The update file looks like this- (Instructions)
Welcome to YOUR online game. Checking for updates, please stand by.
\maps\map_0.dat, map_0.xvx, 1/20/01 1:47:21 AM, http://www.yoursite.com/files/map_0.dat
\maps\map_1.dat, map_1.xvx, 1/20/01 1:47:21 AM, http://www.yoursite.com/files/map_1.dat
\maps\map_2.dat, map_2.xvx, 1/20/01 1:47:21 AM, http://www.yoursite.com/files/map_2.dat
\maps\map_3.dat, map_3.xvx, 1/20/01 1:47:21 AM, http://www.yoursite.com/files/map_3.dat
Okay, first some basic rules in creating this update.txt file.. I suggest using windowsnotepad and turning OFF wordwrap (Edit>Word Wrap). It's very important that you followthe exact structure or you will error out..
The first line is the NEWS or Message of the day, Use it to display any changes to your game or just to say hi. This has to be on the first line.
1: "Welcome to YOUR Online game. Checking for updates, please stand by."
Now lets break down the actual Meat of the file update lines. The rest of the lines are the actual update information. Each line represents one file to update/patch.
\maps\map_0.dat, map_0.xvx, 1/20/01 1:47:21 AM, http://www.yoursite.com/files/map_0.dat
This update.txt downloads 4 new or modified map files. There is 4 sections per line split with a comma and space ", ". The first part "\maps\map_0.dat" is the actual location this file will be downloaded to using the App.Path as the root. So if your game is in C:\MYGAME, It will download to C:\MYGAME\MAPS\MAP_0.DAT.
The second part map_0.xvx is the name of the file that gets stored in the App.Path\update directory. These files are timestamped. the filename must be named the same as the actual file you are updating but with the .xvx extension. These files are used to keep track of what updates the player has already downloaded.
The Third Part 1/20/01 1:47:21 AM is the timestamp (time) you posted the file. If at anytime you make a new update available, just change this to the current time and when people log into your game, it will compare the new time to the old updated time and download all files that have different times. MAKE sure you use this time Format
The Forth and Final Part
http://www.yoursite.com/files/map_0.dat
This is the actual location the updater can find the file.
Keep it in this format and you won't have any problems..
=============================================================================
NOW THE LAST BUT MOST IMPORTANT THING!!!
Ok when you are done modifying/creating a update.txt file in NOTEPAD. BEFORE you save it,
You MUST place your cursor right below the last line of text. Make Sense? If you don't it
will error out because all the information is parsed with vbCrLf and counted. So before you,
Make it look like this
Welcome to YOUR online game. Checking for updates, please stand by.
\maps\map_0.dat, map_0.xvx, 1/20/01 1:47:21 AM, http://www.yoursite.com/files/map_0.dat
\maps\map_1.dat, map_1.xvx, 1/20/01 1:47:21 AM, http://www.yoursite.com/files/map_1.dat
\maps\map_2.dat, map_2.xvx, 1/20/01 1:47:21 AM, http://www.yoursite.com/files/map_2.dat
\maps\map_3.dat, map_3.xvx, 1/20/01 1:47:21 AM, http://www.yoursite.com/files/map_3.dat
|<--------YOUR CURSOR MUST BE THERE!!!
