OOTP History Utility Help

sharpmath · 06-24-2003, 06:16 PM

Hi! I just got OOTP5 a few days ago, and quickly started an alternate-history league starting in 1901.

Things are going pretty great, it's a lot of fun, with some nice surprises (like Ty Cobb getting drafted by the Detroit Tigers #1 in 1906 as he should, but then they deal him at the deadline for Mordecai Richler to join the Cleveland Naps!)

At any rate, I have now run into the OOTP History Utility by Jeff Cato, which looks amazing!

I've been having troubles getting it to work, and had a look at a few threads, one that even went into some good detail about how to get things started, and I still can't get it to work, I always get a null error when I try to generate the pages. (And I've read of others problems with the null issue, and tried what they said worked for them, but no dice).

So I have a few questions.

1) Is there like a. OOTP History Utility for Dummies Reference somewhere. I thought I was pretty technologically adept, but apparently, Im VERY wrong!

2) This is the more important question. I am currently starting my 1907 season, and I have full-almanacs from each previous year, but I have *NOT* been exporting the league html files each year from the Online League Set-Up. Will I be able to fully use this utility to it's max with just the almanacs, or am I in a bit of a bind here.

The Bottom line is, id like to get it to work for this season, but, Im only in 1907, and I would have no problems starting over. (Well, not many anyways) Especially now that I have the proper logos, and stadium set-ups I want, as well as I have what I do in the off-seasons down pretty well, so Id be willing to treat this first league as a bit of a test run!

Any advice would be appreciated!

[Oh. PS. If I *do* start a new season. WHEN is the best time to run the Utility. Also, I have to keep my Abbreviations the same throughout the league? So when the Dodgers move to LA, I have to keep the abbreviation as BRO, or what? Thanks!!!]

A.J. Holz · 06-24-2003, 07:57 PM

1.) There's no reference other than what's posted on Cato's pages, the Readme file.

http://www.jcato.net/downloads/history/readme5.html

Usually if you get stuck walking through the instructions, you can post a question here and we'll do our best to answer it.

2.) You can't use the utility with *just* the almanacs (at least not to my knowledge) - you have to have backups of the league files as well.

P.S.) The best time to run the utility - at the end of every season. I personally back up my league directory (leaguename.lg) to a Zip file at the end of every season, at the point where the schedule shows the "Proceed To Next Season" button. I then backup these Zip files. Alternately, you can back up just the .CSV and .HTML files that the OOTP Utility program needs to create its database, but these files should be saved at the same point - the end of each season.

With regards to the null error - check all the options on the File | Options screen, on the General and Awards tabs. Actually, just check all the tabs to make sure all fields have a correct value and aren't empty. If they're empty, fill them in with something appropriate. Most importantly, make sure all of the paths to your league file and other directories are correct.

If everything in there was OK to begin with, then check the Enter/Edit Team Info screen to make sure everything is filled out.

With regards to the abbreviations changing, - I haven't done this specifically, but on the Readme page on Cato's site, scroll down to the "After Importing Data" section, under step 1. That should give you all the info you need.

Hope this helps!

sharpmath · 06-24-2003, 09:04 PM

Ok, great! Thank you very much for the response!
I think Im just going to start from the start then, and see how that works, there were a few things I wanted to do differently anyways!

Thanks again!!

A.J. Holz · 06-24-2003, 10:06 PM

No problem!

Cato himself is normally very active in the forum with support requests, but hasn't been around lately - probably real life got in the way. If you have any other problems/questions, post 'em here and we'll do our best to help.

sharpmath · 06-25-2003, 01:38 AM

Yes. Now it totally works for sure! So I just run it at the end of each season? SUPERB! Thanks again!

A.J. Holz · 06-25-2003, 07:14 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by sharpmath
So I just run it at the end of each season?

You bet, at the point where the Proceed To Next Season button is showing.

06-24-2003, 07:57 PM	#2
A.J. Holz All Star Reserve Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Atlanta, GA Posts: 650	1.) There's no reference other than what's posted on Cato's pages, the Readme file. http://www.jcato.net/downloads/history/readme5.html Usually if you get stuck walking through the instructions, you can post a question here and we'll do our best to answer it. 2.) You can't use the utility with just the almanacs (at least not to my knowledge) - you have to have backups of the league files as well. P.S.) The best time to run the utility - at the end of every season. I personally back up my league directory (leaguename.lg) to a Zip file at the end of every season, at the point where the schedule shows the "Proceed To Next Season" button. I then backup these Zip files. Alternately, you can back up just the .CSV and .HTML files that the OOTP Utility program needs to create its database, but these files should be saved at the same point - the end of each season. With regards to the null error - check all the options on the File \| Options screen, on the General and Awards tabs. Actually, just check all the tabs to make sure all fields have a correct value and aren't empty. If they're empty, fill them in with something appropriate. Most importantly, make sure all of the paths to your league file and other directories are correct. If everything in there was OK to begin with, then check the Enter/Edit Team Info screen to make sure everything is filled out. With regards to the abbreviations changing, - I haven't done this specifically, but on the Readme page on Cato's site, scroll down to the "After Importing Data" section, under step 1. That should give you all the info you need. Hope this helps! __________________ NABA - Tijuana Toros / Commish ORB - Oakland Athletics (former owner) MBBA - Seattle Storm JOBL - Grand Forks Varmints (former owner) FIBB - Chicago Fire TMBU - Tulsa Tomcats (former owner) ACL - Oakland A's (former owner) ACB - Rockville Superbas

06-24-2003, 09:04 PM	#3
sharpmath Minors (Single A) Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Calgary, AB Posts: 69	Ok, great! Thank you very much for the response! I think Im just going to start from the start then, and see how that works, there were a few things I wanted to do differently anyways! Thanks again!! __________________ this night has opened my eyes and I will never be the same. I'm not happy and I'm not sad.

06-24-2003, 10:06 PM	#4
A.J. Holz All Star Reserve Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Atlanta, GA Posts: 650	No problem! Cato himself is normally very active in the forum with support requests, but hasn't been around lately - probably real life got in the way. If you have any other problems/questions, post 'em here and we'll do our best to help. __________________ NABA - Tijuana Toros / Commish ORB - Oakland Athletics (former owner) MBBA - Seattle Storm JOBL - Grand Forks Varmints (former owner) FIBB - Chicago Fire TMBU - Tulsa Tomcats (former owner) ACL - Oakland A's (former owner) ACB - Rockville Superbas

06-25-2003, 01:38 AM	#5
sharpmath Minors (Single A) Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Calgary, AB Posts: 69	Yes. Now it totally works for sure! So I just run it at the end of each season? SUPERB! Thanks again! __________________ this night has opened my eyes and I will never be the same. I'm not happy and I'm not sad.

06-24-2003, 06:16 PM	#1
sharpmath Minors (Single A) Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Calgary, AB Posts: 69	OOTP History Utility Help Hi! I just got OOTP5 a few days ago, and quickly started an alternate-history league starting in 1901. Things are going pretty great, it's a lot of fun, with some nice surprises (like Ty Cobb getting drafted by the Detroit Tigers #1 in 1906 as he should, but then they deal him at the deadline for Mordecai Richler to join the Cleveland Naps!) At any rate, I have now run into the OOTP History Utility by Jeff Cato, which looks amazing! I've been having troubles getting it to work, and had a look at a few threads, one that even went into some good detail about how to get things started, and I still can't get it to work, I always get a null error when I try to generate the pages. (And I've read of others problems with the null issue, and tried what they said worked for them, but no dice). So I have a few questions. 1) Is there like a. OOTP History Utility for Dummies Reference somewhere. I thought I was pretty technologically adept, but apparently, Im VERY wrong! 2) This is the more important question. I am currently starting my 1907 season, and I have full-almanacs from each previous year, but I have NOT been exporting the league html files each year from the Online League Set-Up. Will I be able to fully use this utility to it's max with just the almanacs, or am I in a bit of a bind here. The Bottom line is, id like to get it to work for this season, but, Im only in 1907, and I would have no problems starting over. (Well, not many anyways) Especially now that I have the proper logos, and stadium set-ups I want, as well as I have what I do in the off-seasons down pretty well, so Id be willing to treat this first league as a bit of a test run! Any advice would be appreciated! [Oh. PS. If I do start a new season. WHEN is the best time to run the Utility. Also, I have to keep my Abbreviations the same throughout the league? So when the Dodgers move to LA, I have to keep the abbreviation as BRO, or what? Thanks!!!] __________________ this night has opened my eyes and I will never be the same. I'm not happy and I'm not sad.