AA:O Forward Observer Full

America's Army: Operations Forward Observer 
 
Readme 
 
Summary: Community Made and Inspired Server Browser for America's Army: Operations  
 
Author:  Greg McIntosh - DivideByZero [email protected] 
 
Website:  www.ForwardObserver.us  
  
Beta Testers (alpha order):  
Chris Dwyer [UK1] Ninja (www.uk1ninja.net) 
Yannick Lyn Fatt axle_foley001 
Jim Faulk  Vegitto (www.beforeyoukillyourcomputer.com) 
Malichi Kolb [DWG]Sys-Error 
Dave Long OICU 


Contents:
Build Information 
Installation Instructions 
What's New 
Release Notes 
Thank Yous 
Planned Enhancements 
Quasi-legal stuff 
Contact Information 



Build Information:

VB6 - Service Pack 5 
AAForwardObserver.exe - the executable
AAFO.cfg - configuration file (contents accessed by clicking the "Config" item in the Options menu.)
OfficialServerList.txt - AAFO list for Official servers 
GOAAServerList.txt - AAFO list for GoAmericasArmy.com servers
AuthorizedServerList.txt - AAFO list for Authorized servers 
CustomServerList.txt - Your custom list - once one is generated
BuddyList.txt - Your buddy list - once it's created
AAOMaps.txt - AAFO list of America's Army Maps for filtering
PlayerList.txt - List of players online as of last server refresh
FOIrc.txt - IRC configuration and settings.




Installation Instructions:

New Install:

* If you do not have a previous version of Forward Observer or the VB6 SP5 runtimes and components, run the FULL install package.
* The full install will install and register the VB6 runtime library and all associated ActiveX controls. The setup will install all of the resources, ActiveX controls and DLLs into the AAFO dedicated folder and will not be shared NOT the system folder.
* Just run the FULL installation package and follow the prompts.
* The first time you run FO, make sure that the configuration settings are correct. Go to Options > Configuration.


Upgrade: 
* If your PC already has the VB6 SP5 runtimes and components, you may be able to just use the UPDATE. Run the installation program and point it to your FO folder. It will place the new version of the AAForwardObserver.exe executable, config file and lists into the folder. 



Release Notes:

Version 1.2.0 - Public Release
[08-16-2003]

What's New:

· Full America's Army 1.9 support.
· DOUBLE-CLICK will now connect you to a server - this is a faster way of joining
· SPACE will now query the selected server.
· IRC functionality via a java applet - #forwardobserver is now open for tech support and all things FO-related.
- FO now uses MSXML 3.0 to connect to the SCI master server - it should be include with IE versions 5 up.
- This method should be more reliable...
· Updating the SCI and GOAA lists from the SCI master will completely rebuild both lists from scratch. 
- No more manual downloads of server lists.
· Improved the right-click menu with join server, join as admin and preload map at the top.
· Join as admin will prompt you for the server's admin password once and then save it to your passwords list
· Added in "Forward Observer Flash Traffic" - this will grab any messages/update info from the website that 
I want to pass on to all FO users.
· Buddy lists now connect to SCI's master server for queries.
· Buddy lists should update more reliably when you rebuild the player list.
· Added East/West server filters
· Added Punkbuster server filter 
· Added Full and Empty server filters


Installation:
· Unzip the contents of this file into your FO install folder
· If you have a custom color scheme that you want to keep, make sure that you save your "ForeColor=", "BackColor=", 
"FormColor=" and "TextColor=" settings at the end of your original AAFO.cfg file
· Start FO and let it update the SCI/GOAA servers at program start to automatically rebuild the server lists.


Version 1.1.0 - Public Release
[06-12-2003]

Interface:
· Improved query performance (600+ servers in 15 seconds.)
· Added treeview to FO. This will allow quick, dynamic view building by clicking on the tree nodes.
· Added vertical splitter bar to right of treeview and horizontal splitter between Server list and Server and Player Intel lists.
- The panes are now dynamically sizable.
- The splitters can be customized with the following options: stars and stripes, cammo skin, hazard stripe skin, list color or form color.
· Added web Browser tab (thanks for the idea Ninja).
- Readme, Use and other links in Help menu open up here now
· Added status bar to bottom of window. 
- This displays setting and program-specific information.
- When a server is being monitored, the progress bar is now displayed there and is no longer located in the toolbar. 
· Reorganized Menu structure
· Modified Server Lists to display: IP, Server Name, Ping, Players, Max Players, Time Remaining, Round, Map Title, Last Played, Locked, Official, Query Port Version, Leased and Map Name
· New list view options: Map, Locked/Unlocked, Version, Authorized/Official, HL/SCI
· Added Leased/Authorized tab/list - still need to acquire a good list of Leased/Authorized servers

Program Features:
· Added ability to preload maps by selecting option in treeview - this will speed up server joining.
- FO will minimize ArmyOps to the task tray after a map has been preloaded into memory and brings itself up into focus.
· Added ability to update a server without joining to right-click menu.
· Added multi-select query functionality.
· Expanded Add Server function to allow adding a server to all lists.
· Added ability to remove server(s) from all lists. 
· Improved code for joining games when ArmyOps is running in the background.
· Optimized code that is executed during the game-joining function, for faster connections to servers. 
· America's Army Operations version 1.7 compatable: Player Intel displays new data: Goal, Leader and Team. 
· AAO path and AAO version installed on your system is retrieved from the registry. It no longer has manually configured.
· Player Name is retrieved from the user.ini file. It no longer has manually configured.
· Added multi-server monitoring support. 
· FO now minimizes to the system tray - right-clicking the icon will reveal a popup menu with Restore and Quit options.)
· Player Intel list is now sortable by column headers. 



Configuration:
· New Configure Option: Auto-Update Buddy List when Buddy List is opened
· New Configure Option: Auto-Update Player List when Player List is opened
· Modified the Config window by adding tabs and grouping the different settings by type.
· Query timeout interval is now adjustable via a slider.
· Max number of query sockets is now adjustable via a slider.
· Added ability to hide columns in Configuration>Appearance settings. These settings can be saved. 
· New Startup Option: Default Scan Option (Full or Fast). This can be saved.
· New Startup Option: Scan checked lists on startup. This can be saved. 
· Added Configuration option to suppress selected nodes from expanding in treeview.

Buddy List Enhancements:
· New Buddy List Options:
- Select between www.trAAcker.com (thanks Magnus) or army.happyempire.com for buddy searches.
- Look up selected buddy's stats on trAAcker or happyempire through the FO web browser
- Look up your stats on trAAcker or happyempire through the FO web browser
- Visit trAAcker or happyempire through the FO web browser 
- Added new icon to Buddy List: Red Lightning Bolt = Off-line (Yellow Lightning Bolt still means online.)
- Buddy List now displays the last server and time online and honor if the selected buddy isn't online.


Bug Fixes:
· Check box area in toolbar is now dynamic, this should prevent any overlapping of buttons for users using custom font sizes. 
· Fixed bug where if the FO game server's IP changes, it's only reflected in the GOAA list. Now the change shows up on all lists.
· Fixed bug that didn't allow users to select black for any of the custom colors. 
· Fixed bug where adding player to Buddy List from Player List would cause Player and Server Intel to no longer be displayed after a server refresh. 



Version 1.0.22
[05-27-2003]

Enhancements:
* Added Configuration option to turn FO Browser On/Off at program start.
* Added FO Browser instructions to help menu.
* Added more detailed instructions and info. in the Preload Map confirmation message box.

Bug Fixes:
* Hopefully stamped out bug in treeview.

Version 1.0.21
[05-18-2003]
Bug Fixes:
* Found bug in Buddy List where incorrect icon would display for last buddy on list.
* Also, when a buddy was offline, the server IP data wasn't resetting. 
* The Readme and Program use links now point to the FO site, 
* I put in some improved timeout and error handling code into the SCI/GOAA list download and the trAAcker/happyempire searches. 



Version 1.0.18
[05-10-2003]

Enhancements:
* New Buddy List Options:
- Select between www.trAAcker.com or army.happyempire.com for buddy searches.
- Look up selected buddy's stats on trAAcker or happyempire through the FO web browser
- Look up your stats on trAAcker or happyempire through the FO web browser
- Visit trAAcker or happyempire through the FO web browser 

Bug Fixes:
* Fixed Node Click Error 35605 when selecting "View All" node after changing Player List scan options.


Version 1.0.17
[05-04-2003]

Enhancements:
* Now compatible with AAO 1.7: Player Intel displays new data: Goal, Leader and Team.
* After loading a map into memory, the to display bar notifies user.
* Added 2 second timeout to Buddy List scans to www.trAAcker.com. 
* Added new icon to Buddy List: Red Lightning Bolt = Off-line (Yellow Lightning Bolt still means online.)
* Buddy List now displays the last server and time online and honor if the selected buddy isn't online.
* User is now prompted to confirm map loads.
* User is now prompted to confirm SCI/GOAA list updates. 



Version 1.0.15
[04-25-2003]

Enhancements:
* FO will minimize ArmyOps to the task tray after a map has been preloaded into memory and brings itself up into focus. 

Bug Fixes:
* Removed Load Map from tree - replaced by right-click
* Fixed filter options in filter window (broke them when adding in time and round columns)
* Removed Connection filter option since it's no longer applicable.
* Added confirmation messages to SCI/GOAA list and Player list updates.


Version 1.0.14
[04-25-2003]

Enhancements:
* Reorganized Menu structure
* Added ability to update a server without joining to right-click menu.
* New Configure Option: Auto-Update Buddy List when Buddy List is opened
* New Configure Option: Auto-Update Player List when Player List is opened
* FO now points to a different URL for the SCI/GOAA Server feed. This is a proprietary URL and can only be used with my express written permission. 
* Help menu links point to www.ForwardObserver.us and the forum there.


Version 1.0.13
[04-04-2003]

Bug Fixes: 
* Accidentally removed "Add to Custom List" popup menu option in the last build (doh!)


Version 1.0.12
[03-29-2003]

Bug Fixes:
* Adding multi-selected servers to Custom List will now behave correctly, instead of only adding the last one.
* Removing servers from lists is only available in the full/unfiltered view (this may be changed later.)
* The "Preload Map" option now only appears if a map is selected in the treeview.

Enhancements:
* Added Configuration option to suppress selected nodes from expanding in treeview.
* Browser now adds URLs and files to combo box.
* Browser startup screen is the www.ForwardObserver.us
* "Email DivideByZero" option now points to [email protected]


Version 1.0.11
[03-25-2003]

Bug Fixes:
* Old AAO versions that don't appear in the server lists should no longer show up in the treeview. 

Enhancements:
* Cleaned up the Configuration interface.
* Added ability to hide columns in Configuration>Appearance settings. These settings can be saved.
* Added a Stars and Stripes skin for the splitter bars.
* New Startup Option: Default Scan Option (Full or Fast). This can be saved.
* New Startup Option: Scan checked lists on startup. This can be saved.



Version 1.0.10
[03-21-2003] 

Bug Fixes:
* Fixed bug in buddy list where refreshing list would sometimes show incorrect data. 


Version 1.0.9
[03-20-2003] 

Enhancements:
* Added web Browser tab (thanks for the idea Ninja).
- Default URL is America's Army Support (will probably change)
- Readme, Use and other links in Help menu open up here now
* Improved Buddy List: querying an individual buddy or the whole list will initiate a query to www.trAAcker.com (thanks Magnus!) for the buddy(s). FO will then query the server they are found on to get the most up-to-date data on them. 


Version 1.0.8
[03-15-2003] 

Bug Fixes:

* Adding player to Buddy List from Player List would cause Player and Server Intel to no longer be displayed after a server refresh. 

Enhancements:
* Added multi-server monitoring support.
* Added ability to preload maps by selecting option in treeview - this will speed up server joining (but it will also slow down FO performance.)
* Modified the Config window by adding tabs and grouping the different settings by type.
* Query timeout interval is now adjustable via a slider.
* Max number of query sockets is now adjustable via a slider.
* FO now minimizes to the system tray - right-clicking the icon will reveal a popup menu with Restore and Quit options.)
* Added "Update Update SCI/GOAA Lists" option to treeview.
* Clicking "Refresh Buddy List" button will re-query all buddies that are listed as being on servers.
* Replaced Connection and Location data in Server lists with Time Remaining and Round.
* Player Intel list is now sortable by column headers.
* The GOAA list is now stored in GOAAServerList.txt and the Authorized server list is stored in AuthorizedServerList.txt.


Version 1.0.7
[03-09-2003] 

Bug Fixes:

* Check box area in toolbar is now dynamic, this should prevent any overlapping of buttons for users using custom font sizes.


Enhancements:
* Added vertical splitter bar to right of treeview and horizontal splitter between Server list and Server and Player Intel lists.
- The panes are now dynamically sizable.
- The splitters can be customized with the following options: cammo skin, hazard stripe skin, list color or form color.
* Added status bar to bottom of form. 
- This displays setting and program-specific information.
- When a server is being monitored, the progress bar is now displayed there and is no longer located in the toolbar.
* AAO path and AAO version installed on your system is retrieved from the registry. It no longer has manually configured.
* Player Name is retrieved from the user.ini file. It no longer has manually configured.
* Added multi-select query functionality.
* Expanded Add Server function to allow adding a server to all lists.
* Added ability to remove server(s) from all lists. 
- Note: this will permanently remove the server(s) from the list(s).



Version 1.0.5
[03-06-2003] 

Bug Fixes:

* Fixed bug where if the FO game server's IP changes, it's only reflected in the GOAA list. Now the change shows up on all lists.
* Fixed bug that didn't allow users to select black for any of the custom colors. 


Enhancements:
* Added treeview to FO. This will allow quick, dynamic view building.

- To use: Click on any of the nodes to filter by that selection.
- You can click on multiple nodes to define more complex views.
* The current view selections will be displayed in the top status bar.
- To step out of the different views, click on the parent node. 
* For example, if you select "Bridge Crossing" from the "Maps" node and "1.50" from the "Version" node, 
the current view would be "Maps: Bridge Crossing, Version: 1.50". To step out of that and only filter 
by version, click the "Maps" node to clear the map view selection.
- To clear any view selections quickly, click the "View All" node.

* Added option to view lists by Locked/Unlocked, Version, Authorized/Official
* Added Leased/Authorized tab/list - still need to acquire a good list of Leased/Authorized servers
* Changed FO icon - not sure if I like it, so I'm open to suggestions/alternatives. ;)
* Changed code for joining games when ArmyOps is running in the background. I hope this works for everyone.
* Optimized code that is executed during the game-joining function. Should be faster. 


Thank Yous:

* Thank you to my wife and kids for putting up with me while working on this program,
so far I've spent over 50 hours on it (that's after 13 hour work days.)
UPDATE 08/23/2002: It's now been over 200 hours...... :)
UPDATE 11/05/2002: Stopped counting....... :)

* Thanks to all of the dedicated FO users out there.

* Thanks to the beta team for their continued dedication.

* Thanks to Delta and www.aafiles.com for their support.

* The Army Game Project for putting out such a great game!

* Thanks to all of you on the message boards and IRC for giving positive feedback. It kept me going at 4AM!

* I apologize if I missed anyone (let me know if I did!)



Planned Enhancements:

* ICQ integration ---> CLOSE!!!!! (UPDATE: Hoping for next release)
* Still looking at other possibilities.



Quasi-Legal Stuff:

AA Forward Observer - Copyright 2003 - Greg McIntosh 

This software is provided as is without guarantees. The user assumes responsibility
for use of this software and shall not hold the author responsible for any damages 
that may be incurred from its use.

This software may only be distributed with the express written consent of its author. 
The author shall maintain distribution and ownership rights.

By installing this software, the user agrees not to reverse engineer it in any way, including the use of packet sniffers or other software to determine and hijack proprietary URLs. The SCI/GOAA server feed is a proprietary URL and may only be used with the express written permission of the author.


America's Army: Operations is copyrighted 2003 - Army Game Project



Contact Information:

Greg McIntosh 
[email protected]
ICQ #53888802


Please give feedback!!!