Database keeping track of played maps
For a while I've been wanting a way to keep track of which maps I have played in order to quickly grab a new one when I get the itch. I can usually remember whether or not I have played a map by looking at screenshots or a description, but sometimes my memory fails. Sometimes I'll start a map and then remember "oh yeah I played this one before", or I'll overlook a good map because I incorrectly think I have played it in the past.
Anyway I was looking in the user control for a solution and noticed a downloads tab which includes a "download favorites" option. A search reveled nothing about this and I couldn't see anything having to do with favorites from a map download page.
So that brings me to my two questions. Is there a way to mark maps as played (other than rating every one and checking for a "vote" option)? And what is the proper use of download favorites?
Portal 1: Portal Pro, Resurrection, Dyad, Rexaura
Portal 2: [Coop] Electrophobia, [PTI] EotM Collection, [SP] Aperture Halloween
Right now your best option is to use the vote method. I am not sure if the new version of the DLDB supports some sort of tracking, if it doesn't then I'll think of some way to add it in.
I have no idea what the proper use of the "favorites" is. It's included in the mod, and I have no way of disabling it.
Please do not Private Message me for assistance. Post a thread if you have questions or concerns.
If you need to contact the staff privately, contact the Global Moderators via Discord.
If possible; Even a simple "already downloaded" check mark would be something... Though, I don't know what the best "tracking" method would be. Cookies are often deleted... and you don't even have to be logged in to download... so you'd have to make sure you were if you wanted your downloads "tracked"....
I would expect it to only work for registered users, similar to how voting works. Cookies are temporary and per-computer so it wouldn't be a good place to save this information.
Edit: I just reread your post and realized we are saying essentially the same thing. You can disreguard the previous part.
From an outsider it doesn't seem too hard to implement that sort of tracking. The user-download pairing already exists in the form of votes, and it even gets looked up to determine if the "vote" link should be displayed on a specific page for a specific user. One could potentially just copy how votes work and use a yes/no value rather than a number from 1 to 5.
Portal 1: Portal Pro, Resurrection, Dyad, Rexaura
Portal 2: [Coop] Electrophobia, [PTI] EotM Collection, [SP] Aperture Halloween
Herein lies the inherit problem.
The download system was not written by me, it's a freely available mod to phpBB (much like the old download system was on the old version of the forums). I have opted not to write a custom download system for a plethora of reasons, probably most of which is that I simply don't have the time to undertake a colossal project like that. I wish I had the time to write a from-scratch download system, it would allow me to do all sorts of awesome shit that people keep requesting. But the truth of the matter is that I have a job and other responsibilities that do not allow for this.
I can and have made minor mods to our download system, and I will continue to do to suit our userbase. The reason I haven't rolled out the latest version is because I have to upgrade it, and then re-apply the numerous custom changes I've made since there is no easy, intelligent patching system. But adding download tracking is not as simple as "an outside observer" would assume. Ignoring the fact that phpBB is an extremely difficult code base to work with to begin with, the download mod was written by Germans who have a barely working grasp of English at best. Their code is insane and difficult to follow. All of their documentation and the majority of their site is written in German. And the only languages I speak are English and programming.
My plan is to basically do what you said, to copy how the vote tracking mechanism works. But do not assume that it's a 30 second copy-and-paste procedure to make something like that happen.
Please do not Private Message me for assistance. Post a thread if you have questions or concerns.
If you need to contact the staff privately, contact the Global Moderators via Discord.
I do my tracking by keeping downloaded and played maps in a folder on my external hard drive. Maybe this is the way for others as well, at least before this option is available online.
(percentage calculation sphere self-test failed!)
108.1% done, -8.1% remaining...
Released here!
All maps for Portal (1/2) worth playing are mirrored here.