Author Topic: WinAGI Version 2.1.4 Is Available  (Read 10565 times)

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Offline AGKorson

WinAGI Version 2.1.4 Is Available
« on: December 02, 2020, 02:48:20 AM »
Here it is - the latest update to WinAGI. This version fixes a TON of bugs, a lot of enhancements, and some new features that I've heard folks asking about. I spent a lot of time testing, re-testing and testing again, so hopefully there aren't too many bugs left! :)

Link to the install file is here: http://agiwiki.sierrahelp.com/images/3/37/WinAGI_2_1_4.zip

Here's a partial list of the new features:
  • Fixes bug in v 2.1.3 Picture Editor that disabled absolute line draws
  • Support for Apple IIgs sounds- both types of IIgs sounds (PCM sound samples and embedded MIDI) can now be previewed and exported as their native format (.wav and .mid).
  • A new LISTBOX option to display game resources (similar to the old AGI Studio look)- a number of people commented that they didn't like the tree list; now you can choose whichever display works best for you
  • NAVIGATION BUTTONS - when browsing through in game resources, there are now navigation buttons that let you quickly go back to previously previewed resources, and then forward again
  • improved support for multiple monitors; the program's position/size will now be correctly restored on systems with more than one monitor
  • the logic editor now highlights AGI commands as keywords, for improved readability
  • support for code snippets - shortcuts you can use to insert frequently used blocks of code to make coding go faster
  • ability to open resources for editing from within the logic editor; right-click on any resource ID to show the open command in the context menu
  • global defines (aka the 'defines.txt' included file) can now have individual comments for each define entry
  • option to export picture resources as an animated gif to see the picture drawn step by step
  • layout editor is synched to the resource list, making it easy to find a room on the layout editor when your layout is large and complex
  • DIR files now expand or contract based on number of resources, instead of being automatically expanded to full size; this helps keep memory usage to a minimum, since DIR files are part of the room.0 memory block
  • Much improved Help file, especially in the AGI Reference section; more in-depth analysis of the disassembled interpreter has resulted in a lot more knowledge of how the interpreter really works; the help file is now the real definitive source of information on AGI
  • a lot of other minor enhancements/improvements too numerous to mention

I was also able to do some testing with Linux. WinAGI actually runs virtually bug-free when run in the WINE environment. It does require a configuration fix in WineTricks (due to a bug in WINE's implementation of riched.dll), but once that's done, it runs just fine. So Linux users have access to WinAGI too.

Things seem to have really quieted down around here, especially in the AGI forums. I fear that the golden age of fan games may be at an end. I'm hoping that tools like WinAGI will help people who might be interested in creating their own games, but didn't know where to start.

So if there is anybody out there who still has interest in AGI, please take a look at this latest release. I think you'll be pleased with how much it helps in creating your next AGI masterpiece.
« Last Edit: February 02, 2021, 01:05:54 AM by AGKorson »



Offline AGKorson

Re: WinAGI Version 2.1.2 Is Available
« Reply #1 on: December 02, 2020, 03:34:46 AM »
To demonstrate just how useful and easy WinAGI is to use, here is a set of project files and logic source code files for a fully decompiled version of Gold Rush! I did this decompilation as a way to 'stress test' WinAGI to make sure I fixed as many bugs and glitches as possible. It also helped me identify additional enhancements and improvements.

To use this file, extract its contents, including the src directory, into a folder that has the original Gold Rush AGI files (you have to have your own copy of the game- I can't post that here). Then open the WinAGI project file, GR.wag in WinAGI version 2.1.1. You can then browse through all the logics, observe how the game used global defines throughout the game, and explore the game's room arrangement in the Layout file.

It was really very interesting to go through the entire game's logic code and see how the original programmers were able to make everything work so well in the game. It helped me a lot in understanding AGI programming concepts. Not surprisingly, I also found a few bugs in their code (it's a very large game, so no surprise that a few bugs slipped past their quality checks). There was also a a number of places where you could see how the game changed during development- fragments of code that pointed to different story lines that ended up being abandoned.

The source code logics in this project will generate an exact, byte-for-byte copy of the original compiled logics. The only thing I added were the comments and define names. Keep in mind that all the variable/flag define names and comments are my own- nothing in this project is meant to suggest this is the actual source code used by the original developers.

Anyway, if you are interested in studying the programming techniques used in a full size commercial game, this should be of great help. If you have any questions about the comments that I included in the source files, feel free to ask!

« Last Edit: December 02, 2020, 11:01:21 PM by AGKorson »

Offline AGKorson

Re: WinAGI Version 2.1.2 Is Available
« Reply #2 on: December 02, 2020, 10:59:47 PM »
Ugh. No matter how much testing I do, it seems like something always crops up as soon as I release a version. v2.1.1 won't handle saving and opening layout files correctly. The last step when releasing a new version is to update internal version checks- but somehow I missed the layout functions this time.  :-[

So ignore version 2.1.1. I updated the wiki, and the link in the first post to point to version 2.1.2 which fixes the issue.

If anybody notices any other problems, please let me know and I'll try to get them addressed too.

Offline MusicallyInspired

Re: WinAGI Version 2.1.2 Is Available
« Reply #3 on: December 03, 2020, 01:44:43 AM »
Appreciate your hard work!
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Offline cosmicr

Re: WinAGI Version 2.1.2 Is Available
« Reply #4 on: December 03, 2020, 11:23:30 PM »
Really great stuff.

I recently migrated my game development from AGI to SCI, but now I'm considering going back again just so I can make use of the features.

Offline Collector

Re: WinAGI Version 2.1.2 Is Available
« Reply #5 on: December 04, 2020, 09:46:57 AM »
I'll have to try it. Since moving on to Win10 the OCX for the logic editor won't register on install.
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Offline ZvikaZ

Re: WinAGI Version 2.1.2 Is Available
« Reply #6 on: December 05, 2020, 03:03:02 PM »
That's great. Thanks for all the work!

Furthermore, the Goldrush! project of yours deserves more attention, IMO.
It'd be great to have it in GitHub, or something.

Maybe join forces with @EricOakford, and add it to his https://github.com/EricOakford/SCI-Decompilation-Archive ?

Offline Collector

Re: WinAGI Version 2.1.2 Is Available
« Reply #7 on: December 05, 2020, 07:30:28 PM »
It would be great to have an AGI branch of Eric's GitHub.
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Offline EricOakford

Re: WinAGI Version 2.1.2 Is Available
« Reply #8 on: December 06, 2020, 05:37:36 PM »
I probably could make a new repository for WinAGI decompilations, but AGI is a totally different beast than SCI. Besides, WinAGI refuses to work right for me, giving "Invalid procedure call" when attempting to close a game, and an error with "RichEdAGI.ocx or one of its dependencies not correctly registered: a file is missing for invalid" when attempting to open a logic.
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Offline AGKorson

Re: WinAGI Version 2.1.2 Is Available
« Reply #9 on: December 06, 2020, 09:52:38 PM »
Hmm, that's not good. Have you tried to register it manually using regsvr32? Maybe that will work. Also, can you check that the two Type Libraries, 'olelib.tlb' and 'olelib2.tlb' are installed in your system directory (I believe it's actually c:\windows\syswow64)? If they are not, that might be part of the problem. It looks like around version 1.2.9, richedagi.ocx stopped registering normally in some situations. I will do what I can to track it down.

Can you give more specifics on the 'Invalid procedure call' when closing a game? I have never seen that error before. If I can duplicate it, then I should be able to track it down and correct it.


Is anybody else having trouble with logic editor and RichEdAGI.ocx failing to register? Has anybody gotten it to install and work correctly? Feedback would be extremely helpful here.

thx,

Offline Collector

Re: WinAGI Version 2.1.2 Is Available
« Reply #10 on: December 07, 2020, 08:34:52 AM »
How is your C# development going? A new AGI IDE in C# would be a good break from your OCX dependencies.
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Offline Kawa

Re: WinAGI Version 2.1.2 Is Available
« Reply #11 on: December 07, 2020, 09:56:28 AM »
As a former VB Classic developer who found his old stuff won't run on Windows 7 or later because of OCX dependencies and has switched to C# and looked back only once to see how bad it's actually gotten, I agree wholeheartedly.

Offline Charles

Re: WinAGI Version 2.1.2 Is Available
« Reply #12 on: December 07, 2020, 11:24:48 AM »
Or VB.Net.  I used to be a big VB6 guy back in the day but I switched to VB.Net 10 years ago (more?) and now I physically shudder whenever I need to touch legacy VB6 programs at work.  C# and VB.Net compile to the exact same thing 99.999% of the time anyway; I just personally find the VB syntax easier to use than the C# syntax.

Offline AGKorson

Re: WinAGI Version 2.1.3 Is Available
« Reply #13 on: December 07, 2020, 02:43:02 PM »
OK, OK, OK!!!

I know I need to switch. But I'm an old curmudgeon, and frankly it scares me a bit that I have such a steep learning curve awaiting. I have Visual Studio (and have had it for years) installed, but every time I open it up, I just get discouraged at how complicated even simple tasks seem. I know it's just a matter of buckling down and learning it, but like I said, I'm old and stuck in my ways. It's not rational, but I can't help it. Some day...

Regarding the problem with the text editor - it's not Windows; it was me. Again. Stupid versioning- the installer had version 3.0.30 of the OCX, but it was supposed to be 3.0.31. So I was installing the wrong one (When I tweaked the OCX, I forgot to copy the new version to the install folder). I fixed the installer, and tested it on a clean Windows 10 system, and it works great - no errors.

You may notice that the first post changed a bit - after getting a special request, I added support for Apple IIgs sound. More fun stuff!

Thx for your support (and for your 'gentle' ;) nudging toward a modern dev platform...)


Offline EricOakford

Re: WinAGI Version 2.1.3 Is Available
« Reply #14 on: December 07, 2020, 07:01:24 PM »
Thanks, it seems to work fine now! Maybe I can do a decompilation of the 1986 Christmas Card - it's the right time for that one!
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