FAQ

How do I play against someone?

Why's this more complicated to set up than similar apps?

How do I know what version of Java I'm running?

I see 2+ columns if imglists. Do I need them all?

How do I rotate a card?

Where's my hand?

Where can I find opponents?

Can I play against someone with an older version?

How can I deal with some games' inconsistent or large image size in the JumboView?

How do I build a deck?

What's Expan.dat for?

I have the images, but why isn't the latest expansion in the cardlist?

How is the JumboView text-layout stored?

How do I play against someone?

Alice goes to File-NetPlay, flips to the "server" tab, and clicks OK.

Alice finds her IP by visiting http://www.whatismyip.com and tells Bob over an instant messenger or IRC.
Bob goes to File-NetPlay, stays on the "client" tab, enters Alice's IP, and clicks OK.
The table is cleared automatically, they load decks, and play.
If Bob were unable to connect, they could try switching roles (he serves).
The person serving needs his or her router/firewall to allow that port. If neither person can successfully serve, the workaround is Hamachi, which provides imaginary IPs that fool software into thinking you're in the same house.

Why's this more complicated to set up than similar apps?
The short answer is: If it were easier, it could be illegal. Every attempt has been made to keep ArcanistCCG as infringement-free as possible. That's why I try not to host images myself, and it's why I don't bundle everything together. I've seen too many other tables shut down for that mistake.
It can be tedious to set up for the first time, but individual releases allow for smaller updates when a new set comes along.
You can bundle it yourself (for personal use) by simply burning the ArcanistCCG directory to CD or DVD.

Edit: I've written Familiar to streamline the whole thing to a few clicks!

How do I know what version of Java I'm running?
Open a dos prompt and type: java -version

I see 2+ columns if imglists. Do I need them all?
Nope, one per expansion is enough. The rest are backup sources. The rightmost is usually the best choice.

How do I rotate a card?
Just click and drag a corner up, down, left, or right.
For groups of cards, hold shift and drag a box around them for the option.

Where's my hand?
When you draw a card, it's face up only for you.
Just stack your hand anywhere, and "Remote Flip" what you play.

Where can I find opponents?
CCG's tend to have community forums where players congregate. There should be a thread for online gaming that'll coordinate everything.

Can I play against someone with an older version?
Technically yes, but new versions have new features which, if used in such a match, may crash the game.

How can I deal with some games' inconsistent or large image size in the JumboView?

How do I build a deck?
Just pick a card, and hit the Add button, and save when you're done. For each card in a deck, there is a line like these:

Amount	Name	Set	FrontFile	BackName	BackFile
3	Benevolent Dolphin
3	Benevolent Dolphin	NewWave
3	Benevolent Dolphin	NewWave	Benevolent Dolphin 2.jpg
3	Benevolent Dolphin	NewWave	Benevolent Dolphin 2.jpg	Evil Dolphin	Evil Dolphin 2.jpg

A deck can use the first example, but with more information, it will load faster and make sure your opponent sees the same cards.
The last two fields are only used if you don't want the game's default back image.
Double-sided cards are a little awkward at the moment: You need to Fill in the BackName and BackFile fields if necessary.

The deckbuilder does the above work for you. In addition, these symbols are really handy:

First Column	Second Column	Action
//	text	Comment
;	text	SideDeck
>	path	Override default back image
<		Revert to default back image

Press the skinny blank button to add a blank line and use them.

What's Expan.dat for?
Entries in the text data files use abbreviations for expansion names. Decks use the full names (minus punctuation and spaces). This file translates between them. If you're missing the text data file, this one does nothing, and ArcanistCCG compensates using the images' file and directory names.

I have the images, but why isn't the latest expansion in the cardlist?
The text data file probably doesn't include it yet. If it doesn't include a given set, the set won't appear unless you:

This causes ArcanistCCG to approximate an accurate cardlist using the images' file and directory names.

How is the JumboView text-layout stored?
It's in the prefs.txt file at the end of each game block with this syntax: type,x,y,w,h. Where type is 0-invisible, 1-textfield, 2-textarea. Width and height only matter if type is 2. These entries correspond to the fields of the text data file.