Kindle Chinese Chess

[Awak]

Originally Posted by yahwing

I do as what you said, but I still can'nt find the file ".secure_store"

OK, I am pretty sure you has set the Hidden File to be visible in WinSCP, isn't it?

The file is not there and that's why the game cannot be saved.

So the question is why this ".secure_store" cannot be created?

The causes could be anything such as:

1. There is still bug in the Chinese Chess program - Have you checked the crash log any new reports there?

2. Other programs also create their own Secure Storage - Can you check whether they have any problem of creating this file?

A good example is the "Collections Manager" - Go to the directory:

/mnt/us/developer/Collections Manager/metadata

Can you see the".secure_store" file there and the size of the file should not be zero?

If you cannot find the file, then there must be something wrong with your machine - It cannot be two different programs have the same issues...

If the file is there - It means there is a problem with the Chinese Chess program.

Could you tell me what you have found here? Thanks for the help.

The current implementation of handling Secure Storage is not too good, this storage are mean to be SMALL size such as saving a password only - not the whole Chess Game! And it is done in the "Destroyer" when the program exit, that may not have enough time to do it!

I have found it is very time critical when I try to save the Game Time to this storage - The Game Time must calculate beforehand, otherwise it won't work!

It could be the case your machine has an even more time margin restriction: It all depends on the CPU clock speed, Storage access speed etc.

I will take a look and see if any improvement can be made to handle this storage - In the meantime, you may only play the game without save - Sorry about this...

[Awak]

Originally Posted by twobob

FWIW I too have no folder there.

That only means you cannot save the game...

But why you don't have this problem before?

Could you try the original version (version 0.0.9) and see if this ".secure_store" is missing too from the metadata directory?

Thanks for the help.

[Awak]

Originally Posted by twobob

I did find one little "bug?" dunno... In certain - later stages... The HINT button just does nothing (switching sides seems to give it the nudge it needs)

There is improvement needed for the Hint function, sometimes the computer moves is too quick - maybe I should put a delay there so that you can see what changes in the Chess game...

If you press the Hint button too quick without waiting the computer to finish the move, that may cause problems...

Especially when you press Hint if you are solving Chess Puzzle - Some puzzles are SO hard that the computer cannot solve it! Ha! That is the fun part! Check the crash log and see if you get something like "out of bound" errors...

May be I should catch this error and return a message "Sorry Human, it is too hard for me to solve it - Help yourself!!"

[twobob]

I never saved a game before. That would explain it.

one more thing I noticed is that when you play for more than 2 hours... it reads out like..

1 Hour 76 minutes... (okay so I suck at playing)

The hint thing I dunno, I will go check the crash log maybe then. Just thought I would report it

No complaints, just doing my "Due Diligence" reports

[Awak]

Originally Posted by twobob

I never saved a game before. That would explain it.

The saving is done automatic when you exit the game. When you play the game again, it should go back to the game where it was last time - If it works correctly...

Originally Posted by twobob

one more thing I noticed is that when you play for more than 2 hours... it reads out like..

1 Hour 76 minutes... (okay so I suck at playing)

What? You have play the game more than 2 hours? Ha! It seems you are really into the game! That is GOOD! I am very happy if more people love this game!

Originally Posted by twobob

The hint thing I dunno, I will go check the crash log maybe then. Just thought I would report it

No complaints, just doing my "Due Diligence" reports

No BAD feeling, it just helps me to debug the code - I should thank your help instead...

[twobob]

Okay well it doesn't save then.

perhaps just add a SAVE GAME button then. thus you can do some testing and stuff AFTER the save to see if it really WAS saved.

that would be my thoughts.

[yahwing]

Thanks again. I install the Collections Manager and the ".secure_store" file is there, the size is 90B. perhaps it is the game's problem.

[Awak]

Originally Posted by yahwing

Thanks again. I install the Collections Manager and the ".secure_store" file is there, the size is 90B. perhaps it is the game's problem.

Yes, that confirm it - Thanks for your help!

[yiming]

there's a bug in the program. instead of switching sides, the "Side" button will move a piece of the computer opponent.

[twobob]

Yeah. I was wondering about that... But sometimes it does switch sides... Hadn't quite "nailed down" exactly what triggered what though yet... Did he up the code now?

[yiming]

Originally Posted by twobob

Yeah. I was wondering about that... But sometimes it does switch sides... Hadn't quite "nailed down" exactly what triggered what though yet... Did he up the code now?

for my case, it never switches sides.

[twobob]

I think I was playing vs beginner. and hinted the first 20 moves. then pressed sides. It only did it once or twice IIRC which I thought was crazy weird. Either it works or it doesn't I thought...

If he pushes the code would love to see why that happened.

[Awak]

Thanks for the feedback!

Sorry guys, a major bug has crept into the code that handle Step feature and I have not noticed when releasing the game.

However, care should be taken when using the Step Button: The computer will be going to finish your move first before you can change side. So it looks very similar to Hint Button, but actually is NOT: Hint feature will cause computer makes TWO moves in a row and does not change side.

Here is a new release which I think have fixed the Step feature problem:

================================================== ================

Changes in Version 0.1.4


1. Fix a major bug that the Side button cannot change side.

2. Fix a bug in calculate minute when it is more than an hour. (Thanks twobob for finding this bug!)

3. Fix a bug in when choosing the Chess Puzzle, the game phase has not set correctly.

4. Added a 2 seconds delay after the computer moves the first step when using the Hint button.

================================================== ================

Install instructions

1. Delete the old file "KindleChineseChess-touch.???.azw2" from your Kindle.

2. Unzip the attached file.

3. Just copy the new file to your Kindle.

================================================== ================

It also improves the handling of Secure Store - Please check and see if you can save the game now and the ".secure_store" file is in the metadata directory. Thanks for testing...

[Awak]

Originally Posted by Awak

However, care should be taken when using the Step Button: The computer will be going to finish your move first before you can change side. So it looks very similar to Hint Button, but actually is NOT: Hint feature will cause computer makes TWO moves in a row and does not change side.

Here is a new release which I think have fixed the Step feature problem:

What am I talking? Not "STEP", but "SIDE"! Please replace it...

Too tired to fix anymore bugs - Need some rest now or my brain will "malfunction"!

[x13n0114]

Originally Posted by Awak

I can recompile the project for Kindle 3 & 4 - Some parts of the code have been commented out which I guess is for them. However, I have only got Kindle PW myself and cannot test the software unless someone can do it for me...

Recently I have made a lot of changes on the project's code - Not sure what will the changes have any side-effects (bugs) to the Kindle 3 & 4.

So unless Amazon or someone can give me a Kindle 3 & 4 for free (Sorry that I won't buy one as I am quite happy with my Kindle PW), you need to use the original first version of the Chinese Chess! May be it is time for you to buy a new Kindle PW ...

Sorry, but none of the versions work, including the original ones for kindle 4 nt.