Utility: change_tracker 0.5

[primelord]

Ok I have made a slight update to the change_tracker utility I created for tracking the overall ratings for players in FOF 2004. A more complete description of the utility can be found in the thread below:

http://dynamic2.gamespy.com/~fof/forums/showthread.php?t=21697 (http://dynamic2.gamespy.com/%7Efof/forums/showthread.php?t=21697)

This is not the GUI version I have promised a few times. I am still working on that. However there were a few bugs in the first command line version that I wanted to squash. I have also added the ability to output to both .csv and .txt files in addition to the .html files. I'll make a more complete post with the new features here shortly.

You can download the new version at the following link:

http://www.younglifenorthdekalb.com/fof/change_tracker.exe

If you have any problems with the utility or any feature requests please feel free to ask. I am still planning on finishing the gui front end, but I can;t say when that will be done.

[primelord]

To run the utility you need to create roster print outs from your scout overview screen. The utility can track as many printouts as you want. You can track the differences from one season to the next or from one week to the next. You just need to make a printout for each time frame you want tracked.

The default report is what I call the HTML short report. It will create an HTML page that only displays the changes for players that were in the last file. So if you track players from 2004 to 2006 it will only display the changes for players that were still on your team in 2006.

To run the utility in default mode place your roster print outs in the same directory as the utility. Then open an MS-DOS command window and run the utility. It will automatically read any files in the directory with a .txt extension and it will read them in ASCIIbetical order. So if you have 3 files labeled 2004.txt 2005.txt 2006.txt it will read them in that order. If you want to have multiple snap shots from within the same season I suggest naming your files 2004a.txt 2004b.txt or 2004_pre.txt 2004_post.txt etc. As long as the alphabetical order of the names matches the order you want them in all should be fine.

If you would prefer to specify only a certain set of files you can run the utility with the "-f list" switch. The utility will then prompt you for which files you want to track. It will then read them in the order that you enter them. It will not go by alphabetical order in this mode.

The utility has the ability to produce reports in HTML, CSV, and TXT formats. The default is HTML. However you can specify the report type by using the -o switch. So to create a csv report you would use "-o csv" and for a txt report you would use "-o txt".

Finally the report can produce both a short and long version. The short version only produces a report with players still on your roster. Teh long version will produce a report with every player it saw in the files even if they are no longer with the team. You can produce the long version by using the "-m full" switch.

So as an example if you wanted to specify only a certain set of files and wanted the long report in csv format you would type the following command.

change_tracker.exe -m full -o csv -f list

The order of the switches does not matter. Please feel free to give me feed back on any problems or any enhancements you can think of. Thanks.

[Subby]

Woohoo!

The csv and txt features will save a step for sure...

Thanks for working on this!

[primelord]

Woohoo!

The csv and txt features will save a step for sure...

Thanks for working on this!
Yeah the csv output was the biggest reason for doing this before the GUI version is done. Several people including yourself mentioned improting the HTML output into excel. Now with the csv file you can just open it with Excel and it is done.

I also fixed the problem with players who have nicknames. Althought their nickname will not be displayed in the output.

[primelord]

Dola,

Ben said he would host the file again for me so it should be available soon. Thanks again Ben!

[Ben E Lou]

It is now finished uploading...at the same location as before, referenced in teh other thread, I think.

[Subby]

C:\dev>change_tracker.exe -o csv
'perlglob' is not recognized as an internal or external command,
operable program or batch file.

[Subby]

dola

using the -f list switch took care of the error...

[primelord]

dola

using the -f list switch took care of the error...
So much for the order not being a problem. :)

That shouldn't matter. I will have to take a look at why when I get hgome tonight.

[primelord]

The link for the utility is now in the first post.

[Chappy]

I've never been able to gte it to work for me right. Any chance you'll make a step by step instruction guide for the SEVERELY computer impaired?

[Buzzbee]

We in the IHOF gratefully thank you for all of your hard work and time spent on developing this tremendous utility.



Now why the FUCK didn't you release this BEFORE free agency and the draft. :mad:



Jus kidding of course. You're hard work is truly appreciated. Thank you.

Buzzbee

[Subby]

I took this a step further and printed to file every fa pool and team for each pre-training camp and end-of-season so far. Now I have a nice little database of the talent movements for every player in the league.

If there was a way to automate that process - i.e. combining the teams and fa pool into one report...this would be perfect. As it stands now I have to print to file 33 times and combine those 33 files into one .txt file...

Not that I am complaining ;)

[primelord]

I've never been able to gte it to work for me right. Any chance you'll make a step by step instruction guide for the SEVERELY computer impaired?
I will see what I can do. It should be pretty easy to throw together a few screen shots to show you exactly what to do.

[primelord]

Now why the FUCK didn't you release this BEFORE free agency and the draft. :mad:
Well at least you can use it to see if your rookies improve after training camp. :)

[primelord]

I took this a step further and printed to file every fa pool and team for each pre-training camp and end-of-season so far. Now I have a nice little database of the talent movements for every player in the league.

If there was a way to automate that process - i.e. combining the teams and fa pool into one report...this would be perfect. As it stands now I have to print to file 33 times and combine those 33 files into one .txt file...

Not that I am complaining ;)
That shouldn't be too difficult to do. I'll see if I can patch that in tomorrow.

[fantastic flying froggies]

I get an 'incorrect file or command' error. Version 1 worked just fine. Any ideas?

[Subby]

That shouldn't be too difficult to do. I'll see if I can patch that in tomorrow. Seriously - I was just blue-skying there...no worries if you don't have time...much appreciated either way.

[primelord]

I get an 'incorrect file or command' error. Version 1 worked just fine. Any ideas?
Is that the exact error you are getting? That isn't one of the error messages I put into the script. Are you just running the script with the default settings?

[fantastic flying froggies]

Is that the exact error you are getting? That isn't one of the error messages I put into the script. Are you just running the script with the default settings?Yes, default settings. But I get the same error if I try it with switches.

The exact error is 'commande ou nom de fichier incorrect' (french OS) which translates to 'incorrect command or filename'.

Could it be a MS-DOS version problem ?

[primelord]

Seriously - I was just blue-skying there...no worries if you don't have time...much appreciated either way.
Well combining the files would be real easy to do. The biggest challenge will be figuring out which set of files go together. I will probably add a batch mode switch and probably set it up so any files with an _a in the filename go together and any with an _b go together etc.

[primelord]

Yes, default settings. But I get the same error if I try it with switches.

The exact error is 'commande ou nom de fichier incorrect' (french OS) which translates to 'incorrect command or filename'.

Could it be a MS-DOS version problem ?
Interesting.... I don't think it is an MS-DOS version problem. What version of Windows is it?

I am getting ready to head into work. I will take a look at it when I get into the office.

[fantastic flying froggies]

Interesting.... I don't think it is an MS-DOS version problem. What version of Windows is it?

I am getting ready to head into work. I will take a look at it when I get into the office.
On this computer, I'm using Win ME, french version.
Thanks for looking into things, but don't spend too much time on it.
Like I said, version 1 works just fine and I can live with that if you can't find a quick fix.

[Buccaneer]

dola

using the -f list switch took care of the error...
Thanks Chris, I got the same error message and your solution solved it.

[PJames]

This program looks like a must have, but I haven't been able to get it to work. I put a few file printouts from the scout overview screen into a the same folder as the change_tracker, but when I run the program I get a "bad command or file name" error. It does create an HTML document file called player_report, but when I open the document, it doesn't have any data, just the title "Player Report" and the column headings "Name Pos Overall Current Change Overall Future Change". There is no other information. Is it something I'm doing wrong?

PJames

[primelord]

This program looks like a must have, but I haven't been able to get it to work. I put a few file printouts from the scout overview screen into a the same folder as the change_tracker, but when I run the program I get a "bad command or file name" error. It does create an HTML document file called player_report, but when I open the document, it doesn't have any data, just the title "Player Report" and the column headings "Name Pos Overall Current Change Overall Future Change". There is no other information. Is it something I'm doing wrong?

PJames
What version of Windows are you using?

[PJames]

Windows XP.

[fantastic flying froggies]

This program looks like a must have, but I haven't been able to get it to work. I put a few file printouts from the scout overview screen into a the same folder as the change_tracker, but when I run the program I get a "bad command or file name" error. It does create an HTML document file called player_report, but when I open the document, it doesn't have any data, just the title "Player Report" and the column headings "Name Pos Overall Current Change Overall Future Change". There is no other information. Is it something I'm doing wrong?

PJames
FWIW, this is exactly what I was getting...never got it to work, unfortunately... :(

Worst case, you could always go back to version 1.0...

[primelord]

I am going to add some debugging code into the program that will hopefully tell me what is going on. I will see if I can get that added today. I don't think it is an XP issue. I wrote and tested it on XP.

[sovereignstar]

I'm getting this error in the DOS Command Prompt.

'perlglob' is not recognized as an internal or external command, operable program or batch file.

[Subby]

I'm getting this error in the DOS Command Prompt.

'perlglob' is not recognized as an internal or external command, operable program or batch file.See posts 7 and 8 in this thread.

[sovereignstar]

See posts 7 and 8 in this thread.
Apparently, you're with stupid. http://dynamic2.gamespy.com/%7Efof/forums/images/smilies/biggrin.gif

Thanks. I remember reading post #8 at some point.

[primelord]

Hmm... I however misunderstood that post originally. I thought the problem was with the order of the switches, but you guys are saying it doesn't work at all if the -f switch is left off?

[PJames]

I can't get it to work at all, with or without switches. I tried the program on a computer at work and it didn't work there either. I've tried using the switch commands, but no luck. I am still not sure if it is operator error on my part, because I have only average computer skills and I could be doing something wrong.

[Runtheball]

Could someone provide a detailed explanation of how to run this program?

When I click on the application, a DOS window flashes open and closes within one second. I have a file printout of my scout overview in the folder with the program, but ...well, hell. I have no idea what I'm doing. I do have a bit of experience with DOS from the dark ages before XP, but haven't looked at a DOS window since.

[Alf]

bump

[yabanci]

I figured I would finally give this a try. I had the same 'perlglob' error as others have reported. I tried adding "-f" and got the same error. Then after reading through the thread more closely I realized you had to add "-f list". That made it work. It wouldn't work without that switch though.

Here is exactly what I did to get it running on Windows XP. Maybe this will help others in the future:

1. downloaded and saved the program in a directory I created called c:\tracker. There's no installation\setup or anything like that.

2. printed out the rosters as text files and moved them into the c:\tracker directory. I named them 2004a.txt, 2004b.txt, 2005a.txt, etc. I found that simple names were better because you have to type them in after you run the program.

3. went to Start>Programs>Accessories and launched the "Command Prompt" program. That opens a window with the MS-DOS command prompt.

4. typed in "cd\tracker". That gets you to the directory where you can run the program.

5. typed in exactly the following at the c:\tracker> prompt:

change_tracker.exe -f list

6. After typing that in, the program asked me to enter the file names that I wanted tracked. The program gives you an example of how to type them in. I followed the example and hit enter. The program ran for a second and took me back to the c:\tracker> prompt.

7. closed the command prompt window.

8. looked in the c:\tracker directory and there was a file called "player_report.html". Doubleclicked it to open it in the web browser.

It worked very well. Nice little program. Thanks, Primelord.

Note: you can't run the program by doubleclicking the file. That will just make a DOS window quickly open and close and give you an empty player_report.html file

[jbmagic]

yabanci

thanks works great


when the best time to run this program?

before training camp and after training camp each season?

or before training camp, after training camp, and after preseason each season?

[gstelmack]

when the best time to run this program?

before training camp and after training camp each season?

or before training camp, after training camp, and after preseason each season?
Places where I've noticed team member attributes changing:

- start of the season
- after the draft (mostly draftees)
- after training camp
- after any played game (usually current, sometimes future)

It's usually enough to do start of the season, post-training camp, and end of season. That's where you'll notice the most jumps.

[fantastic flying froggies]

Finally got around to try what Yabanci posted and it works like a charm. Thank you dude!

One slight improvement on what you did. I created a batch file, which allows you to directly double click on it and simplify manipulations. It basically automates step 3-5 in Yabanci's initial instructions.

Here 's what you need to do, using Yabanci's initial setup and names.

1. In your c:\tracker directory, create a new text file.

2. Type in exactly the following: change_tracker.exe -f list

3. Save file as tracker.bat

4. Double click tracker.bat, it will take you directly to step 6 in Yabanci's post, where you're asked to enter the filenames.

[primelord]

I know where the problem is now, but I just haven't got around to fixing it yet. The program is supposed to just read in any .txt files if you don't specify the -f switch. I think I have the problem fixed. I will try and get an update out soon.

[Sweed]

Finally got around to try what Yabanci posted and it works like a charm. Thank you dude!

One slight improvement on what you did. I created a batch file, which allows you to directly double click on it and simplify manipulations. It basically automates step 3-5 in Yabanci's initial instructions.

Here 's what you need to do, using Yabanci's initial setup and names.

1. In your c:\tracker directory, create a new text file.

2. Type in exactly the following: change_tracker.exe -f list

3. Save file as tracker.bat

4. Double click tracker.bat, it will take you directly to step 6 in Yabanci's post, where you're asked to enter the filenames.


from the somewhat computer challenged, Thanks :)
Works like a charm.

[NYFAN]

I'm not sure what I'm missing, but I don't see an option to print to file (text) in fof2k4, how do i go about that... thanks.

[yabanci]

I'm not sure what I'm missing, but I don't see an option to print to file (text) in fof2k4, how do i go about that... thanks.

You have to add a text printer to windows. Here are the instructions:

http://dynamic2.gamespy.com/~fof/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=16641

[Suicane75]

Quick question, if i edit the txt file before i run it thru the change tracker will it screw things up? Like, I wanna create 1 giant text file out of all the rosters in my league so I can look at who the biggest busts/breakouts were after training camp. If i cut and paste all 32 files into 1 text file before and after camp will the change tracker still read it?

[primelord]

Quick question, if i edit the txt file before i run it thru the change tracker will it screw things up? Like, I wanna create 1 giant text file out of all the rosters in my league so I can look at who the biggest busts/breakouts were after training camp. If i cut and paste all 32 files into 1 text file before and after camp will the change tracker still read it?
As long as you don't change the format of the file it will work fine. In other words as long as you don't remove any information from the player lines you should be able to just paste them all together and it will run fine.

[Suicane75]

As long as you don't change the format of the file it will work fine. In other words as long as you don't remove any information from the player lines you should be able to just paste them all together and it will run fine.

Sweet, thank you.