Napoleonic Wargame Club (NWC)

Long explanation - please read.

I am playing a couple of games using HPS NRC without a problem. Except in the actual result of the contest

I am trying to play Michel Paoli, he has V 1.07 rather than V 1.06.

He sent me the zip file for 1.07 which Windows (W 7) refuses to open because it may be harmful ! I am trying to get the original - FM Moss has the info.

B U T !!

As Michel has pointed out he cannot go back to V 1.06 as he is in the middle of a couple of other games.

This made me realise that I am in middle of a couple of games also. My game is in a folder "HPS Napoleons Russian Campaign". If I ever get to be able to unzip 1.07 could I create a folder "HPS Napoleons Russian Campaign 2", install the game, then upgrade that folder?

Back in the days of DOS it would be simple but programs put things in the Registry etc so not all parts are in the game folder. Could/Would this cause conflicts?

Given that Matrix can play the old John Tiller - did not think the version would make a difference?

For those that have read this far - I created the game and did my turn, sent it to Michel who was able to play his turn. But when the file came back to me it let me enter my password and asked me if I wanted to see the replay - then presented me with a single hex.

_________________

I should preface this by saying that I am not a computer engineer and probably don't know what I'm talking about. If my disclaimer doesn't make you gag too much, read on.

I have regularly had multiple copies of the JTS/HPS games installed to accomodate different mod sets. For example, if you look closely at my NRC mod you'll notice that it is actually two different mods: one for the march to Moscow, and one for the retreat. The reason I did this was to highlight the different look of the environment in the two situations. There's a lot more involved than the presence or absence of snow. I've also done this with my Leipzig mod to distinguish between summer and autumn foliage, and with the Bautzen mod to distinguish between spring in Central Germany and summer/winter in Finland.

The mechanics for doing this kind of thing are pretty straightforward. You only have to install the game once to get the basic info into the registry. The presence of that info in the registry will probably keep you from making a parallel install. Once you've got one installed copy of the game, you just go into the HPS Simulations or JTS folder and (long drum roll) copy and paste the game folder into the same folder. You can rename the game anything you want. I use special desktop icons that only point back to the executable file of the game I want them to.

You only have one install, but you have multiple copies of that install. If you let nature take its course they have names like NRC, copy of NRC, copy 2 of NRC. That's pretty boring, and I'd advise renaming them.

What you do inside each of the multiple copies of your install is up to you. What I do is use different graphics, but I see no reason why the .exe files in each copy couldn't be different. In other words you've patched one copy to 1.06, and another to 1.07.

This entire commentary, by the way, is predicated on the fact that I use Windows XP and do everything very manually. I don't know and don't really want to know where Windows Vista, Seven, or Eight scatter things to. If you have one of those, my advice is that when you attempt what I'm describing, make sure you and not whatever version of Windows it is that you are using is in control of your computer.

I'm still scratching my head over what you said about Windows not wanting you to open something. Others can shed more insight into that than I, but I can't help but wonder if you two have compatible zip programs. I use WinRar myself, not because I send or receive rar files, but because the WinRar program does a better job of handling zip files than WinZip. Go figure. The other nice thing about it is that it's really good at converting things into useable forms.

I bring up that point because there may be something (not necessarily nefarious) going on besides just a question of versions of the game, if it's giving your operating system hairballs.

So make a couple copies of your game, patch one of them up to 1.07 and give it some easily identifiable name (you should probably make and use a separate desktop icon for it), then make sure you and your opponent are both using the same kind of zip program (I strongly recommend WinRar for unzipping things), defrag your hard drive, make sure your anti-virus is up to date, take two aspirin, and ...

Hope that helps.

_________________
Every generation gets the Greeks and Romans it deserves.

History is a bad joke played by the living on the dead.

From what I understand about 1.07 it was a version that was being tested. I don't see it with all the other updates on the HPS site.

viewtopic.php?f=5&t=13404

http://hpssims.com.c7.previewyoursite.c ... php?t=5396

_________________
Feldmarschall Dale Fürst Lastowicka von Galizien und Lodomerien
Grenzer Regiment Wallachia-Illyria Nr. 13
2. Leichte Brigade
Avant Garde Division
Österreichische Imperiale Armeekorps
Coalition Army

Salute!

As another poster indicated, I am not a computer engineer either, in fact I will readily call myself a Luddite.

And as the other poster also said, if you haven't gagged, read on.

The NRC official version is 1.06 (so anything else is not yet official).

Another factor I would point out is that when official updates do come out it doesn't matter if you have games already in progress, as long as everyone involved is running the same version - in other words everyone should update to the current version and then all games in progress will be fine.

The issue would seem to be the incompatibility of game versions, i.e., updates.
When installing updates you need to read the very small print on the update page which contains new install directions that must be followed.

I always download the update exe file directly to the folder in which I keep various games, then unzip it from there, directing it to install into the specific game folder.

The multitude of Windows programs definitely makes things seemingly more complicated, and as this luddite will confirm - seemingly is be everything.

Hence, as Philippe said, you should always be in control of the procedure, and don't let the computer system direct it for you.

Regards,