Cheat Engine

[GrandPa]

I'm trying to write down a logfile script for debugging purposes.

I need it because I'm dealing with an event base managed game (one function for reading almost everything).
So, not only I have to identify the memory by its relative label/event but also by the sequence of chained events leading to it.

I have two problems (after hours kicking my head to the wall - smashing my PC wasn't a wise move):

1) in the logfile I managed to obtain all numbers are decimal and I wasn't able to store them in hex;
2) I need that after filling 10000 records in logfile, the script pause the process and end itself for an eventual restart.

Like stating in the subject, it's my first time on LUA

[ParkourPenguin]

Use string.format("%X",number) to get the string representation of a number in hex.
I'm not sure what you mean by "end itself for an eventual restart."
For all relevant intents and purposes, addr_EAX is the exact same as EAX+0x1C when you call readString. It was something else in your code that was wrong.
I don't know what you're trying to do with "readString(EAX)~=nil" if it doesn't work for you. Pretty much all you're doing is checking if EAX points to a valid memory location.

[GrandPa]

Thanks for your answer.

[ParkourPenguin]

That would be correct. If the process still crashes, you may want to remove pause().

You can enter it in the Lua script window, the Lua engine window, or an AA script. You can directly copy and paste it into the Lua script or Lua engine windows, but you have to format an AA script with the {$lua} tag:

[GrandPa]

In order to recap.

Inside Lua script window, or Lua engine window:

[ParkourPenguin]

Why do you have that random Lua block inside the AA script? That's only going to get executed once when the script is first enabled. If you're going to execute the Lua code inside the Lua script/engine window, then you don't need any of this Lua code inside your AA script.

[GrandPa]

I wasn't saying I wanted to use both at the same time.
I was just trying to put down two different alternatives.

The solution using a Lua script inside an AA script could be useful in order to avoid involving the debugger and bps (fps drop down hardly, and crashes happen easily).

But I understand that it can require a pretty much different approach.

[ParkourPenguin]

Ah, my apologies.

Regardless, you'll still need to use the debugger inside the AA script. It's not like the game is running that section of Lua; it's CE that's running it once when the script first activates.

[GrandPa]

When I said it requires a different approach, I mean:

- making an AA script hooking and injecting on the address where otherwise I have to put a bp
- retrieve the registers and checking if they contain addresses in the AA script then
a) retrieve data needed and put them into global allocated memory (AA)
- pass memory to Lua in order to open and write the logfile

OR
b) pass just the registers to Lua
- retrieve data and open and write the logfile

- in both cases, after reaching a manageable number of lines, put on pause the process to review and clear the logfile.


P.S.: Testing right now the script again and it's very hard to understand whats going on, because game runs so dramatically slow.
I assume that's due to the debugger full time job

[Zanzer]

Just open the file once when you enable the script. Close after your counter or the disable.

[GrandPa]

Like I said, testing the script made this way it's very hard to understand whats going on, because the game nearly freezes.
One of the reason is that leaving opened the memory view you can see registers and stacktrace constantly changing.

So, I had to change the script this way:

[ParkourPenguin]

[GrandPa]

My apologies. I missed the part:
<< using "Template -> Call CE Lua function" from an AA script >>

For the part: f = io.open(...), I probably lost it inside the clipboard.


Thanks. I'll try to adapt the Lua script to meet the conditions you explained.

I'll let you know as soon as done.

[Gottwald]

Little off-topic post if I may:
@GrandPa

Could you maybe take a look and make an update in your spare time?
forum.cheatengine.org/viewtopic.php?t=580977

Thanks!

[GrandPa]

@ParkourPenguin:
I changed a bit your AA script in order to avoid those changes in memory over time that could give wrong results.
After checking other posts on Lua matter, I also changed the Lua script a bit in order to insert a timer for checking if the "results" area was filled.
All of the scripts worked.

I would have made some other tests and something more permanent, but, really, that game made me disgusted (strange behaviors like not triggering a level end, then crashing, or cheats always working that throw errors for a while and after a couple of restarts working again) so I quit for now, waiting for some game worth the efforts (or programs, why not).


@Gottwald:
Please, read my post dated Aug 30, 2015. I can work out nothing without feeling personal involvements. Sorry.