Curse

Zeph · Jan 04, 2007, 03:39 PM // 15:39

The templates function recently added to GW has to be one of the most useful additions to guild wars and it's something that most people use a lot.

Whilst recently posting a few new builds on my guild forums I was surprised by how many people are confused about what to do with a build template, where to save the file and sometimes (amazingly) where to find their GW folder. It made me realise that whilst a person may be very good at playing guild wars, that person might not be as good regarding computers.

So I thought I would make a tool to help those gamers who are not so good with computers, something really simple where they could just copy/paste a build template and have it saved into the right place.

And here it is; GW template tool v1. (or GWTT for short)

The tool is pretty much foolproof. There are no settings to mess with, it's just a case of pasting the build code into GWTT, naming the build and pressing save. GWTT reads the correct path of Guild Wars from registry and saves the file accordingly. It's as simple as that. GWTT is a stand alone executable so it requires no installation, just unpack and run.

I know some of you will wonder why a tool like this is needed but as I mentioned, not everyone is good with computers, so I'm sure some players will find it useful.

Download: GW Template Tool v2

MD5 checksum: 94c2f9ce6c187a317b85d0d4ac1d71a1

GWTT is freeware and free from any spyware/malware or viri. GWTT can be freely hosted/distributed, all I ask is that I am credited with it.

Code:

Changes from v1
-Recoded from scratch in vb6 resulting in a filesize reduction from 320k to just 32k
-Added existing file check
-Added status display

(Not sure if this is the correct place to post this, so my apologies if its not.)

Nexus Icon · Jan 04, 2007, 03:59 PM // 15:59

Nice work Zeph.
Hell, it's not even just for people new to computers, adding a shortcut to it to my Quicklaunch menu saves me having to make a new text document in the right place every time.
See a build-code on Guru, highlight it, copy it, launch GWTT, name yer template, paste the code, bam, job done.
Sweet as a nut

RTSFirebat · Jan 04, 2007, 04:02 PM // 16:02

Build codes... could you give an example?

Nexus Icon · Jan 04, 2007, 04:09 PM // 16:09

Copy and paste this into Zeph's GWTT and call it what you want:

ARNRkpcdmrihlvS+wjTtFHGH

That should give you this build on a warrior (all attributes exclude runes):

Strength 12
Swordsmanship 12
Tactics 3

[card]"For Great Justice!"[/card][card]Enraging Charge[/card][card]Flail[/card][card]Standing Slash[/card][card]Silverwing Slash[/card][card]Sun and Moon Slash[/card][card]Dragon Slash[/card] and Sunspear Rebirth Signet.

Nifty, eh?

Dougal Kronik · Jan 04, 2007, 04:09 PM // 16:09

When you open the *.txt file in your templates subdirectory.

The series of letters is the Build Code, or Template Code.

Numb Nuts · Jan 04, 2007, 08:13 PM // 20:13

Nice one Ginga, some good work there

Relnor · Jan 04, 2007, 09:09 PM // 21:09

Excellent job, Zeph! I scanned it with multiple virus/malware/adware scanners, and it came out clean. Unzipped it and gave it a whirl. It works great. It now takes me three mouse clicks to make a new build

Anti Oath · Jan 04, 2007, 09:18 PM // 21:18

does this work for equipment and builds?

Zeph · Jan 04, 2007, 10:01 PM // 22:01

Quote:

Originally Posted by Anti Oath

does this work for equipment and builds?

No sorry, it is only for skill templates.

@ Others: Thanks guys. I'm glad others find it as useful as I do.

You just got tomahawked · Jan 04, 2007, 11:18 PM // 23:18

You just made my life soooooo much easier... I smell Nobel peace Prize in the category of awesome.

mega_jamie · Jan 04, 2007, 11:55 PM // 23:55

nice work indeed, will be downloading this to make my new frays with a PvP guild a bit easier.

ForgeWhelp · Jan 05, 2007, 12:48 AM // 00:48

Cool, now can you make it one step further and show the skills in a given template, so that when I load it into a char and I see that I don't have 3,4 and 6 I can know what those actually are...

Zeph · Jan 05, 2007, 01:05 AM // 01:05

Quote:

Originally Posted by ForgeWhelp

Cool, now can you make it one step further and show the skills in a given template, so that when I load it into a char and I see that I don't have 3,4 and 6 I can know what those actually are...

Nah, I won't be taking it in that direction. I wanted a simple fast too and didn't want to bloat it up with lots of features. This tool is meant as a easy way to take a build (code) from a forum or wiki (where it would list the skills required) and add it to guild wars without having to get notepad out.

For what you ask you would be better using something like GWfreaks tool or gwshack.

Thibor · Jan 05, 2007, 01:35 AM // 01:35

Great Job Zeph. Thanks for taking some of your time and creating something we players can use. Very nice tool. I'll be using it ALOT!

imkey · Jan 12, 2007, 09:53 AM // 09:53

good work!

i have some suggestions though: (mostly to stop overwriting existing builds of the same name and aid in speedily putting in multiple entries)

1) if a template of that name already exists, ask for a yes/no confirmation to overwrite old template.

2) dump the two message boxes that pop-up everytime u hit save (they slow down the entry of multiple builds alot), instead have it display in green text next to the save button, "Build Blah Blah Blah is Saved" right after u hit save.

3) Clear the template code text field after a successful save but not the build name text field to make it easier to add a series of builds with similar names

ThisIsNi · Jan 14, 2007, 07:31 PM // 19:31

I just have to say I am amazed. Nice job.

LAMS3K · Feb 04, 2007, 03:33 PM // 15:33

I have a suggestion.

Take it a few steps further. Write a Firefox plug-in that searches the loaded page for build templates. Then when the user right-clicks on the page there is an option to view templates on the page. From there they are presented with each build and an option to save it.

It can also be done a route that is not browser specific. Although you'd need to write a packet sniffer that monitors the HTTP traffic on the computer. When it finds a build template it stores it and maybe notifies the user that there is a build template on the page. When the user wants they can pull up a list of all the builds on the current page or all that have been captured. Each shown graphically with details of each and of course with the option of saving it.

A bit complex but practical. Just a thought, maybe someone will write it. Won't be me, too many other things that must be done.

Anyway, nice simple program

Grimm · Feb 04, 2007, 08:38 PM // 20:38

Very nice handy utility. It does what a utility should do, and that's do one thing well.

No more loading notepad, copying the code, saving as the name you want.

Americas Monk · Feb 06, 2007, 03:05 AM // 03:05

i have a question, if im in game and i have this template entered, even if i odnt have the skills will i still get the skills included in the build?

Smurf Minions · Feb 06, 2007, 06:04 AM // 06:04

I'm not sure of which things you get, or you get the skills with a lock icon on it. Or you just get empty skill slots.