Eclipse Automata (revision 2)

[Ruins of Hell]

[Eclipse Automata](http://www.automata.freemmorpgmaker.com/automata.exe)

[Eclipse Automata, revision 2 v0.1](http://www.automata.freemmorpgmaker.com/automata.exe)
**_This version is not intended for public use, it is intended for developer use and to preview Automata._ I am using it to gauge whether or not another release would be useful.**

* * *

**What is Automata?** Automata is a tool used to install source edits into a user's source code. It interprets almost plain English and a little bit of BBC code.

**Didn't you already release this?** A different version of this: yes. This one is interpreted so I hope it'll be more successful.

**I'm a user, can I use Automata?** No, not yet. Automata isn't complete at this point and using it would be silly.

* * *

Things I already know:

* The program does not exit gracefully if you pass zero arguments. (I already know why, it's a Windows thing so I'll have to modify the code a little.)
* There is no GUI frontend. This is a developer's version to test the backend.
* It repeats everything it does/reads. Intentional.
* Using code block for close and open sucks and is ugly, but it helps to convert from forum posts.

* * *

A quick guide:
Automata works by keywords that are stated before the code block () they apply to. The exception is "replace", which takes two code blocks. Here are the commands:

* * *

Yes! The code blocks are needed. I think that it will assist transferring from forum guides to Automata.

**open** - Opens a file. If a file is open, this saves and closes it.

> Open:
> ```
> hi\hi.txt
> [nobbc][/nobbc]
>
> [b]find [i]or[/i] under[/b] - Find and under are synonyms. It finds a word and sets the current file cursor to it. Note: it has no effect unless followed by an "add".
> [quote]
> Find this:
> [nobbc][code]
> ' Kill the player
> [nobbc][/nobbc]
>
> [b]above[/b] - similar to find, except sets the cursor above the found text.
>
> [b]add[/b] - Adds text. [i]Note: This is worthless unless preceded by a find, above, or under.[/i]
> [quote]
> Then, add:
> [nobbc][code]
>             Call DestroyPlayer(index)
> [nobbc][/nobbc]
>
> [b]remove[/b] - Removes text. Can be used without a find.
> [quote]
> Remove this unnecessary piece of code:
> [nobbc][code]
>             Call DestroyPlayer(MyIndex)
> [nobbc][/nobbc]
>
> [b]replace[/b] - Replaces text. Uses two code blocks.
> [quote]
> Replace this thing:
> [nobbc][code]
> MAX_PLAYERS = 20
> [nobbc][/nobbc]
>
> with:
> [nobbc][code]
> MAX_PLAYERS = 50
> [nobbc][/nobbc]
>
> [b]close[/b] - saves and closes a file. Only needed at the end of an instruction file, the open command will save it anyway.
> [quote]
> Close and clean it all up:
> [nobbc][code]
> It doesn't matter what you write here, so feel free to express your thoughts on the ongoing political debates, or give yourself a pat on the back.
> [nobbc][/nobbc]
>
> [hr][/hr]
> To Do List:
> [list]
> [*]Add global finds, remove the need for the open and close commands.
> [*]Allow the ability to address certain subs as the scope.
> [*]Add a GUI frontend and a repository so people can easily install edits.
> [*]Finish up the website to fix the outdated info.
> [/list]
> [hr][/hr]
> Test file (just copy and paste to the automata.exe directory and name as testfile.txt):
> [spoiler]
> Bye!
> [/spoiler]
>
> Instruction file (run with [pre]automata.exe file_name[/pre]):
> [spoiler]
> [pre]
> Open:
> [nobbc][code]
> testfile.txt
> [nobbc][/nobbc]
>
> Then, replace:
> [nobbc][code]
> Bye
> [nobbc][/nobbc]
>
> with:
> [nobbc][code]
> Hi
> [nobbc][/nobbc]
>
> Then clean up and close it.
> [nobbc][code]
> There is nothing to see here.
> [nobbc][/nobbc]
>
> If all is well, testfile.txt should say "Hi!" at the end of running this.
>
> [hr][/hr]
> [i]The questions, bug reports and discussion of Automata should be limited to this topic. Thank you![/i][/code][/nobbc][/code][/nobbc][/code][/nobbc][/code][/nobbc][/pre][/spoiler][/code][/nobbc][/quote][/code][/nobbc][/code][/nobbc][/quote][/code][/nobbc][/quote][/code][/nobbc][/quote][/code][/nobbc][/quote]
> ```

[Marsh]

Good to see your still working on this. Hopefully this time around people will realize its true potential.

[Ruins of Hell]

@Marsh:

> Good to see your still working on this. Hopefully this time around people will realize its true potential.

Yeah, it's now written in an actual programming language, and no longer automates the Notepad around. No middle man this time. ;)

[Marsh]

Ah sweet, that always seemed a bit sketchy to me. But if it worked doesnt really matter i suppose.

[evilbunnie]

Looks good bro, seems much more user friendly :)

[gdog12356]

Awesome Soul@!!

[mrmiguu]

Am I allowed to nest instructional code?

(e.g.:

> Close:[cod[b]e][/cod[b]e]

)

**:EDIT:**

Does this new version's release also mean I can uninstall AutoIt?

**:EDIT:EDIT:**

I can't seem to get mine to work. Take a look, would you?
(All the directories/locations/filenames are correct in relation to automata.exe's location.)

>! Open:
```
client\src\modInput.bas
>! ```
Remove:
```
If Not InMapEditor Then PlaySound Sound_Jump
>! ```
Close:
```
null
>! ```
Open:
```
client\src\modGameLogic.bas
>! ```
Under:
```
If CanInert Then
>! ```
Add:
```
If Not Jumped Then
If OnGround Then
If Not InMapEditor Then PlaySound Sound_Jump
End If
End If
>! ```
Close:
```
null
>! ```

[evilbunnie]

What language is this created in?

[mrmiguu]

I seem to have figured out my issue.

A single script file cannot deal with more than one text file.

So multiple script files per source file edit.

**:EDIT:**
Also, could you add in a directory feature where you can go back one level (e.g. "../" in HTML)?

[emblem]

You could make tags and```
tags synonymous, and make the new line before the instruction tag optional.  This would make the open blocks look better. :p

You could also make it parse the "commands" based on the first word of the the command converted to lowercase, so you could still pretty-format the guide so it's human readable. :P

So in the end you could do something like this ..
[spoiler]
Lalal this is an introduction, could be parsed by Automata and displayed to the user before the script is applied (once you get a GUI version working!)

Open: [tt]src/modConstants.bas[/tt]

Replace this:
[code]
Public Const MAX_PLAYERS as Byte = 20
[/code]
With this:
[code]
Public Const MAX_PLAYERS as Byte = 50
[/code]
Finished! (This counts as an EOF, closes last open file etc.)
[/spoiler]
```

[Rainbow Dash]

What does this do if you have conflicting code? Say if you've installed one source edit already, will it check that it's the default EO code that you're editing and give you a warning if not, or will it simply say that it can't find the code?

[lollicat]

omg this is awesome. yes. i can't wait to see what this becomes.

[deathtaker26]

Indeed You have just earned 10 swag points good sir!

[xeross]

This sounds a lot like re-inventing diff files, or am I missing something?

[mrmiguu]

I guess that's how one learns about _diff_ files…

Thanks, Xeross.