Reloading SWA Files and AHObEdit Crashes

[CptTrips]

This is really two reports, but I found one because of the other.

Note: I have downloaded all the standard textures and swa.

I may be misunderstanding the process, but I thought I should be able to load an existing swa file in the AHObEdit to modify.  If I open the terrain tile texture (e.g. farm1.bmp), it does not load the objects in the farm1.swa as I was expecting.  It just loads the bitmap.  If instead, I load the farm1.swa, it still does not appear to have loaded any object into the editor space, nor did it load the associated tile texture. 

So if I wanted to merely modify an existing swa, it does not appear to be possible.  Worse, if I am make a new complex swa, there is no easy way to save my work if I need to stop and come back to it later and continue editing. 

So that leads to the second issue.  After having lost work not being able to reload my save and continue, I thought I was smart and just leave AHObEdit up and running when I went out for lunch and would continue when I got back.  Everytime I leave AHObEdit up and running for an hour or so, I either come back to a C++ Assert dlg or it had just silently crashed.
I repo'd to test this afternoon.  Dump file here:
https://www.dropbox.com/s/igtxfitnloalk7f/ahobedit_030400_2018_11_5_15_20_5.dmp?dl=0

I finally came up with a work around by editing until I had to stop, create an ortho image, save off everything and when I came back, temporarily swapping the ortho image as my terrain texture so I can see where I had alread placed stuff and then continue on the rest.  At the end I had to manually hand the swa files, but obviously this is not an ideal work flow.

,
CptTrips

[CptTrips]

[edit mistake. ]

[Easyscor]

Unless I made a mistake, this should work:
https://bbs.hitechcreations.com/smf/index.php/topic,395025.msg5241066.html#msg5241066

Review the directories map shown in the post.



Edit:
It's exceedingly irritating when something doesen't work the way you remember. I'll see if I can track it down. The OE just wiped out the trees in two of my winter avaetow tiles.

[CptTrips]

Unless I made a mistake, this should work:
https://bbs.hitechcreations.com/smf/index.php/topic,395025.msg5241066.html#msg5241066

Review the directories map shown in the post.

So you are able to load an existing swa into the editor and see the trees and objects in the editor view and modify it?  Just want to make sure I understand you. 

I was able to create a swa from scratch.

[Easyscor]

Sorry about that. I ran into this before and found a work-around then promptly forgot.

I believe this is a bug in the OE's file path to pick up the swa.

Try this:


I only used the one swa for tracking it down.

[Easyscor]

Definitely a directory path bug based on my efforts tonight.

While the OE loads the swa file using the path above, when it saves the swa, it puts it in the correct, higher directory two levels up.
Which means that to reload the last saved file you must move the file down into the lower directory as shown.

[CptTrips]

Definitely a directory path bug based on my efforts tonight.

While the OE loads the swa file using the path above, when it saves the swa, it puts it in the correct, higher directory two levels up.
Which means that to reload the last saved file you must move the file down into the lower directory as shown.

Ah. Good catch.  I saw those repeated folder structures, but didn't think to try and move the file there.  Hmmm.  That might even be a feature not a bug.   It allows you to keep the original separated out from what you save to so you don't destroy it when you save.  But definitely not intuitive.

The second part, the assert and crash, are not AS important with this work around.  I wouldn't have needed to leave it unattended if I could have just saved and reloaded.
Note: the AHObEdit never crashed on me while I was actively working with it, only after it had been left unattended for an hour or two.

,
CptTrips

[hitech]

Ah. Good catch.  I saw those repeated folder structures, but didn't think to try and move the file there.  Hmmm.  That might even be a feature not a bug.   It allows you to keep the original separated out from what you save to so you don't destroy it when you save.  But definitely not intuitive.

The second part, the assert and crash, are not AS important with this work around.  I wouldn't have needed to leave it unattended if I could have just saved and reloaded.
Note: the AHObEdit never crashed on me while I was actively working with it, only after it had been left unattended for an hour or two.

,
CptTrips

Neither a feature nor a bug, our in house directory system is different then how the TE expects things to embed them. We simply shipped all our original files to use as you please.

HiTech

[CptTrips]

Neither a feature nor a bug, our in house directory system is different then how the TE expects things to embed them. We simply shipped all our original files to use as you please.

HiTech

That's fine, but it's helpful if people have the information on how to actually make it load something. I'll make my folder structure however I need to, but I'm not psychic. and that double folder thing is not intuitive and not previously documented.

I browsed and pointed exactly to the swa file I wanted to open so it knew the path and the file name.  The absolute path.  The ObEditor gave me no error message. It just blinked like it loaded it, but didn't populate any objects in the edit view.  So then I hit "Help|Contents" but that didn't do anything either. 

I realize this is not a customer front end, but I assume you want people to be able to use it to produce stuff that adds value to your ecosystem.  I assume that double folder repetition is not intended.  So if there is a folder structure that does work seamlessly between the AHObEdit and AHEdit, don't keep it a secret.   

Until then, I can at least use Easycscor's work around.