Bots and the Game page work from game versions that Asterobot downloaded from Ankama's download servers. Your first bot downloads one with the default values.
Open the download dialog
- In the sidebar, open Game Manager.
- Click Download a game.
The Download a game version dialog opens, already filled in for the Dofus that bots use. The same dialog opens from Add a game, on the Game tab of the Add a bot dialog.
The fields
| Field | Default | What it does |
|---|---|---|
| Game | dofus |
The game to download. |
| Platform | windows |
The platform whose files to download. |
| Environment | dofus3 |
The game's environment. |
| Version | latest |
A version number, such as 3.6.6.6, or latest for the newest version Ankama publishes. |
| File filter (regex) | The files a bot needs | A regular expression matched against the paths of the game's files. Only matching files are downloaded. Empty downloads every file. |
| Fragment filter (regex) | Empty | A regular expression matched against the names of the parts Ankama splits a game into. Empty downloads every part. |
| Extract data after downloading | Checked | Starts extracting the version's game data as soon as the download finishes. |
Download stays greyed out until Game, Platform, Environment and Version are all filled in. Cancel closes the dialog without downloading.
Game, Platform and Environment
These three fields accept any text and suggest values as you type. The suggestions come from the list of games and versions Ankama publishes, which includes other Ankama games besides Dofus. Each field only suggests what goes with the fields above it: the platforms of the chosen game, then the environments of that game on that platform.
Only one combination works with bots: dofus, windows and dofus3. A Dofus version for Windows in another environment still gets a Game page. Versions of other games or platforms download and show in the table like any other, but no bot can use them, they have no Game page, and extracting them fails.
Check for updates, at the top of the dialog, fetches Ankama's list again, so the suggestions include what was published since. When Ankama can't be reached, the suggestions come from the lists Asterobot saved earlier. When Asteroboard can't reach Asterobot, it shows Couldn't check for updates, and you can still type the values yourself.
Version
The suggestions include every version found in the lists Asterobot saved, not only the newest one. The cytrus.keepMostRecentIndexes setting decides how many of these lists Asterobot keeps, and cytrus.keepMostRecentGamesManifests how many file lists it keeps for each game (Settings reference).
latest is resolved when you click Download: Asterobot asks Ankama for its current list and takes the newest version for the chosen game, platform and environment. If Ankama can't be reached, Asterobot uses the last list it saved. The table always shows the real version number, never latest.
File filter (regex)
The field starts with the pattern Asterobot uses for the files a bot needs: the game texts, the data tables, the map data, the world travel graph, the version file and a few sets of pictures. Keep it unless you know you need more. An empty field downloads the whole game. To add files to a version later, use Download more files in its menu rather than downloading it again (Manage game versions).
Fragment filter (regex)
Ankama splits each game version into named parts. This filter only keeps the files of the parts whose name matches, on top of the file filter. The field suggests win64 as an example. Leave it empty unless you have a reason to narrow the download.
A filter that isn't a valid regular expression makes the download fail, with a reason that mentions invalid file filter or invalid fragment filter.
Extract data after downloading
When it's checked, Asteroboard starts the extraction the moment the download finishes, exactly as if you clicked Extract data yourself (Extract game data). The box is checked when the dialog first opens. After you start a download, Asteroboard leaves it unchecked the next time you open the dialog, until you leave the page, so check it again when you want it.
Important
Asteroboard is what starts that extraction, so keep it open until the download finishes. If you close or reload it before then, the download carries on, but the version stays Not extracted. Open its menu and click Extract data.
Download a version you already have
Download a game doesn't download anything for a version already in the table as Queued, Downloading, Verifying or Installed: the filters are ignored and the version stays as it is. With Extract data after downloading checked, an installed version is extracted again. To add files to it, use Download more files. A version whose status is Failed is downloaded again, with the filters you give.
One download at a time
Downloads and file verifications wait in a single queue, and only one of them runs at a time, whatever the game or the version. The others show Queued until their turn. Extractions and the chunk check don't wait in that queue.
Follow the download
The version appears in the Game Manager table as soon as you click Download.
| Status | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Queued | The download waits for its turn. |
| Downloading | Files are downloading. A progress bar and a counter follow. |
| Verifying | The version's files are being checked after Verify files. |
| Installed | The download finished. |
| Failed | The download stopped. Point at the info icon next to the status to read the reason. |
The counter counts chunks and rebuilt files, not bytes, so it gives an idea of the progress rather than a size. Once the download is done, the Game column shows the game's icon and name. With Extract data after downloading checked, the Extracted column then goes to Extracting and Extracted, and Ready turns to Ready for bot.
Closing Asteroboard doesn't stop a download, since it runs inside Asterobot. Stopping Asterobot does. When Asterobot starts again, a version interrupted that way shows Installed although files are missing, and its Ready column says Not ready. Open its menu, click Download more files and keep the default filter: the finished files are kept and only the rest is downloaded.
Asterobot doesn't check the free space on your disk before downloading. If the disk fills up, the download stops with Failed.
When a download fails
| What you see | What to do |
|---|---|
| Couldn't queue the download when you click Download | Asterobot refused the request or couldn't be reached. The usual cause is a latest that can't be resolved, because the game, platform or environment isn't on Ankama's list. Pick them from the suggestions, click Check for updates, and check that Asterobot can reach the internet. |
| Failed, with a reason about the network or Ankama's servers | Open the version's menu and click Retry. The download resumes where it stopped. |
Failed, with invalid file filter or invalid fragment filter in the reason |
Click Retry and correct the filter in the dialog. |
Failed, with download queue is full or the server is shutting down |
Asterobot was stopping, or too many downloads were waiting. Click Retry once Asterobot runs normally. |
Game download problems covers more cases.
Download needed files for a bot
On the Game tab of the Add a bot dialog, and on a bot's Settings tab, Asteroboard checks the version selected under Game version and shows badges next to it:
- Compatible or Different version (Why Asterobot downloads Dofus);
- "Checking required files...", then Ready when the files a bot needs are on disk, or Missing required files with a Download needed files button;
- the extraction status, such as Not extracted, which you can click to extract the version.
Download needed files downloads only the missing files of that version, in the same queue as other downloads. When it's done, the badge turns to Ready. It doesn't extract the version: click the extraction badge once the download is finished. If the download fails, Asteroboard shows Couldn't download the required files.
As long as the version lacks its files or its game data, the tab says "This version needs both its game files and extracted data before a bot can connect with it". The same check is on the Information tab of the version's Game page, in the Required files card (Game page). Add a bot describes the rest of the dialog.
From the command line
Asterobot's gamemanager download command downloads a version without Asteroboard. Command line lists its options.