Anderson Utilities 2006

[Comedian2004]

Hi,

Sorry, no Mac version here. It is too much work to create a mac version when I have no mac. If I had a mac and programming tools, but unless Steve Jobs sends me a donation, then no possibilty in the future.

Originally Posted by smaller

Hi Larry,

Do your programs work on a Mac, too? Having played Baseball Mogul on PC in the past, I was wondering if I could edit a players' individual projected stats similarly in OOTBP2007. As far as I can tell, I can only edit the general power rating, batting rating, etc.

Thanks!

[kagnew35]

Where have you gone, Larry Anderson? I, for one, miss you.

[Comedian2004]

I have been on the Beta team, and website business and computer repair business has been keeping me busy the past few months.

With the new version of the game scheduled to be released in 7 days, there will be some happy campers around here.

As usual, some of my older programs become of no use, as they have implemented features in the game that do what my utilities did.

This year, they have changed some of the CSV dump files, and unfortunately, they have not documented the changes. So, it will be trial and error for me to fix the previous versions of my programs to work with the new version of the game. I really have not tested any of them except the Autologo program, which adds historical logos to your leagues. It still works and needs no changes, that I can see so far. Without trying, the fictional logo program should still work. However, the logo collection has not grown, as no one has ever sent me any new logos to add to the program.

I did work a few minutes this evening on the AUHistoryHint program, and I was able to get it working, but it needs to be checked further, as some of the data is wrong. It should not be much of a problem to get it working properly. Most of the other programs will not work without them being modified, and many will require massive changing and not easy changing, as I have a ton of variables that have changed.

So, with that said, I will more and likely be writing new programs for the new version of the game. Top of the list is the baseball program and the Hall of Fame program.

I will need help from the public with both of these programs, as the printing will have to be tested on different printers and I do not even have a printer hooked up for testing.

Watch this forum for new versions of the programs. There will be new versions of them, just not updates to the existing programs, so the older programs will not be modified, so they will work on the older versions of the game still.

When the game is released, you can help by trying the 2007 versions on the game and letting me know if they work or not. I can't really do much until the game is released, as the CSV dumps can change day to day.

[kbensel]

Great news, thanks!

[dangarion]

Do things work currently with OOTP8?

[Comedian2004]

As far as I know they do, I do not have 8.0 and never had it, but I was told my the code makers that they CSV files did not change with 8.0.

[English_Ray]

Awesome to hear, Larry. AUHistoryHint is one of my favourite mods of all time for any game - it'd be great to have it working on v9 too!

[kagnew35]

Larry, have tried AUreports, AUFace, AUtrades, AULineup and AUContract, get same error on all when trying to load leagues. Been using AULogoWatchDog since early 9 builds and it works perfectly

[kagnew35]

Made this suggestion for a new utility once before, couple years ago. Would it be possible to create a sports page type format that would load: standings, scoreboard, leaderboards, todays games with SP's and "team notes"? Probably more of a template thing, but really need this for my dynasty and sure many would make good us of it too.

[Comedian2004]

My timeline depends on many things, my workload, my laziness and some other factors. Thanks for the report on what programs work Kag.

Almost any program that accessed the players.csv file will not work, it will crash. Since I wrote those programs, MS has came up with a new version of VB, and there are some changes that are not allowing me to access the code from previous versions. Some just do not convert well and requires a lot of work to get them to even work now. Throw in the fact that the CSV files have changed, it will not be easy, but I have some plans.

I already have been working on the History hint program, which is also one of my favorites, and I just have some tweaking to do with it. So I expect that to be ready within a week after the game is released, of course depending on my REAL workload.

Next up will be some smaller utils that have been brewing around in my head. One is one much like described by Kag. Reproducing standings is a pain and I had not ventured into that yet. The schedule should be easy enough to create, along with the leaderboards, but the starting pitchers information I cannot get. Plus, it would not be accurate, as the AI likes to make last minute changes. All this information is available in the game anyhow. I like to create stuff that is not in the game, or is in the game, just not easy to locate.

My first thoughts on a team sheet would be an improved version of the scouting report for your upcoming series. It would list players, show their career stats vs. the starting pitchers on the other team, plus other break downs, like; last 2 weeks, last 3 weeks, last month, recent road/home trip, a team Who's hot/not. Team stats for last 2 weeks, etc. Other odd ball information, stuff you would hear the color man say, like Verlander has not thrown a complete game since June 5th, 2007. We are 42-1 when leading after 9 innings, we are 3-23 when scoring 4 runs or less. When Anderson has homered, we are 21-3, etc.

Another one that has been thrashing around in my head and I actually had a protype that I tried last year that no one else saw, was a watch dog program. As you are running multi year sim, every time the season ends, a popup will come up and give you a spec sheet on what's going on in the league and highlites.

Some of the bigger projects include the HOF program and some secret online league stuff. The larger programs require help from the community. I have not had that support in the past very much. That is why the HOF program sizzled last year. I think I had one person or two that actually gave me some feedback on it. A program like this requires many different baseball opinions, on what constitutes a HOF player. I may try a different approach with it this year and see if that helps.

[HerbD]

I'd be willing to help as much as I can with the HOF program. I was really looking forward to it for the last version.

[Comedian2004]

I was having a discussion with myself the other day (you will do this one day), and put some thought into the Hall of Fame program.

The hardest part of the design was I was trying to write a program that gave you points based on different factors, average, power, etc. Now, the problem with this is that it is not the same for different eras. Plus, it is not the same for every single person that is voting. The other part is to show the players stats in an easy to read format inside my program.

So, this year, I am taking another approach. 1st, I am going to use the built in HTML reports of the game. So, it will require you to use the almanac to create the player's HTML pages at the end of each year. Then, on a given date, somewhere between 1-1-XXXX and opening day, is when you would run the HOF program.

Now, there would be some main requirements to even get considered, and those would be set by the user of the program, but with the suggested defaults. And of course, they can always be overridden. Those would be:

1st, you have to be retired. There will be an option to wait 5 years or do it as soon as the guy retires.

2nd, plate appearances. 3000 would be a good starting spot. Anyone with less than 3000 at bats would not be considered.

3rd, batting average. I feel anyone below a .250 average does not deserve the Hall of Fame, unless he had xxx home runs. Or, he won XX gold gloves.

The idea here is to simply get rid of the players that do not have a chance to make the ballot.

So, let's say you ran a historical league starting in 1901. On 2-3-1906, you stop the sim. The players that retired in 1901 would be eligible for the HOF. Now, in the game, you set the standards so high, that no one will be automatically inducted.

The program would show you a list of the people that are eligible and you can click on their names and bring up the HTML page for the player. That information right there should be enough for you to decide. Or, for an online league, a report could be made that would show the candidates and the members of the league could cast their votes.

Now, there would be a flag set for each player that retired.

1. Never ask again. This is for the Mario Mendoza that is not worthy.
2. Ask again next year. This guy, you are not sure of yet. He is not a 1st year entry into the hall, but maybe next year.
3. Yes, put him in!

Now, you will still have to manually enter him into the HOF and then you could even modify his history for online leagues, showing that he got 18 of 20 votes, or even make some stuff up there.

A limit could be set, so that if 5 years go by, then he will be removed from the candidate list.

Later on, say 20 years from now, you could run the 'Old Timers Check', or it could be ran any time, pulling up people that had votes (carried over into the next year) so you could re-consider their induction.

How does this type of approach sound?

If I get enough people interested in this type of program, it would not take long to write, depending on my real life schedule. (This weekend is busy)

I would need some feedback on how to weed out the players. But then again, it depends on how many players retire each year.

[HerbD]

I like this approach. Eliminating as many players as possible should speed the program up I would think.

[ricobrown]

I have always loved your modes and would be greatly interested in this

[Comedian2004]

I actually started some code on this last night. (No Tigers game to watch)

While in the baby state, here is what happens.

I created a new historical league that started in 1901. I ran it until 1-1-1902 and then did a CSV dump, then went into the online section and did a ONLINE league function, like I was saving for an online league. But, the only thing I saved was the players HTML. I then had the program move them to a new folder I created. Now, if you did not want to stop the simulation every year to do this, you can use the almanac and have it auto save this information every year. Then you could sim 10 years, run my program and then go to 1902, then 1903, etc. You can tell my AUHOF where the htmls are located.

So, now I have some starting code. You run the program, pick the league and then click start. It will read in the players file and check for all players that have retired status set in the CSV dump. It will show them in alpha order on the left and if you click on their name, it will bring up their HTML page on the right in a frame.

If you right click on a players name, you have three choices. NO HOF - NEXT YEAR - ADD TO HOF

Right now, the code will let you select NO HOF and then, next time you run the program, he is not listed there. This information is saved in a text file, so it is very simple to 'change your mind'.

Now, when you click next year, he will be added to the NEXT YEAR text file and it will keep track of how many years he has been 'next yeared'. I feel those are for the people that the sportswriters are undecided on.

And then of course, there is the ADD TO HOF. Just another text file that keeps track of who you have added. Now, the program will not add them automatically to the HOF, but will have the ability to create a text file that you can print out and then manually add them.

I do things different when I write a program. Since I am not sitting down and spending hour upon hour working on it, instead, I work 15 minutes here, an hour there, etc., but I like to publicly post on the status. I will create a new thread soon and move this to there. Two reasons I do this, one is to get you guys an update on it and give you the chance to help me write the program, suggest things, or say how that won't work or suggesting that I try this or try that.

Also, as I get older, my memory works like A-Rods bat does in the playoffs. This way I record my thoughts on how and why something is designed this way and I can go back and refresh my memory. Sometimes I even think of ideas while posting a message.

That has happened here. When you add someone to 'NEXT YEAR', have it update the player's history to show:

01011902 HOF eligibility carried over to next year.

(Or something to that effect)

That would look cool in the profile, showing that he was rejected three years in a row and then finally made it.

01011902 HOF eligibility carried over to next year.
01011903 HOF eligibility carried over to next year.
01011904 HOF eligibility carried over to next year.
01011905 Inducted to the Hall of Fame.

01011902 HOF eligibility carried over to next year.
01011903 HOF eligibility carried over to next year.
01011904 HOF eligibility carried over to next year.
01011905 No longer eligible for Hall of Fame.

I am curious now on how many players retire each year. My 1st year, I had only 4 retire. But that is just in 1902. I wonder what the average is, and what the most is. I need to run some tests to see what these numbers are over the years. As, if the numbers are not overwhelming, then I do not need to do a 'is he worthy check', as you can simply click and kick.

The benefit to this is that you are forced to look at every single player that retires. Most of the time, just a glance, but it will add more to you knowing your league and even discover oddities. You may see someone that had a CEI that you would have overlooked, or other interesting stuff.

[Comedian2004]

AUPlayerHistory2008 released for version 9.

AUPlayersHistory2008

This program allows you to edit each player's history, adding or removing items. A few other options in the program allow:

Add streaks
Add Walk off Home runs
Search and Replace entire history (Replace all SION with MLB)
Replace duplicate lines
Add random events, user created text file contains all of the random events

You must use IE to visit above link to install it. It does not use IE after that.

[Comedian2004]

AUHistoryHint 2008 for OOTP 9 released.

Anderson Utilities - AUHistoryHin t2008

Same program as the last, just converted to work with V. 9. Let me know of any quirks.

You MUST use IE to install the program, then after that you can launch it from the start menu.

No, sorry, no macs.

[biggamejrs]

This is awesome! Thanks for the hard work!!!!!!!!!

[DWK]

Can't wait till this program comes out. Nice to have you back Larry and thanks for all your programs they are awesome it real adds to the game

[English_Ray]

Originally Posted by Comedian2004

AUHistoryHint 2008 for OOTP 9 released.

Anderson Utilities - AUHistoryHin t2008

Same program as the last, just converted to work with V. 9. Let me know of any quirks.

You MUST use IE to install the program, then after that you can launch it from the start menu.

No, sorry, no macs.

Just wanted to say a quick thanks for updating this Larry - hugely appreciated!