Odd updating of NUL board over and over when loading a saved file

[Honosbinda]

Hello, anyone experiencing this? Once I created this map, I am getting repeated updates of the NUL board, even though I am using the most recent download v1.0 from VASL.info.

This isn't crashing the game, but it is worrisome for the future. Because some time ago, the desert boards were doing the same thing to me in a game I was playing with someone. Eventually the repeated updates stacked with each .vlog or .vsav and corrupted the file so much it could not load anymore. thanks for any advice -- cheers.

 

[Michael R]

Yes, I receive the same error. The number of iterations of the error is weird. My scenario uses NUL twice.

- Chatter font changed

- VASL version 6.3.3
- Extension 3d6 v1.0 loaded
- Extension 5FB v5.6 loaded
- Extension 5KIA v5.7 loaded
- Extension Aircraft52 v5.0 loaded
- Extension BFP_v403 v4.03 loaded
- Extension ChapterD v1.0 loaded
- Extension cloaking-display v0.0 loaded
- Extension Drag-over-ext1 v0.0 loaded
- Extension festung-budapest-1.2 v1.2 - 8 May 2014 loaded
- Extension MapInv v0.0 loaded
- Extension secret-dr-1.0 v1.0 loaded
- Extension SniperFinder v1.0 loaded
- Extension terrain-chart-1.2.1 v1.2.1 loaded
- Extension VBM v5.7 loaded
- Loading ASL160_021.vsav ...
- Board NUL is out of date. Updating...
- Update succeeded
- Board NUL is out of date. Updating...
- Update succeeded
- Board NUL is out of date. Updating...
- Update succeeded
- Board NUL is out of date. Updating...
- Update succeeded
- Using board(s): 04(v6.0) 41(v6.1) NUL(v1) NUL(v1)
- Loaded ASL160_021.vsav

 

[jrv]

I can't tell you whether this is long-term harmful, but I can tell you what the problem is. bdNUL has in its "data" file that it is version "1". When it calls in to whoever it calls in to to find out the latest version, that service reports back that "1.0" is the latest version. The version comparison is done as a string comparison, not as a number, so "1" is not the same as "1.0". The permanent fix would be for either the board archive to have "1.0" in the archive or the service that checks for latest version to report back "1".

If you feel ambitious and want to work around the problem, you can do so by unzipping the bdNUL archive, edit the file 'data', change the first line to "version 1.0", build a new .zip file with bdNUL.gif and the newly-edited 'data' file, and replace the old bdNUL file with that new .zip file (renamed appropriately).

JR

 

[Michael R]

I tried your solution, JR, but I could not get it to work for me. I used the macOS archiving utility and the plain text editor. When I opened a saved game file having NUL, VASL reported an error opening the saved game file.

VASL

- Loading ASL160_021.vsav ...
- Error loading ASL160_021.vsav

VASSAL log:

the main error is "VASL.build.module.map.boardArchive.BoardArchive - Unable to read the board metadata in board archive bdNUL", but the whole thing is below.

2017-01-28 19:26:48,387 [0-main] INFO VASSAL.launch.StartUp - Starting
2017-01-28 19:26:48,394 [0-main] INFO VASSAL.launch.StartUp - OS Mac OS X 10.12.3
2017-01-28 19:26:48,394 [0-main] INFO VASSAL.launch.StartUp - Java version 1.6.0_65
2017-01-28 19:26:48,394 [0-main] INFO VASSAL.launch.StartUp - VASSAL version 3.2.17
2017-01-28 19:26:49,307 [0-AWT-EventQueue-0] INFO VASSAL.launch.ModuleManager - Manager
2017-01-28 19:26:56,103 [0-SwingWorker-pool-2020456228-thread-2] INFO VASSAL.launch.AbstractLaunchAction - Loading module file /Users/MacAirAdmin/Dropbox/DB_VASL/vasl-6.3.3.vmod
2017-01-28 19:26:57,566 [0-SwingWorker-pool-2020456228-thread-2] INFO VASSAL.launch.TilingHandler - No images to tile.
2017-01-28 19:26:57,568 [0-SwingWorker-pool-2020456228-thread-2] INFO VASSAL.launch.AbstractLaunchAction - Loading module VASL
2017-01-28 19:26:57,576 [0-SwingWorker-pool-2020456228-thread-2] INFO VASSAL.tools.io.ProcessLauncher - launching /Library/Java/JavaVirtualMachines/1.6.0.jdk/Contents/Home/bin/java -Xms1024M -Xmx2048M -DVASSAL.id=1 -DVASSAL.port=59658 -Duser.home=/Users/MacAirAdmin -Duser.dir=/Users/MacAirAdmin/Dropbox/DB_VASL/VASSAL.app -cp Contents/Resources/Java/Vengine.jar -Xdock:name=VASL -Xdock:icon=/Users/MacAirAdmin/Dropbox/DB_VASL/VASSAL.app/Contents/Resources/VASSAL.icns -Dapple.awt.graphics.UseQuartz=false VASSAL.launch.Player --load -- /Users/MacAirAdmin/Dropbox/DB_VASL/vasl-6.3.3.vmod
2017-01-28 19:26:58,454 [1-main] INFO VASSAL.launch.StartUp - Starting
2017-01-28 19:26:58,470 [1-main] INFO VASSAL.launch.StartUp - OS Mac OS X 10.12.3
2017-01-28 19:26:58,470 [1-main] INFO VASSAL.launch.StartUp - Java version 1.6.0_65
2017-01-28 19:26:58,470 [1-main] INFO VASSAL.launch.StartUp - VASSAL version 3.2.17
2017-01-28 19:26:58,470 [1-main] INFO VASSAL.launch.Launcher - Player
2017-01-28 19:27:01,309 [1-IconFactory-preload] INFO VASSAL.tools.icon.IconFactory - VASSAL images folder found at jar:file:/Users/MacAirAdmin/Dropbox/DB_VASL/VASSAL.app/Contents/Resources/Java/Vengine.jar!/images/
2017-01-28 19:27:01,315 [1-IconFactory-preload] INFO VASSAL.tools.icon.IconFactory - Icon family network-server created for network-server.png
2017-01-28 19:27:01,315 [1-IconFactory-preload] INFO VASSAL.tools.icon.IconFactory - Icon family go-down created for go-down.png
2017-01-28 19:27:01,315 [1-IconFactory-preload] INFO VASSAL.tools.icon.IconFactory - Icon family network-idle created for network-idle.png
2017-01-28 19:27:01,315 [1-IconFactory-preload] INFO VASSAL.tools.icon.IconFactory - Icon family VASSAL created for VASSAL.png
2017-01-28 19:27:01,315 [1-IconFactory-preload] INFO VASSAL.tools.icon.IconFactory - Icon family calculator created for calculator.png
2017-01-28 19:27:01,316 [1-IconFactory-preload] INFO VASSAL.tools.icon.IconFactory - Icon family go-up created for go-up.png
2017-01-28 19:27:01,316 [1-IconFactory-preload] INFO VASSAL.tools.icon.IconFactory - Icon family VASSAL-jabber created for VASSAL-jabber.png
2017-01-28 19:27:01,316 [1-IconFactory-preload] INFO VASSAL.tools.icon.IconFactory - Icon family jabber created for jabber.png
2017-01-28 19:27:01,316 [1-IconFactory-preload] INFO VASSAL.tools.icon.IconFactory - Icon family bug created for bug.png
2017-01-28 19:27:01,317 [1-IconFactory-preload] INFO VASSAL.tools.icon.IconFactory - Icon family yes created for yes.svg
2017-01-28 19:27:01,317 [1-IconFactory-preload] INFO VASSAL.tools.icon.IconFactory - Icon family no created for no.svg
2017-01-28 19:27:03,085 [1-AWT-EventQueue-0] ERROR VASSAL.i18n.BundleHelper - No Translation: Icon when pieces and draggable overlays are showing:
2017-01-28 19:27:03,085 [1-AWT-EventQueue-0] ERROR VASSAL.i18n.BundleHelper - No Translation: Icon when only draggable overlays are showing:
2017-01-28 19:27:03,085 [1-AWT-EventQueue-0] ERROR VASSAL.i18n.BundleHelper - No Translation: Icon when only map is showing:
2017-01-28 19:27:05,737 [1-AWT-EventQueue-0] WARN VASSAL.launch.BasicModule - VASL version 6.3.3
2017-01-28 19:27:05,780 [1-AWT-EventQueue-0] INFO VASSAL.build.module.ExtensionsLoader - Loading extension /Users/MacAirAdmin/Dropbox/DB_VASL/Extensions/3d6.mdx
2017-01-28 19:27:05,793 [1-AWT-EventQueue-0] INFO VASSAL.build.module.ExtensionsLoader - Extension 3d6 v1.0 loaded
2017-01-28 19:27:05,793 [1-AWT-EventQueue-0] INFO VASSAL.build.module.ExtensionsLoader - Loading extension /Users/MacAirAdmin/Dropbox/DB_VASL/Extensions/5FB.mdx
2017-01-28 19:27:05,818 [1-AWT-EventQueue-0] INFO VASSAL.build.module.ExtensionsLoader - Extension 5FB v5.6 loaded
2017-01-28 19:27:05,818 [1-AWT-EventQueue-0] INFO VASSAL.build.module.ExtensionsLoader - Loading extension /Users/MacAirAdmin/Dropbox/DB_VASL/Extensions/5KIA.mdx
2017-01-28 19:27:05,826 [1-AWT-EventQueue-0] INFO VASSAL.build.module.ExtensionsLoader - Extension 5KIA v5.7 loaded
2017-01-28 19:27:05,826 [1-AWT-EventQueue-0] INFO VASSAL.build.module.ExtensionsLoader - Loading extension /Users/MacAirAdmin/Dropbox/DB_VASL/Extensions/Aircraft52.mdx
2017-01-28 19:27:05,919 [1-AWT-EventQueue-0] INFO VASSAL.build.module.ExtensionsLoader - Extension Aircraft52 v5.0 loaded
2017-01-28 19:27:05,920 [1-AWT-EventQueue-0] INFO VASSAL.build.module.ExtensionsLoader - Loading extension /Users/MacAirAdmin/Dropbox/DB_VASL/Extensions/BFP_v403.vmdx
2017-01-28 19:27:06,089 [1-AWT-EventQueue-0] INFO VASSAL.build.module.ExtensionsLoader - Extension BFP_v403 v4.03 loaded
2017-01-28 19:27:06,089 [1-AWT-EventQueue-0] INFO VASSAL.build.module.ExtensionsLoader - Loading extension /Users/MacAirAdmin/Dropbox/DB_VASL/Extensions/ChapterD.mdx
2017-01-28 19:27:06,095 [1-AWT-EventQueue-0] INFO VASSAL.build.module.ExtensionsLoader - Extension ChapterD v1.0 loaded
2017-01-28 19:27:06,095 [1-AWT-EventQueue-0] INFO VASSAL.build.module.ExtensionsLoader - Loading extension /Users/MacAirAdmin/Dropbox/DB_VASL/Extensions/cloaking-display.vmdx
2017-01-28 19:27:06,122 [1-AWT-EventQueue-0] INFO VASSAL.build.module.ExtensionsLoader - Extension cloaking-display v0.0 loaded
2017-01-28 19:27:06,123 [1-AWT-EventQueue-0] INFO VASSAL.build.module.ExtensionsLoader - Loading extension /Users/MacAirAdmin/Dropbox/DB_VASL/Extensions/Drag-over-ext1.mdx
2017-01-28 19:27:06,127 [1-AWT-EventQueue-0] INFO VASSAL.build.module.ExtensionsLoader - Extension Drag-over-ext1 v0.0 loaded
2017-01-28 19:27:06,128 [1-AWT-EventQueue-0] INFO VASSAL.build.module.ExtensionsLoader - Loading extension /Users/MacAirAdmin/Dropbox/DB_VASL/Extensions/festung-budapest-1.2.vmdx
2017-01-28 19:27:06,175 [1-AWT-EventQueue-0] INFO VASSAL.build.module.ExtensionsLoader - Extension festung-budapest-1.2 v1.2 - 8 May 2014 loaded
2017-01-28 19:27:06,175 [1-AWT-EventQueue-0] INFO VASSAL.build.module.ExtensionsLoader - Loading extension /Users/MacAirAdmin/Dropbox/DB_VASL/Extensions/MapInv.mdx
2017-01-28 19:27:06,186 [1-AWT-EventQueue-0] INFO VASSAL.build.module.ExtensionsLoader - Extension MapInv v0.0 loaded
2017-01-28 19:27:06,186 [1-AWT-EventQueue-0] INFO VASSAL.build.module.ExtensionsLoader - Loading extension /Users/MacAirAdmin/Dropbox/DB_VASL/Extensions/secret-dr-1.0.vmdx
2017-01-28 19:27:06,192 [1-AWT-EventQueue-0] INFO VASSAL.build.module.ExtensionsLoader - Extension secret-dr-1.0 v1.0 loaded
2017-01-28 19:27:06,192 [1-AWT-EventQueue-0] INFO VASSAL.build.module.ExtensionsLoader - Loading extension /Users/MacAirAdmin/Dropbox/DB_VASL/Extensions/SniperFinder.mdx
2017-01-28 19:27:06,204 [1-AWT-EventQueue-0] INFO VASSAL.build.module.ExtensionsLoader - Extension SniperFinder v1.0 loaded
2017-01-28 19:27:06,204 [1-AWT-EventQueue-0] INFO VASSAL.build.module.ExtensionsLoader - Loading extension /Users/MacAirAdmin/Dropbox/DB_VASL/Extensions/terrain-chart-1.2.1.vmdx
2017-01-28 19:27:06,208 [1-AWT-EventQueue-0] INFO VASSAL.build.module.ExtensionsLoader - Extension terrain-chart-1.2.1 v1.2.1 loaded
2017-01-28 19:27:06,208 [1-AWT-EventQueue-0] INFO VASSAL.build.module.ExtensionsLoader - Loading extension /Users/MacAirAdmin/Dropbox/DB_VASL/Extensions/VBM.mdx
2017-01-28 19:27:06,214 [1-AWT-EventQueue-0] INFO VASSAL.build.module.ExtensionsLoader - Extension VBM v5.7 loaded
2017-01-28 19:27:54,141 [1-AWT-EventQueue-0] INFO VASSAL.build.module.GameState - Loading save game /Users/MacAirAdmin/Dropbox/DB_VASL/Saved Games/JM_160/ASL160_021.vsav, created with module version 6.3.3
2017-01-28 19:27:54,584 [1-SwingWorker-pool-329777567-thread-1] INFO VASSAL.launch.TilingHandler - No images to tile.
2017-01-28 19:27:54,678 [1-SwingWorker-pool-329777567-thread-1] INFO VASSAL.launch.TilingHandler - No images to tile.
2017-01-28 19:27:54,745 [1-SwingWorker-pool-329777567-thread-1] INFO VASL.build.module.map.boardArchive.BoardArchive - Unable to read the board metadata in board archive bdNUL
2017-01-28 19:27:54,787 [1-AWT-EventQueue-0] ERROR VASSAL.build.module.GameState -
java.util.concurrent.ExecutionException: java.lang.NullPointerException
at java.util.concurrent.FutureTask$Sync.innerGet(FutureTask.java:222) ~[na:1.6.0_65]
at java.util.concurrent.FutureTask.get(FutureTask.java:83) ~[na:1.6.0_65]
at org.jdesktop.swingworker.SwingWorker.get(Unknown Source) ~[swing-worker-1.2.jar:na]
at VASSAL.build.module.GameState$7.done(GameState.java:764) ~[Vengine.jar:na]
at org.jdesktop.swingworker.SwingWorker$5.run(Unknown Source) [swing-worker-1.2.jar:na]
at org.jdesktop.swingworker.SwingWorker$DoSubmitAccumulativeRunnable.run(Unknown Source) [swing-worker-1.2.jar:na]
at org.jdesktop.swingworker.AccumulativeRunnable.run(Unknown Source) [swing-worker-1.2.jar:na]
at org.jdesktop.swingworker.SwingWorker$DoSubmitAccumulativeRunnable.actionPerformed(Unknown Source) [swing-worker-1.2.jar:na]
at javax.swing.Timer.fireActionPerformed(Timer.java:291) [na:1.6.0_65]
at javax.swing.Timer$DoPostEvent.run(Timer.java:221) [na:1.6.0_65]
at java.awt.event.InvocationEvent.dispatch(InvocationEvent.java:209) [na:1.6.0_65]
at java.awt.EventQueue.dispatchEventImpl(EventQueue.java:715) [na:1.6.0_65]
at java.awt.EventQueue.access$400(EventQueue.java:82) [na:1.6.0_65]
at java.awt.EventQueue$2.run(EventQueue.java:676) [na:1.6.0_65]
at java.awt.EventQueue$2.run(EventQueue.java:674) [na:1.6.0_65]
at java.security.AccessController.doPrivileged(Native Method) [na:1.6.0_65]
at java.security.AccessControlContext$1.doIntersectionPrivilege(AccessControlContext.java:86) [na:1.6.0_65]
at java.awt.EventQueue.dispatchEvent(EventQueue.java:685) [na:1.6.0_65]
at java.awt.EventDispatchThread.pumpOneEventForFilters(EventDispatchThread.java:296) [na:1.6.0_65]
at java.awt.EventDispatchThread.pumpEventsForFilter(EventDispatchThread.java:211) [na:1.6.0_65]
at java.awt.EventDispatchThread.pumpEventsForHierarchy(EventDispatchThread.java:201) [na:1.6.0_65]
at java.awt.EventDispatchThread.pumpEvents(EventDispatchThread.java:196) [na:1.6.0_65]
at java.awt.EventDispatchThread.pumpEvents(EventDispatchThread.java:188) [na:1.6.0_65]
at java.awt.EventDispatchThread.run(EventDispatchThread.java:122) [na:1.6.0_65]
Caused by: java.lang.NullPointerException: null
at VASL.build.module.map.boardArchive.BoardArchive.getVersion(BoardArchive.java:784) ~[na:na]
at VASL.build.module.map.boardPicker.ASLBoard.initializeFromArchive(ASLBoard.java:138) ~[na:na]
at VASL.build.module.map.ASLBoardPicker.updateBoard(ASLBoardPicker.java:416) ~[na:na]
at VASL.build.module.map.ASLBoardPicker.decode(ASLBoardPicker.java:107) ~[na:na]
at VASSAL.launch.BasicModule.decodeSubCommand(BasicModule.java:235) ~[Vengine.jar:na]
at VASSAL.launch.BasicModule.decode(BasicModule.java:219) ~[Vengine.jar:na]
at VASSAL.launch.BasicModule.decode(BasicModule.java:225) ~[Vengine.jar:na]
at VASSAL.build.module.GameState.decodeSavedGame(GameState.java:888) ~[Vengine.jar:na]
at VASSAL.build.module.GameState$7.doInBackground(GameState.java:751) ~[Vengine.jar:na]
at VASSAL.build.module.GameState$7.doInBackground(GameState.java:747) ~[Vengine.jar:na]
at org.jdesktop.swingworker.SwingWorker$1.call(Unknown Source) ~[swing-worker-1.2.jar:na]
at java.util.concurrent.FutureTask$Sync.innerRun(FutureTask.java:303) ~[na:1.6.0_65]
at java.util.concurrent.FutureTask.run(FutureTask.java:138) ~[na:1.6.0_65]
at org.jdesktop.swingworker.SwingWorker.run(Unknown Source) ~[swing-worker-1.2.jar:na]
at java.util.concurrent.ThreadPoolExecutor$Worker.runTask(ThreadPoolExecutor.java:895) ~[na:1.6.0_65]
at java.util.concurrent.ThreadPoolExecutor$Worker.run(ThreadPoolExecutor.java:918) ~[na:1.6.0_65]
at java.lang.Thread.run(Thread.java:695) ~[na:1.6.0_65]
2017-01-28 19:28:25,164 [0-ProcessLauncher-2] WARN VASSAL.tools.logging.LoggedOutputStream - 2017-01-28 19:28:25.164 java[8772:1189991] -_cgsEventRecord is deprecated for _cgsEventRecord. Please use -CGEvent.

 

[jrv]

I am fairly sure when you created the new bdNUL.zip file, you did not include the "data" file in it. Look inside the archive (rename it back to .zip if you have to). I get that exact error if I build such an archive and try to load it. I have attached a copy of the fixed bdNUL.fixed.zip. Do not extract it. Just rename it to bdNUL.

JR

 

[Honosbinda]

I can't tell you whether this is long-term harmful, but I can tell you what the problem is. bdNUL has in its "data" file that it is version "1". When it calls in to whoever it calls in to to find out the latest version, that service reports back that "1.0" is the latest version. The version comparison is done as a string comparison, not as a number, so "1" is not the same as "1.0". The permanent fix would be for either the board archive to have "1.0" in the archive or the service that checks for latest version to report back "1".

If you feel ambitious and want to work around the problem, you can do so by unzipping the bdNUL archive, edit the file 'data', change the first line to "version 1.0", build a new .zip file with bdNUL.gif and the newly-edited 'data' file, and replace the old bdNUL file with that new .zip file (renamed appropriately).

JR

Thanks a lot for pointing out the source of this problem. Totally makes sense. In the other game with the 4 desert boards, each board kept updating multiple times, eventually this seemed to stack, ultimately the file could not be opened after 7-8 game turns as it seemed to trigger a finite limit in how many operations could be conducted when opening the file. I just didn't want to see that happen again.

 

[Honosbinda]

I am fairly sure when you created the new bdNUL.zip file, you did not include the "data" file in it. Look inside the archive (rename it back to .zip if you have to). I get that exact error if I build such an archive and try to load it. I have attached a copy of the fixed bdNUL.fixed.zip. Do not extract it. Just rename it to bdNUL.

JR

Brilliant. tried this zip file and it solved the problem. Not sure who we talk to to get this board fixed on the VASL.info site but hopefully they read this. The other day, before posting here, I did send Sam Tyson an email about the problem via his email link on the VASL.info site.

 

[Michael R]

I thought I followed JR's instructions correctly, but my corrected NUL board doesn't work and his does. Thank you JR.

 

[jrv]

I thought I followed JR's instructions correctly, but my corrected NUL board doesn't work and his does. Thank you JR.

I'm happy it worked. There's always a moment of apprehension when you post something like this in public.

Regarding why yours did not work, my first guess was that you did not add the "data" file. On reflection this seems perhaps too simplistic, and more likely you put one or both files in a "subdirectory" in the archive rather than at the root. The file would be listed in the contents, but vasl only looks at the root of the archive. If you are interested for your own learning, I would be glad to look at what you did to see if I can see the problem.

JR

 

[Michael R]

I am curious as well. What you stated about a root is something I had no awareness of with the mac Archive utility.

 

[jrv]

I am curious as well. What you stated about a root is something I had no awareness of with the mac Archive utility.

It was what I thought: you put the files in a directory called "bdNUL copy" and archived that directory instead of archiving the files themselves. An archive/zip file will grab up a whole directory tree if you want, or some part of it, and that's what you have done. This is your archive:



and this is my archive:



If you look at the "Location" column, my files are in "/", which is the root of the archive. An archive file has a directory structure within it, like a miniature disc. vasl expects all the files to be at the root of the directory structure, but in yours the files are one level down, in "bdNUL copy". vasl won't go hunting for the files if they are not in the root.

If I extract your archive it will create a subdirectory called "bdNUL copy" and put the two files in there.

On my machine and on windows, I can select files in the file explorer, then right-click and choose, "create Archive" (windows will say, "create zip file" I think). The files I selected directly would be added to the root. I could also select a directory, and all the files in that directory would be added, but they would be stored in the archive in that directory, not at the root. I don't know how it works in mac. If necessary on both windows and linux I could bring up a command prompt and archive the files in the current directory (which would archive as root). I think there is an option at the command prompt to archive subdirectories without preserving the directory structure, but I would have to look at the manual to figure that out.

JR

 

[zgrose]

Select all the items you want to compress, choose Compress n Items from the context menu.
That will give you a file called Archive.zip which you rename to what you want.

Note that sometimes removing the extension will just hide it. Use Get Info on a file and make sure Hide extension is unchecked to ensure that the Finder isn't hiding the true file name from you (because VASSAL cares about true file names).

 

[Will Fleming]

This what you want?

Not tested by me yet, but I think this should help.

Edit: tweaked it a bit and got it to work (v1.0). As usual, please remove the .zip after downloading.

 

[Michael R]

Select all the items you want to compress, choose Compress n Items from the context menu.
That will give you a file called Archive.zip which you rename to what you want.

AHA! I did not know that way of using the Mac compression utility. I tried it. It works. Thank you for that knowledge.