My favourite PW is having maintenence downtime and so I've spent some free time to work on a search engine for the epic builds forum. It's extremely simple and uses javascript, which turned out to be even slower than I thought, but as far as I know it's the only way to search the epic builds forum and so I'm posting a link here anyway. If you like it or have suggestions please post here, if it turns out people like it I'll try to make improvements. Notice that it is currently very slow, taking about 20 seconds per search on my machine, but if you have patience you will get the results. As for how to use it that will probably be self-explanatory. If not, post any questions here.
I got a pm about getting lines of numbers instead of the wanted search results. I've been unable to replicate this problem, if you try it out, please post here or send me a pm telling me if it worked and what browser you use.
Quote: Posted 08/04/05 15:17:03 (GMT) -- pulse cap I got a pm about getting lines of numbers
Do you use firefox? _________________ HEAD KNIGHT: Shh shh. We are now the Knights Who Say Ekke ekke ekke ptang zoo boing! RANDOM: Ni!
Firefox seems to be the issue here, I just downloaded it and I'm now seeing all the numbers as described. I used an external css file to hide these, seems firefox doesn't like those. I'll try putting the css info in the html file instead.
Edit: Dunnit, seems to work ok with firefox now.
Edited By pulse cap on 08/04/05 16:07
It now works considerably faster (but still pretty slowly) and I fixed a typo i made in the firefox-fix that made it use barbarian regardless of what you chose.
Search Engine works great. Thanks pulse, this is a real lifesaver.
-C _________________ Et Earello Endorenna utulien. Sinome maruvan ar Hildinyar tenn' Ambar-metta.
Hey, thatīs great .
I tried it this morning but it didnīt work (after clicking on search nothing happened, I'm using IE6). But now it works great. And itīs not too slow imho. _________________ Character Build Calculator(works with Excel, Open Office) 2.83: updated to NWN 1.69.
Good to know you like it. I just gave the page a much needed face lift, I think everyone will see where I got the inspiration
Sticky please
More on the topic of the numbers: for hiding anything using CSS display: none vs display: block or display: inline uses to work like heaven on all CSS enabled browsers.
The visibility attribute values are different from IE to NN or FF.
I dont know what you used, but the display one is the one I always use. _________________ HEAD KNIGHT: Shh shh. We are now the Knights Who Say Ekke ekke ekke ptang zoo boing! RANDOM: Ni!
More on the topic of the numbers: for hiding anything using CSS display: none vs display: block or display: inline uses to work like heaven on all CSS enabled browsers.
The visibility attribute values are different from IE to NN or FF.
I dont know what you used, but the display one is the one I always use.
Yes, I used display:none. At least in IE, visibility:hidden just makes text invisible, it still takes up the same space. Problem was that Firefox wouldn't read my external css file, I probably made some error in the syntax that was allowed by IE but not FF. Instead of hunting for the syntax errer I just moved the css info into the html file to save time.
Hey Pulse.. At last a search engine "Yahoo" ..works a treat .."slow" what do you mean "slow" ? results are there instantly Ok ..no need to sticky...Pulse can i move your link to the builds index. btw .(i also use IE6) griphook
Edited By griphook on 08/05/05 01:33
Wow, very nice!
Works great with Safari, btw.
Quote: Posted 08/05/05 01:30:44 (GMT) -- griphook
Hey Pulse.. At last a search engine "Yahoo" ..works a treat .."slow" what do you mean "slow" ? results are there instantly
It was slow, very slow. I made a few changes after my original post and now it's quite ok
Quote: Posted 08/05/05 01:30:44 (GMT) -- griphook Ok ..no need to sticky...Pulse can i move your link to the builds index. btw .(i also use IE6) griphook
Cool!
Just a little side comment. You might want to add the class Illusionist to your input fields, since it is different (in spelling) from a Wizard, and some (older) builds use that instead of Wizard in the listing. Just an idea to help someone find a build that they remember vaguely, but probably not really a necessary change.
Just a little side comment. You might want to add the class Illusionist to your input fields, since it is different (in spelling) from a Wizard, and some (older) builds use that instead of Wizard in the listing. Just an idea to help someone find a build that they remember vaguely, but probably not really a necessary change.
-C
Any occurance of illusionist now counts as wizard.
I also added the names of the builders.
I just realised you can exclude builds with certain classes by entering 0 to 0, like:
21 to 40 druid 0 to 0 monk 0 to 40 barbarian
for epic druids with no monk levels. Perhaps I'm the last to think of this, or maybe it will help someone.
Edited By pulse cap on 08/05/05 18:03
SEARCH ENGINE "link" has been added to Builds Index....
Builds Index
Thanks ..pulse your excellent work is most appreciated
griphook
Nice it's in the index
While I was there to look at it, however, I also noticed
Quote: .748 - Build,s To Date ..
Problem is I only have 726 builds in the search list, so if anyone can see which ones make up the difference, I'd be grateful if you sent the names to me.
Quote: Posted 08/05/05 22:39:24 (GMT) -- pulse cap
Nice it's in the index
While I was there to look at it, however, I also noticed
Quote: .748 - Build,s To Date ..
Problem is I only have 726 builds in the search list, so if anyone can see which ones make up the difference, I'd be grateful if you sent the names to me.
Thats probably two versions of the same build, eg, strength build + dex build Or human build + dwarf build As they would be totally different to play.. Therefore I have counted them as two builds. However, Rightly or wrongly, I have also counted as two builds... updated builds, eg.. The Generalist ..(by Mithdradates) .......The Generalist v2
griphook
Edited By griphook on 08/06/05 01:44
just another thing that i noticed with the search engine. when i search for builds with 4 to 6 levels of CoT, I get all builds with any levels of CoT. This seems to be the case with all of the prestige classes. I am wondering if this is just something that happens to me or if others can replicate this bug. I know it seems like I keep coming up with problems pulse, but I really like the engine and I just want to make sure that it works as well as possible. this is such a great thing, i am surprised no one ever thought about it before.
just another thing that i noticed with the search engine. when i search for builds with 4 to 6 levels of CoT, I get all builds with any levels of CoT. This seems to be the case with all of the prestige classes. I am wondering if this is just something that happens to me or if others can replicate this bug. I know it seems like I keep coming up with problems pulse, but I really like the engine and I just want to make sure that it works as well as possible. this is such a great thing, i am surprised no one ever thought about it before.
-C
This is totally weird, it seems to happen whenever you enter a one-digit number as requirment. I'm surprised no-one noticed it earlier. I'll try to fix it tomorrow.
Sorry all, have not been in the guild lately, been busy with work.
Just noticed this thread, and to respond to the request, this thread has been stickified.
Anuis _________________ - Epic Character Builders Guild
just another thing that i noticed with the search engine. when i search for builds with 4 to 6 levels of CoT, I get all builds with any levels of CoT.-C
I fixed it, but I had to use some rather ugly code as I'm a bit new to javascript. I'd be grateful if someone who's better at it could tell me how to:
a) declare variables that are a certain data type (ie integer) instead of the standard store-anything-you-like b) use a "less than or equal to" operator, I tried <= but it doesn't seem to work
Edited By pulse cap on 08/08/05 17:36
Quote: Posted 08/08/05 17:35:28 (GMT) -- pulse cap
just another thing that i noticed with the search engine. when i search for builds with 4 to 6 levels of CoT, I get all builds with any levels of CoT.-C
I fixed it, but I had to use some rather ugly code as I'm a bit new to javascript. I'd be grateful if someone who's better at it could tell me how to:
a) declare variables that are a certain data type (ie integer) instead of the standard store-anything-you-like b) use a "less than or equal to" operator, I tried <= but it doesn't seem to work
Anuis _________________ - Epic Character Builders Guild
- Life is but a dream...
- I know more than I am letting on...
-I think, Therefore I am.
Edited By Anuis on 08/08/05 20:17
I didn't find anything about using variables with a fixed type, but I did find that <= and >= is indeed the way to go. I'll leave it alone for now and hope nobody looks at the code anyway, at least it works.
EDIT: Since the topic of tutorial pages came up, I feel I should bring some attention to W3schools, which is where I learned html, css, php and javascript (I hope Bioware won't object to this sort of thing)
Edited By pulse cap on 08/09/05 03:26
I also noticed that the 3 choices can exclude builds if you don't put down the exact number of levels.
For Example, I tried looking for the following
1 to 20 levels of Paladin 1 to 10 levels of COT 1 to 7 levels of Weapon Master
I got zero results.
When I put in 1 to 23 levels of Paladin and the rest the same, I got my Smiting build.
This is an awesome idea for a search engine. Thanks for working on it. I just think it should be searching for a minimum of the numbers you put in instead of an exact match. Maybe it does that on other searches, but for some reason the one I stated above didn't work.
Quote: Posted 08/09/05 16:45:56 (GMT) -- GoVols
I also noticed that the 3 choices can exclude builds if you don't put down the exact number of levels.
For Example, I tried looking for the following
1 to 20 levels of Paladin 1 to 10 levels of COT 1 to 7 levels of Weapon Master
I got zero results.
When I put in 1 to 23 levels of Paladin and the rest the same, I got my Smiting build.
This is an awesome idea for a search engine. Thanks for working on it. I just think it should be searching for a minimum of the numbers you put in instead of an exact match. Maybe it does that on other searches, but for some reason the one I stated above didn't work.
The sum of the maximum values in your initial search is 37, almost all builds have 40 levels total, that's why you get zero hits. To get multiple results, you need to enter values so that the sum of the minimums is well below 40, and the sum of the maximums (at least if you use all fields) is well above 40. If you don't you are likely to get only a few results.
If you want to find your build and those similar to it, enter something like: 10 to 25 levels of Paladin 10 to 20 levels of COT 1 to 7 levels of Weapon Master
Or if you want all paldin builds, enter 1 to 40 levels of Paladin 0 to 40 levels of Barbarian 0 to 40 levels of Barbarian
As I'm sure everyone has noticed from this and my previous posts, I'm not very good at explaining things, except to computers . So if you don't understand this, perhaps someone else can help.
Quote: Posted 08/09/05 23:48:44 (GMT) -- pulse cap
The sum of the maximum values in your initial search is 37, almost all builds have 40 levels total, that's why you get zero hits. To get multiple results, you need to enter values so that the sum of the minimums is well below 40, and the sum of the maximums (at least if you use all fields) is well above 40. If you don't you are likely to get only a few results.
If you want to find your build and those similar to it, enter something like: 10 to 25 levels of Paladin 10 to 20 levels of COT 1 to 7 levels of Weapon Master
Or if you want all paldin builds, enter 1 to 40 levels of Paladin 0 to 40 levels of Barbarian 0 to 40 levels of Barbarian
As I'm sure everyone has noticed from this and my previous posts, I'm not very good at explaining things, except to computers . So if you don't understand this, perhaps someone else can help.
You explained it perfectly......atleast to me. I understand computer talk well too, so maybe that's why I understand what you're saying. I just didn't see the sum of max and mins when I first tried to use it. Possibly some technical writer could write it out in lamens terms to go along with the search engine.
Thank You!
*Edited to correct grammar*
Edited By GoVols on 08/10/05 17:01
Instead of making it absolute exact, you can make advanced type of search using what you have right now.. and make a simple one which you can put in two or three fields...
All three would be class types, and in each of them, you would have either "Select one" or blank if you only are looking for builds with two similaries in classes that you want, or whichever you want...
So if you have no numbers and so on... just classes. You want any builds with paladin in it... then you would get list of all builds that has that class. Same up to three fields of classes.... but if you want something more specific, you then use the advanced search, which would be when you select the class and you enter the specific number of levels that you are looking for in that class and so on...
Sorry for rambling, but hope it is detailed enough...
Anuis _________________ - Epic Character Builders Guild
- Life is but a dream...
- I know more than I am letting on...
-I think, Therefore I am.
If I understand you correctly, this can be done as it is.
To get any builds that contain a certain class regardless of the amount of levels, just leave the numbers at 1-40.
If you want to use only one or two fields (or even none for a complete list), choose any class on the "unused" lines (easiest is to just leave it at barbarian) and change the level requirement to 0-40. Classes that are not used in a build count as 0.
Finally to exclude all builds that use a certain class, select that class on one of the lines and enter 0-0 as the requirement.
Yeah, to be honest, implementing changes like that are a bit silly, since it adds only an additional complication, and does not in fact improve upon the search engine in any way. As pulse has pointed out, everything that's been suggested can already be done quite easily with the current search engine. GoVols problem had nothing to do with exact values, which are absolutely not needed. His problem was that he put together an impossible search which required a character of less than 40 total levels. If he had just left the paladin part at the default 1-40, or even left all of them at 1-40, he would have had no problem finding his build. Exact values are irrelevant, but you can't search a database of level 40 characters for a character with no more than 37 levels and expect to get a result.
Steve
You can't? He just did! It's like walking into my english class late.. people say you can't do it.. I just did.. whatcha gonna do?
Really love this search thingy.. no more using firefoxs search function on the whole damned list and having to figure out what it's highlighting
-DaMouse
I'm going to add some kind of instruction page to the search page to avoid misunderstandings in the future. I'm taking suggestions, if I get none it will be a lot like my previous posts here.
Perhaps it has been asked before but is it possible to search for builds with 2 classes only? And if itīs possible how would I do it?
For example I want a list that contains all fighter/rogues but no fighter/rogue/SDs, no fighter/rogue/monks, no fighter/rogue/WMs, ... _________________ Character Build Calculator(works with Excel, Open Office) 2.83: updated to NWN 1.69.
Quote: Posted 08/12/05 13:55:04 (GMT) -- Kamiryn
Perhaps it has been asked before but is it possible to search for builds with 2 classes only? And if itīs possible how would I do it?
For example I want a list that contains all fighter/rogues but no fighter/rogue/SDs, no fighter/rogue/monks, no fighter/rogue/WMs, ...
That you cannot do. If you wanted to eliminate a specific class, you could do it. Like, if you wanted a fighter/rogue without WM, you could do:
1 - 40 Fighter 1 - 40 Rogue 0 - 0 WM
But there's no way to search specifically for builds that only use 2 classes. Your best bet at this point would be to eliminate the most likely 3rd class, and then just glance through your results to find the one you want. It's still a shorter list than before, although not as nice as being able to search for a 2 class build directly.
Steve
Sorry for the confusion... what I was suggesting was to make it to be user-friendly. And have advanced options for those who knows how to use the search engine.
User-friendly would just have three options, select the classes you want to find then search.. it will give you list of classes that you want to find. And add one more option.. blank which would mean you only want to find two class character build, not those with three.
Anuis _________________ - Epic Character Builders Guild
- Life is but a dream...
- I know more than I am letting on...
-I think, Therefore I am.
Err.. I'm actually working on a new "advanced" search with unlimited criteria and some boolean operators. I suppose I'll need to have a simple, medium, advanced. When I made the one that is currently online I was hoping that less advanced users would just leave the level requirments as they are (1-40), thus simply searching for any combination of three specified classes.
Updated the search page with the new index.
After a few days of beeing a bit crippled, the search is now working as it should again. As well as before anyway.
Sorry if this has already been posted, but is the search page down for anybody else?
Yep.. down here in IE 6.0.2900.2180 and Firefox 1.5.0.4.
It doesn't look too clever its true
Hey guys, new here, Search Engine and guild sources are great! IDK what happened, but I have trouble with the search engine now, I search for a build and get a list of results, but when it goes to the log-in screen from there I get redirected to the Bioware Accounts page. I can still view builds if I go through the actual list manually, I just seem to be getting some sort of redirect when I attempt to view the builds. Any help would be appreciated. (I go to http://web1.vattnet.com/staffan/search/builds.htm Look for build from there, select one, get sent to http://nwn.bioware.com/login/oops.html after entering log-in info, I end up at http://accounts.bioware.com/ instead of viewing the build...)
Hm, a fellow DLROH'er I see. Can't you just login before you go to the search-engine? Or have you done that and still get directed there? _________________ I see the fear you have inside, you can run but never hide. I will hunt you down and tear you limb from limb.
I run the Pre-Epic Builders guild. Join and share your experience.
Works perfectly for me, but I autolog via a permanent cookie (just need to edit your login settings in your account). Try logging in at bioware (or our guild, or the NWN forums) then move to the search engine from that same window and see if you still get redirected when accessing a specific build.
Cheers, Kail _________________ Looking for a realm of adventure? Check out World of Greyhawk, you won't regret it.
Yeah Grimnir, DL here too... Tried your guys's ideas on logging in first... still have problems. It's only the Links via the Search Engine that redirect me, I have a few builds bookmarked, and the log-in screen for those lead to the correct site/build info. Even when logged in already, attempting to view a build through the Search Engine list, has the build come up in a new window, I have to log-in that new window, even though I already logged in thru another window... (If that makes sense) I tried that Auto-login from account settings too, I still get the log-in screen from selecting builds sorted by the search engine...
Hm. Have you allowed cookies in your browser settings?
Grimnir, you're the man. I had cookies allowed through my browser, but my firewall updated a while back, changed my settings on that, that's what it was... Thank You!
I refuse to tell you how I guessed. It had NOTHING to do with it ever happening to me. _________________ Dragonlance ROH is back, better than before! and I spend a little time here WoG
Umm, this may sound stupid but can we update the search engine maybe ?
Can we get a racial tab to press, so we can narrow the search down even more and make it abit faster ?
I was looking for a non-human build and had to troll thru results by the build mixture. A race function would have given me the 2 or 3 results in seconds. _________________ Surviving 3 cats, 2 kids and a wife deserves some serious game time, dont cha think ?
Not likely. It's been pushed for in the past, and with no results. The only way it could get done is if someone with the know-how would be willing to sit down and do it all.
And the way that it works is it draws key words from the thread titles in the index (as well as numbers) so that you can then find the builds in the search engine. It can't sift for races because, well, that would require every build to have its race posted in the thread title. While a few have it, the vast majority do not, and that would require considerable work and is not worth the payoff.
The other problem is that the search engine calls upon the older index, and for some reason Bromium created new build indexes, so the Engine can't "see" those new builds. Pulse Cap's Search Engine was premeditated on one Build Index, not three. Problem is further mitigated by no one adding anything at all to any of the current build indexes.
So what we are left with is a snapshot of Late 2007, early 2008, and there it stands, collecting dust. I had tried to lend my assistance to help the deteriorating situation, but I was largely ignored. _________________ Got Hommlet? World of Greyhawk Action Server (with 1/2 price ales on Mondays!)
Ariel, Ookla, RIDE!
That's a shame. Your builds in particular have become a highlight over the past year.
That's a shame. Your builds in particular have become a highlight over the past year.
I wouldn't go that far. There have been many new and interesting builds that have been posted, and we're probably talking more like 18 months at this point. Hopefully, the Guild Leaders here will take the appropriate measures to get the ECB current again, and restore it to its former glory. _________________ Got Hommlet? World of Greyhawk Action Server (with 1/2 price ales on Mondays!)
Ariel, Ookla, RIDE!
This is kinda sad to see.
A group this size should be able to "nail" issues like this in mere minutes and kill it straight away. Yet you old Grizz buddy say that its the exact opposite.
Cant we ask the technical staff from bioware that hang out here in forums to whip something up for us ? Theres a technical advisor that sits on a forum as a mod which could likely "nuke off" a tool in minutes.....If asked.
It makes me annoyed that I searched for a rather exotic build the other night and had to manually read every result.... until I found the right racial group AND this exotic style together.
a updated tool could save many of us moments crying into our coffee with frustration. _________________ Surviving 3 cats, 2 kids and a wife deserves some serious game time, dont cha think ?
The only way it could get done is if someone with the know-how would be willing to sit down and do it all.
And the way that it works is it draws key words from the thread titles in the index (as well as numbers) so that you can then find the builds in the search engine. It can't sift for races because, well, that would require every build to have its race posted in the thread title. While a few have it, the vast majority do not, and that would require considerable work and is not worth the payoff.
The other problem is that the search engine calls upon the older index, and for some reason Bromium created new build indexes, so the Engine can't "see" those new builds. Pulse Cap's Search Engine was premeditated on one Build Index, not three. Problem is further mitigated by no one adding anything at all to any of the current build indexes.
I only wish i had taken the time to pay attention in programming class to understand what was said... oh wait, i didnt take programming!
We'll try to fix the search engine issue and the in forum index will be updated. _________________ They can't stop us Let them try For Heavy Metal We will die
Erm. Hi. It's been a while, hasn't it?
I'm sort of finishing up another new search thingy. I started on it well over a year ago, when my old update program refused to run because the index page was changed. At that time I'd pretty much stopped playing NWN, so my motivation was not great.
I still don't play NWN, but I do want to finish this so I can stop feeling guilty towards the people who have very kindly asked me to get it back online.
There's a public beta of sorts available here. It lacks a lot of the functionality that the old one has, but it runs off a freshly updated database.
edit: I've even forgotten how to write bbcode...
Edited By pulse cap on 05/13/09 21:35
Quote: Posted 05/13/09 21:30 (GMT) -- pulse cap
There's a public beta of sorts available here. It lacks a lot of the functionality that the old one has, but it runs off a freshly updated database.
I'm liking it. Keep up the good work.
Hello sir pulse cap, and welcome back _________________ Ghaash agh akûl - Nazgûl skoiz Mirdautas vras! Karn ghaamp agh nût Shaut Manwe quiinubat gukh
If I have missed something, please point this out rather quickly as I will otherwise start to redirect visitors.
ALL HAIL PULSE CAP! _________________ They can't stop us Let them try For Heavy Metal We will die
*Hailing _________________ "My name is Thaxll'ssyllia, but you simians may refer to me merely as "Sir", if you prefer a less... syllable intensive workout."
Edwin Odesseiron - Baldur's Gate II: Shadows of Amn
*Hailing*
is it possible for this new search engine to be inserted into the sticky 'useful links' on the epic character builds forum? Or isn't it perfected yet? I just used it and it seems to be working great! (:
Please wait a little. I'm trying to decide how to organize the site to make this work alongside its nwn2 counterpart with minimum maintenance and overall hassle. This will probably result in a new URI.
I'm having some trouble finding time for this, but it shouldn't be more than a week at most.
Quote: Posted 05/27/09 01:46 (GMT) -- pulse cap
Please wait a little. I'm trying to decide how to organize the site to make this work alongside its nwn2 counterpart with minimum maintenance and overall hassle. This will probably result in a new URI.
I'm having some trouble finding time for this, but it shouldn't be more than a week at most.
Take your time buddy. And know we all are very grateful for your effort. Kudos. _________________ They can't stop us Let them try For Heavy Metal We will die
Thanks for all your efforts Pulse. I just tried going to the old version but it seems the site has been taken down? I've also gone to the new site and it is very well done. The search wasn't working when I just tried but I know it's still under construction. Also, you porbably may know this already but the screen looked normal on Firefox but not on IE (not sure about Safari but I'll check it when I get back home).
Oh. That's not good. Now I wish I'd kept up with plan and set up a redirection page in place of the old search page. Apparently that server is gone for good. It was one of those free tiny hosting deals that ISPs throw in as a bonus. My parents' ISP. This was a long time ago. In the past decade or so, I've never really thought about how long it would stay up. I've just occasionally connected through FTP without thinking a
On the bright side, I suppose I'm lucky that this happened after I set up an apparently functional replacement on another server. The new hosting space behind gustaver.se is paid for annually, by me, and so is the domain. This should make it a more reliable solution.
Anyway, I guess I really have to fix up that site now that I can't as easily get away with calling it an open test. I'll make sure the search engine, in its current form or better, stays available at http://www.gustaver.se/nwn/. For those who are also interested in its NWN2 counterparts, they can be found at http://www.gustaver.se/nwn2_20/ (level 20 builds) and http://www.gustaver.se/nwn2_30/ (level 30 builds).
I'd be grateful if you help spread the word where you know there are links to the old address that people still (try to) use. I'm not really in touch with the NWN community these days, and will also be leaving internet access behind for about a week starting Thursday.
Sorry about the mess.
ps. (edit) I'll see about the IE thing. Sometimes it's very difficult to like Microsoft.
Edited By pulse cap on 06/15/09 17:01
The relevant links at the guild have been updated. Once more, thanks pulse cap! _________________ They can't stop us Let them try For Heavy Metal We will die
Tried the link but the search would not work?
If you try to search for anything but 1-3 classes, it doesn't seem to work.
Edited By Magical Master on 06/20/09 00:27
Still cant get this to work?
The search engine works fine for me. I suggest checking your browser setting (or to do away with IE, but the latter is a more general suggestion ) _________________ They can't stop us Let them try For Heavy Metal We will die
Is the search engine working OK for folk? It seems to not be showing a few of the drop down items and the search button for the last few days for me. I did just "update" Java so am wondering if that is causing an issue?
.
We'll try to fix the search engine issue and the in forum index will be updated.