Macro/Books/Pages.

[RAIST]

it doesn't necessarily always work out that way. Sometimes it is an issue of a bit mask--these are registered during boot up and used perpetually throughout your session to stream data. On a PC, memory is managed completely differently (it isn't streamed, everything is dumped to a location and monipulated as needed, like all textures sent to VRAM, on PS2 it is streamed over and over). Some registers are also preset in the firmware of the PS2 also. Point is, in the PS2 environment, some things can only go to a certain size per instance they are streamed. Reducing the size of the data in that stream doesn't automatically free up space to be used elsewhere--the size of the DWORD remains the same in the stream, it just would contain null data. To free up that resource, it requires a more fundamental cange in the code than just reducing the number of lines. The same can go for increasing the lines--you have restructure the stream by taking a reduction elsewhere on another placeholder and declaring the larger placeholder to secure room for the change.

[Krashport]

RAIST, Couldn't Square Enix Fix that Null to PS2 VRAM in an update?

Edit; I remember awhile back most PS2 users had to format in order to fix a problem if that is the case sh!t on the PS2 format 2.0!

[RAIST]

The PS2 streams data thorugh VU0/VU1 more or less on the fly. It doesn't store everything in VRAM/VM/Etc. like in a PC. In a PC, you can load all the data in one location (like in the VidCards memory), and offload all manipulation as seperate processes in parallel and/or series (like the GPU handles all physics, graphics manipulation, etc). PS2 is not designed to function in the same way, it's more serialized in most cases (often more due to shotty programming).

In simpler, terms, you can't always just change a variable and magically add lines to a list on the PS2. You often have to go into a much lower level of code and manipulate multiple resources by shrinking a resource elsewhere.(want to load a bigger bucket in the back of the truck to carry more water from point a to b, but you only have so much space in the back of the truck and can therefore only carry so much total material in one trip, so you have to replace another container with a smaller one and send less of another material to another location (or remove it from the shipment completely)--and you may have to rebuild each the containers from scratch and then rearrange your load to make the large container fit becasue it is no longer uniform size/shape and you have to find a way to fit this beast in a tight spot).

[Nala]

ctr 1 set 1
/macro set 2
/equip x5

ctr 1 set 2
/macro set 1
/equip x5

double tap control 1 10 pieces swapped continue to macro set 3 to make it 15

works really well, or just move onto pc.

[Krashport]

ctr 1 set 1
/macro set 2
/equip x5

ctr 1 set 2
/macro set 1
/equip x5

double tap control 1 10 pieces swapped continue to macro set 3 to make it 15

works really well, or just move onto pc.

Just because members are talking about a console doesn't mean that's what they're using. in any case PC users have this same problem, unless you're referring to "Windower" I'll say again... It is not the official Playonline viewer and is not endorsed or affiliated by Square Enix. I really wish a rep would come in this thread, seeing how openly some members are recommending a 3rd party tool.

[RAIST]

they may be tired of the same old debate that's been going on since 2004 (that I'm aware of, possibly longer). They've commented on it, and already forwarded it to the powers that be for evaluation. Not much more they can say beyond that.

It's been requested, and submitted for review... over and over and over again for nearly 8 years now. Until the moderators are told something new to forward to us, we will not hear anything new on the matter.

[Krashport]

There was some discussion about this back when they added the <macro> command just over a year ago. Unfortunately, having trouble searching for posts that old--search seems to want to cut off arbitrarily before a certain time frame or something, and Google returns a bunch of crap when I try. However, I did find this:

Just wanted to deliver this message from Producer Tanaka!

We’ve implemented the new macro palette onto the dev. server!



You can now enter up to 8 characters into the macro title box. We were unable to increase the max number of characters you can input in the macro editing menu. However, the title you input will be fully displayed now. If you are using a 1024x resolution or higher with the Windows version or using the HD mode for Xbox 360, these changes to the macro palette will be automatically switch over. If you are using a lower resolution, SD mode, or a PlayStation 2, the size of the macro palette will remain the original size. We weren’t able to launch this onto the Test Server this week, but we will be implementing it sometime next week. I hope you’re all looking forward to it!

Note the sentence that I bolded in the quote. This implies that there is in fact an issue in coding or other resources that make expansion of the macro entry system difficult. I'm wanting to say there was some mention of a concern over the console GUI design--may have been a reference to a real estate issue on the PS2, not sure. But there was something brought up about issues with expanding macros for the PS2. Which, as we all know, they have traditionally been reluctant to make major changes to the interface that cannot also be done on the PS2, in the interest of keeping the player experience balanced.

What I understand from Hiromichi_Tanaka post that they added more space to the Macro title where one can input more characters same with the lines, I didn't get they could not add anymore lines to a macro, I'm not saying that's what you read, but I can see people getting confused after all the main reason to this thread as well of all those other threads out there is to wonder why we could not have more lines within a macro and there is pretty much no facts or much facts that can be fond.

But yeah I do agree there is a issue in coding though in some way. seeing there is a Max of 368 characters 8 in the Macro title and 60 in 6 lines, that being said what if lowering the number to 30 in 12 lines question is could that solve this issue or maybe Square Enix just doesn't want this headache.

[Glamdring]

oh god, not another one of these threads... look up the term "ad nauseum", it applies perfectly to how often this subject has been asked and answered. And for future reference, please take note of the search box at the top right-hand corner above the 1st entry on every forum page-it really does work.

[cidbahamut]

Just because members are talking about a console doesn't mean that's what they're using. in any case PC users have this same problem, unless you're referring to "Windower" I'll say again... It is not the official Playonline viewer and is not endorsed or affiliated by Square Enix. I really wish a rep would come in this thread, seeing how openly some members are recommending a 3rd party tool.

You really need to get over yourself.

Windower is a reality. It exists because the playerbase got fed up with SE's nonsense and found a solution to the problem rather than endlessly petitioning a brick wall.

[Arcon]

Think you're Code of conduct is acting up again. ^^

On the contrary, I just repeated to you what you said to me, to point out to you how you were the one acting childish this time. I know very well when I'm being childish and immature and I have no problems at all to admit to it, but this wasn't one of those times. This was you being childish and me calling you out on it. You asked me why I'm in here, which is a pointless question because this is an official forum where every currently paying customer may express their opinion, so I directed the same question back at you.

Ranger & Corsair.
Range Attack Set.
[..]
you still have (10) open lines... you can only do two actions, you shouldn't* need anymore.

Ranger & Corsair.
Haste set and or Weapon skill Set.
[..]

Black Mage & and any other Mage Job.
Nuke/Curing Set.
[..]

you still have (7) open lines... you can only do five actions, you shouldn't need anymore.

Black Mage & and any other Mage Job. Refresh set and or Curing/Nuking Set.
[..]

Bolded your error in judgment, which is exactly what I was talking about. "You shouldn't need anymore" is just you imposing your ideas and your style of playing on others. You're not in any position to tell anyone what they should or shouldn't need. Just earlier Thanotos told you that gear swapping is wrong and shouldn't be a part of the game, which you immediately dismissed. It's the same thing. You're not comfortable with his judgment of what you should be allowed to do. Yet you feel you can judge others on the same matter?

Why would you need that many lines please tell us, how would you work 20-32 lines of usage!!? The only Idea I could fathom is that you want one macro to do it all. Haste gear>Weapon gear>Weapon skill>repeat "go afk".

I wouldn't, and I never said it was for me. Very few of my macros even exceed one line, so I don't care at all about how many in particular it is. All I'm saying is that 12 is a completely arbitrary number to other people. You picked it because it would fit your playstyle and now you seem hell bent on it being "just right", and keep listing weird and incomplete examples that I can't even make much sense of, although I admit it may be the alcohol, so I'll review it in the morning. It still doesn't change the fact that there's certain actions for which I want to change 15 pieces of gear, which is not possible with your suggested "solution".

Code of conduct. ^^

Nope, again not. That was a perfectly valid argument, and I have to admit I feel a little disheartened that you ignored it based on your perception of my attitude, which wouldn't, in any way, invalidate the argument itself, even if that perception was accurate. I've been feeling especially chipper today and I was never in the mood to behave immaturely at all. I'm simply telling you what your argument sounds like to other people. It sounds like you picked a number that just suits you, and you defending it and telling others that they change too much gear or shouldn't need anymore just makes you sound arrogant and fascist, placing your own opinion over other peoples'. Because in the end, that's all it is, your opinion. And while you're entitled to it just like everyone else, it doesn't make it special, right or even appropriate.

Now, I've explained to you why just 12 slots are unreasonable, and the only counter-argument you had was "you shouldn't need anymore", which is as wrong as needing anything in a game can be, as Thanotos' pointed out with his opinion that you shouldn't need any gear swaps at all. So your only counter-argument was your opinion of other peoples' playstyle.

You, however, never explained to me why 32 slots would be unreasonable. Your bolded reply seems to indicate that you're quite shocked at that suggestion, because you seem to have read into it that that I actually wanna change 32 pieces of gear with one press of a button or something, which isn't the case. But even if it was, why is that bad? Would it hurt you if I had 32 macro lines? Or even if you had it? Why is it excessive? Of course we're still under the assumption that PS2 memory isn't a limitation for this, because otherwise all our arguments would be pointless, but if we disregard that restriction, why is it excessive? Do you know how little memory storing every single macro takes? Around 140 KB to have one entire macro book loaded. That's less than 0.05% of my FFXI's average memory consumption (running on a PC). So from a technical standpoint it's obviously not excessive. From a gameplay standpoint? You can't change more than 16 pieces at a time anyway, and if you wanted to, for whatever reason, why shouldn't you be able to do so?

I'm not saying anyone at all needs it. I'm just saying there's also no argument against it. There is, however, an argument against your 12. Simply because it's not enough for some people.

Also, no one here is advocating Windower. If we were, we wouldn't be pushing for these suggestions on the official forums, because they can all be easily alleviated by certain tools that are readily available. We're still here, which is a sign that we actually want the game to develop outside of Windower. But it wouldn't hurt anyone if SE took some hints from certain third party utilities, as they're there for a reason: because they're tremendously useful. Personally I'd love if SE took some of Windower's ideas and made it completely obsolete and I'm pretty sure I'm not alone in this belief.

oh god, not another one of these threads... look up the term "ad nauseum", it applies perfectly to how often this subject has been asked and answered.

Just asked, actually. To my knowledge it hasn't been officially answered yet.