[BUG][Player] Replay naming forces you into timestamps now

[IchoTolot]

So I always manually saved my replays in the file browser. My standard naming pattern was just the position of the level in the pack.

Now suddenly I see that not only NL changed the saving behavior from opening the file browser to "The program puts the replay in a folder of its choice", but after changing that back to opening the file browser I was shocked to see that all naming formats are now having timestamps.

- Pos + timestamp
- Title + timestamp
- Title + Pos + timestamp

Even after manually writing in just "Position" it doesn't do the trick.

Don't force the player to use name cluttering timestamps please!

Suggestion to fix this:

- Make the timestamp option a checkbox to turn on/off
- Have the 3 options: 1.) Pos 2.) Title 3.) Title + Pos

Another issue:

"Open file selector" should be a checkbox and not an option beside the naming schemes.

Train of thought should be: Do NL shall choose the folder or do you want to browse.

Then choose standard naming format and timestamp yes/no.


As a current workaround: Go into the settings textdocument and change the text of the "AutoSaveReplayPattern", "IngameSaveReplayPattern" and "PostviewSaveReplayPattern" line to the following after the "=": *{GROUP}_{GROUPPOS}

[namida]

The most common options are provided in the dropdown. If it comes to my attention that an option is widely desired, but not present as a default setting, I can certianly consider adding it, but I didn't want to clutter it up too much.

Otherwise, you can make a custom pattern, with which you can cover any possibility that 12.10 and prior allowed: https://www.lemmingsforums.net/index.php?topic=5458.0

[IchoTolot]

I know I can manually do them now, but I think just having 1 option without timestamps would be very beneficial.

Therefore I would still suggest an on/off checkbox for them where they can be added at the end of the filename.

[Dullstar]

Incidentally, what happens if a replay should be auto-saved, but timestamps are turned off and there's already a replay for that level? Does it overwrite the old one, ask for a filename to be manually specified, or append stuff to the end (e.g. incrementing number)?

[WillLem]

having 1 option without timestamps would be very beneficial.

Therefore I would still suggest an on/off checkbox for them where they can be added at the end of the filename.

+1 for this

[Proxima]

Incidentally, what happens if a replay should be auto-saved, but timestamps are turned off and there's already a replay for that level? Does it overwrite the old one, ask for a filename to be manually specified, or append stuff to the end (e.g. incrementing number)?

It will overwrite the old replay, which is one reason why I'm a bit unsure about having this as an in-game option with no explanation or warning. Possibly, instead of a checkbox for timestamps, auto and manual replays could each have two drop-down menus, one to select filename style, and one to choose between (1) timestamps; (2) overwrite old replay; (3) serial numbers (i.e. if a replay "Gentle 01" already exists, the next replay saved on that level gets called "Gentle 01-01", or similar).

On a separate note, I wonder if there is really a need for separate options for manual replays saved in-game and those saved on the postview screen? Does anyone prefer using different styles for the two?

[namida]

On a separate note, I wonder if there is really a need for separate options for manual replays saved in-game and those saved on the postview screen? Does anyone prefer using different styles for the two?

My specific thought was that users may want a file select dialog on the postview screen but not while in-game.

[Dullstar]

Incidentally, what happens if a replay should be auto-saved, but timestamps are turned off and there's already a replay for that level? Does it overwrite the old one, ask for a filename to be manually specified, or append stuff to the end (e.g. incrementing number)?

It will overwrite the old replay, which is one reason why I'm a bit unsure about having this as an in-game option with no explanation or warning. Possibly, instead of a checkbox for timestamps, auto and manual replays could each have two drop-down menus, one to select filename style, and one to choose between (1) timestamps; (2) overwrite old replay; (3) serial numbers (i.e. if a replay "Gentle 01" already exists, the next replay saved on that level gets called "Gentle 01-01", or similar).

Yeah, I don't think no timestamp should be a preset unless a handler is added for this. I'd suggest appending a number at the end when it already exists.

[WillLem]

Timestamps can be very useful for making sure you're dealing with the correct replay, particularly during a session of SYCLW or similar. I very often sort replays by "date modified" in order to be able to quickly grab the most recent; and, a quick check of the time verifies that the one I'm selecting is definitely the correct one.

Having said that, I can understand why some players would prefer to have the option to not have timestamps, hence my support for such an option.

[namida]

Okay so,

Firstly - it is possible to not have timestamps. A tad advanced, but 100% possible. So the original suggestion of "restoring" the option to not have them is not applicable.

This just leaves the question of whether default options should be presented that do not have timestamps.

In any case where a file-select dialog is not presented, I feel that it is safer not to offer a timestamp-free option. Any user who realises the need to be cautious when doing this, should be capable of using a manual pattern.

When a file-select dialog is presented, I don't see that as an issue - they will never automatically overwrite an existing file, they'd be specifically prompted to confirm overwriting before being allowed to do so. Nonetheless, if a file select dialog is being used, the user can simply edit the timestamp out, far less tediously than editing it in. And, of course, the option remains to manually create a pattern that shows a file select dialog with a timestamp-free default value.

The suggestion to add a checkbox which would essentially just have the same effect as adding a timestamp placeholder to the end of a pattern, seems pointless to me. Just add the timestamp placeholder.

So ultimately: The only change needed here is the creation of a replay naming pattern tutorial topic, which I did a few days ago. As far as NL itself goes, no change.