AACW PBEM moves doesn't execute...

[Torca]

In the current game for a third time my moves for the current turn didn't
execute but those made in previous turn did. I'm sure I saved my turn cause
I always check the time when *.ord file was last modified before sending it.
My opponent is a host. Can this be a bug, corrupted file or something else.

[Hobbes]

It's very likely a mistake on the part of the host (or you are sending the wrong file). We had quite a few problems like this before we got into the swing of PBEM. Have you/he played much PBEM before?

Does he see the red symbol to show that you PBEM turn is present before he executes? Can he check before he copies your turn that there is no red symbol and after he copies that there is? Is he copying the correct file to the correct folder? You could get him to send all the files from the current turn to you just before he executes to see if you can spot the problem.

I have played 60 PBEM turns without a problem so I would be very surprised if
it was a bug.

Cheers, Chris

[Aurelin]

In my game, my opponent is telling me: "I save the turn in precisely the same way as earlier, save it into the subfolder in the SAVE folder, and the game does not appear on the load game menu. I even tried renaming the file to the same name as the first turn that I'd saved successfully, then the turn just totally disappeared."

I'm hoping he can chime in, as I won't be around for about 4-5 hours.

[mattd]

In my game, my opponent is telling me: "I save the turn in precisely the same way as earlier, save it into the subfolder in the SAVE folder, and the game does not appear on the load game menu. I even tried renaming the file to the same name as the first turn that I'd saved successfully, then the turn just totally disappeared."

I'm hoping he can chime in, as I won't be around for about 4-5 hours.

I'm Aurelin's oppo and it's like he says....

Any ideas, gratefully received.

BTW, I'm around and at my PC (watching a pretty poor TV adaptation of Twelve Angry Men) so won't be budging too far.

[Hobbes]

I think if you do a search there is a post detailing exactly what to try when you get problems like this. One thing I would suggest is to try a "PBEM game" against yourself - even email the turn to yourself as the opposition and make sure you can get this to work. The host should certainly try to do this.
If it doesn't work there is a problem with the host procedure. It's really just down to getting the correct file in the correct directory.

It's a first step at least. The process really is painless once you get used to it.

Cheers, Chris

[Hobbes]

If it's any help what I do is to save my opponents zip file to desktop.
I then double left click on the desktop file then left click on the file that is shown just to highlight it - then click edit on the menu - then click "copy to folder" then put that straight into the ACW\saves\Whatever the name of the scenario you are playing folder.

If you are still having problems let me know and I will try and help more tomorrow.

Cheers, Chris

[mattd]

Thanks Hobbes - really appreciate the replies. We'll give it a try and report back

[Hobbes]

OK, hope you work it out - let me know how you get on. We could also try a
test PBEM between us tomorrow if you still have problems.

Cheers, Chris

[Aurelin]

The problem, if I understand it right, was I was using Save as instead of just save. I was renaming the files.

This part of the instructions from the wiki confused me: the best way to avoid confusion is to rename the in-game save (e.g. "1863 Campaign John vs. Joe"). Do NOT rename any ACW files outside the game.

I named the folder TDS, and saved as using that name.....So all the files were named..... .

So, if I have it right, I rename the subfolder to 1861 April Campaign Art vs Matt, but leave the files unchanged?

[Hobbes]

The problem, if I understand it right, was I was using Save as instead of just save. I was renaming the files.

This part of the instructions from the wiki confused me: the best way to avoid confusion is to rename the in-game save (e.g. "1863 Campaign John vs. Joe"). Do NOT rename any ACW files outside the game.

I named the folder TDS, and saved as using that name.....So all the files were named..... .

So, if I have it right, I rename the subfolder to 1861 April Campaign Art vs Matt, but leave the files unchanged?

Sounds like you may have the solution. The file names in my game are always the same as the directory name.
Cheers, Chris

[Torca]

Have you/he played much PBEM before?

I have played 60 PBEM turns without a problem so I would be very surprised if
it was a bug.

I must admit I haven't played much PBEM before but I'm sure I save my file and then send correct one.

We're playing a rematch and last game was more or less fine but now every 3 turns or so my moves will not execute. Strange thing is that plots like move unit X from point A to point B in 27 days made in previous turn do execute. Unit arrives at point B.

[Jabberwock]

mattd -
Is it possible that you are hitting save again after you drop Aurelin's orders into the save folder, but before you process the turn? I noticed a similar situation in a game I'm hosting when I did that.

Also, I had to have my opponent resave and resend one file when this happened without my hitting save. When I unzipped the second copy, it was 20Kb longer, and his orders worked fine. I'm guessing that one or more of the 1.07 versions might be having a problem with truncating the non-host ord file. What version are you using?

[Aurelin]

Jabberwock, we're using 106d.

New one, to me anyway. He sent me his ord. After I did my orders, saved it, put his ord file in the folder, and then hit next turn, the box came up about asking me if I want the AI to take over for him.


At this point, we started over again. I started the game, and exited it. (Didn't see anything about saving it first in the PBWM instructions at the wiki.)

Looked in the save folder, which has the 1861 April Campaign folder. I added his name to the folder. (Not that I'm going to play multi PBEMS, yet, but it seemed a good idea.)

So I sent him the 1861 April Campaign~USA.trn (he is the USA).

Now as I understand it, I can reload the game, pick the save game at the top of the list, the one with the red clip, give my orders, then save and exit. Which I did. (At one point I had two with the red clip.)

So at the moment, I'm waiting for his 1861 April Campaign~USA.ord file. Which I place into the above folder, hit end turn, and let it run.

After which I send the USA.trn file, et al.

I saw that there are four steps in the instructions. But only the third, in which you give orders, specifically says save. So with step 1,2,4 I just exit the game?

Just getting the feeling at times I have to be led by the hand through the procedure.

Also, neither of use are using winzip or rar, as we've both have had problems with them.

[Jabberwock]

Also, neither of use are using winzip or rar, as we've both have had problems with them.

Ahah! I'm willing to bet it is getting truncated in the email due to not being zipped.

Other than that, you are doing it exactly right. don't change your procedure.

[Aurelin]

Thanks

Now we just need an idiot proof file zipper.

I've used winrar for a long time, always with zipped d/ls though. The I rar'ed the trn file and sent it, but found I couldn't unzip my own file, or the one he sent back.

Tried winzip, and found I couldn't open the file he sent me.

I guess War in the Pacific spoiled us, as we never had to zip those saves

[Jabberwock]

I've used winrar for a long time, always with zipped d/ls though. The I rar'ed the trn file and sent it, but found I couldn't unzip my own file, or the one he sent back.

Tried winzip, and found I couldn't open the file he sent me.

Try using winrar to create the zip. right-click, add to archive, select zip instead of rar.

[Aurelin]

Thanks for that tip. The first turn went off fine.

update: Actually, it didn't. I'm the non host this time, and I got email about the ord file : "It appears to be dated before the first turns we exchanged. And it isn't appearing on the load file anyway!"