Galactic Civilizations Manual

from Stardock Forums
I was wondering if the GalCiv development team would be interested in a Microsoft Word format version of the game manual?

I decided to OCR the whole thing because I didn't want to deal with loading a 53MB, unsearchable PDF into Acrobat Reader whenever I wanted to look something up in the manual. It should also print much cleaner (and a savings in ink used) with the graphic background removed. I am in the process of doing a quick spell check on the file.

This could also be easily recreated as a much smaller PDF file (with searchable text) if they'd like that format as well. And perhaps indexed to match the table of contents, though I'd have to work on that later tonight.

Just thought I'd make the offer since the current manual looks like a straight scan of the printed manual...

~SDC~
2,387 views 31 replies
Reply #1 from Stardock Forums Top
I would certainly be interested in a Word format, if you would be willing to e-mail it. My email is:

johnf at clrtech dot com

Thanks :)
Reply #2 from Stardock Forums Top
I would be too.

The Strategy First folks did a nice job but it's in Quark Express.

If you could email that to me I'd really appreciate it! Thanks!!

~SDC~
Ashes of the Singularity II
Reply #3 from Stardock Forums Top
I'm trying to do a thorough job so I might not be able to send it out until tonight. I want to make sure that it's at least an acceptable 1.0 version before I send it off to you guys. There MAY be some proofreading that needs to be done as I know I won't catch all of the OCR errors that might pop up. I am also at work right now trying to download the multimedia pack before I head home, but it looks like it'll be about 100 MB short, I'm glad you can play without it. I'll send Word and PDF versions to the GalCiv team via Frogboy for some proofreading when they are finished.

~SDC~
Reply #4 from Stardock Forums Top
Frogboy....

Did you say Quark Express....?

Maybe we're in luck... I might be able to convert that file format! Is there any way you could send me that original file?

~SDC~
Reply #5 from Stardock Forums Top
That is the only thing that is truely lacking in the entire GalCiv experience, the manual is severelly lacking.
Reply #6 from Stardock Forums Top
Az:, it's a HUUGE file. But I'll see if I can put it on an FTP or something.
Reply #7 from Stardock Forums Top
I have the OCR done to Microsoft Word. I'll try to give it a read through and see if I can catch some of the grammar errors. If nothing else this will give you guys a huge starting point to a smaller, easier to read version of the manual.

I'll check and make sure I can covert the Quark Express, perhaps you could "cut out" one or two pages into a separate file and send that (or place on an FTP) and I can try the conversation to make sure it's worth the effort of transferring the whole manual?

~SDC~
Reply #8 from Stardock Forums Top
Brad,

I will send you the Microsoft Word file tonight when I get home. I have done a quick proofread on it and the layout is as close to the original manual as the OCR program could get it... it looks pretty good and is much much much smaller than the PDF version sent with the game. I will convert this to a PDF file and send it as well. I'd also be willing to work with you if any updates to the manual are necessary.

Az

~SDC~
Reply #9 from Stardock Forums Top
Thanks!

~SDC~
Reply #11 from Stardock Forums Top
Brad,

I'm home now, going to do the conversion to PDF, zip up the files and send it out via e-mail. It may take a while since I'm still working off a slow dial-up from home but you'll have them in an hour or two.

~SDC~
Reply #12 from Stardock Forums Top
Brad,

Actually, seeing as the zip file is around 2.6 MB for the two versions, would you happen to have an FTP where I could upload the file? If so, please e-mail me the information to access the FTP server. I can try and e-mail the zip file to you, but I'm not 100% sure how my ISP's mail server will deal with the large attachment.

~SDC~
Reply #13 from Stardock Forums Top
Brad,

I'm going to go ahead and TRY to send via e-mail. If it works, then you should have the file within the hour. If it doesn't, you'll probably get an e-mail with the attachment dropped off by my outgoing server. If that happens, just let me know an alternative method to get the file to you. FTP is always good, as is sending the file via one of the messenger services, I have accounts on both MSN and Yahoo.

~SDC~
Reply #14 from Stardock Forums Top
Let me add my vote for a better copy of the manual here. The PDF is so awful in quality, most of the text in the images is utterly unreadable. I'd love a clean copy if I'm not actually getting a printed manual... :notsure:
Reply #15 from Stardock Forums Top
I bought the game at EB and have the manual, yet I still would not mind a copy in Word. My eyesight is not the greatest and I am finding it difficult to read the black font on silver background without developing an eye strain and headache...I can only read the manual for short periods....never had that occur before, but I guess there's a first time for everything....
Reply #16 from Stardock Forums Top
Just be thankful you did not have to figure the game out from the gawd-awful so-called PDF that you get with the online version. It looks like a mimeograph of a fax of a grave-rubbing... Is there a *clear* PDF out there yet?

There are serious content (lacking) problems with it too, but that's another issue. ;)
Reply #17 from Stardock Forums Top
My biggest disappointment with the game is the PDF manual ! :(
What's the heck ? 54 MB file for 44 big-font pages, but nearly unreadable due to bold weird font style !!! (:(
Can't even print it : on py paltry home printer I'd be out of ink, and I can't transfer it to office to print it on the big color laser printer ...

IMO the old html manual available in the Encyclopedia is still much better... I expected a REAL GOOD manual (as the rest of the game), stg like the Civ2 or MOO2 manual were in the glorious 90s of TBS gaming !
Say 120+ pages, with details about techs and structures, races and events, resources and modules, some strategy advice, background story,...

Now this manual is only an update to the site's one, and quite a messy one ...

Sorry for the rant, that's my only one with this great game (and oh yes, the D/L server was sloooooooooooow, but I got everything fine in the end ! :) )
Reply #18 from Stardock Forums Top
If you would like a pdf about the tech, ships etc I have one at my site

Here is the link
http://www.estats4all.com/pph/dlcount.php?id=JavaScout&url=/galcivquickref.pdf

~SDC~
Reply #19 from Stardock Forums Top
Thanks Javascout ! :D
This is a very useful reference, why ain't it in the "official" manual ?
And a (Civ2-like, again) Tech Tree would be most welcome... ;p
Reply #20 from Stardock Forums Top
I've sent Brad the Word and PDF versions I made from the original PDF manual. The new versions are around 1.2 MB each and are much easier to read and print out a lot better. I'm waiting to get some feedback from him since the files I made could need some additions or corrections before they can be released. I don't expect to hear from him until later today since it looks like he had a pretty late night.

I think the tech, project, wonder and trade good information would be a logical and very useful addition to the manual. I've looked through Javascout's site and have to say that it is a great resource, one I'm definitely going to utilize when deciding on research projects.

~SDC~
Reply #21 from Stardock Forums Top
Sounds great azakin, do you have any idea if we will be able to download the "new" manual from Stardock Central?
Reply #22 from Stardock Forums Top
I would assume there will be a new version of the manual posted at a later date. The word version is still a bit rough around the edges but includes (almost) all of the information from the instruction manual in the same page layout. I've offered to make any additions and updates to the manual that are needed. I think such a good game should have an equally good instruction manual :)

~SDC~
Reply #24 from Stardock Forums Top
I hope it will be publicly available. Since the manual is owned by Stardock and/or Strategy First, my plan is to work on the manual as directed by Stardock and send the new versions to them in PDF and/or Word format. Then they can post it on the web or SDC. I offered to help update the manual since the developers will probably be busy working on fixing any bugs and making improvements to the game (or at least I hope so :)). I'm going to try and get in touch with Brad this evening when I get home from work and see what updates and/or additions they want.

~SDC~
Reply #25 from Stardock Forums Top
I noticed several things in the manual that could use an update just on my first game. Government types and a more accurate list of the abilities you can purchase for your civilization, including cost and benefits, just to name a couple. It's about time for me to head home so I'll check in later this evening.

~SDC~