Function idea: Shutdown server

[Lokey]

Would it be possible to write a function that will shutdown the server from within NWNx?

Thinking it would be preferable to do server resets from within NWN: servers been up for 12 hours, shutdown and restart the server for example (especially with the time module so we don't have to depend on the wonky game clock for tracking time or pulling the current time from MySQL or something). Currently we're using a process kill called by task scheduler to shut down the server
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Neversummer PW NWNx powered mayhem

[Papillon]

I can think of three ways to do this:

1) Write a plugin that makes the server crash, e.g. by accessing a null pointer (ugly, but very easy)

2) Find and call the shutdown function in the server (clean, possibly takes some time)

3) Write a plugin that sends a signal to server (Linux) or one that uses MFC classes to programatically press the shut down button on the GUI (Windows) (somewhat clean, might take some time)
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Papillon

[isilweo]

what about simple WM_DESTROY? :)

[redils]

I use postgresql under Linux. The main advantage of that RDBMS is that it allows me to write C functions. So, to reboot my server, I wrote a C function that calls an external executable. This exe. reboots the server cleanly and properly. So, when I need to reboot from my module, I just have to call "SELECT reboot()" and my server reboots.

[JeroenB]

Yes, I would assume that sending a WM_CLOSE to the application would do the job. All you have to do is find the server window and send that message to it.

Only point you should mind is that when there are still players online that it will come up with a message box. You can also close that box the same way.

[Blacksting]

I put in my vote for clean. If it's clean characters should be saved.

[dguntner]

Any reason you can't just use the reload module function?

--Dave

[Asmodae]

Reload module does not clear the memory being used by the server, whether due to bad scripting, NWN memory leaks, etc. The only way to really reset the memory in use is to completely shutdown and restart NWServer.

I'm strongly in favor of this function. I started out using NWN-FF, basically because I didn't know any better, and it does have a shutdown function that you can call from script "NWNX!DMREBOOT", which is very handy. That's one of the things right now holding me back (albeit a weak reason) from going over to NWNX2, that and rewriting a few functions. Once the object storage is stablized, and this is in, I'm converting you betcha.

I've said it before and I'll say it again, you guys are amazing, thanks for providing such a wonderfull tool to the NWN community.
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Nepenthe - An NWN2 Persistant World, coming to a planet near you. http://www.nepentheonline.com

[Papillon]

Well, if ff-nwn has the function, grab the source, copy it into a plugin and you are set, no ?
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Papillon

[DarkstarsDad]

It should be that easy as his is based on all your source code anyway

[Asmodae]

I know my way around C, C++ pretty well and I've even had a class in assembly language, but I have no clue how to compile or use .dll files.

I'll have to give it a shot, if anyone can point me at a reference for it I'd be gratefull.

(edit) - a quick bit of research shows this should not be too tough, any thing I need to know about NWNX in particular for this to work?

(edit) - And does this mean the same could be done for all the wierd custom functions that are in it, essentially to make a compatability plug in? (that would save me, and I believe a few others a lot of work)
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Nepenthe - An NWN2 Persistant World, coming to a planet near you. http://www.nepentheonline.com

[Papillon]

I wanted to do this for some time, so here it is: The NWNX plugin cookbook.


So you want to be a NWNX programmer ?
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This post will eventually turn into a HOWTO posted on the website. We will create a new NWNX plugin called "Demoplugin" with these simple steps. It does nothing useful, but is fully standard compliant and can be called from NWScript like any other plugin. You can also download the even more stripped down source code to Demoplugin below (see next post). These instructions are useful if you want to take an existing plugin and create your own version of it.

1) You can use any Visual Studio Environment, I use VS6, while Jeroen uses VS2003. The instructions below pertain to VS6.

2) Take a simple plugin, like the time plugin, and copy it to a new directory inside the nwnx2 source tree.

3) Remove the Release and Debug directories, if they exist.

4) Rename all files accordingly, e.g. NWNXTime.cpp to NWNXDemoplugin.cpp

5) Edit your project.dsp file: Replace all occurences of "time" with "demoplugin". Replace all occurences of "TIME_EXPORTS" with "DEMOPLUGIN_EXPORTS"

6) Open demoplugin.h and replace TIME* with DEMOPLUGIN*

[Papillon]

The ultimately stripped down Demoplugin
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While writing the short tutorial above, I created the Demoplugin source code. It is the smallest possible NWNX plugin, with a considerably simplified structure. Use this as a base for starting new plugins: Simply code the desired functionality in the function CNWNXDemoplugin::OnRequest !

Download the Demoplugin source code.
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Papillon

[Asmodae]

[Themicles]

Teach me to read the forums first. LOL
Missed this and posted similar.
Here's what I had to say.