Test Patch F15

My family members insisted that what looked like a link, in the unlock error dialogs from the master server, should actually be clickable. So now they are, and they take you to details page (or login page if you are not logged in) and when taking you to your details page they may highlight the unlock code with red, if the original message was about the unlock code.

Also more translations have been updated! Thumbs up

It's on the auto update system.

https://www.lfs.net/forum/thread/110607

F15

My family members insisted that what looked like a link, in the unlock error dialogs from the master server, should actually be clickable. So now they are, and they take you to details page (or login page if you are not logged in) and when taking you to your details page they may highlight the unlock code with red, if the original message was about the unlock code.

Also more translations have been updated!

It's on the auto update system.

OK, InSim relay is removed from the LFS World tab Flame linked to, and from "Basic settings" tab in the hosting system.

Hi, there is a system in place for that.

Please see the first post: https://www.lfs.net/forum/thread/111994

Section "If you do not have access to your registered email account"

Thanks for the feedback. OK, good to see the API has some use and at some point I'll try to have a look and see what it's about. I'm becoming more competent with php and database access. I don't want to work on trying to outsource it or update it at the moment. On the contrary, I'm trying to reduce workload for myself in the short term so I can get a bit more done to release this new version.

I don't know of any problem with the LFS API so it's not under threat, just wanted to know if anyone used it.


About InSim relay, I'll assume for now that might be coming to an end. If anyone knows where that is set up or information is displayed on the website, please let me know so I can perhaps comment out some code or add a message instead of some stuff describing how to use it, although you can't.

Hello programmers.

The InSim relay is currently down due to the loss of one of our small servers that hosted email, InSim relay and the Torrent support. Email is up and running again on a separate server.

My son just laughs when I mention Torrent, it seems a bit last century. Personally I think we can do without it.

About the InSim relay, as far as I understand it was never updated properly for the InSim update a few years ago (the one that allow larger packets) and Victor doesn't want to maintain it, as he has a full time job and doesn't really want to work on LFS if not necessary (why I've taken over the website development).

So it would all be down to me to keep the InSim relay maintained and running, which I could do without. I don't see a real need for it, but thought I should ask here if I am missing some important uses for it, to the extent that I should spend less time developing LFS and more time maintaining the InSim relay?

I'd also be interested to know of any of our other services that could be wound down. For instance, does anyone use the LFS API? I mean this: https://www.lfs.net/account/api [ EDIT: it's clear from replies below that this is one to keep ]

Last edited by Scawen, Wed 13 Aug 2025, 12:10.

Well it takes 1 minute to click a link, receive mail, paste into LFS.

Not really a big deal so let's not make a silly fuss over it.

Security of our community is more important than a few people having a hissy fit over it.


EDIT: This post was not referring to the vast majority of people who have made genuine comments and suggestions for improvement, that have helped lead to a better and less confusing system. Most comments have been helpful. Thanks for the feedback!

Last edited by Scawen, Wed 13 Aug 2025, 11:01.

Thanks for the info. The new protection is more about accidental double clicking, it doesn't prevent against later page refreshes. I could improve it in future, for example maybe there should be an intermediate page with a little info and there you would click a confirm button. It's not an immediate priority but probably should be done at some point.

EDIT: Or what Flame suggested above while I was typing.

Quote from loopingz :

Today I installed F13 and unlocked... But got locked again when F14 appeared. So I installed F14 and unlocked again. Oddly I received two emails. A minimum time between email should be better.
Other than that no problem.

Edit: I received 4 unlock code in 2 requests

I don't know why you got locked again when F14 was installed - the unlock should be preserved.

Also don't know how you got two emails.

Anyway I've added some protection that should make that impossible or very unlikely.

Currently there is a problem with our mail server so I don't think you can receive unlock codes. I don't know why this is but I have asked Victor if he can see what's up.

EDIT: OK, it's back up again.

Last edited by Scawen, Tue 12 Aug 2025, 20:44.

It should be installed in a simple named folder like C:\LFS

F14 is on the auto updater now.

So with all the updates there is quite a process now, that takes you right through what is necessary.

For example, if you have not yet set an unlock code, and you start up LFS in version F (or earlier)...

-----
1) Message on entry screen "A new update is available". This flashes for a few seconds. There is a button to visit the forum and another to directly download in game.

2a) Visit forum, you will see the test patch thread.
OR
2b) Click direct download, you go straight to the download screen.
OR
2c) Ignore that and click "List of Hosts", you see the download screen.

3) Install patch manually or using the auto updater.

4) Start LFS. The "Unlock LFS" or "S3 licensed" button is flashing.

5) Click the button. There is a message that you need to update your unlock code and an "external link" icon button.

6) Click the external link, you go to your details page and the option "Set a new unlock code" is in RED text so you can't miss it.
-----

The worst issue remaining is for totally new players, they will install LFS and it already says "A new update is available" on the entry screen, but they cannot use the auto updater.

So that means it is a high priority to release the full version.

Quote from Flame CZE :

When I request a reset e-mail, the text wraps onto two lines and the 2nd line with the time is partially hidden.[/img]

Thanks for the report. I've put the whole "send another..." onto a new line now.

Ugh, thanks.

I don't know how I've missed that up to this point.

EDIT: Maybe, instead of doing another translation update, I could simply change the title of that page to an existing translation line:

Unlock Live for Speed

EDIT2: OK, done that (attached). It does say that at first anyway, before you ever unlocked, so now it just stays the same.

Last edited by Scawen, Mon 11 Aug 2025, 20:37.

I've now changed the info sent to LFS entry screen so that if you have at a version from F to F13 there is a message in game "A new update is available" and it links to the Test Patch thread (no automatic download).

So any users who come along and don't already know about this, will at least be helped by the new patch more easily without searching around for information.

EDIT:

Request to translators of the languages that haven't yet been updated:

I hope to release the official patch and full version this week so if you have some time it would be great if you could update the translation. If you were up-to-date before it is only 9 new lines. Thanks!

Last edited by Scawen, Mon 11 Aug 2025, 19:22.

Test Patch F14

More informative if unlock code needs to be set or is wrong
Also more helpful if license has been upgraded since the last unlock
- Info about license level and unlock code detected on entry screen
- Flashes the "Unlock" or "Licensed" button if attention is required
- An appropriate message and link is displayed on the unlock screen
- For license upgrade (when code is correct) the unlock button flashes

17 translations are now updated - thanks to all the translators

https://www.lfs.net/forum/thread/110607

F14

More informative if unlock code needs to be set or is wrong
Also more helpful if license has been upgraded since the last unlock
- Info about license level and unlock code detected on entry screen
- Flashes the "Unlock" or "Licensed" button if attention is required
- An appropriate message and link is displayed on the unlock screen
- For license upgrade (when code is correct) the unlock button flashes
17 translations are now updated - thanks to all the translators

Well, I knew it was a bit of a long shot to hack the event list to show an announcement.

In a few days it will be "A new version is available" at the top of the screen, some briefly flashing text that might catch the eye and a link to the download. No doubt that will be ignored too, and people will say that they don't read text at the top of the screen. Like sticky threads in a forum, I'm always reluctant to make them sticky as it seems the best way to ensure that most people will not read them.

I've changed the new version to do a bit more subtle flashing if the user needs to go into the unlock page, and a message in there and probably a link, if they need to set an unlock code or have the wrong unlock code.

To see that they'll already need the new version. Anyway, getting the new version is a good first step.

No, please do not do that. We do not accept translation text files sent to technical support and that would be a waste of your time. We have a special online translation editor and assigned users.

Thanks but we have active French translators, so we don't need additional help with the French translation at this time.

Instructions for those who cannot access their registered email:
https://www.lfs.net/forum/thread/112018

Well, it should have appeared as in my screenshot after we zeroed your code. But not now, if you have got a new code?

EDIT: If anyone wants, I can zero their code again as a test, but it's probably not that interesting.

Last edited by Scawen, Sun 10 Aug 2025, 18:44.

For people who don't have access to their old email address, I've added instructions to the first post in this thread.

And in the sticky thread: Your unlock code...

Quote from JoeHeinZ :

Hi,
I registered to this game in the early 2000s. The old AOL email doesn´t exist no more.
Any chance to change it to a new one?

Yes, please follow the link: https://www.lfs.net/forum/post/2131496#post2131496

Unfortunately with this change you won't get a list of hosts.

When we go official there will be a message at the top saying a "A new update is available" with a link to a test patch thread. Hopefully that will help a bit.

I'll have a go with the flashing button too, it could be useful.

But let's face it, a lot of people aren't going to read, no matter what, unless forced.

You could put a big sign in front of them and they would just walk around it. They aren't going to think something might apply to them, until the point they can longer proceed.

Then, as we notice, a lot of them come to the forum and still simply refuse to read anything at all, even making near duplicate thread titles to explain their problem. Apparently it's easier to write than read.

Through discussions, we have definitely made some useful changes in the past few days to avoid difficulties entering the code, but we probably can't go much further. I think it's time to get the full version out there and this episode will become a thing of the past.

But maybe, as I said, I could make that "S3 licensed: User name" button flash in two situations:

1) Unlock code is wrong (zero, just now, or requested a new code at any time)
2) License level is wrong (upgraded on site but not yet unlocked again in game)