Skin Admin Site ready to test

[Skuzzy]

The updated skin submission system is ready to test.  It is located at the same URL (http://bbs.hitechcreations.com/skinadmin) as before.

Keep in mind this is for testing purposes.  Everything you do might be completely undone Monday.  Just use it like you normally would.  Both the update and submit should work.  If things get wonky, do not worry about it.  It is a test.

This is not the final version and still needs some tweaking.  Right now, you have to submit ALL the files (you'll see what I mean), which may not have been dumped with the default skin.

For example, if the skin has no power (_P)map, then copy the specular (_S) map to the power map.  To create the environment (_E) map, simply take 0.8 of the power map and create it.

[Greebo]

There is a spelling error in the URL, this is the correct one:

 http://bbs.hitechcreations.com/skinadmin

[Devil 505]

What is the purpose of keeping the (_A) maps active?

[Greebo]

What is the purpose of keeping the (_A) maps active?

Beat me to it.

[oboe]

Thanks, Skuzzy.

[Vraciu]

WTG, Skuzzy. 

[Skuzzy]

There are some vehicles and, at least, one plane which needs the _A (alpha) texture.

One of the things I need to do is to not allow both _P and _A files to be submitted for any given skin.  You can have power or alpha, but not both.


Thank you Greebo, for pointing out the typo.

[Greebo]

I've done some testing on the new submissions page.

First I attempted to update an existing Brewster skin. This gave me the error message: "You must not include "by Greebo" in the BW-393 1/LeLv 24 by Greebo" description. The problem is that there is no way I can edit this description and I believe its not possible to do so anyway short of deleting the skin and resubmitting it. So I'd say this is a bug that will affect any skin originally submitted prior to the old submission page going live.

I'd also like a way of editing the history description file that was originally submitted with the skin. When I wrote these old descriptions I wasn't expecting the text to be shown on a skins web page and wrote it more as a history with a list of sources including web links (probably out of date now) and book references.

When you hit the return to submission button it takes you to the new skins submission page, not the updated skins submission page and there is no link to take you to the updated skins page. Also it would be nice for new or updated skins if hitting this button took you back to the page with your previously submitted data already there. This way I could edit whatever the error was without having to fill out the whole page again.

Next I tried a new TBM-3 skin. This gave me an error message complaining about the lack of the "tbm3_a.bmp" file which I don't have but is listed as required. I was expecting this but thought I'd test it anyway. The error message is a little confusing, it goes:-

Skin Files Verification
TBM3.bmp: TBM3_E.bmp: TBM3_N.bmp: TBM3_P.bmp: TBM3_S.bmp: TBM3_A.bmp: Missing files(s) required from the skin submission

It would be clearer like this:

Skin Files Verification
TBM3.bmp: TBM3_E.bmp: TBM3_N.bmp: TBM3_P.bmp: TBM3_S.bmp: Verified
TBM3_A.bmp: Missing file(s) required for the skin submission

I had a look at the Panzer IV page and spotted an issue. The page lists pz4tred_e.bmp and pz4tred_p.bmp as required files which I don't think they should be. This seems to affect all the other GVs as well.

I then took a look at an AH1-era skin, the Ju-88A-4. This lists the diffuse, _E, _P and _S files as required. My understanding was that only the diffuse and specular files were used on AH1-era skins. So either this is a bug that will likely affect all AH1 skins or I need to add the other files to my skins before I can submit them.

Uploading up to five 2048 bmps can take a while so it would be nice if there was a progress bar to let the skinner know roughly what was going on after hitting "submit".

The page logging you out when the hour changes is kind of annoying.

[Skuzzy]

Thank you Greebo.  I know where the error with the update is and the return links.  Aggressive consolidation.

I'll work on adding history editing.

All skins get the AH3 treatment, even the AH1 skins.  HiTech wrote a conversion to convert those.  They may only use a generic bitmap, but they are all (_A,_P,_N,_E,_S) being applied where applicable.  I say that as most skins do not need an _A file which is something I will address as we go forward with the submission process.

[Greebo]

In that case the Ju-88 is missing the normal maps from its file listing. I checked a few other AH1-era planes and they all seem to be missing normal maps.

[Skuzzy]

Missing from the listing in the submission utility, or missing from the Aces High III saved default?

[Greebo]

The normal files are missing from AH1 rides on the submissions page, I haven't checked the game or viewer default files.

[Skuzzy]

New version installed.

1)  Wiped any submissions/updates from the queue.
2)  Corrected the erroneous request for the name of the skin during updates.
3)  Error message output revised.
4)  Miscellaneous missing files added to the definition list.

I will look into adding a history edit box once we get this stable.  it is easier to add to stable code than introduce new code while trying to get things stable.

All the file requirements are for every model, across the board, regardless of the age of the model.  There will be some adjustments made for the requirement textures.  Right now it requires both _A and _P, which are mutually exclusive, for example.

I would like to make sure the mechanics of submitting everything is working before going into "feature" mode.  Once you see the "Beta" tage removed from the login page, then we are in official submission mode.

[oboe]

There aren't any of my skins listed if I select "Update a skin".  I get an empty list.

The back browser button doesn't take me back to the previous screen - I get a "Confirm Form Resubmission" page (using Opera) and if I back out of that, it takes me back to the Login screen. 

The Login screen keeps populating the Login ID input box with my BB ID, which is different from my game Login ID.  Even after I login successfully with my game ID, if hit the back button I wind up back at the login screen and the input box has my BB ID in it again.

I'm still confused about the requirement of both an _A and a _P file.  The P-38J has only the diffuse map (P38J1.bmp) and the Normal and Specular maps.  I can create my own Power and Environment maps, but I don't know how to create an _A map. 

I tried a New submit using the default P-38L files (plus creating the required _P and _E by copying/renaming the _S map file) and after I hit "Submit", I get this error after a few seconds:

Access denied
Invalid access to this page. Missing information.

It also took me back to the Login screen, populated again with my BB ID, not my Game ID.

[Skuzzy]

There aren't any of my skins listed if I select "Update a skin".  I get an empty list.

That is due to your game account not being associated with the skinner account.  It looks like you deleted the game account associated with the skinner account, so the system cannot recognize you.

When/If you delete your game account, the skinner account is no longer accessible.  To get them back you have to contact us with the new login ID for the active account.

Be aware, after six months, or so, of no game account at all, the skins will migrate to "Orphan" status and will be available to be adopted by another skinner.  We have not implemented that formally, but it is coming.

In the meantime, I have reattached the skinner account to your current game account.

The back browser button doesn't take me back to the previous screen - I get a "Confirm Form Resubmission" page (using Opera) and if I back out of that, it takes me back to the Login screen. 

The Login screen keeps populating the Login ID input box with my BB ID, which is different from my game Login ID.  Even after I login successfully with my game ID, if hit the back button I wind up back at the login screen and the input box has my BB ID in it again.

This is your browser doing that.  We cannot do anything about that.  You have your browser configured to auto-login and it is using the data it is keeping.  As to why you cannot reset that data, you would have to check with whoever made the browser.

I'm still confused about the requirement of both an _A and a _P file.  The P-38J has only the diffuse map (P38J1.bmp) and the Normal and Specular maps.  I can create my own Power and Environment maps, but I don't know how to create an _A map. 

The _A and _P maps are mutually exclusive.  If you submit a _P map, the _A map will be ignored.  Right now, I am asking for all the maps to be submitted so I can make sure that all get downloaded.  In reality, you will only be able to submit either the _P or the _A.  When we go live the submission screen will reflect that.

I tried a New submit using the default P-38L files (plus creating the required _P and _E by copying/renaming the _S map file) and after I hit "Submit", I get this error after a few seconds:

Access denied
Invalid access to this page. Missing information.

It also took me back to the Login screen, populated again with my BB ID, not my Game ID.

That is also a browser error.  It sounds like the browser is tossing out the information.  What browser are you using?