Collectible Card Game Headquarters

This thread is meant to be a place I will post new tools and answer questions about them. As I post them here, I'll try and upload videos of how to use them.

To start it off, here's the newest tool I've made: Create from Decklist.

The Community Wad Sync tool | Open

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This tool allows you to easily sync the Community Wad files from your Google Drive folder to your Game folder.

It needs to create an INI file. As such, you need to place it somewhere that it can write files. Anywhere except you Program Files folder, Windows folder, and the top level of a drive will work. If your game is installed to a folder other than Program Files, you can place it directly in there.

When you run the program for the first time, it will ask you to provide various paths. Unfortunately, it doesn't currently automatically seek out any of these paths, even if it's inside one of them. However, if you have your game folder and your google drive folder open, you can easily copy and paste the links from those windows' address bars rather than navigating using the crappy window provided.

If it asks for the same path multiple times, it's because something is wrong. When it says it needs to be a folder with a certain file or folder inside it, it checks to ensure that's the case and asks for the path again if that check fails.

If you cancel, it'll disable that feature, so you'll need to open the ini and put in the paths and set the syncing settings manually. However, except for the GameFolder dialogue, all of them will allow the tool to keep running.

It allows you to choose whether or not to sync the Core files and the Art files separately. It also allows you to choose whether the synced files will be loose files or packed .wad files for each. So, whatever combination you use, it can handle the syncing.

This tool is now a very easy way to install the CW. Adding the required folders to your Google Drive so they are downloaded and then running this tool will install the CW and keep it up to date, including the DLL requirement (which it can retrieve from either the packed or loose version of the CW Core).

I've just added the ability to sync decks, as well. If you provide a deck folder path in Google Drive, it will allow you to easily get new decks from Google Drive or whatever IDs you're subscribed to. Always make sure you add your own, but keep this in mind: if you are subscribed to an ID and you have decks in your Game Folder that are not in the Google Drive folder, it will move those decks to a subfolder (if it can). It also moves any conflicting decks from your Game Folder to a subfolder (if they have the same name as a deck that should be synced but is a different size or was modified at a different time).

It should never delete the files unless they exist in Google Drive, though. If they are in Google Drive, and the two copies are identical in size and modification time, then the copy in your Game Folder will be deleted.

This setup is because my main intention with this feature is to allow my friend and I to play more easily without relying on the somewhat clunky Multiplayer Sync Tool I made previously. Now, we can simply both ensure we're subscribed to the same IDs and sync before we begin.

The Deck Syncing feature is not tied to the other file syncing. It will only activate when you manually choose the option from the context menu on the notification tray's icon.

Context Menu -
Debug: If this is checked, many message boxes will appear explaining various steps of the program's code.

Log: If this is checked, the messages that would appear above are written to a log file.

View Log: Opens the log file (or optionally opens the folder containing the log file, which is also the script's location)

Sync: Immediately syncs files rather than waiting for the normal time.

Sync Decks: Syncs the deck files. Checks for any registered IDs and syncs those IDs' decks and Content Pack Enablers to your game folder. Only syncs decks that are different in some way. This will remove any decks not set to be synced or that are not in the Google Drive Decks folder (they're moved to a subfolder).

Register CPE ID: Asks for and registers one or more CPE IDs. (CPE: Content Pack Enabler) You can provide a list of numbers separated by commas (spaces are ignored). So, entering "9009" will cause my decks to be synced. "9009, 317, 1314" will cause all three of those IDs to be registered. Also accepts "TFM" (or "tfm") and "A" (but not "a"). If "A" is registered, it will cause the Sync Decks option to sync all wad files from the Decks Folder. Registering A will not change the IDs you have registered. It will not add each currently available ID to your registered list, but will instead set a special variable telling the deck syncing function to ignore the registered list and assume all IDs are registered.

Unregister CPE ID: Asks for and unregisters one or more CPE IDs. As with the above, it accepts lists, "TFM", "tfm", and "A".

View Registered CPE IDs: Shows a list of the IDs you currently have registered.

Isolate Used Cards and Art | Open

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This tool is useful for simplifying the CW. You provide the CW and some decks, and it'll remove any cards and art those decks don't use and pack everything up into a new, much smaller, wad file.

I've tried to make this a much simpler program than most of the others to use. When you run the exe, it'll ask for the name you want to use for the custom wad it will make. Sticking with the default is perfectly fine (I would suggest it).

It will then create a folder for your decks and ask you to provide those. Simply drop the deck wad files into the DECKS folder. This should be ALL of the decks you intend to use with the new file. Not one deck at a time (which is why they've got a folder of their own). Note that this means all decks for all players, since all players MUST end up with the EXACT same wad files for the game to allow them to play together. So all of the decks that you and your friends intend to use.

Next, it'll make a folder for Gibbed Tools and ask you to fill it. You can get Gibbed Tools in many places, including the Public Tools folder on Google Drive (linked at the end of this post as "Tools and utilities"). Drop the Gibbed Tools files directly into the Gibbed Tools folder (not a subfolder within it). It'll make sure it has all of the files it needs.

After the Gibbed Tools folder is properly filled, it will ask for the Community Wad core. This should be the wad file, not the loose version. It goes in the folder alongside the exe, not into a subfolder.

Finally, it'll ask for the art. Put in ALL art files at once. Main 1-16+ and the update. Once this step is done, it will begin processing everything.

It'll give you a progress bar so you know what's going on. Unpacking the wads can take quite awhile, but it only needs to do it once. Running it in the future won't require you to wait for that again. When it's done it will create a wad file with the name you told it to use. Assuming the CW was the only requirement of the provided decks, then the wad it makes will work as the sole requirement for those decks as well.

This should hopefully help any lag experienced in multiplayer (not to mention start up times) due to the size of the CW, but without reducing the number of available cards for deck-building.

A few useful links:
Community Wad main thread
Get or share new decks
Public Tools and utilities
Better instructions
Bug reports

Reserved

i wanted to use your tool, but I have problems with the configuration.
could you expand a little about the ini file?

I extracted both the core cards and the community wad cards and put the locations of the respective folders in the ini file, but when I try to make a deck I always get an empty xml file with no cards in it.

what may I be doing wrong?

thanks in advance. it's a great idea mate:)

I could have sworn I responded to this post. I'm sorry that I apparently didn't. If you didn't get it figured out, let me know.

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I've added an IRC to the Community Wad website. I'll basically always have it open. Whether or not I'm notified of things, however, is a different story.

For those of you who've never used an IRC, it's really, really simple. You choose a nickname that's not currently in use and click connect. No passwords or registration needed. You're dropped into a chat window to talk to everyone else in that group at the time. I'll try to keep it open so I can see any messages left there while I'm not active, but for bug reporting, you're probably better off with the form since I get emails about that (and I check my email compulsively).

EDIT: I've downloaded HexChat so I actually get notifications now. Sorry migookman. The browser version beeps, but it's extremely quiet on my system.

great, thks xander

I've updated the Community Wad Sync tool. To reflect this update, I've added a description of it to the first post.

Update includes the ability to sync decks and a check for whether or not the DLL requirement is met. I added the DLL to the Core Loose Files directory awhile back and also to the Packed Core folder, just so it would be available. The tool will now automatically grab it from there and add it to your game folder if it's not already there.

Xander9009 wrote:I could have sworn I responded to this post. I'm sorry that I apparently didn't. If you didn't get it figured out, let me know.

I think i'm having the exact same problem hehe. In the ini file, I get the first datapath fine, but the second I have no idea where to point it to.
Thanks!

I try to use your tool Create From Decklist, but I didn´t find the deck thas was finding, so I copied the card list of this site: http://archive.wizards.com/Magic/Magazi ... /deck/1291

and the result was:

Code: Select all

3  Arid Mesa
4  Celestial Colonnade
1  Glacial Fortress
2  Hallowed Fountain
2  Island
1  Mountain
1  Plains
1  Sacred Foundry
4  Scalding Tarn
2  Steam Vents
2  Sulfur Falls
3  Tectonic Edge

2  Restoration Angel
4  Snapcaster Mage
2  Vendilion Clique

3  Cryptic Command
3  Electrolyze
4  Lightning Bolt
2  Lightning Helix
3  Mana Leak
3  Path to Exile
2  Shadow of Doubt
2  Spell Snare
2  Sphinx's Revelation
1  Think Twice

1  Ajani Vengeant

your tool detected some cards, and the rest I added manually from deck builder, I changed the id and all the other stuff to edit, but the deck builder doesn't saved the changes of the xml, the wad is working correctly into the game, but the deck builder doesn't detect the wad file.
I verified the wad file is with the others deck's folder and is ok, so is a weird bug...

I wanna share with you the wad, if you can check the problem please?
And why the tool doesn't detected before the others cards if are into CW?

Thanks

I'm not sure I understand what's going wrong here. I dropped that wad into my game folder and loaded up the deck builder, and it loaded without a problem. I opened the deck and it also loaded without a problem with all of the pictures and other fields correct.

If you say it works in-game, then it appears to me there's nothing* wrong with the wad itself, though there may be something going on with your copy of the Deck Builder. I assume you either closed the deck builder and reopened after creating the wad file or went to Tools->Refresh Data? (Note that the main difference between the two that I've noticed is that Refresh Data doesn't cause the error window to appear. I'm not certain if it still runs in the background.)

As for the tool not working, I suspect that it didn't know one of the two paths to properly locate all of the cards. About half of the cards are int eh CW while about the other half are in the core game. I copied the list from your spoiler and ran the tool and it did exactly as it was supposed to: it told me it couldn't find Shadow of Doubt and it ignored basic lands. Everything else was included.

My suggestion: open the ini file and copy the path to the CW Cards. Paste that path into a folder and press enter. If it doesn't take you to the folder filled with CW XMLs, then it's wrong. Do the same thing for the Core Cards folder.

*EDIT: Added 'nothing', as was intended.

Borborigmos wrote:

Xander9009 wrote:I could have sworn I responded to this post. I'm sorry that I apparently didn't. If you didn't get it figured out, let me know.

I think i'm having the exact same problem hehe. In the ini file, I get the first datapath fine, but the second I have no idea where to point it to.
Thanks!

I would suggest trying the suggestion from the above post. If both paths open the folders filled with the correct cards and it's still not working, let me know.

If you say it works in-game, then it appears to me there's wrong with the wad itself, though there may be something going on with your copy of the Deck Builder. I assume you either closed the deck builder and reopened after creating the wad file or went to Tools->Refresh Data? (Note that the main difference between the two that I've noticed is that Refresh Data doesn't cause the error window to appear. I'm not certain if it still runs in the background.)

my fault, Its working. sorry!!!!
How is these deck?

As for the tool not working, I suspect that it didn't know one of the two paths to properly locate all of the cards. About half of the cards are int eh CW while about the other half are in the core game. I copied the list from your spoiler and ran the tool and it did exactly as it was supposed to: it told me it couldn't find Shadow of Doubt and it ignored basic lands. Everything else was included.

My suggestion: open the ini file and copy the path to the CW Cards. Paste that path into a folder and press enter. If it doesn't take you to the folder filled with CW XMLs, then it's wrong. Do the same thing for the Core Cards folder.

the path of the core and the CW are the same, into the root folder of the game, because if I try create a new folder into the game to put only the CW, the game will crash.

Code: Select all

[General]
CoreCards=D:\juegos\juegos instalados\Magic 2014 Duels of the Planeswalkers
CWCards=D:\juegos\juegos instalados\Magic 2014 Duels of the Planeswalkers
MM=1

what is wrong?

You can put the folder for the CW cards wherever you want. Same for the Core cards. They can go in a folder in your My Documents folder, on your Desktop, anywhere you want them where they don't cause problems.

Looking at your filelist from the other thread, you don't have the loose files for the CW. There is no folder for it reference, so it can only find the base game cards (because only the base game cards are in your game folder).

To get the loose files easily, download Gibbed Tools (there's a zip for it in the same folder as the Create From Decklist tool) and drop the CW Core onto the Universal Converter program. You'll get all of the loose CW files out of it. Grab the CARDS folder from a few levels down, put it where you want it, and then delete the rest.

Looking at your filelist from the other thread, you don't have the loose files for the CW. There is no folder for it reference, so it can only find the base game cards (because only the base game cards are in your game folder).

To get the loose files easily, download Gibbed Tools (there's a zip for it in the same folder as the Create From Decklist tool) and drop the CW Core onto the Universal Converter program. You'll get all of the loose CW files out of it. Grab the CARDS folder from a few levels down, put it where you want it, and then delete the rest.

Ok, I followed your instructions, but my only doubt is what I have to do with the game base cards?
I should put them into CW folder too?
Some cards are the same with diff id btw CW and base, but others are diff.

What I should do?

nachonal986 wrote:

Looking at your filelist from the other thread, you don't have the loose files for the CW. There is no folder for it reference, so it can only find the base game cards (because only the base game cards are in your game folder).

To get the loose files easily, download Gibbed Tools (there's a zip for it in the same folder as the Create From Decklist tool) and drop the CW Core onto the Universal Converter program. You'll get all of the loose CW files out of it. Grab the CARDS folder from a few levels down, put it where you want it, and then delete the rest.

Ok, I followed your instructions, but my only doubt is what I have to do with the game base cards?
I should put them into CW folder too?
Some cards are the same with diff id btw CW and base, but others are diff.

What I should do?

Putting them into the CW's CARDS folder is fine I'd put them in a separate folder, but it shouldn't really matter. The tool just needs to be able to find the card's filename if it's been coded. It will look in both locations you set it to. It doesn't matter which one the cards are in (although, it's set up to use the base game cards first).

Xander9009 wrote:

nachonal986 wrote:

Looking at your filelist from the other thread, you don't have the loose files for the CW. There is no folder for it reference, so it can only find the base game cards (because only the base game cards are in your game folder).

To get the loose files easily, download Gibbed Tools (there's a zip for it in the same folder as the Create From Decklist tool) and drop the CW Core onto the Universal Converter program. You'll get all of the loose CW files out of it. Grab the CARDS folder from a few levels down, put it where you want it, and then delete the rest.

Ok, I followed your instructions, but my only doubt is what I have to do with the game base cards?
I should put them into CW folder too?
Some cards are the same with diff id btw CW and base, but others are diff.

What I should do?

Putting them into the CW's CARDS folder is fine I'd put them in a separate folder, but it shouldn't really matter. The tool just needs to be able to find the card's filename if it's been coded. It will look in both locations you set it to. It doesn't matter which one the cards are in (although, it's set up to use the base game cards first).

thks Xander, for the deck converter, if some card doesnt appears, if you press cancel, will ignore or delete it from the deck?