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TazzyLynn's Parser: A GuideFollow

#1 Nov 16 2006 at 2:13 PM Rating: Excellent
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737 posts
Since Spyle is no longer working on his parser it has stopped working with recent updates that SquareEnix has made. Spyle released the source code for his parser on 6/22/06.

TazzyLynn has taken up the project and now has a working version of the parser (based on Spyle's source code) and is in the process of updating the parser to work with even more functions than Spyle's had working.

Here is a guide for TazzyLynn's version. I will try to update this guide with new information and whenever TazzyLynn makes changes. I also plan to add more details on the various workings of the parser, but wanted to get a starting guide out there first.

Feel free to let me know of anything that you'd like added or that needs changed.

-- Ikonic


TazzyLynn's FFXI Log Parser: A Guide
(Based on TazzyLynn's FFXI Log Parser v7.1.3)

You can get TazzyLynn's FFXI Log Parser from here:
http://www.lildevilproductions.net/

Installation:

This guide is based off Version 7.1.3 Full Setup as found on TazzyLynn's home page.

After you have downloaded and extracted the contents of the ZIP file you can now install the program. To do so just open the setup.ext file.

Once you open the setup.exe you will have a prompt displayed welcoming you to the installation program.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v521/icinoki/TazzyLynn/01.jpg

Click OK to continue with the installation. This will bring up another prompt that will give you the option to change the default installation path. If you would like to change this path feel free to do so. Once you are ready to continue installing click on the top button.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v521/icinoki/TazzyLynn/02.jpg

Next the installation program will give you the option to change the name of the folder that it installs the parser to in your programs list. If you'd like to place it in an existing folder you are welcome to do so as well. Click on Continue when you are ready to do so.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v521/icinoki/TazzyLynn/03.jpg

Once the installation program is finished it will tell you as such.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v521/icinoki/TazzyLynn/04.jpg


Setup:

Now that the parser has been installed we need to set it up to start parsing. Open the parser and it should look similar to this:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v521/icinoki/TazzyLynn/05.jpg

You will need to select the location of the ffxi log files for the parser to know where to read the data from. To do so use the Options > Set FFXI Log Location menus.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v521/icinoki/TazzyLynn/06.jpg

By default the log files will be found in C:\Program Files\PlayOnline\SquareEnix\FINAL FANTASY XI\TEMP\. Choose any of the log files listed and click Open.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v521/icinoki/TazzyLynn/07.jpg

Next we will need to select which reporting fields that we want the parser to gather data for. To do this go to Options > Select Reporting Fields.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v521/icinoki/TazzyLynn/08.jpg

By default only Melee, Spell, Skill, and Melee Hit % are checked. Check any additional that you would like to collect data for and click OK.

You can select every field, but doing so will make the resulting exported table rather large. It is generally recommended to only choose those fields that you will directly influence (meaning if you are a melee you don't need to know how much MP a mage uses).

Following are the fields and what each one means:

Melee - total damage dealt from melee attacks
Ranged - total damage dealt from ranged attacks
Spell - total damage dealt from spells
Skill - total damage dealt from weapon skills (determined from weaponskills.txt)
Ability - total damage dealt from job abilities
Additionall(sic) Effect - total damage dealt from additional effects
Melee Hit % - percentage of melee attacks that actually hit the enemy
Melee Hit/Miss - number of melee hits and misses
Melee High/Low - High and Low hits of your melee attacks (excluding skills/abilities)
Melee Average - average damage of each melee attack
Range Hit % - percentage of ranged attacks that actually hit the enemy
Range Hit/Miss - number of ranged hits and misses
Range High/Low - High and Low hits of your ranged attacks (excluding skills/abilities)
Range Average - average damage of each ranged attack
Spell High/Low - High and Low hits of the spells that do damage
Spell Average - average damage of the spells that do damage
Spell MP Used - amount of MP used when casting the spells that do damage
Weapon Skill High/Low - High and Low hits of your weapon skill attacks
Weapon Skill Average - average damage of each weapon skill attack
Weapon Skill Uses - number of times you did a weapon skill
Ability High/Low - High and Low hits of the abilities that do damage
Ability Average - average damage of the abilities that do damage
Critical Hit % - percentage of attacks that were critical hits
Critical Hits - total number of attacks that were critical hits
Avoid % - percentage of attacks you avoided
Take/Avoid - total number of attacks taken and avoided
Evades - number of attacks you evaded
Parries - number of attacks you parried
Resists -
Absorbs - number of attacks you absorbed
Avoids - number of attacks you avoided
Anticipates - number of attacks you anticipated
Counters - number of attacks you countered
DMG Taken - total amount of damage taken during that fight
HP Recovered - how much HP was recovered, by whatever means
HP Healed - how much HP that player healed another for
HP. MP Used - how much MP was used to heal HP
% of TTL DMG - that player's percentage of the total damage dealt

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v521/icinoki/TazzyLynn/09.jpg


To Begin Parsing:

We are now ready to start parsing. There are several options for how you would like the data displayed or saved.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v521/icinoki/TazzyLynn/12.jpg

Start Parsing - Reads the logs, calculates the data, and spits it out in the report.
Parse Gathered Log - After you have parsed data and saved it to a file using one of the gather methods you can use this to parse that log file.
Gather Logs to File - Instead of reading the log files and calculating the data immediately, it reads them and dumps them into a single file of your choice that you can parse later.
Gather Logs to Date - Instead of reading the log files and calculating the data immediately, it reads them and dumps them into a file named after the current date. Example: 10-10-2004.prs. It is important to note, that if you play over midnight, it will start a new file for the new date.
Parse/Gather Logs to File - This is a combination of parsing immediately and gathering. Useful if you always want to save the logs, but see immediate results at the same time.
Parse/Gather Logs to Date - This is a combination of parsing immediately and gathering. Useful if you always want to save the logs, but see immediate results at the same time.

Of these options only three will allow you to start parsing and read the data immediatly. These are:
File > Start Parsing
File > Parse/Gather Logs to File
File > Parse/Gather Logs to Date

Personally I am a fan of File > Parse/Gather Logs to File so that I may save the results for later while also being able to look at them now.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v521/icinoki/TazzyLynn/10.jpg

It should ask you for a *.prs name to save it as. Name it anything you desire and then click Save.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v521/icinoki/TazzyLynn/11.jpg

You are now setup and parsing the data.


Additonal Notes:

If you are running the Parser on the same system that you run FFXI on you will need to start the Parser before starting the game.

FFXI only creates a log file after 50 lines of text have passed through your chat window, because of this, there will always be a delay. The more filters you have on the less text and more delay before new information becomes available. From the Parser's point of view the less filters you have turned on the better.

The Parser can ONLY read what YOU can read! For example if you have other misses off, it won’t see them and therefore cannot calculate them into the results. The Parser is very dependent on the filters that you have set up.

Edit: Corrected URL for TazzyLynn's Website.


Edited, Aug 30th 2007 7:18pm by Icinoki
#3 Nov 16 2006 at 5:50 PM Rating: Decent
Um Mistake possibly

Edited, Nov 16th 2006 at 5:55pm PST by Paulisdead
#4 Nov 16 2006 at 6:14 PM Rating: Good
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387 posts
I have wanted to have the ability to parse many situations in which I play for a while now and appreciate this a ton, rate up. I only have one question. It may appear dumb, but it's an honest question. Using the parser, am I at risk to be caught by SE and get in trouble? I'd like to use the program, but I really don't wana get in trouble for using it either. Is it like Windower, in which they *supposedly* can detect it, but often times it's not on the main to do list? Thanks a ton-Isaiah
#5 Nov 16 2006 at 7:37 PM Rating: Good
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59 posts
Great job!

One question, do you have any good ways to setup a parser on another computer, say a laptop, and read the results while you play, kinda fight for fight?

I tried to set it up useing windows "My network places" but it doesent seem to stay connected to maps on other computers for very long at a time and makes the parser crash.
#6 Nov 16 2006 at 8:32 PM Rating: Good
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1,392 posts
Quote:
I have wanted to have the ability to parse many situations in which I play for a while now and appreciate this a ton, rate up. I only have one question. It may appear dumb, but it's an honest question. Using the parser, am I at risk to be caught by SE and get in trouble? I'd like to use the program, but I really don't wana get in trouble for using it either. Is it like Windower, in which they *supposedly* can detect it, but often times it's not on the main to do list? Thanks a ton-Isaiah

If it hasn't deviated too much from Spyle's version (I haven't used this one yet), then no. It only reads the log files that are already occasionally dumped by FFXI into a particular directory. It doesn't hook into any of FFXI's processes, and unless FFXI uses something similar to WoW's Warden, it can't detect a completely seperate process.
#7 Nov 16 2006 at 11:26 PM Rating: Good
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737 posts
zedster wrote:
Using the parser, am I at risk to be caught by SE and get in trouble?


The parser is a background program that reads the logs written by FFXI. It does not interfere with the game in any way and should not be dectectable. Running the parser would be able the same as running Winamp.

Monteiro wrote:
One question, do you have any good ways to setup a parser on another computer, say a laptop, and read the results while you play, kinda fight for fight?


To set up the parser on a different computer than the one you run FFXI on you'd have to map a network drive. This is how I run my parser. I have the folder C:\Program Files\PlayOnline\SquareEnix\FINAL FANTASY XI\ mapped to I:\. Then when it comes time to Set FFXI Log Location I use the path of I:\TEMP\.
#8 Nov 17 2006 at 6:13 AM Rating: Good
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1,024 posts
I have found that the parser likes to pick up data from people/npc's not in my party... anyway to avoid that? I can avoid PC's data by tweaking my filters. But, not for NPC's such as Summons.

If, for example, I was a SMN, and there was a party near me with a SMN as well, the avatar data is messed up. =/

#9 Nov 17 2006 at 10:04 AM Rating: Good
28 posts
Jetsam the reason it is picking up some of the NPC stuff like Summons is due to adding in bst and smn kills. I am currently working on a way to work around that issue while still being able to log those kills. Because of the way SE actually logs kills it is a little difficult. But hopefully I can get this issue fixed soon.

Icinoki thank you for all the help you have been giving me. It is greatly appreciated.
#10 Nov 17 2006 at 1:43 PM Rating: Decent
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325 posts
Some questions about use:

How often are log files created? For example, if I'm playing for a while doing various things, and then I go join an XP pt that I would like to parse--how would I know which log file to have the parser go through in order to accurately obtain info from JUST my xp session?
#11 Nov 17 2006 at 3:05 PM Rating: Good
28 posts
Raizins if you want to just look at the information for your exp party you can do 1 of 2 things. Read New Logs only, or after the start parsing option you choose go to tools and click clear data. This will clear out all information previously gathered and start fresh.
#12 Nov 19 2006 at 12:21 AM Rating: Good
28 posts
I have created a new home for the parser. Please update your bookmarks for the new website.

http://www.lildevilproductions.net

Thank you all for your continued support.

Edited, Nov 19th 2006 at 12:24am PST by TazzyLynn

Edited, Nov 19th 2006 at 12:25am PST by TazzyLynn
#13 Nov 19 2006 at 1:20 AM Rating: Decent
I won't attempt to know the inner workings of tazzy lynn's programming updates to the parser, but one thing caught my eye:

Quote:
HP. MP Used - how much MP was used to heal HP


Now, maybe I'm having a brain fart, but I don't recall the game EVER displaying MP used in the chat log. Unless I'm mistaken, this means the program is calculating MP based on stats gathered from the FFXI's process memory, either directly, or indirectly via windower or some other means. If I'm wrong, tell me now and I'll shut up.

Otherwise, this is no longer just a parser, and people who use it should be aware of such.

EDIT: I just realized the program MAY be using the names of the spells cast (XYZ casts Cure III on ABC), which would negate my question. However, it should be noted that Conserve MP will have negative effects on this type of calculation, as, to the best of my knowledge, random spells use less MP than they should with this job trait active, and calculating MP used by spell name alone will not reflect this.

Also, if MP cost IS calculated by spell name alone from teh chat log, this does not account for things like full HP while regen is still active or cures that do not cure for the full possible amount(less HP cured per MP since HP is already full), not to mention actual cure rate bonuses from MND boosts, healing magic differences, and equipment, and may not properly account for mob dispel moves which may take away regen type effects. This is not a security thing, but might be a serious bug for mages attempting to do any real parsing.


Edited, Nov 19th 2006 at 1:25am PST by StubsOnAsura

Edited, Nov 19th 2006 at 1:29am PST by StubsOnAsura
#14 Nov 19 2006 at 1:47 AM Rating: Decent
This link doesn't work for me, it keeps constantly timing out.
#15 Nov 19 2006 at 6:37 AM Rating: Decent
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1,430 posts
Many thanks from the Summoner, Dragoon, Black Mage, Dark Knight, Samurai, Blue Mage, White Mage, Puppetmaster, Paladin, Thief, and Ranger communities for perpetuating the ruination of FFXI via your parser program.

Your enabling of the "TP-Burn only" mentality is much appreciated.
#16 Nov 19 2006 at 6:58 AM Rating: Decent
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844 posts
Quote:
Many thanks from the Summoner, Dragoon, Black Mage, Dark Knight, Samurai, Blue Mage, White Mage, Puppetmaster, Paladin, Thief, and Ranger communities for perpetuating the ruination of FFXI via your parser program.

Your enabling of the "TP-Burn only" mentality is much appreciated.

You're pathetic. You'd dare blame someone doing something amazingly helpful to the majority of players for the TP-Burn mentality? Yeah, I blame the Wright brothers when jet liners go down. Give me a break. If you don't like it, don't use it, but don't bitch like a child. Most of the jobs you just quoted get very good use out of the parser. STFU and GFY, kthnx.


EDIT: Just for the record, I think the TP-Burn thing is a problem too, but I don't go around crying about it. Seriously, don't blame others for your problems. That's called "projecting." Seek help.

Edited, Nov 19th 2006 at 7:15am PST by HeavensentLXXI
#17 Nov 19 2006 at 7:32 AM Rating: Good
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325 posts
AriesSeventyThree wrote:
Many thanks from the Summoner, Dragoon, Black Mage, Dark Knight, Samurai, Blue Mage, White Mage, Puppetmaster, Paladin, Thief, and Ranger communities for perpetuating the ruination of FFXI via your parser program.

Your enabling of the "TP-Burn only" mentality is much appreciated.


LOL. TP Burns are the ruination of FFXI??? Most of those jobs can do just fine in TP burn anyway.

Anyway, using the parser, it was nice to find that I can still have 85%+ RAcc while eating attack food in Dynamis Xarcabard. Good stuff.

Edited, Nov 19th 2006 at 7:39am PST by Raizins
#18 Nov 19 2006 at 7:47 AM Rating: Good
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2,603 posts
AriesSeventyThree wrote:
Many thanks from the Summoner, Dragoon, Black Mage, Dark Knight, Samurai, Blue Mage, White Mage, Puppetmaster, Paladin, Thief, and Ranger communities for perpetuating the ruination of FFXI via your parser program.

Your enabling of the "TP-Burn only" mentality is much appreciated.


My Paladin friend has been using parser to prove that he can do comparable damage to other jobs. A Thief in my dynamis LS has been parsing himself to show that THF doesn't do as low DOT as people often think. Personally I like being able to parse my Dragoon to prove that there's nothing "lol" at all about it. Practically all the jobs in your post can make good use of the parser in one way or another.

Now shut up and stop pretending to speak for communities you're not a part of.

Thanks for your effort, TazzyLynn. Good job.

Edited, Nov 19th 2006 at 7:52am PST by Phycho
#19 Nov 19 2006 at 11:29 AM Rating: Good
28 posts
Darwinion I received a report early this morning that the time out errors were fixed. Sorry for the inconvenience. It seems when the new site went online early this morning the web server wasn't quite prepared for it. All of the links work properly now and there shouldn't be anymore problems.

Sir StubsOnAsura the HP MP Used on healing is calculated by the cure spell being cast then the text file to get the MP cost of the spell. No not all of the cures can be calculated right now. So spells like regen are not added into the equation. Unless I rewrite the parser to hook into FFXI I really don't see a way around certain issues and this I will not do.

Tazzy
#20 Nov 19 2006 at 11:48 AM Rating: Decent
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2,499 posts
Does anyone know if there is any possible way to have a parser running for the ps2?
#21 Nov 19 2006 at 2:16 PM Rating: Decent
OK Tazzy...I got it downloaded fine now thanks. But I cannot get this to work at all. I just spent over an hour following these intructions and I can't get any data to be parsed at all. I can get the parser to detect which mobs I am fighting because I can see the mobs listed..... but all the data in the fields just reads 0.00. No damage is parsed at all.
#22 Nov 19 2006 at 6:14 PM Rating: Decent
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397 posts
AriesSeventyThree wrote:
Many thanks from the Summoner, Dragoon, Black Mage, Dark Knight, Samurai, Blue Mage, White Mage, Puppetmaster, Paladin, Thief, and Ranger communities for perpetuating the ruination of FFXI via your parser program.

Your enabling of the "TP-Burn only" mentality is much appreciated.


lolmoron


If an incredibly useful program that is able to detect your contribution to the party (in terms of damage, at least) is "perpetuating the ruination of FFXI", I really don't know what to say.

Like other posters have stated, this type of program allows jobs such as DRG and THF to say "We're not gimp" with actual proof. Maybe that's what bothers you? Maybe you would like to state things without any proof at all? Sorry, but that's not my - or most people's - way of playing.

And if you really are doing crap damage, why is it? The parser can tell you. Maybe it's your 50% accuracy, or your 5 dmg/hit average. This program can allow you to compare every single aspect of your DDing to the others of the party, and find why your performance was so poor. You could then proceed to fix your problem, or whine about how the parser has made your life a living hell. Going by the information in your sig, I cannot understand where you're coming from and would appreciate if you kept your comments to yourself.


On topic, thanks a bunch for the great parser (and guide), I was wondering why my old parser wasn't working properly, I'll use this one from now on ^^. Honestly, an enourmous Thank You from most FFXI'ers for doing a very helpful job with little to no remuneration at all. Greatly appreciated :)
#24 Dec 10 2006 at 12:42 AM Rating: Decent
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445 posts
Thanks for this program.

Friendly bump. :D

-Mike
#25 Dec 11 2006 at 6:40 AM Rating: Good
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3,896 posts
HeavensentLXXI wrote:



EDIT: Just for the record, I think the TP-Burn thing is a problem too, but I don't go around crying about it. Seriously, don't blame others for your problems. That's called "projecting." Seek help.



Blaming others for your problems is not called projecting. Freudian Projection involves denying qualities in yourself and instead seeing them in other people.

You can read about it here if you really want:

http://changingminds.org/explanations/behaviors/coping/projection.htm

#26 Dec 11 2006 at 6:49 AM Rating: Good
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3,112 posts
I downloaded this a while ago and I want to say a big thank you to Tazzy for keeping the Parser going. I love seeing just how I am doing in a party. My first run of the parser was on Lesser Colibri as a COR and I was actually the highest parse (beating the SAM and DRK).. then we replaced the DRK with an RNG and I went to #2 quite quickly (was 57 and no barrage ;_;

anyway, keep up the great work :)
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