[Excel] WidowMakers XML Writer Tool

by **WidowMakers** on Sun Dec 21, 2008 2:25 pm

gimil wrote:Small suggestion WM, would it be possible to add a function that allows you to import an XML file into the spreadsheet? Could make editing easier in the long run.

I think that is a great idea. Unfortunately I have no idea how to do that or that it could even be done with how I setup the file. Sorry.

WM

by **gimil** on Sun Dec 21, 2008 4:08 pm

WidowMakers wrote:
gimil wrote:Small suggestion WM, would it be possible to add a function that allows you to import an XML file into the spreadsheet? Could make editing easier in the long run.
I think that is a great idea. Unfortunately I have no idea how to do that or that it could even be done with how I setup the file. Sorry.

WM

I wouldn't of though it was possible, but thought it was worth mentioning.

by **yeti_c** on Mon Dec 22, 2008 2:54 am

It would be possible...

You'd need to code some VBA stuff though...

C.

by **cairnswk** on Mon Dec 22, 2008 6:07 am

yeti_c wrote:It would be possible...

You'd need to code some VBA stuff though...

C.

but gees, it would need a hell of a lot of code to import it back into the format that WM's s/sheet is in :?:

by **yeti_c** on Mon Dec 22, 2008 6:34 am

cairnswk wrote:
yeti_c wrote:It would be possible...

You'd need to code some VBA stuff though...

C.

but gees, it would need a hell of a lot of code to import it back into the format that WM's s/sheet is in

Yep!!!

C.

by **WidowMakers** on Mon Dec 22, 2008 9:27 am

cairnswk wrote:
yeti_c wrote:It would be possible...

You'd need to code some VBA stuff though...

C.

but gees, it would need a hell of a lot of code to import it back into the format that WM's s/sheet is in

Exactly. The point of the tool was not to fix existing code but to make entirely new code for an new map. If someone is doing a revamp and they change a couple names or something then this toll is completely worthless to them.

If yeti wants to code the VB for it I will gladly let him but I still think it is not needed.

Plus the real reason I made this is that I HATE to type (as may of you can see from my posts) so allowing the territories to be entered once and then selected from drop down lists is great for me. The biggest help the tool has for me was that I did not have to deal with formatting issues. If the steps are followed the XML will not have any errors when the final code is copied into the text document and the XML is made.

WM

by **e_i_pi** on Wed Dec 31, 2008 12:22 am

yeti_c wrote:
cairnswk wrote:
yeti_c wrote:It would be possible...

You'd need to code some VBA stuff though...

C.

but gees, it would need a hell of a lot of code to import it back into the format that WM's s/sheet is in

Yep!!!

C.

Did I mention I'm an Excel VBA programmer?

by **cairnswk** on Wed Dec 31, 2008 3:31 am

e_i_pi wrote:....
Did I mention I'm an Excel VBA programmer?

e_i_pi...i've done some excel work also.
I hate the use of the drop downs pick lists that you have to go through with WM's tool, (sorry WM no offense for the great work you've done)
Is it possible to place thij whole continent/territory thing in to a set of formulas that would simply propogate out if you had two columns: first one for continent, next for territory (thrrough the use of concatenation and formulas.

by **WidowMakers** on Wed Dec 31, 2008 9:50 am

cairnswk wrote:
e_i_pi wrote:....
Did I mention I'm an Excel VBA programmer?

e_i_pi...i've done some excel work also.
I hate the use of the drop downs pick lists that you have to go through with WM's tool, (sorry WM no offense for the great work you've done)
Is it possible to place thij whole continent/territory thing in to a set of formulas that would simply propogate out if you had two columns: first one for continent, next for territory (thrrough the use of concatenation and formulas.

That still will not work Cairns. Some territories belong to multiple continents. The way I set it up was to allow each continent the possibility of having multiple territories. You are simple asking to have both pages into 1 and that would just make them even more HUGE than they are now. Plus each territory borders others right. If you wanted a Territory / continent list, you would still need to make sure that there was a bordering/bombardment list too. Plus if there was a territory that belonged to two continents then you would need to make space for that as well. Plus with override bonuses, you would need to have the excel program automatically understand what those are and auto generate the code. Right now it is all there just waiting to be turned on. Plus, the drop down list allows a person to never need to type after the initial territory is placed in the list. Of course a user can always type everything in as well.

All I know is that it saved me TONS of time with MU USA maps. I think I only had 6 errors (and 4 or them were coordinate based so they don't count) over all 6 maps after the first XML version. I think I spent around 2 hours total (maybe) doing all of the initial XML for all 6 maps.

And no offense taken cairns. Just to let you know this was the 4th version I actually made. The first was actually quite similar to your suggestion (not 100% but similar) and I found that there were issues in layout and it was easier to make it this way.

So feel free to rip it apart and do anything you want. It is not really editable from a layout perspective so any changes might really screw it up.

WM

by **ZeakCytho** on Wed Dec 31, 2008 10:00 am

e_i_pi wrote:
yeti_c wrote:
cairnswk wrote:
yeti_c wrote:It would be possible...

You'd need to code some VBA stuff though...

C.

but gees, it would need a hell of a lot of code to import it back into the format that WM's s/sheet is in

Yep!!!

C.

Did I mention I'm an Excel VBA programmer?

Is there nothing you can't do?

by **UnicornCan115** on Mon Aug 01, 2011 10:29 pm

Could you make a 2003 version, please?

by **natty dread** on Tue Aug 02, 2011 4:15 am

WM is no longer active on the site. You could always use Mapmaker's friend.

by **thenobodies80** on Thu Aug 11, 2011 12:28 pm

natty_dread wrote:WM is no longer active on the site. You could always use Mapmaker's friend.

The mapmaker's friend has a different purpose. The WM's excel spreadsheet in this topic can be use to create the whole xml file and not to help the mapmaker to calculate the bonuses. That is a different WM's spreadsheet.