by including all files from the main file...But it looks like textures used on models aren't loaded automatically.

Ie. LoadMesh("ufo.b3d") will load the mesh, but not the textures used on it.

Maybe I missed something? It's working very well apart from these minor things.


AL90(Posted 2005) [#16]
@fredborg

A new version (1.1) is available. can you test it the
new version and tell me a report ?

if is not working, can you send me the file (ufo.b3d) ?
(so i can debug my Tool) If is not possible to send,
can you me send a alternative .b3d, where's make the same
problem ?

Thanks for the Bug-reports.

Ciao
AL90

http://home.arcor.de/al90/files/BlitzMediaLinker11.zip

History:
---------

V1.1 - Add Recursive Including Support.
- Some Routines changed.


fredborg(Posted 2005) [#17]
Hi,

Ok, I made a small zip file: http://www.frecle.net/misc/MediaLinkerTest.zip



It looks like only BMPs are autoloaded :)


wizzlefish(Posted 2005) [#18]
BlitzMediaLinker looks great, but it still has some bugs. Darn.


AL90(Posted 2005) [#19]
@fredborg

Thanks for reporting. With you Help I have recognize the Problem.

A new version (1.2) is now available to Download.

V1.2 - Fixed: Picture Recognization in some .b3d-Files

Home: http://blitztools.de.vu

or

Direct Download: http://home.arcor.de/al90/files/BlitzMediaLinker12.zip


@No Enemies

What are this bugs. Any samples for me ?


fredborg(Posted 2005) [#20]
Superb!

Everything seems to be working perfectly now. Well done Harald!


BlitzSupport(Posted 2005) [#21]
Oh, yeah, works a treat now -- I've tried it on a couple of fairly complex projects. Excellent tool -- thanks Harald!

(One little thing: could it store the last selected compiler path as the default selection?)


AL90(Posted 2005) [#22]
Yes, its planed for the next version. I make it so that
the path will saved in a configfile if the first creation
was successfully. Ok thanks again on all for the support.

BTW:
I'm searching for registry-keys of the BlitzPaths. Some keys
are already included in BlitzMediaLinker to set the default
path if the Tool request for it. But i'm known not all keys.
(BB2d, B3D, B+) some tips ?


wizzlefish(Posted 2005) [#23]
The bugs I meant were the ones mentioned above. I'm planning to download the new version as soon as I get home.


jfk EO-11110(Posted 2005) [#24]
Very nice Tool! Thanks a zillion!


Naughty Alien(Posted 2005) [#25]
hey Harald...good job man..


big10p(Posted 2005) [#26]
This sounds very useful. I'll definately be giving it a go. Thanks and well done! ;)


keyboard(Posted 2005) [#27]
works fine here, many thanks.


AL90(Posted 2005) [#28]
So i have now add some features.:

1) The Paths will be save in a ConfigFile ever when a compilation was successfully.

2) If the Project is bigger than 10MB, the user can select
per requester for a "SingleExe" or "Exe + Archive" output.
Its useful if a project is e.g. 500MB big.

I think i release it on weekend, if the tests with the new version are done.


AL90(Posted 2005) [#29]
So the new version (1.3) is now available for Download.:

V1.3
-----
- Add: All required Paths will now save in a ConfigFile.
- Add: Include a new option "AddPath".
- Add: User can now select to a Split-Project (Exe + Archive)
or Single-Exe when a Project is bigger than 10 MB.


fall_x(Posted 2005) [#30]
I got rid of the "unable to set graphics mode" error - apparantly, one of my include files had "graphics 800,800" that actually wasn't needed anymore because it was an early test, but this didn't give me any errors when I started the project from within blitz, but removing it got rid of the problem.
I really like this! I'm very impressed with this program. Good job!
One little nag : when you are crunching a lot of files, and switch to another window, then back again, the window that shows the progress isn't updated any more. That's not a real problem, just something you might want to fix some day.


wizzlefish(Posted 2005) [#31]
Lookin' good. :D


Dragon57(Posted 2005) [#32]
Many thanks for this.


AL90(Posted 2005) [#33]
@fall_x

>>> One little nag : when you are crunching a lot of files, and switch to another window[.....]

Yes this problem will be remove in the next version.
Thanks all for reports.