•• Re-ordering Game Attributes with XML file inside project contents . Safe to do?

StormyStudio

Quick question:

The original problem - I wanted tidier attributes
I'm trying to tidy up my latest project a little, the project has evolved over a couple of weeks, a lot of my game attributes have been created in a random order as and when I needed them. I'd ideally arrange them more tidily and have the Tables (that are also visible in attributes) all next to each other.

Current solution - change XML doc - I'm not yet sure this is technically advisable
I wondered if there was an xml file that could be changed inside a project file.(on a mac you'd right click a .proj and click show package contents) . I found out the object.xml file is the one to use. The xml files opened up in Xcode. I selected the needed code which makes up one game attribute.

I then re-arranged the different bits of code as a test...

Obviously I'm being sure to duplicate my project file before I've tried it....

Is this ok? ... it seems to work fine
After doing this it seems to function fine and works perfectly well. I'm slightly worried that for some reason it might cause problems when you come to publishing the game if some reference file gets confused by the manual changing of the xml.

Anyone already doing this?... anyone know if this is fine or perhaps causes problems later.

ericzingeler

I edit the xml all the time. I do it especially for copying tables from one project to another. You'll usually know right away if something is broken... project doesn't open.

StormyStudio

Cheers... I thought I used to do it years ago... but wanted to check it keeps everything tikedy boo...

allornothing

This is a great find if its safe to do so! I'm in the same situation where I have created attributes / tables as I needed them, and as a result have a very messy list. Will dupe the project and try tonight! cheers!

wayneh001

@StormyStudio.com Our GS Project Attributes tool allows you to re-arrange, sort and edit your game attributes for you too - with a GUI. Thought you had a copy of the tool?

Cheers
Wayne
www.deepblueapps.com

StormyStudio

@wayneh001 I probably do, just never used it I guess. I assume I got it with the rest of the gold package. I've used project merger a good few times. I'll go dig it out now. Cheers. . J

beefy_clyro

Yeh I much prefer Project Attributes ... Its a tool I massively underuse though for some reason, I tend to just put up with them annoying!

LeonardDeveloper

Perfectly Safe, I edit XML alot of the time, I must look into DBA's Tool - Looks good,

EireStudios

Yes I use the project attributes tool all the time, its very handy to organise everything the way you want it when tidying up a project

dylanalbers

Why can I re-arrange my Actors but not my attributes? Please fix this it is really anoying to edit the xml file from time to time, Thanks

JSproject

Why can I re-arrange my Actors but not my attributes? Please fix this it is really anoying to edit the xml file from time to time, Thanks

Because the world isn't perfect . Your post here will have zero impact on the GS coders that can actually do anything about this. Luckily you can do it with DBA's "GS Project Attributes tool" which works very well (as does their other tools). See Wayne's post in this very thread for the link.

Chris Fitsimons

Does anyone who of a tool on Windows to do the xml sort?

jamie_c

@Chris Fitsimons I think you should be able to use any text editor really. I did a little tutorial on editing a GS XML file for the Mac, it might help to see it in action. I this demo I used Coda as my editor.