5.0.17 out now

5.0.17 is now available for download from the ADRIFT website. There are quite a few enhancements in this release, many of which are revolved around beefing up the flexibility of task actions. The list of changes is as follows:

Enhancements

• Allow LocationOf function to accept objects as key (ID 4281)
• New Event Control "Event should start off when you enter Location:" (ID 3327)
• Special group properties (ID 3269)
• Task shortcuts for characters (ID 4200)
• System task triggers (ID 4130)
• Initialise multiple array elements (ID 4167)
• Modify walk step order (ID 4193)
• Drag variables (ID 4189)
• Auto-backups (ID 4188)
• Enable default fonts (ID 4151)
• Location Groups (ID 556)
• Scatter objects througout a location group - Updated (ID 1194)
• Loop through objects in actions (ID 1366)
• Action - Move Character [Group] (ID 1445)
• Moving Objects (ID 451)
• Actions Enhancements (ID 608)
• Move All Objects Somewhere to Somewhere (ID 1365)
• Move Objects in or out of an object group (ID 1215)
• Climb Objects (ID 2908)

Bug Fixes

• Character comes across in walk doesn’t work (ID 4232)
• Player Character Properties - Cannot Assign in Actions. (ID 4152)
• Renaming Folders (ID 3049)
• nested functions (ID 3916)
• Critical Error on New Object Creation (ID 4006)
• integers positive only (ID 4171)
• Save game not working in command window (ID 2666)
• Copy character - shared noun (ID 3053)
• Player inside Any Object Restriction Crash (ID 1413)
• Runner State or PropertyTest (ID 3892)
• Integer Properties Not Working (ID 1217)
• Task shortcuts specific ordering (ID 4201)
• Changing Specifics always applies (ID 4199)
• Library - Put Objects in Others (ID 3038)
• Editing Properties In Actions. (ID 2873)
• Map ribbon selects on app focus (ID 3279)
• Characters Location Hidden or Nowhere? (ID 530)
• %CharacterDescriptor[key]% does not work. (ID 818)
• %Character1% gives error in runner. (ID 2769)
• Move Character to Nowhere Causes Runner Crash (ID 1244)
• Presentation Bug with Move Character in Direction Action (ID 1537)
• Object Groups Properties (ID 851)
• Event - Unset task (ID 2925)
• Can’t set dictionary location using browser (ID 2874)
• Command Line Failure in Runner (ID 1367)
• Randomness (ID 2660)

Action Power!

One of my main objectives for the next release is to boost the power of task actions. Up until now, it has only been possible to move specific objects, all held or all worn objects like so:

I have now added more options, so you can now move specific objects, everything at a location, everything held or worn by a player, everything in or on an object, everything in a group, or everything with a particular property, like so:

As well as just being able to move objects, you can add and remove them from groups:

Characters have been improved in much the same way, and I have introduced a Locations tab to move locations in and out of groups.

I realise this will require an extra couple of selections from the dropdown, but I think the additional time taken to select the options will be worth the additional power and flexibility.

I just need to do a little work on Properties and Variables to finish it off.

ADRIFT 5 goes Beta

I have now released ADRIFT 5.0.16, which is the first version to go Beta.  I think ADRIFT has now come to a point where I believe it is capable of creating full adventures with a certain amount of reliability.  There is still a long way to go, lots of bugs to fix, and many more enhancements to go in, but I think it's been long enough in development (about 6 years!) that it's about time it was opened to a larger audience.

Anyway, the changes in this version are as follows:

Enhancements

• Allow variables in macros (ID 2611)
• Auto centre the map axis (ID 2557)
• Endings (ID 610)
• Fixing the END game option in tasks (ID 1211)
• Shortcuts (ID 134)
• Registration (ID 2539)
• Commands with three or more references (ID 971)

Bug Fixes

• Problem saving anchor points (ID 2628)
• Specifics not matching References (ID 2613)
• Sequential references (ID 966)
• Loading previous saved game (ID 2065)
• Task priorities (ID 762)
• Short Room Descriptions (ID 1830)
• Center Doesn’t Continue Past Newline (ID 1368)
• Put Object In Object always fails. (ID 2570)
• Reference options not updating immediately (ID 2559)
• Character Groups show no characters. (ID 1405)
• Exporting as a module changes name of .taf (ID 1666)
• Game title / Author name won’t save (ID 1714)
• Text in Hints Doesn’t Save (ID 1544)
• Cannot Delete Hints, Properties, or Text Overrides (ID 1545)
• Location Properties - Unable to Select in Restrictions (ID 1560)
• Working with multiple items (ID 1416)
• Put Unknown Object In Object - Runner Crash (ID 1727)
• Error after maximising map and clicking folder in tree structure (ID 1600)
• Show exit from locations along with descriptions does not stay ticked (ID 2380)
• Problem Using Delete Key in Find Box (ID 2277)
• CopyStream error (ID 2463)
• Randomness not completely random in tasks. (ID 1563)
• When the object is listed in location, display this. (ID 920)
• Randomness Not Random (ID 1264)
• Can’t Select Characters in Specific Tasks (ID 1834)
• Seen Locations - Menu Items Missing (ID 1835)
• Events - Copy and Paste Issue (ID 1913)
• General Task Involving 2 Characters (ID 1869)
• Double Brackets do not work in alternate task restrictions (ID 1471)
• Deleting Text Overides does not work. (ID 1503)

5.0.15 out now

5.0.15 is now available.  The biggest enhancement in this release is the ability to delete items without resorting to exporting as a module, removing text and re-importing.  Here is the full list of changes:

Enhancements

• Short room descriptions (ID 540)
• Changing character properties (ID 116)
• Character on character missing restriction (ID 782)
• Folders do not show or allow sort by task priority (ID 992)
• Properties for Locations (ID 941)
• Referenced Direction as a restriction (ID 990)
• Deleting (ID 54)

Bug Fixes

• Renaming system tasks (ID 1258)
• Map is closed but cannot open it because "Map" button is disabled (as if the map was open) (ID 1314)
• Moving Alt Texts Can Cause Crash (ID 1142)
• Missing restriction option (ID 690)
• Drop items into descriptions has broken (ID 701)
• Listobjectsonandin - bad function error (ID 827)
• Wildcards Crash Search (ID 951)
• Put Container in itself causes runner error (ID 529)
• Object Properties of type object list (ID 994)
• Secondary location picture (ID 1035)
• Alternate descriptions for object descriptions (ID 877)
• Runner crashes when moving character to nowhere (ID 1118)
• Error when deleting a created property (ID 174)
• Object Statelists and spaces (ID 861)
• Event - Display Message When at this location (ID 923)
• Modules not working. (ID 1041)
• Cannot CUT locations (ID 997)
• Dropping when inside objects (ID 678)
• Worn objects fail visibility test when on an object (ID 1040)
• Crash when map is in it’s own window (ID 1011)

In/Out directions

In and Out directions are now displayed on the map.  The location of the nodes is automatically determined based on the locations of the map nodes, and will always be mid-way between any two anchors.

Further Map improvements

I have now added a rotation about the Z-axis in the map display, which I believe gives an improved perspective. This, along with optional axes and grid display mean that the map is shaping up very nicely indeed.

5.0.14 out now

5.0.14 is now available.  The most notable change in this release is the map.  Please note that the map is not yet complete, and I intend on adding more functionality (such as colour/transparency customisation, grid lines, up/down linking etc).  However, it should still be a significant improvement over the v4 map.

Here is a screenshot of the main form with the embedded map...

Changes in this release are:

Enhancements

• Map (ID 858)
• Double-click folder (ID 700)

Bug Fixes

• Password (ID 984)
• Alternate Text - Missing Option (ID 826)
• Folder list doesn’t remember position or pinned status on close/open (ID 970)
• Reference order (ID 965)
• Give Character Object - Parser Problem (ID 807)
• Containers cannot have ’in’ in their name (ID 908)
• Runner - Command Entry Issue - UPDATED (ID 306)
• Disambiguity is causing problems (ID 846)
• Getting up from an object (chair) (ID 848)
• Selecting recent document doesn’t prompt to save (ID 927)
• Held objects failing visibility test (ID 704)
• Ambiguity Issue (ID 646)
• Problem with [any character] and held (ID 819)
• This task can be overridden by other task restriction failures (ID 922)
• Tab key (ID 732)
• Folders, Duplicate Entries and a Crash (ID 890)
• Dockable Folder Can Crash (ID 891)
• Text override key name (ID 765)
• Object Properties- Statelist crash (ID 859)
• Unselected properties (ID 856)
• Alternate text - Reordering tabs (ID 719)
• Alternate text - Critical Error (ID 718)
• Char same location as other char failing (ID 702)
• v4 files do not load in 5.0.13 (ID 684)
• Incorrect response to take objects (ID 682)
• Edit child task icon crash (ID 674)