Log Parsers

[john_savage1982]

I'm assuming these programs are legal on P1999. Anybody have a nice compiled list of some of these programs lying around?

Also, since maps are disabled on P1999, I am considering writing a program that will parse /loc + sense heading from the log and, using the map files, generate where you are on the map and what direction you are facing. I'm curious if anybody would find this a useful tool and also the legality status of such a program (I'm under the impression log parsing is not illegal).

Thoughts?

[Daldaen]

GamParse is the parse program I use for parsing. P99 files logs differently than live so it occasionally will parse right other times it will just miss fights completely.

[Lanuven]

Gameparse is Legal on P99 to my knowledge, since all it does is read active log files.

[Diggles]

any 3rd party program is forbidden. sorry.

[phobus]

My understanding is that log parsing itself is fine, but doing it to get some information you can't normally get from the game in real time (like, say, your location on a map) is forbidden.

Somebody will now make the argument that parsing the log to calculate your DPS is something you can't normally get from the game. Whatever.

[john_savage1982]

So you're saying I can't make a program that parses my log for my /loc and sense heading commands (legally obtained from game) and does the work to translate that location/direction onto a map? It would only update when I inputted /loc, which limits the usefulness, but I theoretically could spam /loc as I run and I would get almost real time updates of where I was on the map.

[phobus]

There is a difference between doing something yourself and having a program do it for you. The developers recently disabled the in-game map, which tells me that they don't want you using any software to show your location on a map. I don't think it would matter if it updates constantly (like ShowEQ) or only when prompted.

[Klath]

So you're saying I can't make a program that parses my log for my /loc and sense heading commands (legally obtained from game) and does the work to translate that location/direction onto a map?

I wrote a program to do pretty much that. About a year ago I asked in the "Petition / Exploit" forum about whether it violated the rules but I never heard back. It's pretty handy and can be calibrated to any map that's drawn to scale. If there's an official response that this sort of thing doesn't violate the server rules I'll clean it up and post it somewhere for others to use.

Here's what it looks like with a /loc from the EC tunnel:

http://i51.tinypic.com/98607t.jpg

[john_savage1982]

I wrote a program to do pretty much that. About a year ago I asked in the "Petition / Exploit" forum about whether it violated the rules but I never heard back. It's pretty handy and can be calibrated to any map that's drawn to scale. If there's an official response that this sort of thing doesn't violate the server rules I'll clean it up and post it somewhere for others to use.

Here's what it looks like with a /loc from the EC tunnel:

http://i51.tinypic.com/98607t.jpg

That's exactly what I'm building.

[Flunklesnarkin]

kind of cool... but I think the game play is a lot different when you don't know exactly where you are at.


Imma guess they gonna say its not legal because it's not original?

seems to be what most people say.

[Klath]

That's exactly what I'm building.

It works great when you bind your arrow keys to a /loc macro and filter them to a mostly-hidden window.

I always liked the EQ Atlas maps although some of them need to be massaged a bit in order to get them to scale. Lower Guk was a challenge.

I had a couple of additions planned but stopped working on it before I got to them. One was to add a fade-over-time marker on the map for locs posted to group or guild chat and another was to add support for toggling between the picture file maps and the vector maps the game used. I suspect that those sorts of additions wouldn't improve the likelihood that the server gods would sanction its use though. :)

[john_savage1982]

I don't see how they can stop us from reading the logs and running our own programs that use log data to generate useful information.

[Flunklesnarkin]

I don't see how they can stop us from reading the logs and running our own programs that use log data to generate useful information.

yah.. doing w/o detection is one thing.. promoting is another.

[Klath]

I don't see how they can stop us from reading the logs and running our own programs that use log data to generate useful information.

From a technical standpoint, it would be virtually impossible to stop people from using a log parser approach to mapping. For example, even if the parser process was identifiable, if you ran the parser on another computer (or in a virtual machine) and accessed the log file remotely the process would be effectively hidden from detection.

I'll post a follow-up to my original query in the "Petition / Exploit" forum and see if I can get someone to weigh in officially.

[gnomishfirework]

Klath, I would love to get a download if you ever find out if its allowed. seems useful.

technically, you could have done this in classic it just reads logs, and its not showeq where it shows you thinks you cant see.

Should be allowed, but i wouldnt use it until you are sure.

[Klath]

Klath, I would love to get a download if you ever find out if its allowed. seems useful.

Absolutely. If it officially falls within the rules I'll make it available for everyone.

[Flunklesnarkin]

*Debbie Downer* i really hope it isn't within the rules...

but yar gonna channel my inner KMFDM.... anarchy... nuff said

aka ( if you smart enough to not get caught good on you but don't promote...maybe...prolly idk)

[Mardur]

Lol @ people who think a log parsing map program is against the rules. People were doing that stuff in classic. What's next, bans for people who visit eqatlas?

[Klath]

Lol @ people who think a log parsing map program is against the rules. People were doing that stuff in classic. What's next, bans for people who visit eqatlas?

"Any type of program or script that gives you an unfair advantage (eg. MacroQuest, ShowEQ or packet modification) will result in an instant ban with no lenience. Cheating will be ruled with an iron first regardless of who you are."

"Unfair advantage" is open to interpretation. As written, the rule could conceivably allow some log parsers and forbid others depending on whether the advantage given is deemed unfair. The fact that they list programs that muck around with the internals of the EQ process doesn't necessarily mean that these are the only types of programs that violate the rule.

It doesn't seem unreasonable to ask for clarification -- especially when the penalty is "an instant ban with no lenience."

[knottyb0y]

I wouldn't see a log parsing program that points out /loc commands and transposes that onto a map hosted by the program.

1. You aren't getting info that you cannot got in the client
2. you are not gaining an unfair advantage (doesn't tell you where npc's are, or spawning)
3. it is not changing the way the interface or the way your client interacts with the server

really little difference between an app that does this, and using eqatlas, other than it helps you determine your exact location (with probably limited accuracy).

THe Real difference is ShowEQ reads the packets sent to the server to give you information that you would not have.

Macroquest changes the way the client interacts with the server to give you abilities you would not have.

This would just read /loc commands stored in the log files and estimate where your player is on a map.

With that said it's just a matter of hearing an official explanation or "use at your own risk".

[Klath]

Klath, I would love to get a download if you ever find out if its allowed. seems useful.

technically, you could have done this in classic it just reads logs, and its not showeq where it shows you thinks you cant see.

Should be allowed, but i wouldnt use it until you are sure.

My petition hasn't been answered but from what people have said it seems like this type of log parser probably isn't a violation of the server rules. Still, use at your own risk.

The following RAR file contains an MSI file you can use to install on your system. If you want to get rid of the software you can use the "Programs and Features" app in the control panel and uninstall EQGPS.

http://rapidshare.com/files/3563361625/EQGPSSetup.rar


I've included maps for most of the zones but some of them may be misnamed. In order to identify when you have zoned and a new map needs to be loaded I look for log entries like...

[Fri Oct 22 15:51:18 2010] You have entered East Commonlands.

...and derive the name of the zone by taking the text between the phrase "You have entered " and the terminating period. Since I don't have a character that can easily get to all of the zones I've had to guess at some of the names. So, if you zone in some place and don't see a map, look in the directory where you installed to and see if there is a map image and an ini file that might represent your zone and rename them accordingly. If you stumble across one of these, let me know the correct name.

I haven't included maps for these zones...

Crypt of Dalnir
Mines of Nurga
Temple of Droga
The Arena

...but if someone has and can post the corresponding "You have entered" line from their log, I'll add the maps and calibrations.

[bonehand]

So risky....I like seeing source for things people distribute...

Anyway, downloading on my work computer so you can't haxor my accounts =P

[bonehand]

Make it a little more dynamic...have an ini or xml file that maps the corresponding "You have entered <blah blah>" to the proper ini and image file name. Or even just one xml file to track all the ini infoz and just points to file names...

<Zones>
<Zone>
<Name>Ak'anon</Name>
<File>Ak'anon.jpg</File>
<Physical>
<X1>69</X1>
<Y1>75</Y1>
<X2>319</X2>
<Y2>323</Y2>
</Physical>
<Logical>
<X1>0.0000</X1>
<Y1>2000.0000</Y1>
<X2>-1000.0000</X2>
<Y2>1000.0000</Y2>
<Logical>
<Text>You have enetered Ak'Anon</Text>
</Zone>
<Zone>
<Name>Butcherblock</Name>
<File>Butcherblock Mountains</File>
...
...
</Zone>
...
</Zones>


But would be nice to extend this - ie when you see the You died message, it records the last know loc for the zone you were in and when you zone back into that map file your corpse gets it's own marker =)

Or, allow setting points that are recorded in the xml and can be given popup tool tip that shows the note you entered in a dialog.

Still, this whole thing is a good idea that in the end would be regarded as an exploit on this server based on their current rules...might have been legal on live, I did the same kind of thing using the mapquest file format...but these guys don't care what anyone else thinks, if it's going to help you and make the game more fun and more like classic experiences for the people who know how to do more than install software from a CD, generally it's forbidden, lol.

[Klath]

So risky....I like seeing source for things people distribute...

Anyway, downloading on my work computer so you can't haxor my accounts =P

The program is legit and the worst it's likely to do is not work. It makes no changes to the system other than to its own directory (where it saves maps and calibrations).

FWIW, I'm leery about trying software that people post to anonymous boards as well. What I usually do is test the software in a Virtual Machine or use Sandboxie in order to restrict the program from doing damage.

EQGPS doesn't have to be running on the same system as EQ. You can run it from a second system (or VM) and access the log files via a write-protected network share. Mind you, if you have massive log files then it will significantly increase the load time.

[Klath]

Still, this whole thing is a good idea that in the end would be regarded as an exploit on this server based on their current rules...

I asked in the "Petition / Exploit" folder whether this was a violation of the rules on 11-30-2010 (yes, 2010). I followed up on it again earlier this month after seeing this thread. I offered to refrain from sharing it if they preferred me not to. Despite quite a few views, nobody has had anything to say. I'm guessing they either don't care or they want to reserve the decision for later.