Viewing ACT Data in Fullscreen EQ2

EQAditu · 10-19-2007, 12:23 AM

I thought I'd try to direct a spotlight on an apparently not well known feature of ACT that I'm asked for too often. That's of course seeing parses when EQ2 is in full screen mode. Technically it has almost always existed, but most people didn't understand it.

v2.6 and later introduced the easiest to use and most useful implementation. The beginning steps of a web interface for ACT. Not a static webpage, but ACT running as an HTTP server for you to look at data from.

Since it's an HTTP server, not only can you look at the web interface locally, but give your IP out and let anyone see your data. From a Mini-Window parse, to your spell timers to any normal table you can view in ACT's memory.

Here's a little Tutorial with example pictures of what you can get from it:
Using the in-game HTML display

Kyrsten · 10-19-2007, 01:04 AM

thanks for this, it's pretty handy!

Illuminator · 10-19-2007, 06:24 PM

Be mindful of the security concerns.

Pinski · 10-20-2007, 12:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Illuminator

Be mindful of the security concerns.

The security concerns of running a server binded to the loopback interface are none, unless somebody already has access to your machine.

EQAditu · 10-20-2007, 02:01 AM

I wouldn't say that Illuminator's warnings are baseless. The HTTP server will open ports on all available interfaces, otherwise you wouldn't be able to have other people view the server like the tutorial describes.

It's of course true that port scanners will look for servers on port 80, so feel free to change the port number if you wish. If you have a software firewall, feel free to block the external listening port; localhost should still work. If you have a router, don't forward port 80 or whatever you choose.

If you wish for others to use the web interface for things such as spell timers or the mini-window display, obviously you must open yourself to the internet.

ACT's server is not based on any other technology so a "hacker" would have to start from scratch in order to exploit it. ACT's server by default cannot serve physical files from your computer so there is no easy way to access the computer's file system. If someone want's to DOS attack the web server in order to crash ACT or whatever might happen, you have other problems.

RogueFrequency · 10-24-2007, 05:55 PM

How do you get the different parse options to show up in the mini parse (under Copy to Clipboard)? I have multiple parse types set in ACT.

EQAditu · 10-25-2007, 04:44 AM

It just creates links for each preset for the mini-window. If you have a bunch of clipboard presets, just recreate them in the mini-window options, and they'll show up on that webpage.

RogueFrequency · 10-25-2007, 07:43 PM

Ah yeah, I figured it out after I posted this, it seems the server has to be restarted for it to take effect.

EQAditu · 10-25-2007, 09:03 PM

It's actually a bug that the server has to be restarted. The page should be dynamically generated on each serve.

The page however does not need to be served that often... only when you first get to that URL or hit reload. The inner contents(the parse text) of the page will change depending on what the outer contents of the page instructs it to. The outer contents need to be reloaded in order to see new formatting options.

RogueFrequency · 10-27-2007, 04:58 AM

I see now how it works, I was looking at packets and the HTML source. Great job on it, works great.

Now I just have to talk my guild into using my timers as a supplement to them being called on vent. Not crucial, but nice though.