Aurora 4x

C# Aurora => C# Installation => Topic started by: liveware on April 30, 2020, 03:51:57 PM

Title: Current installation process?
Post by: liveware on April 30, 2020, 03:51:57 PM
Greetings,

It has been a few years since playing the original VB version of this game and I was pleasantly surprised to find that a new C# based version is now available.   First and foremost, many thanks to Steve for his efforts to create this masterpiece of science fiction.   I have encountered few games with such depth.   

Now, I am curious what  the 'proper' installation method is for the C# version.   I tried originally downloading the v1.  51 'full version' but that appears to be missing some critical files, notably Aurora.  exe.   After some trial and error I downloaded the v1.  00 version and that seemed to work well.   I eventually decided to install all of the patches, and that works well up to version v1.  8.   However, when trying to patch to v1.  9, the game does not work very well at all.   I get a bunch of error messages about 'object not set to a reference of an object' or something like that and can't even get the game to run for even a single time increment.   V1.  8 seemed to work however so that's what I've been using.   

Any suggestions on how to get v1.  9 working from a clean install?

Edit: Also does anyone know how make the spaces after periods go away? I've tried fixing them twice now and they keep coming back.
Title: Re: Current installation process?
Post by: JacenHan on April 30, 2020, 04:18:26 PM
The v1.5.1 full installation (here (http://aurora2.pentarch.org/index.php?topic=10635.0)) should have Aurora.exe, if it doesn't there is a mistake somewhere. It doesn't really matter though, since Step 2 of install is to delete the AuroraDB.db and Aurora.exe files and replace them with the v1.9 patch (here (http://aurora2.pentarch.org/index.php?topic=11134.0)); you don't need to add the patches in order. Then replace the new Aurora.exe with the v1.9.3 file (here (http://aurora2.pentarch.org/index.php?topic=11172.0)).
Title: Re: Current installation process?
Post by: davidb86 on April 30, 2020, 04:20:14 PM
The spaces are a spam control measure.  They will go away after you get enough posts.  Erik Luken knows how many,  I thik it was 10 at one time.
Title: Re: Current installation process?
Post by: Froggiest1982 on April 30, 2020, 04:28:32 PM
The v1.5.1 full installation (here (http://aurora2.pentarch.org/index.php?topic=10635.0)) should have Aurora.exe, if it doesn't there is a mistake somewhere. It doesn't really matter though, since Step 2 of install is to delete the AuroraDB.db and Aurora.exe files and replace them with the v1.9 patch (here (http://aurora2.pentarch.org/index.php?topic=11134.0)); you don't need to add the patches in order. Then replace the new Aurora.exe with the v1.9.3 file (here (http://aurora2.pentarch.org/index.php?topic=11172.0)).

install either 1.0 or 1.51
delete aurora exe and db file
install db from 1.9
install exe from 1.9.3
Title: Re: Current installation process?
Post by: liveware on April 30, 2020, 04:36:53 PM
Ah, so deletion of previous files is critical.  I was simply overwriting them.  That is a curious problem. 

I will attempt another clean install and delete files before copying new files.  Will post back results. 

Thanks also for the answer to my space question also.  Need to work on generating some value-added posts.
Title: Re: Current installation process?
Post by: TMaekler on April 30, 2020, 04:49:44 PM
I am still wondering why those files need to be deleted rather than overwritten? I mean, I am overwriting them since 1.0; and have encountered no issues at all... so where does this idea come from?
Title: Re: Current installation process?
Post by: liveware on April 30, 2020, 05:03:24 PM
So, I went through bthe whole process again, this time manually deleting files prior to copying new ones.  However, I'm still getting the same problem with v1. 90.

I am beginning to suspect a problem with the v1. 90 archive file.  I downloaded the file again just now from Steve's v1. 90 patch post and when I extract the archive I get a warning about AuroraDB having additional data at the end of the archive.  I don't get this error from any of the other archive files.  I'm on a windows 10 machine and I use 7zip for extraction of archives. 

Any ideas?
Title: Re: Current installation process?
Post by: liveware on April 30, 2020, 05:11:08 PM
So I also re-downloaded the v151 archive file just now and it does now contain Aurora. exe and the DB file.  So I am going to try using this as my start point for another clean install and see if that works.
Title: Re: Current installation process?
Post by: liveware on April 30, 2020, 05:20:47 PM
Just so that I am sure I documented it somewhere, v1.  80 on my machine gives a "function 2786" error message after each of the first three time increments in the game.   Haven't played long enough to know if this problem persists later on or not.   

Said another way, the error does not appear after the first three increments are complete, and all increments I've observed after that do not result in an error message.
Title: Re: Current installation process?
Post by: liveware on April 30, 2020, 05:27:28 PM
Ok, so I tried another clean install starting with V151 and then applied all patches up to v190.   V180 still seems to be the highest functional version I can get running (notwithstanding the error mentioned in previous post). 

I noticed that my DB file for the v190 patch is considerably smaller than the v180 and previous.   My v190 is about 8000 kb compared to v180 which is about 80 000 kb.   Is this normal?
Title: Re: Current installation process?
Post by: Garfunkel on April 30, 2020, 05:39:19 PM
Make sure that you are not installing under Program Files. It's best to install Aurora to C:\Games\Aurora or something similar to avoid issues with Windows protecting files.
Title: Re: Current installation process?
Post by: Froggiest1982 on April 30, 2020, 05:50:11 PM
I am still wondering why those files need to be deleted rather than overwritten? I mean, I am overwriting them since 1.0; and have encountered no issues at all... so where does this idea come from?

I don't know, I remember Steve saying something on the database file back on VB6 that does not allow to overwrite properly so not sure on C#. I think for the exe it's not needed.

However he always saying to delete the files in all the releases, so there should be a reason for it.

http://aurora2.pentarch.org/index.php?topic=11172.msg129477#msg129477

Make sure that you are not installing under Program Files. It's best to install Aurora to C:\Games\Aurora or something similar to avoid issues with Windows protecting files.

This is critical as well, thanks for remind it, I completely forgot to mention.
Title: Re: Current installation process?
Post by: liveware on April 30, 2020, 05:54:12 PM
Ah, perhaps it is a windows thing.  Haven't actually used windows for quite a long time. . .  been hanging out in unix land for several years now.

Double checked my install path, it should be in a good legal directory.  But then again windows likes to misbehave sometimes.

Oh well I guess I will just stick to v1. 80 for now.  Am looking forward to maybe someday getting newer versions working as they have some interesting new features.
Title: Re: Current installation process?
Post by: liveware on April 30, 2020, 06:36:44 PM
Holy frack I think I got v193 working.    Here's what I did:

1.    Download all necessary install files.    I used only the files that were being served by what I presume to be Steve's website (aurora2.   pentarch.   org).    The applicable archive file versions are: V151Full, V170, V173, V180, V190, V192, V193.   

2.    Extract each archive into a separate folder.   

3.    Before copying contents of each sequential patch into the V151 folder, delete any conflicting files in the V151 folder.    Repeat this process until you get to V193.    Copy contents of each patch into V151 folder after deleting conflicting files in V151 folder.   

4.    Once all patch files have been copied, run Aurora. exe from the V151 folder and you should now be running V193 of Aurora.    At this point you might rename the V151 folder to avoid future confusion about versions.   

The game is now working on my windows 10 machine error free thus far.    My previously reported V180 error message no longer appears.   

Anyway hope this helps someone else get this amazing game running properly.    It is worth the effort!
Title: Re: Current installation process?
Post by: Father Tim on April 30, 2020, 10:58:29 PM
I am still wondering why those files need to be deleted rather than overwritten? I mean, I am overwriting them since 1.0; and have encountered no issues at all... so where does this idea come from?


It comes from "bad" Windows file management processes, which can 'version' the files instead of replacing them -- thus leaving Aurora silently running one or more of the old files.
Title: Re: Current installation process?
Post by: Mark Yanning on May 03, 2020, 06:38:24 AM
Hello guys, maybe I'm doing something wrong istalling Aurora #C. When I create a new game, it seems I don't have any Search Points to assign as usually a new start game has, and research speed is super fast, even if I'm a new race, just created with standard values. So, I install starting from 1.5.1, then I patch it to 1.9.0, then to 1.9.3, just deleting and copying new files. Is it right? I'm a bit confused  ??? ???. Thanks
Title: Re: Current installation process?
Post by: Black on May 03, 2020, 06:55:11 AM
Do you have decimal separator set to period or comma?
Title: Re: Current installation process?
Post by: Mark Yanning on May 03, 2020, 08:43:20 AM
(https://www.boscodiogigia.it/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/period.jpg)

I think is a comma
Title: Re: Current installation process?
Post by: Black on May 03, 2020, 08:55:40 AM
That is most likely cause of your problems. Aurora is made with period as decimal separator. You need to change to period for Aurora to work correctly.
Title: Re: Current installation process?
Post by: Mark Yanning on May 03, 2020, 08:56:56 AM
Ok, thanks I have changed it, but still I have the problem. Maybe I need to restart PC? Or reinstall everything? Thanks
Title: Re: Current installation process?
Post by: smoelf on May 03, 2020, 09:01:14 AM
Did you only change the decimal separator? In my experience you also need to change the thousands' separator from a period to a comma. Essentially, they need to switch places. This also has to happen before you create a new game. If the game is already created, the damage is done, because some values are loaded only at that point.
Title: Re: Current installation process?
Post by: Mark Yanning on May 03, 2020, 09:04:42 AM
I get it, thanks. Gonna try right now, it should work. I just changed decimal separator, not the thousands' one
Title: Re: Current installation process?
Post by: Mark Yanning on May 03, 2020, 09:16:33 AM
Did you only change the decimal separator? In my experience you also need to change the thousands' separator from a period to a comma. Essentially, they need to switch places. This also has to happen before you create a new game. If the game is already created, the damage is done, because some values are loaded only at that point.

Nope, something still doesn't work. I think I set every separatore to period, but still research points, and instant build points seem to don't work

(https://www.boscodiogigia.it/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/points.jpg) This in race creator
(https://www.boscodiogigia.it/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/instantbuild.jpg) This after created race

Here my settings: (https://www.boscodiogigia.it/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/settings.jpg)
Title: Re: Current installation process?
Post by: smoelf on May 03, 2020, 09:26:45 AM
Right, the tricky part is that "simbolo raggruppamento cifre" has to be a comma, while "separatore decimale" has to be a period. That should fix it.
Title: Re: Current installation process?
Post by: Mark Yanning on May 03, 2020, 09:30:51 AM
Allright, thanks. It's defenetly a brain teaser  ::) . Confirm, it's working now!
Title: Re: Current installation process?
Post by: smoelf on May 03, 2020, 02:43:12 PM
Allright, thanks. It's defenetly a brain teaser  ::) . Confirm, it's working now!

Nice. Glad to have helped :)
Title: Re: Current installation process?
Post by: DFNewb on May 03, 2020, 02:50:24 PM
Did you only change the decimal separator? In my experience you also need to change the thousands' separator from a period to a comma. Essentially, they need to switch places. This also has to happen before you create a new game. If the game is already created, the damage is done, because some values are loaded only at that point.

Nope, something still doesn't work. I think I set every separatore to period, but still research points, and instant build points seem to don't work

(https://www.boscodiogigia.it/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/points.jpg) This in race creator
(https://www.boscodiogigia.it/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/instantbuild.jpg) This after created race

Here my settings: (https://www.boscodiogigia.it/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/settings.jpg)

Normally it should look like 80 000 for the research points just so you know, but 80000 also works in my testing. I guess your best bet is to manually do it every time for them (delete the periods).
Title: Re: Current installation process?
Post by: SpikeTheHobbitMage on May 04, 2020, 02:46:25 PM
You have both decimal and thousands set to '.'.  "Simbolo raggruppamento cifre" should be either a ',' or a ' '.