How to change chat to use return key to send message

Sending Chat Messages with Return Key; support/discussion/questions

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QuasarDonkey
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How to change chat to use return key to send message

Post by QuasarDonkey »

Great news! I made the changes you wanted Thunder (i.e. using the return key to send a message in the chat window). I've only tested it in single player mode, so I can't be certain it works for real. You'll have to test it in multiplayer yourself.

And it only required replacing two assembly instructions!

At asm offset 50A5C9, overwrite

Code: Select all

mov eax, ecx
call 5407A0
with:

Code: Select all

call 50A2F0
xor eax, eax;
Here are the hex changes: overwrite

Code: Select all

0x1099c9:  89 C8 E8 D0 61 03 00
with

Code: Select all

0x1099c9:  E8 22 FD FF FF 31 C0
Can you verify it works?

Note this patch does not include the shortcut key for bringing up the chat window. I can make that a separate patch if people want it.
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How to change chat to use return key to send message

Post by thunderchero »

Thank you very much many people will love this

It worked perfectly

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QuasarDonkey
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How to change chat to use return key to send message

Post by QuasarDonkey »

Awesome. 8) I may just put in a separate topic so people can find it. Do I post it under "Modding Info" or "Recoding of game" section?
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Re: How to change chat to use return key to send message

Post by thunderchero »

I went ahead and just split the post from ida post and renamed it. I also add the topic to the modding index

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Re: How to change chat to use return key to send message

Post by carcher »

it definatly works in mp!! I want it:) great work Quasardonkey, this will be much appreciated by all mp players, many thanks
for the world is hollow and i have touched the sky....and one day mickar.....one day.....one sweet day......HAS ARRIVED!! HAPPY DAYS :D
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Re: How to change chat to use return key to send message

Post by QuasarDonkey »

8)
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Peter1981
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Re: How to change chat to use return key to send message

Post by Peter1981 »

:D great work QD
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Re: How to change chat to use return key to send message

Post by xDx »

Yes great work indeed a very annoying bug finally fixed after all these years. This will definitely go into UDM4 for sure. :) Many thanks keep the fixes coming!
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Re: How to change chat to use return key to send message

Post by ruthlessferengi »

love it love it love it love it... could really speed up typing... like a blur man... like a bee
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Peter1981
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Re: How to change chat to use return key to send message

Post by Peter1981 »

there are a number of issues I have with the botf interface like the return key to send message which is now fixed; Does anyone think it would be worth the time and effort to work through the varous issues and see if the community could make the interface more slick?

my two most prominent issues are:

1. in the summary screen relationship sub-screen clicking on a race high-lights them; but enter closes the window, can't this be made jump to the relavant entry in the diplomacy screen; ideally 'propose' with the race already selected?

2. in the summary screen event sub-screen clicking on 'somewhere has enough population for a new trade route' this returns you to the main galaxy map; but, shouldn't clicking this return you to the galaxy map in 'economic' display with the 'somewhere' star-system centred and high-lighted? The same apply to entries like 'Starbase constructed in sector 12.34'; 'Ship destroyed by blackhole in sector 12.3'; et al.

basically I don't know if it is easy(ish) or even possible to adjust the code in this way or similar but certainly would make the micro-management a little easier.
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Re: How to change chat to use return key to send message

Post by thunderchero »

I would hate to lose the enter/return function to close the window.

currently you are able to double click most event/systems and it will take you to basic screen that was related to the event. I doubt if it could get much better than that. And for summary/relations I thought of this as more of an info screen only.

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Re: How to change chat to use return key to send message

Post by Peter1981 »

I agree TC enter/return must still close the window but would be nice to go into the f5 and have the relevent race selected. I think it maybe more work than is worthwhile at the moment but I just wounder if anyone had any other suggestions of keyboard improvements.
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Re: How to change chat to use return key to send message

Post by QuasarDonkey »

I wouldn't mind seeing better keyboard integration. I know from working on the chat patch that each screen/dialog can have it's own keyboard handling, so it should be possible to add shortcut keys, but that's not to say it would be easy.

I've never actually seen a list of known keyboard shortcuts for BotF. Here are the ones I'm aware of:
  • F1-F5 switch between the 5 management screens.
  • Escape from Main Galactic takes you to the main menu, Escape from the other 4 screens takes you to Main Galactic.
  • Pause brings up the ship screensaver.
  • S brings up Summary dialog, from any of the 5 main screens.
  • Within Summary, E displays Events, T displays Relationships, and S displays Systems.
  • Escape/Return closes a dialog window.
  • From Main Galactic, arrow keys move the zoomed map display.
  • Also Tab hilights the first taskforce within the active sector, Ctrl-Tab or Shift-Tab hilights the last taskforce. Escape deselects a taskforce.
Anyone know anymore?
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Re: How to change chat to use return key to send message

Post by Flocke »

have a look over here: viewtopic.php?f=3&t=1156 ;)
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QuasarDonkey
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Re: How to change chat to use return key to send message

Post by QuasarDonkey »

Flocke wrote:have a look over here: viewtopic.php?f=3&t=1156 ;)
Thanks Flocke, that's very helpful.
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