New "Macro Strings", Macro's Reborn!

[Arcon]

Are you forgetting PS2 limitations won't allow that much in the RAM to be used at once, it only has 32mb. It would definitely have to be in the RAM to work so it won't work unless there was no PS2.

I'm surprised this wasn't mentioned before, but same as additional macro lines, this would require more space, and if I understand the post correctly, quite a lot. If you store macro strings serverside though, there would be lots of new issues. For one, I don't think the coding would be that simple, it would require a lot of safeguards. Not being able to enter the same string title twice isn't enough to prevent looping, since /macrostring would be a normal command, it could be called within a macro string as well. Disabling that may not be as easy as it sounds, since currently there's no way for SE to know where a command comes from, if it comes from a normal macro, entered manually, or from within a macro string. They would have to change the ways commands are sent/interpreted completely to make it work, for example send an additional overhead to the server every time a command is sent. This would take lots of extra traffic and computation cost though.

If it was stored serverside, it would again have to have some additional safeguards to prevent looping, since one macro could call a macro string several times, or make a macro string execute a macro that contains another macro string, etc. It would have to implement some kind of stack to trace where macro calls are coming from, to prevent looping.

It is a new idea, additional macro lines would, so to speak, just delay the problem. This offers a new solution of being able to combine macros in a new way. However, there's plenty of pitfalls to consider, and maybe from space requirements alone it wouldn't be feasible. Also, I don't know if it's very user friendly, plenty of people don't even understand current macros fully. And I have to say, even I am a bit confused by this idea, especially the grouping thing. I hope SE considers Tamarsama's idea, it seems simpler both to understand/use (in fact, it would make gear macros a lot easier to understand than they are now) as well as being easier to implement. And with some sophisticated coding it could even conserve lots of space, cause it would alleviate the need for so many macro lines, unlike this idea that would add new lines with the respective macro strings.

[kingfury]

I'm surprised this wasn't mentioned before, but same as additional macro lines, this would require more space, and if I understand the post correctly, quite a lot. If you store macro strings serverside though, there would be lots of new issues. For one, I don't think the coding would be that simple, it would require a lot of safeguards. Not being able to enter the same string title twice isn't enough to prevent looping, since /macrostring would be a normal command, it could be called within a macro string as well. Disabling that may not be as easy as it sounds, since currently there's no way for SE to know where a command comes from, if it comes from a normal macro, entered manually, or from within a macro string. They would have to change the ways commands are sent/interpreted completely to make it work, for example send an additional overhead to the server every time a command is sent. This would take lots of extra traffic and computation cost though.
If it was stored serverside, it would again have to have some additional safeguards to prevent looping, since one macro could call a macro string several times, or make a macro string execute a macro that contains another macro string, etc. It would have to implement some kind of stack to trace where macro calls are coming from, to prevent looping.
It is a new idea, additional macro lines would, so to speak, just delay the problem. This offers a new solution of being able to combine macros in a new way. However, there's plenty of pitfalls to consider, and maybe from space requirements alone it wouldn't be feasible. Also, I don't know if it's very user friendly, plenty of people don't even understand current macros fully. And I have to say, even I am a bit confused by this idea, especially the grouping thing. I hope SE considers Tamarsama's idea, it seems simpler both to understand/use (in fact, it would make gear macros a lot easier to understand than they are now) as well as being easier to implement. And with some sophisticated coding it could even conserve lots of space, cause it would alleviate the need for so many macro lines, unlike this idea that would add new lines with the respective macro strings.

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Awesome feedback ^^ / Thanks friend

Again, like I said in the OP ^^,

"I'm not a programer, but I've seen the Dev Team produce some amazing feats over my years of playing FFXI, and this (at least in my mind) would be easy prey to tackle Of course this is just a suggestion for making things better/more efficient, so if my ambitions are too high with this proposal, then maybe it will serve as a bridge to newer thinking and approaches to the subject of improving Macros for all."

I'm very glad that this has in fact happened based on my post and the others like it. ^^ However I believe the weary feedback that I'm getting from my proposed concept vs Selzak's and Tamarsama's is due mostly because it doesn't focus on "gear sets" only. I would like to think that the memory used for macro lines can't be very much, but I can't pull up the files using my Xbox 360 to check the file size like, I would assume, PC users could. I suppose I would just love the ability to swap gear + WS + swap back into TP gear with the use of only one macro line ^^;. With the feedback stated in a few post(yours as well), including the post from Camate, I now understand the pit falls associated with my concept. It would indeed need a hardy dose of policing functionality to prevent abuse towards automation.

If I took out the ability to input the macro lines manually and other commands such as JA, spells, etc. my concept would just about mirror the other concepts, which is pretty much the correct thing to propose anyway ^^. Thanks again for all the great feedback guys. /salute

I'll edit my post accordingly based on all this great feedback.

[kingfury]

Actually, if I could get the permission from both Selzak and Tamarsama to illustrate their concepts since they are so similar, that would be the direction of my edits to my OP.

[kingfury]

**EDITED OUT OF ORIGINAL POST DUE TO POSSIBLE AUTOMATION PITFALLS**
*Note: After all the great feedback posted in response to my OP, I can now understand the issues that would arise from this functionality and thus make this concept easy to abuse. The OP has since been updated to only allow equipment to be inputed within the macro data lines. I felt it was in the spirit of understanding that this idea should at least be noted within the thread. Thanks for all the feedback ^^/

Macro String Groups:
A Macro String Group would allow up to 3 Macro Strings to be called on one Macro data line. The line data would appear as this:

/Macro String <"Macro String Title (1-3)">
Or this:
/macrostring <"Macro String Title (1-3)">
Or this:
/macrostring group <"Macro String Title">

The “-” between the “(1-3)”would be the equivalent function to "and/or until you complete" and would thus run them automatically one after the other. Duplicating Grouped Macro Strings would not be allowed per 1 Macro(to prevent endless looping).
-Entering Macro Strings-2
-----
Selecting a Macro String Group from the String Menu:
-Entering Macro Strings-3
-----
The Macro String Group Editing Menu:
-Entering Macro Strings-4
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The expanded view of the powerful Macro String Group lines:
-Entering Macro Strings-5

[kingfury]

**EDIT TO ORIGINAL POST** (Reason: MOVED to clear OP real estate)
*WAR setting up his/her macros to quickly equip gear to be used for Raging Rush would be able to create 3 separate macros to do so. In this example, however, the WAR will be setting up the macros using the Macro String system.*
-----------------
Selecting Macro from the menu options:
-Macro String Menu-1
-----
Selecting "Strings" from the "Book/Strings" menu:
-Macro String Menu-2
-----
The String List Menu would display "String Categories", and "Strings".Choosing "Strings" from the list would allow players to create, edit, and name a Macro String:
-Macro String Menu-3
-----
Creating a Macro String:
-Macro String Menu-4
-----
Filling in the Macro String line data per each Macro list:
-Macro String Menu-5
---
-Macro String Menu-6
---
-Macro String Menu-7

[kingfury]

**ENTIRE ORIGINAL POST REVISED (APR/7/2011)**
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Edited:
-Cover Art
-Description
-System Mechanics
-Entering Macro Strings
-Macro Book/Set change request
-Macro String Groups
-Macro Syntax/Internal System to differentiate Same Named gear
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Again, thanks to everyone for the wonderful feedback ^^/
Camate, If you would do the honors of blessing us again with feedback based on the changes to the post, it would be overly appreciated! Even though you've shared with us that the Dev team will in fact be revising the UI of the macros, myself, and I'm sure everyone else would love to hear if the changes made to the OP are more geared towards the direction of where the Dev Team would consider in line with their possible plans.

Thanks in advance /kneel + /salute

[kingfury]

I was still a bit disappointed that a professional programmer didn't chime in on this topic. I would still very much appreciate the feedback based on the changes made recently as well if at all possible.

Heck if I knew a programmer at this point in my life, I'd be forcing him to make a small game for me >< lol.

[Tamarsamar]

Actually, if I could get the permission from both Selzak and Tamarsama to illustrate their concepts since they are so similar, that would be the direction of my edits to my OP.

I'm already quite flattered.

I think it'd be cool if you would illustrate my idea!

[CrystalWeapon]

I was still a bit disappointed that a professional programmer didn't chime in on this topic. I would still very much appreciate the feedback based on the changes made recently as well if at all possible.

Heck if I knew a programmer at this point in my life, I'd be forcing him to make a small game for me >< lol.

What kind of game did you have in mind? ^_~

Serriously though if you want to learn more about it yourself there are plenty of free guides on the web that could teach you more about programing than you would learn getting an official degree. Try to find a free game engine, get an express version of Visual Studio (free download from MS), and have at it. Fairly sure you could find some 3d modeling software as well, which seems like something you'd be a natural at.