Palantir - the Middle Earth Mapping program now available

[Clint]

Okay we've just uploaded the Middle Earth mapping program, called Palantir. It's available on our website, via the Library and Links page.

Please download the INSTRUCTIONS and READ them.. Standard PDF and nice to read. :-) Download Palantir as well and play with that.

Any questions - I've gone to lunch... :-) (Seriously please read the instructions first, we've tried to cover everything there and they are very comprehensive and hopefully helpful). If after reading them and maybe chatting to a few players (or on the MEList or MEForum) you can't get it to work get in touch with us.

Thanks

Clint

[Nintelten]

This hosted anywhere else as well by chance?

For some reason the main page you guys have setup loads only 1/2 the time for me at work (tends to time out).

[Arthedain73]

I'm experiencing trouble getting it to download at all. I have Adobe 4.0. do I need a higher upgrade?

[Nintelten]

First off I'd like to say it looks good so far :)

I was able to get the site loaded and then download both files (.zip and the .pdf).

I read the .pdf and went and tried importing the turns. Got 2 turns imported and thought I would look at the map (those were the only .xml files I had available at the time). It looked great but for some reason I was freezing the program looking around the map.

Restarted the program a few times before it seemed a bit more stable.

No errors. Just stopped responding.

[gingerprince]

Got the file downloded fine, but I can't import turn data.

My xml files work fine with Automagic, but wouldn't work for some reason when I tried to import the turn data. Initially I got an error message saying there was somthing invalid about the file. I then tried the tip from Appendix B, and the file input seemed to work (no error message this time), but when I tried to "draw map" the program claimed to have no turn data.

Most confusing. (Too me anyway.)

Any suggestions?

Paul

[Zalendar]

In 1650, the castle at 2321 doesn't appear on the map.

[Nintelten]

The updates don't seem to take into affect Scry Spells nor ScoArmy information. Is this a future enhancement?

Also just noticed that Divine Nation Forces data isn't noted.

Playing an Evil Rhudaur my map shows 1806 and 2006. It shows on my turn map as both Good and Evil Icons.

When I import the Data it only shows the Evil Icons.

[ikvsabre]

Originally posted by Arthedain73
I'm experiencing trouble getting it to download at all. I have Adobe 4.0. do I need a higher upgrade?

There were problems with the Acrobat plug-in. You may want to donwload the instructions to your hard drive first, then try to open it.

Also, I would stronly suggest updating to the latest version of Acrobat Reader, which is currently at v6.0

[RKFloyd]

Has anyone gotten this error when trying to import data?

"Error importing turn gXXXnXXtXXX.xml, error was: An invalid character was found in text content Line: 0 "

This is happening for both games I created. I did not change the name of the xml file.

Russ

[gingerprince]

Russ,

that's the error message I get too. (from a file which works fine for Automagic)

Paul

[Monastic]

I just wanted to say that mine works perfectly and I LOVE IT! Thanks much!!


Monastic Facade
FA - Game 48

[RKFloyd]

Paul,

Oddly, I tried some of my allies' xml files and they worked fine. It still rejected my xml, though.

Russ

[ikvsabre]

Clint,

One gripe:


You should be able to load a game w/o a turn file. If you don't load a turn file, the program should use the default values (Turn 0) for everything that is fixed (basically everything except character locations).

Sometimes, you just want to browse the map, and don't need to have your turn data available. For instance, when designing a FA1000 setup.

[Clint]

The updates don't seem to take into affect Scry Spells nor ScoArmy information. Is this a future enhancement?

Yes I've specified the ones that do work but 930, 925 work the others generally don't work. This is very much a work in progress and as long as you are aware of that it's fine.

Error importing turn gXXXnXXtXXX.xml, error was: An invalid character was found in text content Line: 0 " That's the error message I get too. (from a file which works fine for Automagic) From Gingerprince

I need your XML to investigate this - please send this to me with a note about what the problem is.

My xml files work fine with Automagic, but wouldn't work for some reason when I tried to import the turn data. Initially I got an error message saying there was somthing invalid about the file. I then tried the tip from Appendix B, and the file input seemed to work (no error message this time), but when I tried to "draw map" the program claimed to have no turn data.

I think you've not imported the file. Try again? Are you a Yahoo user? If so it's likely you've not saved the XML correctly.


You should be able to load a game w/o a turn file. If you don't load a turn file, the program should use the default values (Turn 0) for everything that is fixed (basically everything except character locations).

For security reasons we don't allow that.

For some reason the main page you guys have setup loads only 1/2 the time for me at work (tends to time out).

No idea - maybe lots of players downloading files. Try again when less busy as there's no technical reason at our end. Feel free to contact me directly on

me@MiddleEarthGames.com for a more personal response.

Clint

[Nintelten]

Thanks for the response Clint.

I was able to get to the site and downloaded everything fine. I look forwarded to using it and any future enhancements.

[ikvsabre]

For security reasons we don't allow that.


Clint [/B]

Huh? What security issues are there with seeing the generic map with generic setup???

Joe

[Clint]

;)

Clint

[DBros]

Here's what I've figured out so far about these XML's that won't work with Palantir...

Right click on the XML file, and select edit. If the file has spaces between every character, then it won't work. That is usually what you have when you see that message about an invalid character at position 0. You can fix a file that is corrupt in this manner.

In Notepad (which is where it should have opened to edit on a Windows system) select Edit, then Replace. In the first box (what you're replacing) type two spaces. In the second box (what you're replacing it with) type $. Select Replace All, and let it go to town on it. When done, edit and replace again, but this time the first box should be a single space, and the second box should be nothing (don't type anything into that box). Do a Replace All, and it will grind for a while taking out all of the spaces in the file. When done, Edit and Replace again, this time replacing all of your $ with a single space. This method will get all of the extra spaces out of the file, while putting the necessary spaces back in.

Your next problem with this file will be the non-standard characters. Any name that has a weird character in it will not allow the file to be read. I don't know why this is just yet, but it only happens in a file that is corrupt in the manner I described at the top. You'll have to find and replace all of those characters with something standard, like a letter instead of a letter with a whatever hovering over it (you get the idea). An easy way to find these characters is to double click on the XML file and let Internet Explorer try to open it. It will give you an error and the line will be displayed. The line stops where the character is. Go back and edit the file again, change that character, save, then try to open it again by double clicking. You will eventually see the entire file displayed correctly with no errors. Once that happens, Palantir will accept the file. The names won't be perfect, because you had to adjust them, but at least the map, numbers, etc. will be correct.

Of the people on my grudge team, only the guy using AOL got a file that was corrupt in this manner. Everyone else's worked just fine.

I hope all of this actually helps someone. Palantir is a fine program as long as the file you try to feed it is correct.

[Clint]

Good advice - we'll work on some a more detailed FAQ as soon as we have enough to do this with .

Clint

[Player]

The advice won't work on my machine.

That's 2 turns in each of 2 games that won't work for me. Am I alone? This makes the program virtually useless.

But I have an idea. Could it be the way that different programs handle the xml file? Different email programs handle it differently, etc. Downloading them from yahoogroups using Explorer vs Netscape, etc.

If a team requested it of the company, would it be possible for MEGames to send ALL the xmls of an allegiance to a single player directly?

[Clint]

If you want me to reply then if you sign your post I will be more than happy to reply. Otherwise I won't. :-)

Clint

[gingerprince]

xml file from my latest turn works perfectly. And I have to say the program is splendid. :)

Still none the wiser as to what the problem was before.

Paul

[DBros]

My advice works for at least one problem: extra spaces throughout the XML file. If fixed correctly, the file will work, assuming your system is set up correctly and running the latest patches for all applicable software.

There is a fix for Yahoo users in the user's manual for Palantir. So yes, there are problems associated with different ways of getting the file. For instance, the file I had to fix came from an AOL account, whereas my files come through Outlook Express and work just fine.

Player, you'll have to give us more to go on if you want help. Useful information would include: the exact error message, OS version, browser version, and what you've tried so far.

[klub]

I have had no problems with ay of the xml files created after Palantir's release. The application is fantastic for 'paperless' users like myself and I look forward to further enhancements, rumors etc.

As Joe indicated above I would also like to see a turn 0 default setup, it helps me choose which nations I would like to try next.

Thanks to everyone involved, I appreciate the effort ME Games 'LTD' put into making our gaming experience more enjoyable.

Paul

[Player]

Well, I'm trying 2 games, I've had 4 xml files not work for me, and of them I've had 3 different error messages. Contrary to popular opinion, I'm not so conceited to believe that myself and my machine are absolutely special and unique in this way.

Paul: Use our game xml's, and if you still have no problem then you're our mapper now.

Brad Brunet
109410

[RKFloyd]

I was having trouble with the xml files I recieved through my AOL account . . . I then started receiving my files through my cable ISP instead and they work fine! AOL is a curse.

Russ

[Clint]

As Joe indicated above I would also like to see a turn 0 default setup, it helps me choose which nations I would like to try next.

With each scenario it has the defaults for each nation. So armies are the same so you can click on an enemy icon and get the army. Same for PCs. Is this the sort of thing you mean? If you want to see what nations are available then there are plenty of websites with most if not all the starting turn 0 nations.

As for 1000 if you play in any game you can always save the Database (or create a new one) and then play with that.

Clint

[klub]

Brad, yes I had 2 file errors and fixed them as per DBros's excellent post above.

The first 3 stages of the correction run quite well if a little slow, however I tried to identify the 'special' characters in order to do a 'replace all'. These are the ones I found so far:

(Note; this is unlikely to be the full list and upper/lower cases does not seem to matter.)

á, ä, â, É, Ë, ú, û, í, ó

Hope it helps!
Paul

[klub]

Clint,

I guess I would like a collection of turn 0 xml files so I can get an overview of the full game at startup and then decide what looks interesting. I can see why you would not want to supply these though, so I will have to collect and modify files from different games to do this.

I missed the fact (translate: 'did not read the Palguide.pdf well enough')that turn 0 map does have army data, this certainly is helpful. 'RtFM' applies to my comment on this, apologies!

I am not in any 1000 games so no worries here.

Thanks,
Paul

[Clint]

I guess I would like a collection of turn 0 xml files so I can get an overview of the full game at startup and then decide what looks interesting. I can see why you would not want to supply these though, so I will have to collect and modify files from different games to do this.

We could do that but they change from game to game. As to collecting them - ask on the list.

Clint

[Player]

Originally posted by DBros
Here's what I've figured out so far about these XML's that won't work with Palantir...

Right click on the XML file, and select edit.

I don't have the "Edit" command. I'd have to go into my Explorer Tools, then Folder Options, then File Types tab and hack around in there.

If the file has spaces between every character, then it won't work. That is usually what you have when you see that message about an invalid character at position 0. You can fix a file that is corrupt in this manner.

In Notepad (which is where it should have opened to edit on a Windows system) select Edit, then Replace.

Not my Window's98 (home AND work). And the Notepad I have doesn't have a Replace feature. This is why this fix doesn't work for me.

BUT - I've figured it out, unfortunately... In Windows Explorer, I went into Tools, then Folder Options, then File Types and made sure I defined xml's to be opened by Notepad. Wordpad gives funny coded characters where the spaces are - totally unworkable. Of course, I had to find the Notepad shortcut and then check it's properties to find the actual Notepad program to insert here...

So, I open in Notepad, and can Select All. I then open up a new Wordpad document and can successfully paste the file there. The replace's take a few minutes, then copy and paste back into a new Notepad. Resave (make sure you're using "*.* All Files" in Types) as the original file (to ensure you get the name right) and presto. One xml file. Mind you, after all this on my employer's dime ;) I haven't even checked if it will work. I don't know if I want to... :(


In the first box (what you're replacing) type two spaces. In the second box (what you're replacing it with) type $. Select Replace All, and let it go to town on it. When done, edit and replace again, but this time the first box should be a single space, and the second box should be nothing (don't type anything into that box). Do a Replace All, and it will grind for a while taking out all of the spaces in the file. When done, Edit and Replace again, this time replacing all of your $ with a single space. This method will get all of the extra spaces out of the file, while putting the necessary spaces back in.

Your next problem with this file will be the non-standard characters. Any name that has a weird character in it will not allow the file to be read. I don't know why this is just yet, but it only happens in a file that is corrupt in the manner I described at the top. You'll have to find and replace all of those characters with something standard, like a letter instead of a letter with a whatever hovering over it (you get the idea). An easy way to find these characters is to double click on the XML file and let Internet Explorer try to open it. It will give you an error and the line will be displayed. The line stops where the character is. Go back and edit the file again, change that character, save, then try to open it again by double clicking. You will eventually see the entire file displayed correctly with no errors. Once that happens, Palantir will accept the file. The names won't be perfect, because you had to adjust them, but at least the map, numbers, etc. will be correct.

Cripes. I did all that to fix the spaces! Obviously, I'm not continuing...

Of the people on my grudge team, only the guy using AOL got a file that was corrupt in this manner. Everyone else's worked just fine.

Yup. AOL is the culprit. 2 games, 20ish files, 4 AOL files bad, 16ish other files from 16ish other ISP's all fine.

[Elendar]

Just to say thanks to all the folks at Harlequin for supplying this great tool free of charge.

Also, thanks to DBros for that XML fix that I just found handy :)

Haris

[DBros]

Player, ... dude, it's 2003. You've got to upgrade to an OS that was at least designed for this millennia! I don't know what's worse, still using Win98, or still using AOL. :p

[RKFloyd]

I have Windows ME and I also had similar problems with the "fix" that plagued Player. So his problem can't be blamed on his old OS. If I need to buy a $100 upgrade to Windows XP just so I can edit an xml file . . . forget it. Anyways, I solved my problem by receiving turns at my main email address instead of my backup AOL address (I only have it because my Fiance' pays for it! :)

Russ

[Player]

My old cheap piece of crap is just a little less crappy than the new more expensive piece of crap... I'm not impressed by shiny packaging, sorry. Something is broken here and it isn't my OS. And lordie lordie, I wouldn't have anything to do with AOL...

[Brian Mason]

Clint,

Just wanted to say thanks! This is a great tool and can certainly aid play. As yet, I have had none of the problems other people have described.

Brian Mason

[cannfb]

I am getting this error after I try to draw the map after importing any or all of my team's xml files. I do NOT have AOL. On the off chance there was a issue with the xml on I copied it to Notepad as in previous posts and saved it - same error. I don't see anything about this in the Palantir guide either - any suggestions?

Jim

[nanook]

Clint, what's the answer to the earlier question, about whether or not we can designate a teammate to receive some (or all) xml files? Is that extra work or can it be setup to run automatically, after initial permission?

In one of my games, we have one poor AOL sufferer, and he'd be happy to have our official mapper get his xml file directly if that's an option.

Cheers,

Dan N
109913

[Clint]

I am getting this error after I try to draw the map after importing any or all of my team's xml files. I do NOT have AOL. On the off chance there was a issue with the xml on I copied it to Notepad as in previous posts and saved it - same error. I don't see anything about this in the Palantir guide either - any suggestions?

If you can get in touch with me off list with full details (send me the XML as well) I can investigate it.

Clint

[Clint]

Clint, what's the answer to the earlier question, about whether or not we can designate a teammate to receive some (or all) xml files? Is that extra work or can it be setup to run automatically, after initial permission?

Sorry not possible at present. Too much work for us. We're working on a couple of fixes for the AOL stuff - see the MEList for a detailed explanation for one (we'll be organising something similar).

Clint

[cannfb]

Finally got this working after re-installing it. I have to say this (along with Automagic) is a quantum leap forward in terms of making gameplay easier and more fun. Kudos to all involved with the project.

Jim