Luna Game Pascal

[drezgames]

@SilverWarior, good points. Thanks!

[drezgames]

Let me get your opinion, I have a version of the help with html files which will avoid the issues with .CHMs. Would this be better? I do like the fact that a .chm is compressed and self contained. Let me know your thoughts.

lgp-helpviewer.jpg

[Thyandyr]

Sorry I was asleep all evening. Better luck tonight?

[drezgames]

I have not release the build using the raw HTML pages, yet. I was trying to get an idea of if this would be preferred over a .chm file.

Advantages:
- I can theme the window since its part of the calling process
- I can control the output of the help system more easily
- all the advantages of direct control

Disadvantages:
- Have to manage lots of html files in the distro

GameMaker Studio 2 and Unity are using html files so maybe its a better option? I know for myself I like simple and elegant and a single .chm is appealing. But there is the issue already mention that will be an problem with CHM. But, I would like to know other people thoughts on this.

[Thyandyr]

The .chm opens now all the way. I did not re-download, I did not restart my computer, I didn't do anything! Weird... Computers...

I agree single file help chm or pdf is more appealing. HTML help can be hosted online or separate compressed download as backup.

[SilverWarior]

I agree single file help chm or pdf is more appealing.

Yes single file help does seem appealing. But the problem with .chm (Microsoft compiled HTML Help) is proprietary technology owned by Microsoft so there are probably some limitation of where you can use it. So if you are thinking about supporting any other platform besides Windows you would probably have to change it.

[drezgames]

@Thyandyr, ahh... glad you got that working. I know right, computers.

@SilverWarior, again very good points you've brought out.

For now, I think I will go with HTML files. I got the integration in and working. I can context search just like with a .CHM now. It automatically themes, blah blah... again all the advantages of direct control. Plus, it will provide some "future proofing" if/when I decide to move to other platforms.

Interestingly, I dug up some tech I made some time ago (one of my many unfinished projects, haha) where I was able to take the raw html file help system, compress to a zip. I installed an protocol handler (for example lgp://index.html), this would fire an event and I could then fetch the files from inside the zip and display them as normal. This totally worked..... at that time. However, I played around a few hours last night trying to get it work, sadly I was not able to. I know its doable, just have to figure out why the protocol handler is not being initialized properly. Anyway, maybe I can get that working at some point.

[Thyandyr]

Physics example,

I changed

body := Physics_CreatePolygonBody(MousePos.X, MousePos.Y, Random_Rangef(10, 45), Random_Rangei(4, 4), 1000);

to make heavy squares.

I see funny "non physical" effects, like pivot point in the center of the sqare keeping them floating. Very entertaining but perhaps not intended behaviour.

[SilverWarior]

However, I played around a few hours last night trying to get it work, sadly I was not able to. I know its doable, just have to figure out why the protocol handler is not being initialized properly. Anyway, maybe I can get that working at some point.

Are you trying to initialize the protocol system wide or in scope use user login session?
You sad that you dug up this tech from long time ago. So I'm guessing it probably predates the UAC (User Account Control) that has been introduced with Windows Vista.

Also does this new protocol only registers for Internet Explorer or is it made available for any installed Browser?