Crazy idea for spells...

[Congdar]

I like the idea of making things faster, but the added problem of downloading a txt file that matches a particular servers emu code level would be a pain if you played on multiple servers with possibly different code levels(like the one you play on when your favorite is down, etc).

So there would need to be the 'default titanium spells first' list in the db that works with anybody that connects and doesn't have 'the latest custom spell list with all the fixes'.

[ChaosSlayer]

Originally Posted by Congdar

I like the idea of making things faster, but the added problem of downloading a txt file that matches a particular servers emu code level would be a pain if you played on multiple servers with possibly different code levels(like the one you play on when your favorite is down, etc).

So there would need to be the 'default titanium spells first' list in the db that works with anybody that connects and doesn't have 'the latest custom spell list with all the fixes'.

from what I know most people who play on difirent custom servers simply have 2 or more EQ folders, rather than ever mess with continusly changing reqiured files

[AndMetal]

Originally Posted by Congdar

there would need to be the 'default titanium spells first' list in the db that works with anybody that connects and doesn't have 'the latest custom spell list with all the fixes'.

I think there must be some confusion about the spells (or I'm completely misunderstanding what you're saying), because the client & server don't handle spells differently based on the client like we do with other things (opcodes, spawn structs, player profile structs, etc).

Originally Posted by Congdar

the added problem of downloading a txt file that matches a particular servers emu code level would be a pain if you played on multiple servers with possibly different code levels(like the one you play on when your favorite is down, etc)

That's the way it currently works (which is a pita, and why most, if not all servers, use either the straight Titanium spell file or slightly modified version), and I think that's why I'm confused about where you're coming from.

Here's the current flow of how the spells are loaded:

1. main()
2. LoadSPDat() called in main()
3. FileLoadSPDat() called via a callback (extFileLoadSPDat) in LoadSPDat()
4. Read from spells_us.txt as directed by FileLoadSPDat()

All I'm doing is changing the last step to this:

1. main()
2. LoadSPDat() called in main()
3. FileLoadSPDat() called via a callback (extFileLoadSPDat) in LoadSPDat()
4. Read from database as directed by FileLoadSPDat()

So instead of parsing through this:

3^Summon Corpse^PLAYER_1^^^^^^^10000^^0^0^5000^2250^12000^0^0^0^700^70^0^0^0^0^0^0^0^0^0^0^0^0^0^0^0^0^0^0^0^0^0^0^0^0^0^0^0^0^0^0^0^0^0^0^0^2512^2106^17355^-1^-1^-1^1^1^1^1^-1^-1^-1^-1^100^100^100^100^100^100^100^100^100^100^100^100^0^1^0^0^91^254^254^254^254^254^254^254^254^254^254^254^6^20^14^-1^0^0^255^255^255^255^51^255^255^255^255^255^35^255^255^255^255^255^43^^0^4^0^0^0^0^0^0^0^0^0^0^0^0^0^0^0^0^0^0^100^0^109^307^0^0^0^0^0^0^0^0^0^3^125^64^^0^0^0^0^0^0^0^0^0^0^0^0^0^0^0^0^0^0^5^101^49^52^0^0^0^0^0^0^0^0^0^0^0^0^0^0^0^0^0^0^0^1^0^0

we're iterating through this:

mysql> SELECT * FROM spells_new LIMIT 1 OFFSET 1;
+----+---------------+----------+---------------+----------+-------------+-------------+---------------+-------------+-------+----------+----------+--------+-----------+---------------+-------------+---------------------+--------------+------------+------+--------------------+--------------------+--------------------+--------------------+--------------------+--------------------+--------------------+--------------------+--------------------+---------------------+---------------------+---------------------+---------------------+---------------------+---------------------+---------------------+---------------------+---------------------+---------------------+---------------------+---------------------+----------------------+----------------------+----------------------+------+------+------+------+------+------+------+------+------+-------+-------+-------+------+---------+-------------+-------------+-------------+-------------+-------------------+-------------------+-------------------+-------------------+------------------+------------------+------------------+------------------+----------+----------+----------+----------+----------+----------+----------+----------+----------+-----------+-----------+-----------+-----------+------------+-----------+------------+-----------+-----------+-----------+-----------+-----------+-----------+-----------+-----------+-----------+------------+------------+------------+------------+----------+-------+----------+-----------------+-----------+----------+----------+----------+----------+----------+----------+----------+----------+----------+-----------+-----------+-----------+-----------+-----------+-----------+-----------+-------------+------------+------------+------------------+----------+----------+----------+----------+----------+----------+----------+----------+----------+----------+----------+-----------+-----------+-----------+-----------+-----------+-----------+-----------+----------+----------+----------+-----------+-----------------+------------+---------------------+------------+--------------+----------+----------+----------+----------------+---------+-------------+---------------+----------+----------+----------+----------+-----------+----------+----------+----------+-----------+-----------------+----------+----------+----------+----------+----------+-----------+-------------+----------+---------+---------------+---------------+--------------+----------------+----------+----------+----------+----------+---------+-----------+--------------+----------------+----------+----------+----------+----------+----------+----------+----------+----------+----------+----------+----------+----------+----------+----------+----------+----------+----------+----------+------------+----------+----------+----------+----------+----------+----------+----------+
| id | name          | player_1 | teleport_zone | you_cast | other_casts | cast_on_you | cast_on_other | spell_fades | range | aoerange | pushback | pushup | cast_time | recovery_time | recast_time | buffdurationformula | buffduration | AEDuration | mana | effect_base_value1 | effect_base_value2 | effect_base_value3 | effect_base_value4 | effect_base_value5 | effect_base_value6 | effect_base_value7 | effect_base_value8 | effect_base_value9 | effect_base_value10 | effect_base_value11 | effect_base_value12 | effect_limit_value1 | effect_limit_value2 | effect_limit_value3 | effect_limit_value4 | effect_limit_value5 | effect_limit_value6 | effect_limit_value7 | effect_limit_value8 | effect_limit_value9 | effect_limit_value10 | effect_limit_value11 | effect_limit_value12 | max1 | max2 | max3 | max4 | max5 | max6 | max7 | max8 | max9 | max10 | max11 | max12 | icon | memicon | components1 | components2 | components3 | components4 | component_counts1 | component_counts2 | component_counts3 | component_counts4 | NoexpendReagent1 | NoexpendReagent2 | NoexpendReagent3 | NoexpendReagent4 | formula1 | formula2 | formula3 | formula4 | formula5 | formula6 | formula7 | formula8 | formula9 | formula10 | formula11 | formula12 | LightType | goodEffect | Activated | resisttype | effectid1 | effectid2 | effectid3 | effectid4 | effectid5 | effectid6 | effectid7 | effectid8 | effectid9 | effectid10 | effectid11 | effectid12 | targettype | basediff | skill | zonetype | EnvironmentType | TimeOfDay | classes1 | classes2 | classes3 | classes4 | classes5 | classes6 | classes7 | classes8 | classes9 | classes10 | classes11 | classes12 | classes13 | classes14 | classes15 | classes16 | CastingAnim | TargetAnim | TravelType | SpellAffectIndex | field124 | field125 | deities1 | deities2 | deities3 | deities4 | deities5 | deities6 | deities7 | deities8 | deities9 | deities10 | deities11 | deities12 | deities13 | deities14 | deities15 | deities16 | field142 | field143 | new_icon | spellanim | uninterruptable | ResistDiff | dot_stacking_exempt | deleteable | RecourseLink | field151 | field152 | field153 | short_buff_box | descnum | typedescnum | effectdescnum | field158 | field159 | field160 | field161 | bonushate | field163 | field164 | field165 | EndurCost | EndurTimerIndex | field168 | field169 | field170 | field171 | field172 | HateAdded | EndurUpkeep | field175 | numhits | pvpresistbase | pvpresistcalc | pvpresistcap | spell_category | field181 | field182 | field183 | field184 | can_mgb | nodispell | npc_category | npc_usefulness | field189 | field190 | field191 | field192 | field193 | field194 | field195 | field196 | field197 | field198 | field199 | field200 | field201 | field202 | field203 | field204 | field205 | field206 | spellgroup | field208 | field209 | field210 | field211 | field212 | field213 | field214 |
+----+---------------+----------+---------------+----------+-------------+-------------+---------------+-------------+-------+----------+----------+--------+-----------+---------------+-------------+---------------------+--------------+------------+------+--------------------+--------------------+--------------------+--------------------+--------------------+--------------------+--------------------+--------------------+--------------------+---------------------+---------------------+---------------------+---------------------+---------------------+---------------------+---------------------+---------------------+---------------------+---------------------+---------------------+---------------------+----------------------+----------------------+----------------------+------+------+------+------+------+------+------+------+------+-------+-------+-------+------+---------+-------------+-------------+-------------+-------------+-------------------+-------------------+-------------------+-------------------+------------------+------------------+------------------+------------------+----------+----------+----------+----------+----------+----------+----------+----------+----------+-----------+-----------+-----------+-----------+------------+-----------+------------+-----------+-----------+-----------+-----------+-----------+-----------+-----------+-----------+-----------+------------+------------+------------+------------+----------+-------+----------+-----------------+-----------+----------+----------+----------+----------+----------+----------+----------+----------+----------+-----------+-----------+-----------+-----------+-----------+-----------+-----------+-------------+------------+------------+------------------+----------+----------+----------+----------+----------+----------+----------+----------+----------+----------+----------+-----------+-----------+-----------+-----------+-----------+-----------+-----------+----------+----------+----------+-----------+-----------------+------------+---------------------+------------+--------------+----------+----------+----------+----------------+---------+-------------+---------------+----------+----------+----------+----------+-----------+----------+----------+----------+-----------+-----------------+----------+----------+----------+----------+----------+-----------+-------------+----------+---------+---------------+---------------+--------------+----------------+----------+----------+----------+----------+---------+-----------+--------------+----------------+----------+----------+----------+----------+----------+----------+----------+----------+----------+----------+----------+----------+----------+----------+----------+----------+----------+----------+------------+----------+----------+----------+----------+----------+----------+----------+
|  3 | Summon Corpse | PLAYER_1 |               |          |             |             |               |             | 10000 |        0 |        0 |      0 |      5000 |          2250 |       12000 |                   0 |            0 |          0 |  700 |                 70 |                  0 |                  0 |                  0 |                  0 |                  0 |                  0 |                  0 |                  0 |                   0 |                   0 |                   0 |                   0 |                   0 |                   0 |                   0 |                   0 |                   0 |                   0 |                   0 |                   0 |                    0 |                    0 |                    0 |    0 |    0 |    0 |    0 |    0 |    0 |    0 |    0 |    0 |     0 |     0 |     0 | 2512 |    2106 |       17355 |          -1 |          -1 |          -1 |                 1 |                 1 |                 1 |                 1 |               -1 |               -1 |               -1 |               -1 |      100 |      100 |      100 |      100 |      100 |      100 |      100 |      100 |      100 |       100 |       100 |       100 |         0 |          1 |         0 |          0 |        91 |       254 |       254 |       254 |       254 |       254 |       254 |       254 |       254 |        254 |        254 |        254 |          6 |       20 |    14 |       -1 |               0 |         0 |      255 |      255 |      255 |      255 |       51 |      255 |      255 |      255 |      255 |       255 |        35 |       255 |       255 |       255 |       255 |       255 |          43 |          0 |          0 |                4 |        0 |        0 |        0 |        0 |        0 |        0 |        0 |        0 |        0 |        0 |        0 |         0 |         0 |         0 |         0 |         0 |         0 |         0 |      100 |        0 |      109 |       307 |               0 |          0 |                   0 |          0 |            0 |        0 |        0 |        0 |              0 |       3 |         125 |            64 |        0 |        0 |        0 |        0 |         0 |      100 |        0 |        0 |         0 |               0 |        0 |        0 |        0 |        0 |        0 |         0 |           0 |        0 |       0 |             5 |           101 |           49 |             52 |        0 |        0 |        0 |        0 |       0 |         0 |            0 |              0 |        0 |        0 |        0 |        0 |        0 |        0 |        0 |        0 |        0 |        0 |        0 |        1 |        0 |        0 |        0 |        0 |        0 |       -1 |          0 |        0 |        0 |        1 |        0 |        0 |        1 |        1 |
+----+---------------+----------+---------------+----------+-------------+-------------+---------------+-------------+-------+----------+----------+--------+-----------+---------------+-------------+---------------------+--------------+------------+------+--------------------+--------------------+--------------------+--------------------+--------------------+--------------------+--------------------+--------------------+--------------------+---------------------+---------------------+---------------------+---------------------+---------------------+---------------------+---------------------+---------------------+---------------------+---------------------+---------------------+---------------------+----------------------+----------------------+----------------------+------+------+------+------+------+------+------+------+------+-------+-------+-------+------+---------+-------------+-------------+-------------+-------------+-------------------+-------------------+-------------------+-------------------+------------------+------------------+------------------+------------------+----------+----------+----------+----------+----------+----------+----------+----------+----------+-----------+-----------+-----------+-----------+------------+-----------+------------+-----------+-----------+-----------+-----------+-----------+-----------+-----------+-----------+-----------+------------+------------+------------+------------+----------+-------+----------+-----------------+-----------+----------+----------+----------+----------+----------+----------+----------+----------+----------+-----------+-----------+-----------+-----------+-----------+-----------+-----------+-------------+------------+------------+------------------+----------+----------+----------+----------+----------+----------+----------+----------+----------+----------+----------+-----------+-----------+-----------+-----------+-----------+-----------+-----------+----------+----------+----------+-----------+-----------------+------------+---------------------+------------+--------------+----------+----------+----------+----------------+---------+-------------+---------------+----------+----------+----------+----------+-----------+----------+----------+----------+-----------+-----------------+----------+----------+----------+----------+----------+-----------+-------------+----------+---------+---------------+---------------+--------------+----------------+----------+----------+----------+----------+---------+-----------+--------------+----------------+----------+----------+----------+----------+----------+----------+----------+----------+----------+----------+----------+----------+----------+----------+----------+----------+----------+----------+------------+----------+----------+----------+----------+----------+----------+----------+
1 row in set (0.00 sec)

I'm not trying to reinvent the wheel, I'm just trying to make it easier to work with (especially in tools & other editors)

EDIT: The main reason I started towards this in the first place is that different utilities, including the PEQ editor, EQBrowser (Allakhazam clone), etc, usually have you source a trimmed copy of the spells file into the database anyways. However, they have a tendency to step over each others' toes, because some use fewer fields than others. This was to A) help alleviate the conflict, and B) make it easier to customize spell files, including tweaking the vanilla Titanium spell file (since we all know it's not perfect).

[MNWatchdog]

It wasnt broke, so why are you fixing it?

Youre just adding an additional level of complication IMO.

Since there already exists Spells.txt editors so loading the spells into the DB for editing isnt needed and since the client has to have the same Spells.txt file as the server for spells to work correctly for both the client and server and since this list is loaded once upon booting the world and since your still going to want to load the spells into memory no matter which method you use,for these reasons and more there doesnt seem to be any point to doing this.

[ChaosSlayer]

Originally Posted by MNWatchdog

It wasnt broke, so why are you fixing it?

Youre just adding an additional level of complication IMO.

Since there already exists Spells.txt editors so loading the spells into the DB for editing isnt needed and since the client has to have the same Spells.txt file as the server for spells to work correctly for both the client and server and since this list is loaded once upon booting the world and since your still going to want to load the spells into memory no matter which method you use,for these reasons and more there doesnt seem to be any point to doing this.

txt based editor are ULTRA slow and have ultra high tendency to break spell file complitly. I doubt that on LIVE they store server side spell data in a text file

puting them into DB will:
a) makes need of 1 spell editor LESS
b) keeps all server related things in one place

[cavedude]

Originally Posted by ChaosSlayer

I doubt that on LIVE they store server side spell data in a text file

Text file probably not, but data file certainly. Most professional MMOs only use a database for character and account storage. Everything else is stored in data files which gets completely loaded in the memory. Boy, I wish I had a setup that was able to do that!

That being said, what is the real advantage of this change? You do realize it will create a performance hit, right? Currently, all spells are loading into shared memory when the server first boots. I think somebody said it reloads them when a zone boots or something but that is incorrect. Spells only get loaded into memory once. If they did get loaded when a zone boots, then you would be able to edit spells on the fly, which you currently cannot. Moving this functionality to the DB is going to slow this down considerably... Having everything loaded into memory is the fastest way to do something, loading from a DB is among the slowest.

[ChaosSlayer]

I don't think AndMetal plans to have spells to be reloaded from Db over and over again evetytime zone boots or someone zones. The spell will also only load ONCE. The reason for puting server side files in DB are for purpose to work with them

[KLS]

I don't think he's talking about reloading it every time someone tries to access a spell; it will still be loaded only once.

I'd say it's pretty likely they store it in a file similar to what they put on the patcher, perhaps bundled into a data archive.

Here's my thoughts on this:

The reasons for adding it to the database aren't really all that compelling if you ask me. Assuming this went into effect right now.

-You have slightly increased load on SQL server.
-You have slightly increased load times for spells.
-You have additional complexity when it comes to actually getting the spells to the client. (Now instead of modifying the spells directly you have to edit the database and then convert it.)
-You have increased database size.
-You don't really eliminate the need for a spell editor, you just lessen it if you're trying to change something simple. It will still be quite a hassle to heavily modify spells, especially many spells without one.
-You force people who wrote their spell editors to have to rewrite them for both systems, or you can continue to use them and then convert it over to the database but then what's the point.
-You've eliminated the need for a tool to need to write a spell file parser to get spells(which is incredibly simple btw).
-In my opinion you made it harder on new users who now have to try to figure out 'hey there's two systems for spells, wait do I need them both? I can't find the db table I need anywhere help!!'.

Lots of cons, a few pros. I personally just don't think it's a worthwhile idea.

[MNWatchdog]

Originally Posted by KLS

-You have slightly increased load on SQL server.
-You have slightly increased load times for spells.
-You have additional complexity when it comes to actually getting the spells to the client. (Now instead of modifying the spells directly you have to edit the database and then convert it.)
-You have increased database size.
-You don't really eliminate the need for a spell editor, you just lessen it if you're trying to change something simple. It will still be quite a hassle to heavily modify spells, especially many spells without one.
-You force people who wrote their spell editors to have to rewrite them for both systems, or you can continue to use them and then convert it over to the database but then what's the point.
-You've eliminated the need for a tool to need to write a spell file parser to get spells(which is incredibly simple btw).
-In my opinion you made it harder on new users who now have to try to figure out 'hey there's two systems for spells, wait do I need them both? I can't find the db table I need anywhere help!!'.

Lots of cons, a few pros. I personally just don't think it's a worthwhile idea.

Theres the more I mentioned. :p

[MNWatchdog]

Im guessing if youre going to do this, just do it one way and not have both methods available. All that does is double the number of spell editors that need to be maintained.

[AndMetal]

First, I would like to clarify, I have been talking about loading the spells into shared memory, not loading info on the fly from the database (that's just resource suicide).

Originally Posted by KLS

-You have slightly increased load times for spells.

I know PHP isn't the best "language" for speed, but according to preliminary testing, it actually IS faster to calculate the max spell ID & load the spells from the database than the spells_us.txt file WITHOUT caching (SQL_NO_CACHE):

PHP Code:

<?php

class Database
{
    private $connectoid = false; //Used to track this specific database connection so we don't mess with the other connections, also can be used to determine the state of the connection
    private static $user = "username";    //Username to access the Database
    private static $pass = "password";    //Password to access the Database
    private static $host = "localhost";        //IP address or hostname
    protected $db = "peq";    //Name of the Database we're accessing, can be changed if needed
    
    protected $benchmarks = Array();
    
    public function __construct() {
        if ($this->connectoid = mysql_connect(Database::$host, Database::$user, Database::$pass)) {
            mysql_select_db($this->db, $this->connectoid);
        }
    }
    
    public function __toString() {
        return "Database " . ($this->IsConnected() ? "" : "not ") . "connected";
    }
    
    public function IsConnected() {
        return ($this->connectoid ? true : false);
    }
    
    //test function, we don't want to be broadcasting our login info to everyone irl
    public function ReturnLoginInfo() {
        return "Host: " . Database::$host . "<br>\nUser: " . Database::$user . "<br>\nPass: " . Database::$pass . "<br>\nDB: " . $this->db;
    }
    
    public function Query($q) {
        $this->benchmarks[Query][result][start] = microtime(true);
        $res = mysql_query($q, $this->connectoid);    //results
        $this->benchmarks[Query][result][end] = microtime(true);
        $this->benchmarks[Query][row][start] = microtime(true);
        if ($row = mysql_fetch_array($res, MYSQL_ASSOC)) {    //single row of data
            $this->benchmarks[Query][row][end] = microtime(true);
            $i = 0;    //iterator
            $ret = array();
            do {
                $ret[++$i] = $row;
            } while ($row = mysql_fetch_array($res, MYSQL_ASSOC));
            if (is_array($ret))    //Only return data in an array, otherwise it's an error
                return $ret;
        } else {
            return $this->GetErrorNum($this->connectoid);
        }
    }
    
    public function GetBenchmarks() {
        $this->TotalBenchmarks();
        return $this->benchmarks;
    }
    
    private function TotalBenchmarks() {
        $this->benchmarks[Query][result][total] = $this->benchmarks[Query][result][end] - $this->benchmarks[Query][result][start];
        $this->benchmarks[Query][row][total] = $this->benchmarks[Query][row][end] - $this->benchmarks[Query][row][start];
    }
    
    protected function GetErrorNum($c) {
        return mysql_errno($c);
    }
    
    public function __destruct() {
        if ($this->IsConnected())
            mysql_close($this->connectoid);
    }
}

?>

PHP Code:

<html>

<?php

ini_set("memory_limit","256M");
ini_set("max_execution_time","600");

//Automagically load Classes where needed from ../includes/ClassName.class.php
function __autoload($class_name) {
    require_once '../includes/' . $class_name . '.class.php';
}

function DatabaseGetMax() {

    $db_time_start = microtime(true);
    $db = new Database;
    $db_time_query = microtime(true);
    $db_spells = $db->Query("SELECT SQL_NO_CACHE MAX(id) FROM spells_new");
    $db_time_end = microtime(true);
    
    $db_time_total_overhead = $db_time_query - $db_time_start;
    $db_time_total_query = $db_time_end - $db_time_query;
    $db_time_total_mysql = $db->GetBenchmarks();
    $db_time_total = $db_time_end - $db_time_start;
    echo "Result: " . $db_spells[1]["MAX(id)"] . "<br>\n";
    echo "Class Time: " . $db_time_total_overhead . " seconds<br>\n";
    echo "Query Time: " . $db_time_total_query . " seconds (MySQL Time: " . $db_time_total_mysql[Query][result][total] . " seconds)<br>\n";
    echo "Total Time: " . $db_time_total . " seconds<br>\n";

}

function DatabaseLoad() {

    $db_time_start = microtime(true);
    $db = new Database;
    $db_time_query = microtime(true);
    $db_spells = $db->Query("SELECT SQL_NO_CACHE * FROM spells_new");
    $db_time_end = microtime(true);
    
    $db_time_total_overhead = $db_time_query - $db_time_start;
    $db_time_total_query = $db_time_end - $db_time_query;
    $db_time_total_mysql = $db->GetBenchmarks();
    $db_time_total = $db_time_end - $db_time_start;
    echo "Spells Loaded: " . count($db_spells) . "<br>\n";
    echo "Class Time: " . $db_time_total_overhead . " seconds<br>\n";
    echo "Query Time: " . $db_time_total_query . " seconds (MySQL Time: " . $db_time_total_mysql[Query][result][total] . " seconds)<br>\n";
    echo "Total Time: " . $db_time_total . " seconds<br>\n";

}

function FileGetMax() {

    $file_dir = "";    // needs / at the end if anything other than the current directory
    $file_name = "spells_us.txt";
    
    $file_time_start = microtime(true);
    if (file_exists($file_dir . $file_name) && is_readable($file_dir . $file_name)) {

        $file_time_load = microtime(true);
        $Lines = file($file_dir . $file_name);
        
        $file_time_parse = microtime(true);
        foreach($Lines as $key => $value) {
            $Data[$key] = explode("^", $value);
        }

        $file_time_end = microtime(true);

    } else {
        echo "Unable to read: " . $file_dir . $file_name . "<br>\n";
    }
    
    if (!$file_time_end)
        $file_time_end = microtime(true);
    
    $file_time_total_open = $file_time_load - $file_time_start;
    $file_time_total_load = $file_time_parse - $file_time_load;
    $file_time_total_parse = $file_time_end - $file_time_parse;
    $file_time_total = $file_time_end - $file_time_start;
    echo "Result: " . $Data[count($Data)-1][0] . "<br>\n";
    echo "Open Time: " . $file_time_total_open . " seconds<br>\n";
    echo "Load Time: " . $file_time_total_load . " seconds<br>\n";
    echo "Parse Time: " . $file_time_total_parse . " seconds<br>\n";
    echo "Total Time: " . $file_time_total . " seconds<br>\n";


}

function FileLoad() {

    $file_dir = "";    // needs / at the end if anything other than the current directory
    $file_name = "spells_us.txt";
    
    $file_time_start = microtime(true);
    if (file_exists($file_dir . $file_name) && is_readable($file_dir . $file_name)) {

        $file_time_load = microtime(true);
        $Lines = file($file_dir . $file_name);
        
        $file_time_parse = microtime(true);
        foreach($Lines as $key => $value) {
            $Data[$key] = explode("^", $value);
        }

        $file_time_end = microtime(true);

    } else {
        echo "Unable to read: " . $file_dir . $file_name . "<br>\n";
    }
    
    if (!$file_time_end)
        $file_time_end = microtime(true);
    
    $file_time_total_open = $file_time_load - $file_time_start;
    $file_time_total_load = $file_time_parse - $file_time_load;
    $file_time_total_parse = $file_time_end - $file_time_parse;
    $file_time_total = $file_time_end - $file_time_start;
    echo "Spells Loaded: " . count($Lines) . "<br>\n";
    echo "Open Time: " . $file_time_total_open . " seconds<br>\n";
    echo "Load Time: " . $file_time_total_load . " seconds<br>\n";
    echo "Parse Time: " . $file_time_total_parse . " seconds<br>\n";
    echo "Total Time: " . $file_time_total . " seconds<br>\n";
    
}

echo "<b>DatabaseGetMax()</b><br>\n";
DatabaseGetMax();
echo "<br>\n";
echo "<b>DatabaseLoad()</b><br>\n";
DatabaseLoad();
echo "<br>\n";
echo "<b>FileGetMax()</b><br>\n";
FileGetMax();
echo "<br>\n";
echo "<b>FileLoad()</b><br>\n";
FileLoad();

?>

</html>

DatabaseGetMax()
Result: 11999
Class Time: 0.000842094421387 seconds
Query Time: 0.000253915786743 seconds (MySQL Time: 0.000201940536499 seconds)
Total Time: 0.00109601020813 seconds

DatabaseLoad()
Spells Loaded: 11540
Class Time: 0.000181913375854 seconds
Query Time: 1.7691822052 seconds (MySQL Time: 0.547831058502 seconds)
Total Time: 1.76936411858 seconds

FileGetMax()
Result: 11999
Open Time: 3.50475311279E-05 seconds
Load Time: 0.0381419658661 seconds
Parse Time: 0.978446960449 seconds
Total Time: 1.01662397385 seconds

FileLoad()
Spells Loaded: 11540
Open Time: 3.38554382324E-05 seconds
Load Time: 0.0379700660706 seconds
Parse Time: 0.978180885315 seconds
Total Time: 1.01618480682 seconds

However, if we are talking about JUST loading the spells (which can't be done, since we need to know what the highest spell ID is before we load them into shared memory), loading from a file is considerably faster.

Originally Posted by KLS

-In my opinion you made it harder on new users who now have to try to figure out 'hey there's two systems for spells, wait do I need them both? I can't find the db table I need anywhere help!!'.

That's why I'm not sure if it would be better to give the option or to shove it down everyone's throat (I prefer the former). I guess the expectation would be to switch it over to completely DB. Giving the options would just give an "easier" transition in the short term.

Originally Posted by MNWatchdog

It wasnt broke, so why are you fixing it?

Youre just adding an additional level of complication IMO.

Why have a database if we're not going to take advantage of it? Yes, we can have the spells stored in a file, but we could also have items, spawns, NPC types, merchant lists, spell lists, AAs, zones, zone servers, etc all in files. But that's just crazy. That's why we have a variables system & a rules system instead of config files like with the MaNGOS emulator (for WoW).

[KLS]

I think it's a good idea as a supplement to tools but again I'm not sure it's the greatest idea for the base server. I don't want to discourage you if you really want to put forth the effort to not only create the database but create the tools to input and extract spells from it.

However I don't see much reason to actually put it in the server standalone is what I was trying to say, having a unified standard for tools would simplify their design considerably.

[MNWatchdog]

Theres a millions ways to trap a mouse, but the snap trap works with 95% efficiency.

Personally, I think you should change to the DB method and it only with a importer and exporter app for the spells.txt file.

[trevius]

Ya, that would definitely be useful for web-based tools. And if a tool similar to the Ailia/Bleh Spell Editor was made to edit the Table version, I think it could really make a nice option for spell file management. Plus, this would give the option to use mysql commands to mass edit the spell file if people wanted to do that for any reason.

The only thing I would recommend for this system would be a really simple way to convert the spell file to the table and then the table back into the spell file. Otherwise, custom servers might have issues when trying to make sure that their custom spell files match the custom spell files that their players downloaded for their server. If a tool was made similar to the Ailia/Bleh one for the Table version, it would be very nice if the same tool would also convert the file to table and visa versa.

Since the spell data is loaded globally when the server starts, I doubt this would be possible. But, it would be really cool if we could have a command that would let NPCs use any spell effect with custom values at any time. Essentially making a custom spell in real time via Perl. I think the command could use the fields in the table and then also set a value for it, and then just use the effects from the source for those fields. So, maybe something like quest::spelleffect(type, value), or maybe an extended version like quest::spelleffect(type, value, range, target_type, duration_ticks, pet_name, icon, "description", "msg_cast_on_you", "msg_cast_on_other") or something like that. Kinda off-topic idea, but sounds like fun to me

[Congdar]

Originally Posted by AndMetal

That's the way it currently works (which is a pita, and why most, if not all servers, use either the straight Titanium spell file or slightly modified version), and I think that's why I'm confused about where you're coming from.

Your very first post said something about modifying spells which seemed to me to be the pita way.