This page describes the geometry information in a board file.
Related pages:
Board Geometry
The Property Inspector screen shot shows the elements of the board geometry contained in the PPob resource. The screen shot comes from Constructor, a user interface builder application that is part of Metrowerks CodeWarrior. Unless you own CodeWarrior, you will need my assistance modifying the PPob for your board if it is necessary.
The fields of interest are in the BoardView section. All values represent pixel positions or values within the board artwork.
Home Width, Height
The dimensions of the trays (where checkers are put when borne off).
Home Top, Bottom, Left, Right
The location of the four trays.
Bar Width, Height
The dimensions of the bar "trays" (where checkers go when they're hit).
Bar Top, Bottom, Left
The location of the two bar trays.
Dice Top, Left, Right
Where the dice appear when rolled.
Dice Home Top, Home Bottom, etc.
Where the dice appear when in the trays.
Dice Separation
The distance between the dice when they are rolled onto the board (see next item).
Dice Random Width, Height
The dice positions are randomized each time they are moved. This is designed to add warmth to the MacFIBS experience (similarly, there are multiple dice sounds so users don't hear the same sound over and over.)
Randomization occurs both when the dice have been rolled onto the board as well as (to a lesser degree) when the dice are put back in the trays.
The dice randomization on the board is controlled by the Dice Random Width and Dice Random Height parameters (26 and 14 in this example).
The randomization on the tray is not configurable. In MacFIBS 4.1.3 it is 3 pixels in both horizontal and vertical position. In MacFIBS 4.1.4, I have changed this to 3 pixels vertical and 0 pixels horizontal, so the dice in the tray will always be vertically aligned with each other.
Doubling Cube Top, Middle, etc.
Where the doubling cube appears. There are actually eight positions for the doubling cube, three along each side of the board, and two on the bar (when the double is being offered).
Numbers Top, Bottom, Left
The location for the numbers offset. Note that Numbers Bottom is not used, it is set to zero in the example.
Checker Diameter, Thickness
Although this information can be derived from the checker artwork, you should put it here as well.
Pip Width, Height, etc.
The dimensions of the 24 pips are computed from these fields. Adjacent pips are packed together based on the Checker Diameter value.
Roller Left, Top
The location of the new Roll/Double graphic, which prompts users that it is their turn.
Checker Gap
The gap between groups of five checkers as they are stacked in the trays. The total vertical dimension of the stacked checkers is (15 * Checker Thickness) + (2 * Checker Gap).
