Install directory optional and only used for Compile and Copy

[x87]

Game directory should not be mandatory (and sometimes is just missing -- Mobile games) and only required for Compile&Copy. All data files can be controlled via mode configuration.

[x87]

See #6

[XMDS]

In fact, I think the directory is really unnecessary or configure a minimal game data folder.
In fact, the mobile version is necessary. For example, VC and 3 mobile modes. I don’t know about GTA3, but some global variables of the VC Android version are slightly different. For example, the two variables representing the player are not ACTOR and CHAR.
In Android VC, it is $303 and $304. It is necessary to make a separate mobile mode for VC. Of course there are other differences.

[x87]

@XMDS I believe that is what @OrionSR had in mind in #6 If he would be kind enough to share his work I can include those new modes with the SB update.

[OrionSR]

I have a vc_arm edit mode setup for SB 3.3.3 built around a customvariable.ini with appropriate modifications and vc android data and text files. It shouldn't be too difficult to update the edit mode with the 3.4 features but my confidence is the quality is low because I seldom work with VC and haven't tested the mobile edit mode beyond decompiling a standard main.

@XMDS Would you be interested in testing a vc mobile edit mode to improve our confidence in the quality before publication?

[x87]

I think I need to re-purpose Game directory setting and separate it from the Compile&Copy feature. My thoughts:

Game Directory is optional and only used to resolve the @game: variable in games.xml. If the directory is not present you might not get extra information during decompilation (such model names, gxt texts, etc), but it highly depends on mode configuration. A mode could be self-contained starting from v3.5 and all files could be served from the local directory.

If not set: decompilation still works, but some files might not be loaded (if they use the game variable in the mode config).

Copy Directory - a new configuration. Also optional and only serves as a target directory where the compiler should copy the result. Could be any local directory or connected device. #11

If not set: compile&copy feature is not available.

[XMDS]

I have a vc_arm edit mode setup for SB 3.3.3 built around a customvariable.ini with appropriate modifications and vc android data and text files. It shouldn't be too difficult to update the edit mode with the 3.4 features but my confidence is the quality is low because I seldom work with VC and haven't tested the mobile edit mode beyond decompiling a standard main.

@XMDS Would you be interested in testing a vc mobile edit mode to improve our confidence in the quality before publication?

Yes. The reality is very busy recently and there is no reply to the message. I can help with the test in the last few days, but I don’t know what to test. Can I just use the VCM mode to edit the CLEO script to test? Or, we should change to a convenient social chat software.

[OrionSR]

Sure. If you can find me in a common Discord server (SP?) then send me a direct message. Or you could send me a PM on GTAForums with contact info on Discord.

But... I don't think I should try to take any shortcuts. I need to get Sanny 3.5 installed and start working with the edit modes again. I've got another project I think I can wrap up today, then I'll get started. (My main concern is getting my current edit modes properly archived so I can start working with a clean install.)

And where to work? My preference, as usual, is on GTAForums. Moving the discussion there would make it the first thing I check when I sit down at the computer. And for many of these edit modes I'd hope to recruit some more input from people that actually use them. I've got an old Edit Mode topic that could be revived, or perhaps a new topic would reduce confusion with issues in previous versions.

https://gtaforums.com/topic/824135-sanny-custom-edit-modes/

But GTAForums doesn't manage attached files, and hosting on Google Drive or Dropbox has been an awkward solution. Hopefully we can manage the files with Github. I had something setup on Github for various formats of CustomVaribles.ini but that way years ago and is in pretty poor shape. I doubt it's worth fixing. @x87 What strategy should we work towards.

Doesn't seem to work anymore: https://github.com/OrionSR/CustomVariables.ini

"Testing" could involve just actually using the edit mode to see if anything breaks. Converting or writing scripts that make heavy use of custom variable names is the primary focus. Decompiling with and without custom variable names can often highlight issues. Also, comparing decompiled main.scm files from each version can demonstrate consistency in variable names. Tough work though as many differences will always be present for the numbered variables.

How easy is it for you to compare IPL files for each version? I think I was using WinMerge to compare PC and mobile data files for SA and for the most part the only difference was that LOD distances changed for some objects. But as far as Sanny is concerned that shouldn't matter. I could conserve space by sharing the save data set.

[x87]

What strategy should we work towards.

As usual I would suggest using GTAMods.com for collaborative editing, even though this site gained questionable reputation for instability. I think most if not all involved people have an account there. Thats the easiest way.

Github could be an alternative (e.g. this repo: https://github.com/sannybuilder/data) but it requires extra familiarity with git.