BattleScribe 1.13.03b Released!

Here we are with another update - with some nice new features. It's currently available for desktop and Android devices, but will soon be available for iPhone too, once it's approved. I'll post here again when it becomes available.

The main additions are around sharing and importing data files. This has always been the biggest barrier to entry with BattleScribe - it's a pain to dig around the internet for data files, and can be confusing for new users to get set up. The idea is to make things a bit more "viral" or "peer to peer", where users who are already set up can send all their files and repository URLs to others in one go. A new user can import the file sent to them and voila! Everything is configured and they're good to go.

What this means is that if you want to help a friend get set up with BattleScribe, you can hit the Share BattleScribe button and send them an email that includes a link to download the app and a file that they just have to click to get the whole thing set up - much easier!

To this end, I've basically added a new file format which is an entire repository of data files all bundled together into a single file (with the ".bsr" extension, for the techies among you) which can be sent around by email for example.

The other major improvement is for those who create and maintain data repositories - finally Data Indexer has had a major overhaul and is much better than it was.


Android

• When clicking Share BattleScribe, you are given the option to include your data files. Your files and repository URLs are bundled into a "repository file" and attached to your email (or uploaded to DropBox or wherever else you decide to send it).
• Clicking a repository file on an email (or in another app, such as clicking a link to one in the browser or in DropBox) will fire up BattleScribe and automatically import all the data contained in it including any repository URLs.
• Clicking any other data files from a browser, file manager or other app will send it to be opened in BattleScribe, which will import it for you. 
• Some apps (such as your browser) will try to open the file themselves and just show you it's contents. In this case, you can hit Share and send it to BattleScribe from there. This also works for an online repository's "index.xml" file.
• You can now (finally) install BattleScribe on an SD card.
• Improvements to the speed and reliability of saving - it should no longer lag when switching between screens.
• Fixed a bug where if you had a corrupted/broken roster file, you wouldn't be able to open any other rosters. Broken rosters are now ignored.

Desktop

• You can import BattleScribe data from a repository (.bsr) file from the Manage Data dialog.
• Much (much!) improved Data Indexer, which you can now access from the Manage Data dialog (see separate change list below) via the Share Data button.
• Manage Data can now be accessed from the menu in Game System Editor and Catalogue Editor.
• Editors will now prompt you to update your repository if you have changed your files. This is really important! If you don't re-create your repository when you change files, none of your users will get your lovely new files!
• Editors now flag many more data file errors for you to fix - making sure you don't end up with broken files...
• Links to shared entries can now have a category, so a single shared entry representing a unit can be used in multiple categories.

Data Indexer

• More options so you can specify where the data for the index comes from. You can choose to use all your current data, or specify a specific folder manually.
• More options to specify where the repository gets created. You can create it "in place" (ie the same location it's getting the data files from), specify a specific folder manually, or choose to output to a single .bsr repository file (for emailing or whatever).
• Data Indexer now remembers all your chosen settings - repository name, input/output options and paths to data file source and destination folders/files.
• All data files get updated to the latest format and individually zipped correctly when creating a repository.
• Command line usage added. You can run "java -jar DataIndexer.jar [repository name] [input directory] [output directory]" to create a repository from the command line.

Interview On The Overlords Podcast

Listen ma! I'm on the radio!

Inquisitor Steve from The Overlords podcast was kind enough to drop me a line a little while ago and arrange an interview to chat about BattleScribe. I had a lot of fun talking a bit about my history with 40k, before moving on to discuss how BattleScribe came about and how it's developed since then.

If you're interested in listening to me babble incoherently about some of the reasons behind BattleScribe, where it's at now and a where it's going in the future, I recommend giving it a listen! In fact, if you're not already following The Overlords, what's wrong with you? These guys are great fun to listen to - they make my drive home from work something to look forward to :)

Thanks for having me on guys!

BattleScribe 1.13.02b Available For iOS

Apple have finally approved version 1.13.02b and it's now available in the App Store! Sorry it's taken so long - once I've submitted to iTunes, it's out of my hands until they get around to reviewing it (usually a week or so...).

This version contains a major bug fix where in some cases nothing would show up for you to select for your list (notably a large selection of Warhammer Fantasy catalogues). This was because for some catalogue files the process of upgrading them to the 1.13.xx file format would eat the contents of the file and break it. Very nasty.

Important: 
If you have experienced this bug, and you were unable to see anything to choose for your army you will need to delete your data files and re-download them from your repository. Go to "Manage Data", click the menu and choose "Delete all data". Once this is done, click "Update Data" again to get your files back. Your new files will be properly updated to the 1.13.xx format and all should be well.

Sorry I let this one get through. File format updates are one of the biggest changes BattleScribe can go through, and it can be a bit of a rocky road. I'd tested many data files to make sure the process worked, but evidently I missed this particular case. My apologies if it's caused you any issues.

Full Change List:

• Fixed bug where some old data files were not being properly upgraded
• Prevented categories showing up if they contain nothing to select
• Fixed crash when using multiple catalogues (ie allies) in some cases
• Fixed crash when using catalogues with deeply nested shared items
• Fixed bug where data files with accented characters (ó, ñ etc) would break

If you find anything else that's amiss, please don't hesitate to let me know. You can leave a comment on this post or in the forums, or catch me on Google+, Twitter or Facebook. I'm also available via email: feedback [at] battlescribe [dot] net.

If this has resolved your problem, or you're just a fan of BattleScribe on iOS, please do leave a review on iTunes!

BattleScribe 1.13.02 Released

Update: One more bug fixed today:

• Fixed crash when using catalogues with deeply nested shared items

This is available for Android and desktops, and has been resubmitted to Apple (I've requested an expedited review so hopefully it won't take as long as usual to become available).

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Just a small update today with a couple of bug fixes:

• Fixed a problem where some older data files weren't being properly upgraded to the 1.13.00 format. This is causing a problem particularly on iOS where in some cases you can't see anything to select when creating Warhammer Fantasy lists (nasty...)
• Prevented categories that don't contain any entries from being displayed (mobile versions only)
• Fixed bug where data files with accented characters (ó, ñ etc) would break
• Fixed a crash when using multiple catalogues (e.g. when making a list with allies)

Note: If you are having problems with your data files, I recommend deleting them and re-downloading from your repository. This will mean any files get re-updated to the the 1.13.00 format, fixing the problem mentioned in the second bullet point above.

This is now available on Android and desktops and is currently going through approval for iOS. I'll let you know when it becomes available in iTunes.

BattleScribe 1.13.00b Released - With Allies Support!

Update: Apple finally approved the free version for iOS, so that's now available for you iDevice people out there :)

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Well the big day has finally arrived - after three months or so hard labour, BattleScribe 1.13.00b is finally here! Adding support for allies has been a big job, requiring changes to how BattleScribe fundamentally works, hence the long development time. On top of that, I've added a much demanded feature from data file authors: shared items. This will make it much easier for the authors to create quality data files, thus benefiting the entire community.

The two highest voted items on UserVoice in one fell swoop :)

This update affects all versions: Desktop, Android and iOS. If you like it, I'd really appreciate a review on the iTunes / Google Play app stores!

Note 1: This update involves a major file format upgrade. This means that the first time you load up BattleScribe it may take quite a while for your existing files to be updated, depending on how much data you have. Please be patient! It only needs to do this once.

Note 2: BattleScribe has become more strict about data file formats - some old files that used to be OK may no longer be valid. If you create files or host repositories I strongly suggest opening all of your files with the new version's editors and fixing any errors that are flagged. Once you're happy recreate your repository with data indexer to make sure it's all in order. This will really help prevent users of your repository from having problems.

Note 3: If you experience strange behaviour, it could be because of data problems mentioned in note 2 above. The first thing to try would be to delete all your data files (on mobile, the menu in the Manage Data screen allows you to do this) and re-download them from your repositories.

Here's the full list of changes:

All Versions

• Added allies support (a roster can be created with multiple catalogue / game type combinations)
• Added ability to create "shared" entries, entry groups, rules and profiles in catalogues, and then reference / link to them throughout the catalogue without repeating yourself. This should make life a lot easier for data file authors
• Improved modifiers / conditions, supporting the shared items

iOS (iPhone / iPod / iPad)

• Added shiny new retina graphics and icons
• Long-clicking selections now allows you to duplicate, remove or individually view the selection
• Added extra options in the Manage Data screen to allow you to share your repository URLs or delete all data files (in case of problems)
• Rules/profiles now properly shown when viewing the roster
• Fixed crash when clicking on the row of a "single selection" (rather than the button on the right)
• Fixed "invalid attribute namespace..." crash when importing from repositories
• Fixed bug where some catalogue conditions wouldn't be properly evaluated
• Other small UI improvements and bug fixes

Android

• Added new high-resolution (and some low-resolution) icons and graphics to support different screen densities
• Added extra options in the Manage Data screen to allow you to share your repository URLs or delete all data files (in case of problems)
• Other UI improvements and bug fixes

Desktop

• Minor UI improvements - just tidied things up a bit
• Improvements to the data file editors so they detect and flag more possible data file errors

Important News For Data File Authors / Hosts

Just a heads up for those of you out there who create or host data files.

I've now submitted BattleScribe 1.13.00b to Apple. Once it's approved, I'll be wrapping up the releases for Android and the desktop, and releasing the whole lot together - hopefully in about a week or so.

I've come across a problem with some of the data files out there (eg Space Marines and Necrons from one of the most popular data file hosts), where some entries in a catalogue have duplicate unique ids. The new version is stricter about how these are used, and this kind of setup will no longer work.

To prevent crashes, Roster Editor will remove all entries with duplicate ids from the catalogue on load. This means the user will not be able to select these items for their rosters. In addition, if the user opens an existing roster that uses any of these entries, the relevant selections will be removed from their roster.

If you open the catalogue in Catalogue Editor however, the offending entries will be left in place and flagged as an error so you can find them and fix them. I have released a preview version of 1.13.00b on the forum which I strongly recommend data file authors download and use to check all their data files to make sure they don't have this problem.

Remember that if you open a pre-1.13.00b file it will be converted to the new format which is not compatible with older versions of BattleScribe. It's probably best to make a copy of all your data files before checking them, thus keeping your 1.12.00b format files intact. You can then be ready with a nice shiny set of 1.13.00b data files ready for when it's released.

If you have any problems or questions, feel free to drop me a line on Twitter, Facebook, Google+, or email (jon [dot] taylor [at] battlescribe [dot] net).

New Facebook Page

I'm not much of a Facebook user personally, but I hear it's quite a popular site ;)

So for those of you who are primarily Facebookers, I've finally bitten the bullet and created a page for BattleScribe.

I'll be posting development progress updates, upcoming features and soliciting feedback on ideas in a generally more detailed and regular way than on the news blog. It's also another avenue for you the user to get in contact to ask questions, offer suggestions etc.

I will still be using Google+ for my primary social media page, with posts there being re-posted to the Facebook page (in full where possible) and Twitter (as a link). I'll keep an eye on the Facebook page and obviously will be participating in any discussion over there.

So, if you're a fan of BattleScribe and want to stay connected, Facebook is now another option for you alongside Google+ and Twitter - whichever is your personal preference :)

Now get clicking on those Like buttons people!

Super Celebratory September Sale!

It's been a good month :-)

The free iOS version was finally released and the Android version now has over 10,000 users. Awesome milestones!

I can't thank you all enough for your support - BattleScribe wouldn't be what it is without you!

But I can't thank you properly with just words. So for the month of September, BattleScribe Mobile Pro will be £0.69 ($0.99 / €0.99), or Android iOS and Kindle Fire.

Enjoy :-)

Free Version of BattleScribe Mobile Now Available for iOS!

Rejoice! The free version of BattleScribe mobile for iPhone/iPad/iPod has been approved and is now available in the iTunes Appstore!

Enjoy :)

BattleScribe For iPhone, iPod and iPad Released!

Finally it's here! BattleScribe Mobile Pro has been approved and is now available in the iTunes Appstore!

Unfortunately the free version was rejected because of the way it linked to the pro version in the store... I'm disappointed I can't offer a free version right away, but there you have it. I'll work on making the changes I need to, and then resubmit it. Keep an eye on here/Twitter/Google+ and I'll announce when it becomes available if you'd prefer to wait.

For you iPad users, I haven't yet made a proper tablet UI. It's something I want to do, but I felt it was important to get something released sooner rather than later. Actually I need to do a UI for Android tablets too, and I'll need to have a good think about how to make good use of the larger screen.

Anyway, happy days. I know there's a lot of people who've been waiting for this for ages, so I'm glad it's finally come together :)