Author Topic: Universe Sandbox 2 File Format Plans (Read 52451 times)

Dan Dixon · « **on:** August 21, 2009, 10:20:26 PM »

The next version of Universe Sandbox (version 2) will also have an enhanced file format that will allow easy bundling of a system, custom textures, custom horizon data, settings, and even custom info screens.

The current plan is to bundle these files in a standard zip file format with a custom extension that will allow you to launch Universe Sandbox by double clicking this file.

This bundle file could contain a single system file or many files like:
- system.xml
- settings.xml
- terraformedmars.png (a custom texture)
- help.txt
- info.txt
- appearance.xml (custom modifications to the default appearance.xml data file)
- objects.xml (custom modifications to the default object.xml data file)
and when opened Universe Sandbox will automatically un-compress the files and load the simulation.

This will also eliminate the need to put textures in one folder, systems in another, etc... My hope is that this will make everything simpler.

Any comments or questions?

Any though on what the file extension should be?

Andreas · « **Reply #1 on:** August 22, 2009, 09:25:31 AM »

Enceladus

FGFG · « **Reply #2 on:** August 22, 2009, 09:49:24 AM »

Just very useful.

Could you rename the .zip file in something like .usf (universe sandbox file) or whatever maintaining the same functions, so that it would be more recognizable?

hbmp88 · « **Reply #3 on:** August 22, 2009, 03:27:46 PM »

USE. lol. you use it. Stands for Universe Sandbox Editor. Or USEP. Universe Sandbox Editor Page.

atomic7732 · « **Reply #4 on:** August 22, 2009, 04:06:22 PM »

.uni (uni)verse!

Dan Dixon · « **Reply #5 on:** August 22, 2009, 07:01:47 PM »

Quote from: FGFG on August 22, 2009, 09:49:24 AM

Could you rename the .zip file in something like .usf (universe sandbox file) or whatever maintaining the same functions, so that it would be more recognizable?

Yes. That's the plan. It will be a standard zip file with a different extension so that when you 'open' the file it opens in Universe Sandbox.

File Extension Suggestions So Far

.use - Universe Sandbox Editor
.usep - Universe Sandbox Editor Page
.usf - Universe Sandbox File
.uni - (Uni)verse

Any others?

hbmp88 · « **Reply #6 on:** August 23, 2009, 03:07:08 AM »

Just in case anyone was wondering why I chose Universe Sandbox Editor (Page) is because it would be the primary page to edit systems. Am I right or do you have other plans Dan?

Bla · « **Reply #7 on:** August 23, 2009, 03:12:16 AM »

.use is cool.

.uni is also good, the other ones are more informative which is also good ofc... Hmm.

.unsa - Universe Sandbox.

Or .usa lol.

Err...

hbmp88 · « **Reply #8 on:** August 23, 2009, 03:23:26 AM »

Ummmmm... Not really getting the unsa or usa. Double abbreviations are a little too complicated. You would never be able to know what it is by looking at it. $:-\$

Dan Dixon · « **Reply #9 on:** August 23, 2009, 04:43:23 AM »

Quote from: hbmp88 on August 23, 2009, 03:07:08 AM

Just in case anyone was wondering why I chose Universe Sandbox Editor (Page) is because it would be the primary page to edit systems. Am I right or do you have other plans Dan?

I'm still working out the details, but I envision this as the all-in-one file format for the program.

It could contain presets, textures, systems, tutorials, or a combination of all of them.

atomic7732 · « **Reply #10 on:** August 23, 2009, 09:57:22 AM »

Quote from: hbmp88 on August 23, 2009, 03:23:26 AM

Ummmmm... Not really getting the unsa or usa. Double abbreviations are a little too complicated. You would never be able to know what it is by looking at it. $:-\$

Don't talk like that to CoRoT! lol

hahaha

Bla · « **Reply #11 on:** August 23, 2009, 11:44:59 AM »

Quote from: NeutronStar on August 23, 2009, 09:57:22 AM

Quote from: hbmp88 on August 23, 2009, 03:23:26 AM
Ummmmm... Not really getting the unsa or usa. Double abbreviations are a little too complicated. You would never be able to know what it is by looking at it. $:-\$

Don't talk like that to CoRoT! lol hahaha

CoRoT?

atomic7732 · « **Reply #12 on:** August 23, 2009, 11:50:07 AM »

You haven't heard of CoRoT?

COnvection ROtation and planetary Transits?

Bla · « **Reply #13 on:** August 23, 2009, 11:55:10 AM »

Quote from: NeutronStar on August 23, 2009, 11:50:07 AM

You haven't heard of CoRoT?

COnvection ROtation and planetary Transits?

Now that's scary.

atomic7732 · « **Reply #14 on:** August 23, 2009, 11:56:27 AM »

Scary? How?

Bla · « **Reply #15 on:** August 23, 2009, 12:00:27 PM »

It's not a question about how it's scary, it's a question about why it's not scary.

Anyways, what could be other file endings?
.sys - system?
.syf - system file?
.spaf - space file?

atomic7732 · « **Reply #16 on:** August 23, 2009, 12:04:41 PM »

huh?

.spa space
.gal galaxy (why, idk)
.usb Universe SandBox (file)

Bla · « **Reply #17 on:** August 23, 2009, 12:08:54 PM »

I think .gal is too un-neutral, like if you only made a solar system or perhaps two galaxies, then it doesn't work so good.
But the other ones are good.

atomic7732 · « **Reply #18 on:** August 23, 2009, 12:11:26 PM »

If you make a "Universe" and you just made a solar system, that's tehnically not a "universe".

Quote

The Universe comprises everything that physically exists: the entirety of space and time, all forms of matter, energy and momentum, and the physical laws and constants that govern them. However, the term Universe may be used in slightly different contextual senses, denoting such concepts as the cosmos, the world or Nature.

.cos
.com
.cosm

All mean cosmos

FGFG · « **Reply #19 on:** August 23, 2009, 02:24:24 PM »

Maybe

.uss - Universe Sandbox System

or symply

.us - Universe Sandbox

atomic7732 · « **Reply #20 on:** August 23, 2009, 02:32:06 PM »

So we have:

.use
.usep
.usf
.uni
.unsa
.usa
.sys
.syf
.spaf
.spa
.gal
.usb
.cos
.com (I don't recommend it)
.cosm
.uss
.us

how about:

.uf - Universe File

Not recommended by at least one user

witold · « **Reply #21 on:** August 23, 2009, 02:37:44 PM »

XML file need change to .txt file bee easier to open in notepad

atomic7732 · « **Reply #22 on:** August 23, 2009, 02:39:00 PM »

Both will open in notepad easy.

Let's take a vote. What's best?

We vote, then from those, we take them and put them into a vote. Dan chooses if majority wins (he probably will)

hbmp88 · « **Reply #23 on:** August 23, 2009, 10:11:20 PM »

Ummm I think usb and com are taken lol.

Bla · « **Reply #24 on:** August 23, 2009, 10:41:50 PM »

.use - Bla
.usep Bla
.usf - Bla
.uni Bla
.unsa - hbmp88
.usa - Bla, hbmp88
.sys - Bla
.syf - Bla
.spaf - Bla
.spa - Bla
.gal - NeutronStar, Bla
.usb - Bla
.cos - Bla
.com - NeutronStar, Bla
.cosm - Bla
.uss - Bla
.us - Bla
.uf - Bla
.usandbox - monmarfori, Bla

Favorite (1) by user, approved by user, user is neutral, voted down by user.

Updated with MEEE!

And sorry anyone if I put you on in places you didn't vote, just delete them if it's false.

monmarfori · « **Reply #25 on:** August 24, 2009, 01:39:35 AM »

My custom one
.usandbox - monmarfori
I am not listed on Bla's post.

hbmp88 · « **Reply #26 on:** August 24, 2009, 01:42:33 AM »

You voted down your own post lol?! You know red is for disapproval.

witold · « **Reply #27 on:** August 24, 2009, 03:46:33 AM »

Dan will choose by himself what will be "end of file" named

Bla · « **Reply #28 on:** August 24, 2009, 06:55:30 AM »

Quote from: witold on August 24, 2009, 03:46:33 AM

Dan will choose by himself what will be "end of file" named

Yes, but we're just coming up with some ideas.

Btw i've put monmarfori's on my list. I voted against it, I think it's too long, but if we could get another abbreviation for it I think it'd be good.

atomic7732 · « **Reply #29 on:** August 24, 2009, 07:03:03 AM »

Quote from: hbmp88 on August 23, 2009, 10:11:20 PM

Ummm I think usb and com are taken lol.

Files. Remember. Files.