Improve Server Saving - William - 20-10-2006
Difficulty
1/5
Introduction
Are you tired of the lag, when the server saves all players online. Well that should be over now. This tutorial will make it so 'only the player that you play with' will be saved. And not the other two characters on your account (since they are unchanged). And it also splits the saving part into two stages. So after 5 minutes, it saves 1/2 of the player, and 5 minutes later, it saves the other part of the player (2/2). Then its complete, and it starts over again. Also, some other minor improvements has been done. Such as a variable has become byte instead of long. And DoEvents takes time to run over and over again. So that will only run when there is a player to save (Etc..).
Remember, that if you save your files as binary. There are somethings that needs to be changed in the both SavePlayer subs.
This line of code, can also be added to the default Sub SavePlayer(byval Index as long):
Code: If Player(Index).CharNum = i Then
It will make it so that only 1 player is saved, and not all the 3 players on the account.
Tutorial Start: All Server Side
Find: Private Sub tmrPlayerSave_Timer()
Replace that whole sub with:
Code: Private Sub tmrPlayerSave_Timer()
Static MinPassed As Long
Dim i As Byte 'make it long if MAX_PLAYERS > 255
MinPassed = MinPassed + 1
If MinPassed >= 5 And MinPassed < 10 Then
If TotalOnlinePlayers > 0 Then
Call GlobalMsg("Saving 1/2 of the player..", Yellow)
For i = 1 To MAX_PLAYERS 'use High_Index if you added that tut
If IsPlaying(i) Then
Call tmrSavePlayerMain(i)
DoEvents
End If
Next i
End If
MinPassed = 10
End If
If MinPassed >= 15 Then
If TotalOnlinePlayers > 0 Then
Call GlobalMsg("Saving 2/2 of the player..", Yellow)
For i = 1 To MAX_PLAYERS 'use High_Index if you added that tut
If IsPlaying(i) Then
Call tmrSavePlayerOther(i)
DoEvents
End If
Next i
End If
MinPassed = 0
End If
End Sub
Now, below: Sub SavePlayer(ByVal Index As Long)
Add the following:
Code: Sub tmrSavePlayerMain(ByVal Index As Long)
Dim FileName As String
Dim i As Byte
FileName = App.Path & "\Accounts\" & Trim(Player(Index).Login) & ".ini"
For i = 1 To MAX_CHARS
If Player(Index).CharNum = i Then
' General
Call PutVar(FileName, "CHAR" & i, "Name", Trim(Player(Index).Char(i).Name))
Call PutVar(FileName, "CHAR" & i, "Class", STR(Player(Index).Char(i).Class))
Call PutVar(FileName, "CHAR" & i, "Sex", STR(Player(Index).Char(i).Sex))
Call PutVar(FileName, "CHAR" & i, "Sprite", STR(Player(Index).Char(i).Sprite))
Call PutVar(FileName, "CHAR" & i, "Level", STR(Player(Index).Char(i).Level))
Call PutVar(FileName, "CHAR" & i, "Exp", STR(Player(Index).Char(i).Exp))
Call PutVar(FileName, "CHAR" & i, "Access", STR(Player(Index).Char(i).Access))
Call PutVar(FileName, "CHAR" & i, "PK", STR(Player(Index).Char(i).PK))
Call PutVar(FileName, "CHAR" & i, "Guild", STR(Player(Index).Char(i).Guild))
' Vitals
Call PutVar(FileName, "CHAR" & i, "HP", STR(Player(Index).Char(i).HP))
Call PutVar(FileName, "CHAR" & i, "MP", STR(Player(Index).Char(i).MP))
Call PutVar(FileName, "CHAR" & i, "SP", STR(Player(Index).Char(i).SP))
' Stats
Call PutVar(FileName, "CHAR" & i, "STR", STR(Player(Index).Char(i).STR))
Call PutVar(FileName, "CHAR" & i, "DEF", STR(Player(Index).Char(i).DEF))
Call PutVar(FileName, "CHAR" & i, "SPEED", STR(Player(Index).Char(i).SPEED))
Call PutVar(FileName, "CHAR" & i, "MAGI", STR(Player(Index).Char(i).MAGI))
Call PutVar(FileName, "CHAR" & i, "POINTS", STR(Player(Index).Char(i).POINTS))
' Worn equipment
Call PutVar(FileName, "CHAR" & i, "ArmorSlot", STR(Player(Index).Char(i).ArmorSlot))
Call PutVar(FileName, "CHAR" & i, "WeaponSlot", STR(Player(Index).Char(i).WeaponSlot))
Call PutVar(FileName, "CHAR" & i, "HelmetSlot", STR(Player(Index).Char(i).HelmetSlot))
Call PutVar(FileName, "CHAR" & i, "ShieldSlot", STR(Player(Index).Char(i).ShieldSlot))
End If
Next i
End Sub
Sub tmrSavePlayerOther(ByVal Index As Long)
Dim FileName As String
Dim i As Byte
Dim n As Long
FileName = App.Path & "\Accounts\" & Trim(Player(Index).Login) & ".ini"
For i = 1 To MAX_CHARS
If Player(Index).CharNum = i Then
' Check to make sure that they aren't on map 0, if so reset'm
If Player(Index).Char(i).Map = 0 Then
Player(Index).Char(i).Map = START_MAP
Player(Index).Char(i).x = START_X
Player(Index).Char(i).y = START_Y
End If
' Position
Call PutVar(FileName, "CHAR" & i, "Map", STR(Player(Index).Char(i).Map))
Call PutVar(FileName, "CHAR" & i, "X", STR(Player(Index).Char(i).x))
Call PutVar(FileName, "CHAR" & i, "Y", STR(Player(Index).Char(i).y))
Call PutVar(FileName, "CHAR" & i, "Dir", STR(Player(Index).Char(i).Dir))
' Inventory
For n = 1 To MAX_INV
Call PutVar(FileName, "CHAR" & i, "InvItemNum" & n, STR(Player(Index).Char(i).Inv(n).Num))
Call PutVar(FileName, "CHAR" & i, "InvItemVal" & n, STR(Player(Index).Char(i).Inv(n).Value))
Call PutVar(FileName, "CHAR" & i, "InvItemDur" & n, STR(Player(Index).Char(i).Inv(n).Dur))
Next n
' Spells
For n = 1 To MAX_PLAYER_SPELLS
Call PutVar(FileName, "CHAR" & i, "Spell" & n, STR(Player(Index).Char(i).Spell(n)))
Next n
End if
Next i
End Sub
Thats it! Your saving process has now been reduced and improved. To try it out, just change the interval on the timer (tmrPlayerSave) to 1000. And you will see how it works, when you open the client.
Also, if you want the server to save the players less. Just change the 5, 10 and 15 values to something like: 10, 20 and 30. That would double the time for it.
Tell me, if you know something else that can be improved with it. Or if you just don't like my idea behind it.
- Bradyok - 14-02-2007
I know this is a somewhat old topic, but instead of
Code: For i = 1 To MAX_CHARS
If Player(Index).CharNum = i Then
You could just do
Code: i = Player(Index).CharNum
- William - 14-02-2007
I think I remember having a problem with that. But it should work.
- JokeofWeek - 06-04-2007
Sweet tutorial 
I modified it so that it uses the existing SavePlayer sub using an optional variable.
Basically, change your tmrPlayerSave code to
Code: Private Sub tmrPlayerSave_Timer()
Static MinPassed As Long
Dim i As Byte 'make it long if MAX_PLAYERS > 255
MinPassed = MinPassed + 1
If MinPassed >= 5 And MinPassed < 10 Then
If TotalOnlinePlayers > 0 Then
Call GlobalMsg("Saving 1/2 of the player..", Yellow)
For i = 1 To max_players 'use High_Index if you added that tut
If IsPlaying(i) Then
Call SavePlayer(i, 1)
DoEvents
End If
Next i
End If
MinPassed = 10
End If
If MinPassed >= 15 Then
If TotalOnlinePlayers > 0 Then
Call GlobalMsg("Saving 2/2 of the player..", Yellow)
For i = 1 To max_players 'use High_Index if you added that tut
If IsPlaying(i) Then
Call SavePlayer(i, 2)
DoEvents
End If
Next i
End If
MinPassed = 0
End If
End Sub
and then modify your save player code to look like this :
Code: Sub SavePlayer(ByVal Index As Long, Optional IsHalf As Byte)
Dim FileName As String
Dim i As Long
Dim n As Long
FileName = App.Path & "\Accounts\" & Trim$(Player(Index).Login) & ".ini"
Call PutVar(FileName, "GENERAL", "Login", Trim$(Player(Index).Login))
Call PutVar(FileName, "GENERAL", "Password", Trim$(Player(Index).Password))
For i = 1 To MAX_CHARS
If IsHalf = 0 Or IsHalf = 1 Then
' General
Call PutVar(FileName, "CHAR" & i, "Name", Trim$(Player(Index).Char(i).Name))
Call PutVar(FileName, "CHAR" & i, "Class", STR(Player(Index).Char(i).Class))
Call PutVar(FileName, "CHAR" & i, "Sex", STR(Player(Index).Char(i).Sex))
Call PutVar(FileName, "CHAR" & i, "Sprite", STR(Player(Index).Char(i).Sprite))
Call PutVar(FileName, "CHAR" & i, "Level", STR(Player(Index).Char(i).Level))
Call PutVar(FileName, "CHAR" & i, "Exp", STR(Player(Index).Char(i).Exp))
Call PutVar(FileName, "CHAR" & i, "Access", STR(Player(Index).Char(i).Access))
Call PutVar(FileName, "CHAR" & i, "PK", STR(Player(Index).Char(i).PK))
Call PutVar(FileName, "CHAR" & i, "Guild", STR(Player(Index).Char(i).Guild))
' Vitals
Call PutVar(FileName, "CHAR" & i, "HP", STR(Player(Index).Char(i).HP))
Call PutVar(FileName, "CHAR" & i, "MP", STR(Player(Index).Char(i).MP))
Call PutVar(FileName, "CHAR" & i, "SP", STR(Player(Index).Char(i).SP))
' Stats
Call PutVar(FileName, "CHAR" & i, "STR", STR(Player(Index).Char(i).STR))
Call PutVar(FileName, "CHAR" & i, "DEF", STR(Player(Index).Char(i).DEF))
Call PutVar(FileName, "CHAR" & i, "SPEED", STR(Player(Index).Char(i).SPEED))
Call PutVar(FileName, "CHAR" & i, "MAGI", STR(Player(Index).Char(i).MAGI))
Call PutVar(FileName, "CHAR" & i, "POINTS", STR(Player(Index).Char(i).POINTS))
' Worn equipment
Call PutVar(FileName, "CHAR" & i, "ArmorSlot", STR(Player(Index).Char(i).ArmorSlot))
Call PutVar(FileName, "CHAR" & i, "WeaponSlot", STR(Player(Index).Char(i).WeaponSlot))
Call PutVar(FileName, "CHAR" & i, "HelmetSlot", STR(Player(Index).Char(i).HelmetSlot))
Call PutVar(FileName, "CHAR" & i, "ShieldSlot", STR(Player(Index).Char(i).ShieldSlot))
End If
' Check to make sure that they aren't on map 0, if so reset'm
If IsHalf = 0 Then
If Player(Index).Char(i).Map = 0 Then
Player(Index).Char(i).Map = START_MAP
Player(Index).Char(i).X = START_X
Player(Index).Char(i).y = START_Y
End If
End If
' Position
If IsHalf = 0 Or IsHalf = 2 Then
Call PutVar(FileName, "CHAR" & i, "Map", STR(Player(Index).Char(i).Map))
Call PutVar(FileName, "CHAR" & i, "X", STR(Player(Index).Char(i).X))
Call PutVar(FileName, "CHAR" & i, "Y", STR(Player(Index).Char(i).y))
Call PutVar(FileName, "CHAR" & i, "Dir", STR(Player(Index).Char(i).Dir))
' Inventory
For n = 1 To MAX_INV
Call PutVar(FileName, "CHAR" & i, "InvItemNum" & n, STR(Player(Index).Char(i).Inv(n).Num))
Call PutVar(FileName, "CHAR" & i, "InvItemVal" & n, STR(Player(Index).Char(i).Inv(n).Value))
Call PutVar(FileName, "CHAR" & i, "InvItemDur" & n, STR(Player(Index).Char(i).Inv(n).Dur))
Next n
' Spells
For n = 1 To MAX_PLAYER_SPELLS
Call PutVar(FileName, "CHAR" & i, "Spell" & n, STR(Player(Index).Char(i).Spell(n)))
Next n
End If
Next i
End Sub
Basically this does it so that there is an optional byte added. If you do not put any value in it, it will save everything for the player. If you put a 1, it will save the first half. If you put a 2, it will save the second half. Don't worry, this will work with your existing Call SavePlayer calls, so you don't have to change them.
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