I don't know if you used Starfire Assistant but there was someone called Jim Randall (I think) who created a program called SAUpgrade, which did what you are trying to do. It wasn't perfect and games that used it would very gradually pick up errors but it kept some campaigns going through an amazing number of versions. I never used it or provided support for it, but there are probably a few people on this forum that did. It's possible you might find a copy of it somewhere on the web and maybe even the source code/script

Steve

I still have saupgrade and have created a script to go from v4.5 to v4.6, which seems to work.  No promises for it working or the game being stable afterwards, but it may let you carry on with a campaign you're attached to.  It's posted in the installation section.

Stephen

For v4.6 I have upped the tax income from civilian mining from 50 to 125 wealth per CMC. It still costs 250 wealth to hire one (actually 375 to hire minus 125 tax but 250 and no tax is simpler). This brings the tax vs profit ratio in line with that from civilian shipping. (assuming 1/3 of corporate profit is taxed). This also makes CMCs attractive as a source of wealth as an alternative to a source of minerals.

Steve

I hate Access  

This was my best game so far and I had some really good future plans but I'd rather stay on track with your new versions otherwise there is no point in me testing and providing feedback.

Whenever you get around to writing it in a new language, pick a DB that uses T-SQL  

I don't know if you used Starfire Assistant but there was someone called Jim Randall (I think) who created a program called SAUpgrade, which did what you are trying to do. It wasn't perfect and games that used it would very gradually pick up errors but it kept some campaigns going through an amazing number of versions. I never used it or provided support for it, but there are probably a few people on this forum that did. It's possible you might find a copy of it somewhere on the web and maybe even the source code/script

Steve

These are the structure changes that I could find using this free software

Missiles table has new columns
MissileSeries is a new table
ShipNames has new columns

I created the following SQL - access is a bitch, I have been spoilt by MSSQL and Enterprise Manager in work ... the hassle just to get the below script was driving me nuts.

Run this in a query window while you have Stevefire open from your 4.4x installation.

NOTE, run this at your own risk!

NOTE, defaults can not be added using query window within access (wtf!?) so that may be an issue. If it is then just go to design view and add 0 as the default to the currency columns.

Code: [Select]

ALTER TABLE Missiles ADD COLUMN MissileSeriesID Integer,
MSPReactor Currency,
MSPWarhead Currency,
MSPEngine Currency,
MSPFuel Currency,
MSPAgility Currency,
MSPActive Currency,
MSPThermal Currency,
MSPEM Currency,
MSPGeo Currency,
MSPArmour Currency,
MSPECM Currency

CREATE TABLE MissileSeries (RaceID COUNTER NOT NULL, SeriesID Integer, SeriesName Text)

ALTER TABLE ShipNames ADD COLUMN ClassicalAstronomers BIT,
Guardians BIT,
SixteenthCenturyExplorers BIT

Steve, are those 3 tables the only ones you changed?

Did you add any new rows to tables that contain constants? The tool I found only appears to compare structure and not date

I added about 800 rows to the KnownSystems table with new stars plus there are two new commander names themes. I also remember adding a couple of default values in a couple of tables to avoid some null errors but unfortunately I can't remember where. The new columns in Missiles will also need to have the Default Values set to zero or they may also cause null errors. The problems occur because I often set default values in database tables so that when I create a new record for that table, I don't need to set every field in the table - just the ones that are applicable for the record I am adding. The default values take care of the rest.

As to other data changes, I couldn't swear to it unfortunately. I just don't keep detailed records of the changes and there is a huge amount of static data. I think I swapped around the order of the last two options for warships, capital ships and FACs in the NPRFleetOrders table. When I first started with SA I used a version system and kept more detailed records but it took a lot of time and for a one man project it wasn't really necessary. Instead I comment my code very heavily and also add notes to the DB.

The new version 4.6 changes around the FleetOrders table a little more to correct some yoyo bugs, although mainly for notes I think. There will also be some more themes. Completely importing the KnownSystems, CommanderNames, NameThemes and FleetOrders would probably help

I still would advise players to either patch normally and start a new game or stick with the older version until you are ready to patch. If you really want to try updating the v4.46 database, then the above looks like the best bet. However, if you report a bug, please remind me that this is an upgraded DB or I could chase my tail looking for a bug that doesn't exist in the non-upgraded version.


Steve

Quote from: "welchbloke"

Quote from: "Steve Walmsley"

It looks like I will need to release another DB update later tonight to fix a couple of the yoyo bugs so don't start any major campaigns in v4.5

Steve

And of course I read this after designing all of my ships  

You could continue with v4.5 rather than losing them. The v4.6 changes are to fix yoyo problems that you may not run into anyway.

Steve

I'd only designed the ships, I hadn't started incrementing time yet. I enjoy the design proocess so chopping to 4.6 isn't a chore  

It looks like I will need to release another DB update later tonight to fix a couple of the yoyo bugs so don't start any major campaigns in v4.5

Steve

And of course I read this after designing all of my ships  

Steve could you throw up the v4.46 DB quickly for me please?  I am at work, want to try SQLDiff, but I do not have the v4.46 DB on hand.

*edit*
never mind, found v4.40