Elmar Bijlsma Posted December 16, 2005 Share Posted December 16, 2005 Okay, finally got round to trying the PBEM helper utility but, being the clueless git that I am, I now need to play CM for the next two decades to actually be helped by it. I can't for the life of me figure out how to get it automatically start CMAK and play the file. It only plays CMAK when I double click on CMAK in the top window after which I then have to manually select the file to play. It absolutely refuses to do anything when I select Play with the turn I want to play highlighted in the lower window of PBEM Helper. Not a big deal in itself but it seems to be getting in the way of me getting Trusted Mode to work (though this latter may be due to unrelated bumbling on my end). If anyone has any ideas or suggestions I would very much appreciate your advice. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GJK Posted December 16, 2005 Share Posted December 16, 2005 I'm not at my home computer at the moment - I can double check things when I do get home - but off the top of my head I'm thinking that perhaps you didn't specify the folder that contains your pbem turns? I'll screenshot my settings for CMAK and then post it later tonight so that you can compare yours to mine. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GreenAsJade Posted December 16, 2005 Share Posted December 16, 2005 I'd love to help. Drop me an email. The way it really works well is when you double click on the attachment in the email and it opens the game automatically for you. If it's not doing that, then it's not set up right. Let's get it right for you! (There's a "how to use PBEMH" thread at WeBoB, but that's down for maintenance right now... I'll find the link when it comes back!) GaJ 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GJK Posted December 17, 2005 Share Posted December 17, 2005 Here's a screnshot of my settings, which I think are the default but maybe it'll help: 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sergei Posted December 17, 2005 Share Posted December 17, 2005 Have you entered the password for the game in question? 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Elmar Bijlsma Posted December 17, 2005 Author Share Posted December 17, 2005 I think I may have found the problem but I'm going to be secretive about it until one of my opponents sends me a turn so I can be absolutely sure. Yup, I suspect it's that dumb an oversight. One question though. That "Run" subfolder in GJKs screenshot, is that a CDV version thing or should I have one too? 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GJK Posted December 17, 2005 Share Posted December 17, 2005 I have the Battlefront release of the game (i.e., non-CDV). That "run" is what was in the .ini file that came with pbem helper - but not sure what it does to be honest. By the way, you do have the latest version of pbem helper, right? I guess this is the latest: Version 1.3.362 (11.9.2004). What controls how it loads a turn is the .vbs file - I just noticed that the CMAK entry uses the CMBB visual basic script file - you might make sure that you have that in your pbem folder as well. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Other Means Posted December 17, 2005 Share Posted December 17, 2005 Originally posted by Elmar Bijlsma: I think I may have found the problem but I'm going to be secretive about it until one of my opponents sends me a turn so I can be absolutely sure. Yup, I suspect it's that dumb an oversight. One question though. That "Run" subfolder in GJKs screenshot, is that a CDV version thing or should I have one too? Turn sent. Run explained. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Elmar Bijlsma Posted December 17, 2005 Author Share Posted December 17, 2005 Alas, it wasn't what I thought it was. I suspected that it might be the default CMAK install location whereas my game was elsewhere. Pointed that field to where I installed it to instead. This wasn't the problem, as indeed it shouldn't have been as PBEM helper does know where the CMAK .exe is when opening it via the top PBEMH window. So this points to the absence of the "Run" folder probably being at the root of my trouble. Where should that folder go, what should be in it etc? I can't see any reference to it in the pbem.ini file. Should my "Working Folder" be C:\Documents and Settings\Eigenaar\Mijn documenten\PBEM (as per where PBEMH) or should it point to my CMAK/PBEM directory? I do have the version GJK mentions btw. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GJK Posted December 17, 2005 Share Posted December 17, 2005 Originally posted by Elmar Bijlsma: Alas, it wasn't what I thought it was. I suspected that it might be the default CMAK install location whereas my game was elsewhere. Pointed that field to where I installed it to instead. This wasn't the problem, as indeed it shouldn't have been as PBEM helper does know where the CMAK .exe is when opening it via the top PBEMH window. So this points to the absence of the "Run" folder probably being at the root of my trouble. Where should that folder go, what should be in it etc? I can't see any reference to it in the pbem.ini file. Should my "Working Folder" be C:\Documents and Settings\Eigenaar\Mijn documenten\PBEM (as per where PBEMH) or should it point to my CMAK/PBEM directory? I do have the version GJK mentions btw. The latter, should point to your CMAK/Pbem folder. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Elmar Bijlsma Posted December 17, 2005 Author Share Posted December 17, 2005 Thanks for all the help guys but I'm afraid I give up. I went to the M$ site to DL Microsoft Windows Script 5.6 and (re)installed it. And now it completely refuses to run. I removed and reinstalled PBEM Helper but it refuses to run after the initial setup. I've been f-ing about with PBEM Helper for a week now and while it sounded promising it is now just pissing me off. Maybe I'll try again some time later but I would do well to continue using plain .txt and my mailer before I toss my POS PC out of the window entirely. Seriously, I am not getting enough sunlight exposure in winter to deal with this crap. again thanks for your help everyone but for now it seems I'm beyond help. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dieseltaylor Posted December 19, 2005 Share Posted December 19, 2005 Elmar Stick with it. I will send you the two help manuals written to guide players to the promised land : ) Believe me I have easily saved two weeks of my life with all the speedy bits it does: Filing all old moves in their own folders Running through all the films - a key press a film Trusted mode for saving lots of crappy e-mailing Starting the game with a single click from e-mail to Helper, and another click to game running 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tagwyn Posted December 19, 2005 Share Posted December 19, 2005 dieseltaylor: I have CMAK and CMBB, most current edition. I am playing (trying to) a pbem game with Stoat. We can't get pbem to work. Please share the promised land with me PLEASE. I have a yahoo addy and a msn addy. Is one better than another? Thanks for your help. TAG 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dieseltaylor Posted December 19, 2005 Share Posted December 19, 2005 Both guides sent From the Primer by Krag [ynosky] "IMPORTANT! If you’re using a web based email account other than Microsoft’s Hotmail you’re not able to let PBEM handle your email sending. You can only use PBEM Helper to automate the loading of turns, but you will have to manually send the turns to your opponent! If you ARE using MS Hotmail as a web based mail provider, there’s still an opportunity to experience the ‘full PBEM Helper experience’! Please refer to ‘Microsoft’s Hotmail and PBEM Helper’ section further down this document for more details. (Credits go out to Sivodsi Glow for pointing out this issue! Thanks!)" I imagine then you may still be able to play fast & trusted and all other features work other than the sending. No big problem then. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Elmar Bijlsma Posted December 19, 2005 Author Share Posted December 19, 2005 Thanks heaps, Dieseltaylor. I've tried running PBEMH again and now it's fine (in a 'it's half working, sortof' kind of way) again. I guess I'll never know why it refused to run entirely earlier. I'll set about seeing if I can get it to automate everything it should be automating and to get trusted mode working. I'll take my tinkering with the settings in small doses though. I was >.< this close to battering my monitor with my keyboard. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bigduke6 Posted December 20, 2005 Share Posted December 20, 2005 That's great, we're all relieved you and your computer have found peace, release the white doves, now send me the turn! 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GreenAsJade Posted December 22, 2005 Share Posted December 22, 2005 FWIW, not one but two guides to PBEMH are now available on the web: An Unoffical Guide for PBEMH PBEMH - A Primer (both are Word documents) GaJ 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MD82 Posted January 11, 2006 Share Posted January 11, 2006 2 excellent guides. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ketil Posted January 12, 2006 Share Posted January 12, 2006 The guides were good, but I still have a question. How do I get PBEM Helper to remember my password so I dont have to enter it manually every turn? 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MD82 Posted January 12, 2006 Share Posted January 12, 2006 Originally posted by Ketil: The guides were good, but I still have a question. How do I get PBEM Helper to remember my password so I dont have to enter it manually every turn? 1 Go to Games in Progress 2 High light game that you wish to edit (make it blue) 3 Hit F2 4 Type in your password in the space provided near the bottom. 5 Click OK You should be set then 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ketil Posted January 12, 2006 Share Posted January 12, 2006 Thats what Ive been doing, but I have to do it for every turn. Just had a thought that it could be the naming convention, we're not using the 3 digit number at the end but rather have been renaming it depending on whose turn it is, is that screwing it up? 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MD82 Posted January 12, 2006 Share Posted January 12, 2006 Yes, that definitly screws it up. It must follow the 3 digit convention sequentially in order for PBEM to function properly. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dieseltaylor Posted January 14, 2006 Share Posted January 14, 2006 Yes keep the same name and allow it to increment with the mouse click and pressing F5.You are going to find this makes a hell of a difference : ) Incidentally I found my opponent was starting the game with first turn 000. It seems to prefer 001. Also names such as: "dieseltaylorAxisvsMerkinMuffleyAllies003" really are way too long : ) and make it fall over. However 19 seems to work fine 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ketil Posted January 14, 2006 Share Posted January 14, 2006 Cool, thanks for the info guys. Now to get my opponent to quit changing the turn names lol! 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sivodsi Posted January 15, 2006 Share Posted January 15, 2006 I can testify that PBEM Helper makes life easier even when using a hotmail account. Yskonyn tested his excellent PBEMH primer on me, and Diesel coached me through trusted mode, so if anyone is having problems feel free e-mail me. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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