DarqUI v3.1.3.0

Hello Darq Siders! A new version of the DarqUI utility is available on eq2interface.com, and it comes with some important internal changes as well as some nifty new features.

Updates

Both DarqUI and EQ2MAP use new methods to communicate with the update servers. Why? Efficiency and security. You can read more details about the EQ2MAP changes that help jnils to more efficiently deal with the constant stream of new maps and POIs. The DarqUI changes are driven by a privacy improvement, with more efficient delivery as a by-product of tighter security.

Technically you can still use v3.1.2.9 for DarqUI updates, since the new measures were introduced in July's "hybrid" utility. But going forward, v3.1.3.0 uses only the new methods for DarqUI and EQ2MAP updates.

You already know that your privacy is at the top of my list of concerns. As always, no data ever goes from your computer onto the Internet for any reason when using the DarqUI Utility or Notifier.

Notifier v1.2.0.7

And speaking of DarqUI_Notify, if you use that to check for DarqUI and EQ2MAP updates, you'll want to switch to the new Notifier version as well. Same reasons as above.

There is also a handy new option in the Notifier -- if you have been using the URL Helper and then decide to stop using it, the Notifier will offer to remove all traces of the private chat channel that you were using for URLs. So no more weird channel names if you are not using the URL Helper.

If you haven't checked it out yet, we have a new video where I ramble on and on about how to set up DarqUI and the Notifier. If you'll follow the setup advice, upgrading will be very smooth and trouble-free. If you have any setup questions, take a look there first and I'll bet they get answered.

Heroic Opportunities

In the September Waypoints post I showed you a new feature that allows you to cast spells and combat arts directly from the Heroic Opportunity window. The utility lists all eligible abilities for each rune so it's a snap to get it set up. I've had a few weeks to test this new window, and I have to say it's hard to go back to the old way. Give it a try! I think you'll agree. Custom Heroic Opportunity is the brainchild of Darq Side member Clintsat who also helped with testing the feature.  (PS: There are N, L and XL sizes to choose from.)

Floating Nav Bar

In that same post I showed you a new utility page for setting up the Experience window's detached Nav/Command Bar. Setting up the Nav Bar from in-game has never been a problem, but adding a configuration page to the utility gives it all the gears and pulleys it needs to share settings between characters using Import/Export which is a big time and frustration saver. Thanks to member chief for making the request and for testing.

Mercenary List

In last month's Waypoints I showcased another members-only improvement to the Inventory page. Now in addition to all of the other character-specific data from Census, you can list your Mercenaries along with their "Accolade level." Census does not provide a mercenary's training rank (level), but the utility can scan your chat logs and report on Accolade gear slots to infer a mercenary's training status and level. Take a look, and check out the Help page for more details about how it all works. Credit goes to members Aidbringer and chief for making the requests and for their helpful testing and feedback during development.

Custom Macro Icons

This one's a little bit nerdy, but it will be interesting to players who use elaborate custom macros. There have been Eq2Interface threads over the years (examples here and here) that go into great detail about how to change a hotkey macro to display any combination of images for the icon's foreground and background. It's all very arcane and painful to set up manually. But if you have highly customized hotkey macros, it's possible that none of the usual repositories have exactly the icon you're looking for.

Thanks to a ton of testing and feedback from Darq Side member Drax, who also made the request, we have some new controls on the Hotkeys utility page that turn the whole process into a few simple clicks. As with all new features, consult the associated Help page for more details.

Sidebar: Help

Speaking of Help pages, as of this writing I'm not 100% sure what the developers are planning to do with the in-game help facility. Right now on Beta the browser has been literally deleted, including the internal browser that was previously used to power the Help window. EQII help files have all been converted to standard web pages, and help requests are being directed (awkwardly) to your external browser.

The VoV dust needs to settle before we can know for sure how to proceed with Help, but rest assured that DarqUI Help will continue to exist along with the Patron Credits scroll in-game. If the default Help facility ends up going away, I see that as an opportunity to make the credits even more discoverable. Stay tuned as this story develops.

Character List Reordering

Even though the target audience for this improvement is players with dozens or hundreds of characters (they do exist!) in truth any player who wants more control over how their characters are listed in the Login and Shutdown (Camp) windows can benefit. Quick Setup characters can already be sorted in a variety of ways (by level, by server, etc.) and your Login/Camp lists will reflect that order. But if you have a few specific characters that you want to appear at the top for easy access, it's possible that none of the automatic sortings will do.

Now you can right-click any character list in the account grid (Shutdown setup page) and move a few specific characters to the top of the list. The more characters you have, the more valuable this feature becomes. You can preview what it looks like in this post. Thanks to Aidbringer for the request/testing, and to Rosyposy for additional testing, both of whom have a ridiculous number of characters.

Vision Options

Last month I also hinted at two new Theme options that any player can benefit from: Recolored self and group member icons on the Map and Mini-map windows to benefit players with a common form of colorblindness, and higher-contrast backgrounds for bag contents and other item icons. Now instead of poking around in your images folder to make these mods, you can turn them on or off with a couple of clicks.

Other Tweaks

There are quite a few other changes and improvements that you can review at eq2interface.com.  Check out everything when you have a chance, and of course if you see something that doesn't look quite right, you know where to find me!