GW template tool v1 - Guild Wars Guru archive powered by Guild Wars Legacy

Zeph

Lion's Arch Merchant

Join Date: Jan 2006

Wales, UK

Expect Extreme Violence [EEV]

04 Jan 2007 at 15:39 - 1

The templates function recently added to GW has to be one of the most useful additions to guild wars and it's something that most people use a lot.

Whilst recently posting a few new builds on my guild forums I was surprised by how many people are confused about what to do with a build template, where to save the file and sometimes (amazingly) where to find their GW folder. It made me realise that whilst a person may be very good at playing guild wars, that person might not be as good regarding computers.

So I thought I would make a tool to help those gamers who are not so good with computers, something really simple where they could just copy/paste a build template and have it saved into the right place.

And here it is; GW template tool v1. (or GWTT for short)

The tool is pretty much foolproof. There are no settings to mess with, it's just a case of pasting the build code into GWTT, naming the build and pressing save. GWTT reads the correct path of Guild Wars from registry and saves the file accordingly. It's as simple as that. GWTT is a stand alone executable so it requires no installation, just unpack and run.

I know some of you will wonder why a tool like this is needed but as I mentioned, not everyone is good with computers, so I'm sure some players will find it useful.

Download: GW Template Tool v2

MD5 checksum: 94c2f9ce6c187a317b85d0d4ac1d71a1

GWTT is freeware and free from any spyware/malware or viri. GWTT can be freely hosted/distributed, all I ask is that I am credited with it.

Code:

Changes from v1
-Recoded from scratch in vb6 resulting in a filesize reduction from 320k to just 32k
-Added existing file check
-Added status display

(Not sure if this is the correct place to post this, so my apologies if its not.)

Nexus Icon

Wilds Pathfinder

Join Date: Aug 2005

Natis Ignigena

Me/

04 Jan 2007 at 15:59 - 2

Nice work Zeph.
Hell, it's not even just for people new to computers, adding a shortcut to it to my Quicklaunch menu saves me having to make a new text document in the right place every time.
See a build-code on Guru, highlight it, copy it, launch GWTT, name yer template, paste the code, bam, job done.
Sweet as a nut

RTSFirebat

The Humanoid Typhoon

Join Date: May 2005

UK

Servants of Fortuna [SoF]

R/

04 Jan 2007 at 16:02 - 3

Build codes... could you give an example?

Nexus Icon

Wilds Pathfinder

Join Date: Aug 2005

Natis Ignigena

Me/

04 Jan 2007 at 16:09 - 4

Copy and paste this into Zeph's GWTT and call it what you want:

ARNRkpcdmrihlvS+wjTtFHGH

That should give you this build on a warrior (all attributes exclude runes):

Strength 12
Swordsmanship 12
Tactics 3

[card]"For Great Justice!"[/card][card]Enraging Charge[/card][card]Flail[/card][card]Standing Slash[/card][card]Silverwing Slash[/card][card]Sun and Moon Slash[/card][card]Dragon Slash[/card] and Sunspear Rebirth Signet.

Nifty, eh?

Dougal Kronik

Forge Runner

Join Date: Aug 2005

Ontario, Canada

Glengarry Fencibles

R/

04 Jan 2007 at 16:09 - 5

When you open the *.txt file in your templates subdirectory.

The series of letters is the Build Code, or Template Code.

Numb Nuts

Ascalonian Squire

Join Date: Mar 2006

Expect Extreme Violence [EEV]

W/Mo

04 Jan 2007 at 20:13 - 6

Nice one Ginga, some good work there

Relnor

Lion's Arch Merchant

Join Date: Feb 2006

W/

04 Jan 2007 at 21:09 - 7

Excellent job, Zeph! I scanned it with multiple virus/malware/adware scanners, and it came out clean. Unzipped it and gave it a whirl. It works great. It now takes me three mouse clicks to make a new build

Anti Oath

Frost Gate Guardian

Join Date: Nov 2006

Waiting

Balance

04 Jan 2007 at 21:18 - 8

does this work for equipment and builds?

Zeph

Lion's Arch Merchant

Join Date: Jan 2006

Wales, UK

Expect Extreme Violence [EEV]

04 Jan 2007 at 22:01 - 9

Quote:

Originally Posted by Anti Oath

does this work for equipment and builds?

No sorry, it is only for skill templates.

@ Others: Thanks guys. I'm glad others find it as useful as I do.

You just got tomahawked

Krytan Explorer

Join Date: Nov 2006

H-Town

The Battle Bakery [vPie]

N/

04 Jan 2007 at 23:18 - 10

You just made my life soooooo much easier... I smell Nobel peace Prize in the category of awesome.

mega_jamie

Wilds Pathfinder

Join Date: Apr 2006

UK

Warlords of Ruin

A/Mo

04 Jan 2007 at 23:55 - 11

nice work indeed, will be downloading this to make my new frays with a PvP guild a bit easier.

ForgeWhelp

Krytan Explorer

Join Date: Jul 2006

TGW

N/Mo

05 Jan 2007 at 00:48 - 12

Cool, now can you make it one step further and show the skills in a given template, so that when I load it into a char and I see that I don't have 3,4 and 6 I can know what those actually are...

Zeph

Lion's Arch Merchant

Join Date: Jan 2006

Wales, UK

Expect Extreme Violence [EEV]

05 Jan 2007 at 01:05 - 13

Quote:

Originally Posted by ForgeWhelp

Cool, now can you make it one step further and show the skills in a given template, so that when I load it into a char and I see that I don't have 3,4 and 6 I can know what those actually are...

Nah, I won't be taking it in that direction. I wanted a simple fast too and didn't want to bloat it up with lots of features. This tool is meant as a easy way to take a build (code) from a forum or wiki (where it would list the skills required) and add it to guild wars without having to get notepad out.

For what you ask you would be better using something like GWfreaks tool or gwshack.

Thibor

Academy Page

Join Date: Oct 2005

A Circle of Ravens

W/

05 Jan 2007 at 01:35 - 14

Great Job Zeph. Thanks for taking some of your time and creating something we players can use. Very nice tool. I'll be using it ALOT!

imkey

Frost Gate Guardian

Join Date: Dec 2006

Green and Pink

Mo/

12 Jan 2007 at 09:53 - 15

good work!

i have some suggestions though: (mostly to stop overwriting existing builds of the same name and aid in speedily putting in multiple entries)

1) if a template of that name already exists, ask for a yes/no confirmation to overwrite old template.

2) dump the two message boxes that pop-up everytime u hit save (they slow down the entry of multiple builds alot), instead have it display in green text next to the save button, "Build Blah Blah Blah is Saved" right after u hit save.

3) Clear the template code text field after a successful save but not the build name text field to make it easier to add a series of builds with similar names

ThisIsNi

Frost Gate Guardian

Join Date: Jan 2007

USA

W/E

14 Jan 2007 at 19:31 - 16

I just have to say I am amazed. Nice job.

LAMS3K

Academy Page

Join Date: Nov 2005

Fifteen Over Fifty[Rare]

R/Mo

04 Feb 2007 at 15:33 - 17

I have a suggestion.

Take it a few steps further. Write a Firefox plug-in that searches the loaded page for build templates. Then when the user right-clicks on the page there is an option to view templates on the page. From there they are presented with each build and an option to save it.

It can also be done a route that is not browser specific. Although you'd need to write a packet sniffer that monitors the HTTP traffic on the computer. When it finds a build template it stores it and maybe notifies the user that there is a build template on the page. When the user wants they can pull up a list of all the builds on the current page or all that have been captured. Each shown graphically with details of each and of course with the option of saving it.

A bit complex but practical. Just a thought, maybe someone will write it. Won't be me, too many other things that must be done.

Anyway, nice simple program

Grimm

Lion's Arch Merchant

Join Date: Nov 2005

N/

04 Feb 2007 at 20:38 - 18

Very nice handy utility. It does what a utility should do, and that's do one thing well.

No more loading notepad, copying the code, saving as the name you want.

Americas Monk

Ascalonian Squire

Join Date: May 2006

wisconsin

Dagons Of Darkness

Mo/Me

06 Feb 2007 at 03:05 - 19

i have a question, if im in game and i have this template entered, even if i odnt have the skills will i still get the skills included in the build?

Smurf Minions

Lion's Arch Merchant

Join Date: Jun 2006

Somewhere you can't see

Limburgse Jagers [LJ]

N/

06 Feb 2007 at 06:04 - 20

I'm not sure of which things you get, or you get the skills with a lock icon on it. Or you just get empty skill slots.

King Kong

Krytan Explorer

Join Date: Jan 2006

W/R

06 Feb 2007 at 13:37 - 21

Its shows up for a few secs then goes empty

Zeph

Lion's Arch Merchant

Join Date: Jan 2006

Wales, UK

Expect Extreme Violence [EEV]

16 Feb 2007 at 15:11 - 22

Quote:

Originally Posted by King Kong

Its shows up for a few secs then goes empty

Can you explain more, please.

I have had no reports of any sort of crashes or errors but if you can give me more info I can look into it.

Demonspitfir

Ascalonian Squire

Join Date: Jan 2007

[Tag] Ur It

W/A

16 Feb 2007 at 15:57 - 23

Viola - I have an IDEA!

Why not take it a step or two farther.

Why not team up with one of these other programs, or just make some random builds to generate codes?

Or make slots in the Program where someone can search through for skills they want and put them in there. Like the Skills menu when you hit K. Where you can just simply insert skills change attributes and it would all be saved?

do you understand what i'm saying?

BuD

Krytan Explorer

Join Date: Mar 2006

Nunya

E/Mo

16 Feb 2007 at 16:00 - 24

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zeph

Can you explain more, please.

When you load a template, & dont have all the skills required for the build, the missing skills show up momentarily (less than a second on my rig) in the skill bar then return to a blank skill slot.

Its not a fault in your program, its how GW acts when you dont have a skill for a pre-made build.

Zeph

Lion's Arch Merchant

Join Date: Jan 2006

Wales, UK

Expect Extreme Violence [EEV]

16 Feb 2007 at 17:25 - 25

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lycan X

When you load a template, & dont have all the skills required for the build, the missing skills show up momentarily (less than a second on my rig) in the skill bar then return to a blank skill slot.

Its not a fault in your program, its how GW acts when you dont have a skill for a pre-made build.

Ah, I see what he means now. I thought he meant the program appears for a few seconds then disappears.

Thanks for clearing that up.

@ Demonspitfir: Yeah I understand what you mean. But I think GWFreaks tool does what you describe already. So I'll just stay with a simple tool that is easy & fast to use.

King Kong

Krytan Explorer

Join Date: Jan 2006

W/R

16 Feb 2007 at 19:39 - 26

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zeph

Can you explain more, please.

I have had no reports of any sort of crashes or errors but if you can give me more info I can look into it.

Sorry was replying to Americas Monk on page one

Zeph

Lion's Arch Merchant

Join Date: Jan 2006

Wales, UK

Expect Extreme Violence [EEV]

19 Feb 2007 at 11:27 - 27

Quote:

Originally Posted by King Kong

Sorry was replying to Americas Monk on page one

No worries, I should have worked it out. It makes sense now I read it again.

Laforge

Ascalonian Squire

Join Date: Jan 2006

USA

Noob University [GeD]

Mo/

25 Feb 2007 at 20:19 - 28

Can you make it do the template directory is changed or make a Vista one, because in Vista the directory for templates is different than XP.

In Vista it is: C:\Users\"Username"\Documents\Guild Wars\Templates\Skills - for skills templates
C:\Users\"Username"\Documents\Guild Wars\Templates\Equipment - for equipment templates.

Nice and simple program, I hope I am able to use it.

shivanSoule

Frost Gate Guardian

Join Date: Apr 2006

26 Feb 2007 at 09:14 - 29

nice template tool, it makes life easier to save the template codes grabbed from here.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Demonspitfir

Viola - I have an IDEA!

Why not take it a step or two farther.

Why not team up with one of these other programs, or just make some random builds to generate codes?

Or make slots in the Program where someone can search through for skills they want and put them in there. Like the Skills menu when you hit K. Where you can just simply insert skills change attributes and it would all be saved?

do you understand what i'm saying?

is this what ur looking for? its an awesome java based template editor by Theron. BTW the GWfreaks program shud be able to save and edit templates too.

Zeph

Lion's Arch Merchant

Join Date: Jan 2006

Wales, UK

Expect Extreme Violence [EEV]

26 Feb 2007 at 14:53 - 30

Quote:

Originally Posted by Laforge

Can you make it do the template directory is changed or make a Vista one, because in Vista the directory for templates is different than XP.

In Vista it is: C:\Users\"Username"\Documents\Guild Wars\Templates\Skills - for skills templates
C:\Users\"Username"\Documents\Guild Wars\Templates\Equipment - for equipment templates.

Nice and simple program, I hope I am able to use it.

The program takes the guild wars location from registry, so in theory it should always know the _correct_ path as long as it's stored in registry the same.

But as I don't have vista or any plans to use it, I can't really confirm/test this.

Zeph

Lion's Arch Merchant

Join Date: Jan 2006

Wales, UK

Expect Extreme Violence [EEV]

25 May 2007 at 14:09 - 31

Quote:

Originally Posted by imkey

good work!

i have some suggestions though: (mostly to stop overwriting existing builds of the same name and aid in speedily putting in multiple entries)

1) if a template of that name already exists, ask for a yes/no confirmation to overwrite old template.

2) dump the two message boxes that pop-up everytime u hit save (they slow down the entry of multiple builds alot), instead have it display in green text next to the save button, "Build Blah Blah Blah is Saved" right after u hit save.

3) Clear the template code text field after a successful save but not the build name text field to make it easier to add a series of builds with similar names

Thanks for the good suggestions, they have all been added to the new v2 of GWTT.

Download link can be found in the start thread.

Replicant

Lion's Arch Merchant

Join Date: Jan 2006

R/Me

30 May 2007 at 00:43 - 32

Quote:

Originally Posted by Laforge

Can you make it do the template directory is changed or make a Vista one, because in Vista the directory for templates is different than XP.

In Vista it is: C:\Users\"Username"\Documents\Guild Wars\Templates\Skills - for skills templates
C:\Users\"Username"\Documents\Guild Wars\Templates\Equipment - for equipment templates.

Nice and simple program, I hope I am able to use it.

Thats where you installed Guild Wars too.

as Zeph has stated it's getting the path from the registry. probably from this key.
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\ArenaNet\Guild Wars]
Path="C:\Program Files\Guild Wars\Gw.exe"

pamelf

Forge Runner

Join Date: Aug 2006

Australia

Lost Templars [LoTe]

Me/Mo

30 May 2007 at 02:41 - 33

Hey thanks for this! It works great in conjunction with the other template tool from this forum. The two together are just the best resource! THanks heaps!