StoryForm - Writing Software

[computerwizoo7]

Sup guys, It's me computerwizoo7 :lol:

As the name dictates, It's a story writing software built with a very general template for creating game stories. I also added CharaGen to it, if you don't know what that is then it's basically a character generator.

anyway, i believe this software to have a few bugs. so if you find any please let me know and I'll fix them.

Screen:

Box:

Spoiler: Box Graphics

Download:

Version 1.0.0.15:
http://www.mediafire.com/?qek5o3mliwd31a6


Prerequisites:

.Net Framework 4.0(Full or Client Profile)


I hope to hear from you guys soon ^_^

 

[glorious caesar]

this is cool but seems very—um—simplistic, in the sense that it doesn't serve too much or a purpose. i mean yeah the point of software like this is to help with organization and it looks like this helps in some way, but i can't imagine anybody really using this for a legit project.

check out mark fasset's storybox. this program fucking rocks and i've been using it for a few months for the novel that i'm writing. what makes this program unique is the way that it allows the user to write in "scenes" and move them around as he pleases. in other words, i can do my outline and move around my drafts as i see fit. it's also got a bunch of other cool features all generally tied to the same purpose of increasing organization.

i think what you should do man is think about what a GAMER EDITION would really mean: in other words, how goes a game story really differ from something like a novel or script? if your program is organizationally devoted to games, and includes ways to connect story with gameplay, then you might have something here

goodluck scooter

 

[computerwizoo7]

hmm... you have a point. however you can go get that storybox for 45 days then you can come back here and get this for

free

. take part in the beta test and ask for features you want to see in version 1.1 - 2 or something.

before i forget, i don't think storybox can show you all the medieval weapons available in color and then generate the character info you need that's just not so special to the story or help you brainstorm for ideas(CharaGen).

anyway, this tool is not for presentation at the moment...

 

[glorious caesar]

don't use being free as an excuse for a subpar product. push yourself, my friend, to be the best in everything that you do :toot:

 

[game_guy]

This really isn't anything special to be honest. Anyone can open up C#/VB and create what you did. Tab Control, Menu Strip, Rich Textbox, etc... BTW I can't even run the program it crashes on startup so you probably have some error in your code. And a better way to release the program is to to go Build > Build Project. Then in your project folder you'll find a bin folder with a Debug and a Release folder. The release folder is what you want to hand out.

 

[computerwizoo7]

is this software working for anyone?
game_guy, post the specs of your machine.


EDIT:

you must have:

windows xp sp3 or higher
.net framework 4.0 client profile or full
windows installer 3.1 or higher


let me know if you got that and still getting an error.

 

[game_guy]

I have windows 7, I have Visual Studio 2010 Ultimate so I'm pretty sure I have .NET 4.0. I have 6GB of Ram. I have the latest Windows Installer. Try taking my suggestion. Open up your solution in Visual Studio. Make sure the Solution Configuration is set to Release then go to Build > Build Project. You'll have a standalone executable. This is more likely to work. The installer that Visual Studio creates doesn't work all the time. I've been working with Visual Studio for awhile I know what I'm talking about.

 

[computerwizoo7]

ok, here's the rundown...
it was a simple IO error on CharaGen -_- anyway, i tested this on windows XP and 7(should run on Vista as well).

download:
V1.0.0.16 StoryForm:
http://www.mediafire.com/?qek5o3mliwd31a6


sorry about that ^_^ i'll be sure to add whatever features you want, so post anything u feel the software needs.

 

[game_guy]

And you continue to ignore me. ._. Look build and release your program the way I told you. Because now your install app won't let me install it because the older version is already there. Its annoying to be honest. I have to uninstall an old version just to install a new upgraded version. Why can't you just do what I suggested? Then you'd have a simple standalone exe that you can just zip and share. That way people don't have to install, uninstall and install again for later updates.

 

[computerwizoo7]

bug fixed, download from the same links (i updated the file)

 

[game_guy]

Would ya guess it? Passing my advice again. Guess what I had to do to run your new version. Uninstall the old. Its stupid. Another thing you can do is go into Project > Properties and change the Target Framework to 2.0. Most people now a days at least have .NET 2.0 installed. If you build it the way I told you it also reduces the size from 23MB to 1-2MB if that. I'm trying to figure out here why you don't follow my advice. If you follow my advice it produces the following benefits. I also suggest adding to a .zip folder, you never know some people actually don't have WinRAR or 7-Zip. Really, everytime you release a new version, no one can even run it! They have to scroll through their list of programs and uninstall it.

-People don't have to uninstall the old version to install a new version
-The file size is not 23 MB for a simple program like this, seriously I've created more advanced complicated apps then this and they were only a few hundred KB
-Since you changed the target framework to 2.0, people don't have to go and download .NET 4.0

You asked for feedback, you said post what the software needs, this is what it needs. I'm just trying to pass some friendly advice to you and I suggest taking it. This is probably going to be my last post since you're not going to follow this advice anyways so good luck with your...erm thing.

Here one thing, check this program out. http://forum.chaos-project.com/index.ph ... 968.0.html I created it using Visual Studio 2010. It runs on .NET 2.0 framework or higher, the zip size is 200 some KB. And it runs right on the spot! No installing or uninstalling crap!

 

[computerwizoo7]

you made me go back to a place like chaos projects -_-
anyway, it's 2 projects in one solution. charagen is a whole software on it's own so that would be 2 exe files, also charagen uses internal resource files. having a bunch of exe files on your pc for an upgrading software is bad(especially if you mess up the version numbers).

~_~ i'm thinking of making an auto updater but such a drag...
i could add the two projects as one and so it updates without uninstall, such a drag...
some other standard features like file association and a setup project, such a drag...

i wonder why .net 2.0 is so small, it has nothing to do with the code >.> but the name and image files that make up the data bank for charaGen which is inside StoryForm under the Edit option on the standard menu.

the software you posted, very easy and small amount of code >.> so hardly a good comparison.
writing all this just to reply to you, such a drag...

PS: please post features you would like to see added to the software, i already have optional export to the collections(chapters, characters, maps/scenes) like what noise mentioned before he actually tested the software.

 

[game_guy]

Go ahead and pull off what I did in my program then. I created a custom library to help me out with the project to reduce the amount of code. Go ahead and recreate my sprite animator program. Recreate it and then I'll lighten up.

In fact make something like this and release it as small as it is. Gui is fantastic, its helpful and its a whopping 2.2 MB.
http://forum.chaos-project.com/index.ph ... 851.0.html

You don't need an auto updater, that'd be a waste on such a simple program that I could write in less code, more user friendly, a better GUI, and smaller file size.

 

[ForeverZer0]

Argument aside, the filesize DOES need to be reduced. It is inexcusable to have such a simple program have so big a size. Almost every application has embedded resources, so that really doesn't just explain it away. What G_G is trying to explain is that "bigger" is not better when it comes to programming. Personally I am a miser when it comes to keeping programs small. I created a full RMXP script editor that loaded and saved directly to the Scripts.rxdata file, and included syntax highlighting, tabbed files, etc., and the final filesize was just over 2 MB. That included the IronRuby and Scintilla libraries embedded inside, and all within a no-installer program. The point is, squeezing the most amount into the smallest size (within reason) is a trademark of a good programmer.

I am not judging your program, I haven't even tried it, so please do not think I am being insulting. I personally won't be downloading it in the current state that it sits. I would be more than happy to give it a try if you can prune it down.

 

[Branden]

Here are my thoughts on the program:

It looks cheaply slapped together and overall useless.
Almost like something my seven year old sister could do, although she could do it much better no doubt.

Overall, computerwizoo7 + apps = horrid and lulzy results.

 

[glorious caesar]

dont be mean branden.

 

[bacon]

first off, if people are trying to give you advice and you think its a drag that you have to respond to criticism then you are being silly. People are taking the time to try to give you some advice.

With that said, noise is right. Posting, "this is shit" without constructive criticism will result in a warn.

 

[Branden]

Okay, fine. I'll be more tame with him.

Here's my constructive criticism:

The application does not start, it's WAY too large considering what it is, and overall, you could have done a way better job.
I think if you would take game_guy and ForeverZer0's wonderful advice, this application could actually have a shot at being at least being a little bit enjoyed by people.
In my opinion, it cannot even become the least bit successful as is. So, please cw7, take their advice. It isn't gonna kill you, and ignoring the advice isn't going to help make yourself look professional when it comes to software development.

There, there's my constructive criticism. :P

 

[computerwizoo7]

ok, so if anyone find the software useful then it's no problem if i get flamed at. :biggrin:

 

[Branden]

You don't understand, nobody found it useful the way it is. So is it a problem, then?

stop. - venetia