My dungeon tiles

[torstan]

Yep, the walls should go on the background layer.

[Azhrei]

Hmm, maybe it's worth creating subdirectories for ths images? A subdirectory called BackgroundLayer and then all of the walls and such, then another subdir called ObjectLayer and all of the "dressing"?

That might make it more obvious for beginning users.

[Waneta]

I'm not sure exactly how the caching/repository works, but what happens if you're tiles are distributed with the client and but then later updated? If the new ones aren't in the repository, wouldn't clients of gm's who use the new ones have to download the new ones with the campaign file?

[RPMiller]

Another idea would be, for a later version of MT, to have objects default to a specific layer. Maybe that could be determined by the folder they are in? That would really make laying out a map a snap as the various objects/tiles/etc would just go to the layer they "should" be in, but of course a way to override that should still be possible.

[Hawke]

I'm not sure exactly how the caching/repository works, but what happens if you're tiles are distributed with the client and but then later updated? If the new ones aren't in the repository, wouldn't clients of gm's who use the new ones have to download the new ones with the campaign file?

MapTool caches based on the MD5 (I think) of the file. If it's updated, MapTool immediately will know that they aren't talking about the same files anymore and it will seek to download a new version from the repository and then the GM.

If someone had local copies of the 1.0 files and used them, the clients would search the repository for the 1.0 - I see no reason why they'd be removed from the repository simply if we updated to a 2.0 version. The repository could host both without issue and a mix of both could easily be used.

Is the gallery repository working again yet?

[torstan]

Having them in separate folders is a good idea. I think I'll do that as an extra visual cue. I think having objects autoselect their layers could get irritating, as there are always times when you might want walls on the object layer (secret doors) or objects on the background layer (carpets, pits). Interesting thought though. I think having a layer preference might be something to revisit when we come back to considering a more broad implementation of layers.

As for the download versions, I'm going to defer to Hawke on that one.

[RPTroll]

If you could save objects like you can tokens (maybe you can but I haven't tried) maybe you could save the layer as part of that? They would probably show up as .rptok files but that would be fine. Adding VBL as part of the saved object/background would rule!!!

[Waneta]

My point was that Torstan's files are not in the repository. It's excellent that they would be distributed with the initial download, but as soon as people start using a newer version and they're not in the repository, the GM will have to upload them all despite an older version being in the maptools distribution.

Basically, I was just commenting on Torstan's comment that because his files will be distributed with maptools they don't really need to be in the repository. That's true right up until a newer version of his tiles comes out.

[torstan]

I see your point. I would hope that the version that comes in the 1.3 final will be the final version of the tiles, but that might be a little foolhardy...

[Hawke]

Basically, I was just commenting on Torstan's comment that because his files will be distributed with maptools they don't really need to be in the repository. That's true right up until a newer version of his tiles comes out.

Got it... that is correct... if they aren't in the repository, newer versions w/o updating your MapTool wont provide any speed benefit for any changed files (though unchanged ones would continue to see a benefit). My suggestion then would be to keep all versions in the repository.

Good suggestion.

[torstan]

Okay, now for the person who hasn't been paying attention. Where it The Repository and how should I go about putting these there?

[Hawke]

Okay, now for the person who hasn't been paying attention. Where it The Repository and how should I go about putting these there?

It used to be - and someone can confirm if this is still true - that the gallery was a default repository... so anything uploaded to the gallery would be pulled from there rather than the GM's computer. The caveat is the script that repositoryized the gallery was run once a day, so you'd need to upload your stuff earlier.

Last I heard the script was broken post-host-changes, but we'll see if that's the case! If it's fixed, simply uploading the images will get everybody faster speeds.

[torstan]

That's a good idea. If the gallery is working as a repository then I can upload all the assets there.

[trevor]

The gallery is in fact the default repository. Unfortunately it isn't currently auto updating the index.

[RPTroll]

Is this something than can be run by hand every so often (like after Torstan makes an update to his tiles?)