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And only 35 years late!
Okay, I know I promised to get my FASA Star Trek RPG character builder up and running over the weekend, but I ran into a serious snafu, and it needed to be addressed. In any event, it’s up now. You can find it in this GitHub repository: https://github.com/Frylock1968/FASAStarTrekRPG. There’s a long-winded read me file that you really should read before you use it. Because none of you will, here’s a summary:
- It’s written using Access 365, which is a limited programming tool.
- It’s written using Access 365, which means Apple users are out of luck without some extra steps I don’t understand myself, and even PC users without an MS Office subscription won’t be able to run it. This software requires a preexisting installation of Access on your machine. The good news is that, to my knowledge, Access is included with even the most basic Office subscription.
- It’s a beta version, which means I’m relying on your help in uncovering errors.
- If something doesn’t work, I’m going to fix it, but if there’s a feature missing, it’s unlikely I’ll add it. I plan to make a web-based version of it, and that will include everything.
- More features will be added, but only really simple ones. I’ll save all features for my intended web-based application.
- A feature I said I’d like to add to this application is the ability to create Orion PCs. Yeah, that ain’t gonna happen. After reading through it, I learned that such a feature requires four different methods, and arguably five. Ruddies, greens, Green slave women, greys, and half-breeds among the bunch are all handled differently, and those differences are non-negligible. That’ll have to wait for the web application.
- One issue I can’t seem to figure out is a data lock issue. When you load a previously saved character and edit it, and it results in Chinese characters saved to some of your fields, don’t save it. Something’s corrupted. Instead, reload the character from your hard drive and start again.
- One clean up task on my list is to remove excess options from lists. For example, Klingon culture is Klingon culture. It shouldn’t be divided into separate cultures for Imperials, human-fusions, and romulan-fusions.
- There’s no user manual. Instructions appear on the user interface itself in red, italicized text.
Game long and prosper, bitches.
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Play What You Want 
So I managed to get the builder to run in MS access runtime, at least I thought so. I was able to make 3 human UFP player characters without issue, but I can not seem to make a non human UFP pc without issue. Each time I try to save a non human UFP character I run into a macro error when I attempt to save the character, or view the character sheet. Not sure if it is in issue with runtime or the builder. I did delete and reinstall the file just to make sure, still encountered the same error.
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Without more information, I don’t know what’s causing the error. However, I may have fixed it anyway. First, I tried to save a Romulan character and got an error, so I’m hoping that’s your error as well. I fixed that one for the Romulan save feature, as well as anywhere else there’s a save feature (including my new “strange new worlds” feature). Whether or not I solved your problem, I certainly have solved a potential problem elsewhere.
So, please download version 1.4 and let me know if the problem still exists. In case it does, one question: Does the problem occur before or after you’re given the ability to name the file you’re going to save? In other words, do you get a “save as” dialog box where you type in the name and folder for the file, or does the error box come up before you get a chance to do that? Also, the exact language of the error message might be helpful if there’s any substance to it.
Thanks,
Rob
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Thanks will do. Worth a try.
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Still seeming to not be able to save none human UFP characters. The problem happens before I name the file. It is a macro error.
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The wording of the error is as follows: the expression on click you entered as the event property produced the following error. The expression may not result in the name of the macro, the name of a user defined function or event procedure. There may have been an error evaluating the function event or macro.
This error has not occurred when I have attempted to save human UFP player characters.
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Weird. The functions are almost identical, so it shouldn’t be hard to find it. I’ll take a look tomorrow night. Thanks again. I can’t use it on a work machine due to admin restrictions, so you going through it is really helpful. For example, I found another bug while searching for the problem.
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I just added a version 1.6. The only change from 1.5 is that I added an error trapping routine that I hope generates a more descriptive error message because I can’t duplicate your error. If it gives you different error text, please report that to me verbatim. Have you tried creating Klingon or Romulan characters? I’m curious as to whether either of those forms generate the same error. Thanks again.
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Thank you for the response. I will take a look. I have not made any Romulan or Klingon characters, but I can to see if the error occurs there as well. I will try to trouble shoot again tomorrow and or later today. Thank you some much for the engagement and help.
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Save failed
Error number 3075: Syntax error (missing operator) in query expression.
This attempt was a failure to save an Andorian navigation officer.
Bob the sample Romulan saved without issue. No error occurred.
Joe Klingon the marine has also been saved without issue.
So this appears to only be a problem for me when attempting to save non-human UFP player characters.
Any insight would be helpful. Also the builder is great, hoping to get it to make Federation non-humans soon.
-Ken
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And another thing: Print and save the character sheet as a PDF so I can review it. In fact, doing that first might save you some trouble. I may be able to spot an issue, or at least attempt to duplicate it, using the character sheet alone.
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Providing it will allow me to save it PDF. I will keep that in mind.
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We’re getting closer. Now the hard part. Because I can’t duplicate the error, I think it’s a matter of what selections you made, which means the interface is allowing you to do something you aren’t supposed to do, OR the data in a table is entered incorrectly. (One quick of access is that data often can’t have commas, apostrophes, and quotation marks in it.) So, please create another non-human Federation character, but this time take meticulous notes on exactly what options you chose. That is, record each skill chosen in each place. I don’t need the scores. Just things like, “For pre-academy education, I chose in order Computer Ops., Computer Ops., Personal Combat – Armed (dagger/knife), . . . .” Also note which checkboxes you selected. If I make identical choices and don’t generate the same error, then I’ll know that the data and UI aren’t the problem.
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Will do I will make sure to do that.
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Ok looks like I may have figured out the problem. Alien names. So the two separate test characters T’kara, and Ivoria Sh’Azonan. I made the character the exact same way except removing the apostrophe. Ivoria ShAzonan can be saved correctly.
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That’s it. Access has a weakness. In many (most?) contexts, you can’t use apostrophes, commas, or quotation marks. It’s maddening. Use the backward apostrophe instead (SHIFT+~). Also, use a dash instead of a comma. Notice that “Klingon, human fusion” is instead “Klingon – human fusion.” In the meantime, I have to come up with a way to enforce this. It’s such a silly quirk of Access.
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Yeah not a problem now that I know that. Thanks for all the help. Looking to run some Star Trek and I am looking forward to using the builder more.
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[…] geek. Not only do I not fear technology; I love it. After all, I’m currently creating digital character builders for various games. Applying technology to game play itself is a great thing. I don’t like […]
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