Server setup issue [RESOLVED]

Beowolf · Post by **Beowolf** » Fri Oct 21, 2011 9:24 pm

So I am setting up a server and I think I have everything running ok. The only thing I'm having a problem with is the display window for the server application. It starts up fine but then after 30 sec or so the window shrinks till there is only a thin line left. It looks as if I grabbed the bottom of the window and dragged it up till only a little the window was 5% as tall as normal when set at 1024x768. The server app seems to be running fine but I would like to be able to see the display and manually save, send distress call, etc. Any idea about this?

I have tried adjusting the resolution setting in text2.dat already with no success.

[Edited on 10-23-2011 by Beowolf]

Beowolf · Post by **Beowolf** » Fri Oct 21, 2011 9:28 pm

Update: by removing the resolution setting from text2.dat I get the correct window but I cannot see any of the text in it.

Post by **Vice** » Fri Oct 21, 2011 10:41 pm

Just to confirm, are you referring to the Evochron Mercenary server program? If so, what version of it are you using?

That's not a problem I have heard of before. Something like that could potentially occur if you had some other program running in the background that took over task focus somehow, altering how the screen was rendering. Or another possibility might be some kind of screen saver/sleep mode that is attempting to activate.

Edit: Also, try maximizing the window using the button at the top right to see if anything changes.

[Edited on 10-21-2011 by Vice]

Beowolf · Post by **Beowolf** » Fri Oct 21, 2011 11:30 pm

I am referring to the server program. It is the latest version which I freshly downloaded from the site today. I cannot confirm the version number due to the lack of text on the window.

I took a screen shot and placed it here

This screen shot is from a VNC window but I was seeing the same issue when I was working on the machine locally as well, even before I installed VNC.

I don't think the issue is any screen saver since the application loads up and looks this way immediately. I did also get this same issue when I was setting a server up on a completely different machine.

When the application first starts I see the min/maximize buttons. After a couple seconds those buttons vanish. I did try closing the program, reopening it and clicking the maximize button before it vanished. This worked for a few seconds but then the window re-sized back and text vanished again.

Post by **Vice** » Fri Oct 21, 2011 11:53 pm

The buttons should never vanish under default settings, so that could indicate something has been applied to the program that is binding it up. I'd be interested in seeing the text2.dat file you are using. Are you trying to auto-launch the server program using text2.dat settings? It could just be getting locked up after trying to apply a certain setting you've entered into the file. If you e-mail me the file, I'll take a look and see if that might be a cause.

Beowolf · Post by **Beowolf** » Fri Oct 21, 2011 11:58 pm

You are right. It was the auto start. I'm still not sure about which setting was wrong but after disabling auto-connect I get normal display. Thanks very much for the help!

Beowolf · Post by **Beowolf** » Sat Oct 22, 2011 12:24 am

Next issue.

No matter what when I enable auto-connect I don't see the text. I even tried a fresh install but I'm noticing that the settings I'm inputting in the server program don't seem to get saved to the .dat file. Do I need to change file permissions perhaps?

[Edited on 10-22-2011 by Beowolf]

Post by **Vice** » Sat Oct 22, 2011 1:28 am

The file itself will not be modified by the program. Any modifications need to be made in a text editor, then saved to the file. If you are trying to use auto-connect and it's binding the program, you may be trying to bind it to the incorrect local LAN IP and/or external internet IP and/or improperly trying to list the server. Again, if I can see the text2.dat file you are trying to use, I may be able to determine the cause.

Beowolf · Post by **Beowolf** » Sat Oct 22, 2011 2:24 am

Well the settings work if I just disable autoconnect, launch the server and click connect.

' Server settings below, read instructions for details on these options

' Use these lines to setup a greeting/introduction message for new players joining your server
400=
401=
402=
403=
404=

' This line is for specifying a fixed local IP address
500=192.168.1.199
' This line is for specifying a fixed internet IP address
501= MY IP
' This line is for the privacy mode (0 = Off which lists the game publically, 1 = On which does not)
' The listing mode may not work with all versions of the server program, connection types, and locations
502=0
' This line sets the player proximity cap (0 = 5, 1 = 7, 2 = 10, 3 = 12, 4 = none)
505=3
` This line sets the admin password to allow clients the option to kick or ban players
` Admins must use this format: <admincomm>password command player#
508=

' Add the word Enable to this line to have the server program automatically start a host session
700=

' This line lets you specify a different resolution for the program (below 1024X768 not recommended)
' Example: 1024x768
800=
' This line lets you specify the CPU use level, range is 0 to 25 (leave blank for optimized)
810=

' This line lets you specify a default password for the server
900=
' This line lets you specify a default update rate (range 100-200, 100-150 recommended default for internet games)
920=100
' This line lets you exclude single player profiles by default, use the word On
950=
' This line lets you enable the auto refresh option, use the word On
951=
' This line lets you specify the maximum number of players, range is 2 to 36 (will be displayed -1)
952=8
' This line lets you enable auto saving the chatlog and clan map status (saves about every 30 minutes), use the word On
955=On
` This line lets you enable or disable in-game distress calls (0 = Disable, 1 = Enable)
957=1
` This line lets you set the voice chat option, 0 = Off, 1 = On, 2 = On (Mute Playback)
958=0

[Edited on 10-22-2011 by Beowolf]

Post by **Vice** » Sat Oct 22, 2011 4:09 am

So line 501 is actually your real external IP address (with no space before or after it), correct? If so, the next step I'd check into is the privacy mode. Change that value to 1, then test auto-connect again.

Beowolf · Post by **Beowolf** » Sat Oct 22, 2011 5:11 am

I have set that to 1. I am able to start with auto turned off, but not with it on.

And yes 501 is my true external IP address.

[Edited on 10-22-2011 by Beowolf]

Beowolf · Post by **Beowolf** » Sun Oct 23, 2011 12:08 am

alt+r seems to do the trick. Thanks again for all your help!

Post by **Vice** » Mon Oct 24, 2011 11:13 pm

Interesting, it means the input system could still handle the refresh, even though it appeared to be frozen. Gives me an idea on what to look for though as it may be fixable in the program itself.

Edit: found the problem and it should now be fixed for the next update. I've sent you a revised build to test to see if it's now fixed for you.

[Edited on 10-24-2011 by Vice]

Beowolf · Post by **Beowolf** » Tue Oct 25, 2011 1:51 am

WOW that's some customer service. The update resolved the issue without any need to manually refresh. Thanks a lot!

Post by **Vice** » Tue Oct 25, 2011 2:52 am

Excellent, thanks for letting me know. It'll be integrated into the next official update for the program.