Frequently Asked Questions
Who can use this repository?Anyone. Some user guidelines can be found here. Please feel free to experiment by clicking the "New Battlemech" link on the left.However, please show courtesy and respect to other fellow users, eg. do not edit mechs created by others. By the same token, bear in mind the information stored here is by no means secure. You can download a copy of your design by saving the frame that is displaying your mech. How do I use this repository?The panel on the left lists all the Battlemechs currently stored in this database. To view a mech's data, click its Code in the list.To create a new Battlemech, click the "New Battlemech" link, then enter a name and code when prompted. A Battlemech's code is the key to all its data, and must be unique - ie. it cannot be the same as any other existing ones. When the mech is displayed, clicking the Edit button at the bottom will allow you to make changes to the data. Clicking the Edit button on an element will let you modify that element. You can abort a modification by clicking "Cancel" near the bottom. When you are done editing, click the "Finish" button. A design report at the bottom informs you whether the design complies with rules. IMPORTANTThe mech editing system is a stateless mechanism. This means there is no temporary data stored. Once you click the "Enter" button, the modification is made and permanent. There is no "undo" feature here. The "Finish" button takes you out of editing mode, it is not about saving your work. The safest approach is: If you don't want to change it, DON'T click the "Edit" button.What is Battletech, and what are Battlemechs?In short, Battlemechs (aka mechs) are giant robots, and Battletech is the game where they bash the bionic optics out of each other. Before you get your hopes up: this is all just a game like chess and snakes & ladders - it's all fictional and not real! To find out more, try the official website.Why did you make this site? ** You've been warned. **Battletech was one of my first sci-fi/fantasy games. The others were, of course: Fighting Fantasy and Dungeons & Dragons. Too many years ago, I read "The Rules of Warfare" and scratched my head, wondering where the "Start" square is on the board. At the same time, I was beginning to learn about *gasp* computers and databases. Thus was born the first Battlemech database (amongst several thousand others around the world). Through the years, my database was reincarnated over several packages but never left the confines of my personal computer.Not so long ago, I learned a wonderful little thing called Java Servlet Pages (JSP) in part time study. My first exposure to the power of database access and server side scripting held me in awe for several minutes. Off I go searching for a cheap JSP web hosting service, but at the time I only found those supporting PHP & MySQL. So I spent a few weeks learning PHP (and HTML, and MySQL, and JavaScript etc) and many more months later, here it is: my tribute to beautiful memories. Moral of the story: learning is fun - almost... What did you use to develop this site?
May I see your code?I will upload the design documentation as soon as I have written... I mean put in the finishing touches.What future developments are planned for this site?Right now I am mostly happy with the site as it is. So there will only be irregular minor tweaks and bug fixes (I would appreciate any feedback). The following are features I would like to add. However, due to other commitments and various reasons, they probably won't be implemented in the near future, if at all.My Wish-To-Do List:
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