Charas.EX => Visual Basic (need help)

[GaryCXJk]

Okay, I have decided that Visual Basic is the best language to reprogram Charas.EX in. Problem is, I don't know how to program, and the internet isn't very nice to me. I can't seem to find any decent tutorials on the web, and this is where I will need your help.

I am still doing most programming myself, but if you want to help, please do. But I also need some downloadable examples, some good tutorials and... a good way to pack things WITHOUT using the most commonly used packing methods (like ZIP or RAR). This is for both the updater and the resources. If it requires a DLL, then it's fine by me. If Visual Basic has its own packing ways, please tell me.

What will Charas.EX v3 have?

Definately
- Support for charsets, facesets and battlecharsets
- Multiple languages
- Auto-cut (for splitting the charset automatically into single images)
- Charas 2 like resource manipulation
- Simple recolourer
- Direct resource drawer
- Importer will be external

Probably
- Ability to add your own types of sets (think monsters)
- Skins (not required actually)
- GIF export (for animating each direction)
- Dynamic Item Placer (certain items are not in a fixed place anymore)

Not
- Standard RPG Maker XP support

If you have suggestions, please put them here as well. But I really need some help, maybe I can even form a complete team from this.

http://charasex.multiverseworks.com/

[EJ]

well i dont know if it is still on the inet but "API guide" is a very good program for searching API's. maybe can google help you to find it...

EDIT:
http://www.mentalis.org/agnet/appdown.shtml

[GaryCXJk]

Thanks for your advice. I've downloaded it, and it helped me with some things.

I do need some more help though. If I would have to work on this on my own I won't be able to finish the product for a long time.

Anyway, here's a sort of teaser download. This is how Charas.EX is currently standing:

[EJ]

looks good for now. if you need some help you can add me on msn (eurojumbo@gmail.com)

[GhostClown]

Hey, Gary, I like what the new one looks like already, it's faster, smaller, and it'll probably be easier to use over all.

[Osmose]

http://www.visualbasicforum.com/

Best place for support I've ever seen.

[GaryCXJk]

Okay, new update. I'm planning on making the Importer semi-stand-alone. This means that Charas.EX doesn't need to be run in order to import new resources. As for other features, again, please give suggestions.

[EJ]

what do you think of a auto update fuction?

[GaryCXJk]

Well, the updater of the original Charas.EX was sufficient enough. An auto updater requires a webhost which can support either RSS feeds or a server-sided programming language. If the host is off-line, the auto-updater is useless. With the current updater, we can just host updates on the Charas site and the official Charas.EX site (http://charasex.multiverseworks.com).