Read chat in World of Warcraft

[jvanegmond]

Actually i'm creating a bot that can read the direction and coordinates from the chat frame.. If others respond to a GM, they need to know that a GM whispered them, thus their script can recognize the chat frame and the text in it? How?

OCR.

[tom13]

OCR.

Argh, I tried to figure that OCR thing out for hours now with the diablo 2 example script... still don't understand how it works :S

Maybe it's possible to capture a screenshot of the last line of the chat box, then check if little images like A, B, C, D etc. match a part of the screenshot? If picture A matches with a part of the screenshot, then the first letter is A... then check the second letter?

[jvanegmond]

Argh, I tried to figure that OCR thing out for hours now with the diablo 2 example script... still don't understand how it works :S

Maybe it's possible to capture a screenshot of the last line of the chat box, then check if little images like A, B, C, D etc. match a part of the screenshot? If picture A matches with a part of the screenshot, then the first letter is A... then check the second letter?

That's about right, Tom. Although you don't have to make a screen shot first.

You should figure out where the letters are exactly, x and y screen coordinates. Then you have to find out how far the letters are apart, and make sure that every letter has it's own space. So 2 letters can't be on the same vertical line of pixels...

You then should continue by making a function that can create a PixelChecksum of one character, and then create checksum's for each character. Once you have that, you can make a new checksum of a unknown character and compare that to your database of checksums.

[tom13]

That's about right, Tom. Although you don't have to make a screen shot first.

You should figure out where the letters are exactly, x and y screen coordinates. Then you have to find out how far the letters are apart, and make sure that every letter has it's own space. So 2 letters can't be on the same vertical line of pixels...

You then should continue by making a function that can create a PixelChecksum of one character, and then create checksum's for each character. Once you have that, you can make a new checksum of a unknown character and compare that to your database of checksums.

Hmm, but how is that possible since each letter has a different space between an other letter or digit?

see my picture:

For example between the [ and .

Edited July 6, 2007 by tom13

[jvanegmond]

Hmm, but how is that possible since each letter has a different space between an other letter or digit?

see my picture:

For example between the [ and .

You could use PixelSearch on one column of pixels to find where a character starts and where a character ends. Then do a pixelchecksum on that one single character.

Could you upload a full screen size picture, at maximum quality. So each pixel is maintained.

Edited July 6, 2007 by Manadar

[vazheel]

You could use PixelSearch on one column of pixels to find where a character starts and where a character ends. Then do a pixelchecksum on that one single character.

Could you upload a full screen size picture, at maximum quality. So each pixel is maintained.

The only problem is that sometimes GM's will send you a whisper that may take up more than one line. You would have to have a couple of places to check because sometimes they just say, "Greetings, this is GM such and such, do you have a spare moment?" Other times they will RP with you and say, "From the depths of hell, a fiery burst of lava streaks into your sight, a fiery plumed object plummets towards you leaving an acrid smoke trail, a large crash appears before you spitting earth and debris everywhere, a gnome rises from the ruins, clears his throat and says, "Greetings, this is GM such and such..."

Edited July 6, 2007 by vazheel

[tom13]

Could you upload a full screen size picture, at maximum quality. So each pixel is maintained.

Roger, sir.

Had to censor names and characters though.

Edited July 6, 2007 by tom13

[jvanegmond]

Ok, looks doable. I am going to lead the way, and try to whip out a working example. It is up to you to finalize my example, by adding more features and functions. Also provide a good database, that is able to capture all the characters in stead of the ones you provided.

I may need some more screenshots, including green blue and other colors of text. Full screen, please.

[Subterfuge]

The results of your work and efforts will be interesting indeed. I just wonder if trying to decipher the text in this manner will be too slow for game play. Reading data packets seems like a good idea and also writing you own mod to ouput the chat text and combat text to a file or db my be an option.

[enaiman]

... and all this for getting some Medals? or Honor points?

I see your try as a form of disrespect toward other players.

Anyway ... the work you have to to to get this working will be your punishment - fair enough!

[Phat Phil]

The only problem is that sometimes GM's will send you a whisper that may take up more than one line. You would have to have a couple of places to check because sometimes they just say, "Greetings, this is GM such and such, do you have a spare moment?" Other times they will RP with you and say, "From the depths of hell, a fiery burst of lava streaks into your sight, a fiery plumed object plummets towards you leaving an acrid smoke trail, a large crash appears before you spitting earth and debris everywhere, a gnome rises from the ruins, clears his throat and says, "Greetings, this is GM such and such..."

lol Nice little bit of imagination there. favorite part: "a gnome rises from the ruins"

But yes, I too looked for some guides on what OCR is and how it works and how I can manipulate it to my needs. But failed. Doesn't bother me though there are more things that are easier to learn that I must better understand first.

[Snarg]

Download the Diablo II font from here. Enjoy!

[jvanegmond]

The results of your work and efforts will be interesting indeed. I just wonder if trying to decipher the text in this manner will be too slow for game play. Reading data packets seems like a good idea and also writing you own mod to ouput the chat text and combat text to a file or db my be an option.

It is probably better to output the chat text to a file anyway. The reading will be fast enough for game play, I can ensure that.

Your method is just a whole lot easier!