con_drawNotify not working as it should

[ETLegacyTeam]

Author: @realkemon (keMoN)
Date: 2019-04-21
Redmine Issue: 1258, https://dev.etlegacy.com/issues/1258

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/con_drawNotify is used to display the most recent console prints on the top of the screen to know what's going on without opening the console.

The problem is that currently, when enabled, the prints only appear on the top of the screen if the console is open already anyway, which kind of defeats its purpose, I suppose.

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Related issue(s): #830

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Related commit(s):
00db29e - client: fixed con_drawNotify visible only with ope..
6facff0 - client: add con_numNotifies cvar, refs 1258Adde..

[ETLegacyTeam]

From: @realkemon (keMoN)
Date: 2019-04-21T15:37:19Z

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If/once fixed, please ping me so I can add a screenshot of it to its "wiki section":https://dev.etlegacy.com/projects/etlegacy/wiki/List_of_Cvars_(new)#con_drawNotify

[ETLegacyTeam]

From: @rmarquis (Spyhawk)
Date: 2019-04-22T09:03:42Z

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I actually had removed it long time ago, since this is a deprecated feature from Q3 (message code is handled in mod code in ET), see commit "here":b3fdd9d and "here":7dfd3dd

It was brought a few months ago (see "commit":e326296) for some unclear reason. I think someone complained because they use this engine feature in a mod? (-might be Ensi with TeamFortress?-). It's also cheat protected. We should either make it usuable in ET, or get rid of it (for good). At present, it's plain useless.

Edit: It was ryven, and this is actually useful for debug when mapping.

Note: the revert seems partial only (see message modes). That feature might not even behave as it did before removal.

[ETLegacyTeam]

From: @realkemon (keMoN)
Date: 2019-04-22T09:23:46Z

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In my opinion it would be nice to bring it back but way differently than it is currently.
You are absolutely right, currently it's not usable.

What I would like to suggest is that it only works with cmds and their feedback.
No kill messages, no map messages or any stuff that is already displayed somewhere else one the HUD.
Only feedback on commands and their binds, like when you take a screenshot that it prints "Wrote screenshot blablabla"
That would also be useful for all those debug commands. Then you wouldn't have to open the console anymore.

Obviously, it should only work when the console is closed and it shouldn't be cheat protected.

[ETLegacyTeam]

From: @isRyven (ryven)
Date: 2019-05-19T14:20:09Z

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• add con_numNotifies cvar to define number of notifies to print - one would need something more than 3 (def) in case of multiple prints that might happen at the same time, eg. with script debugging enabled.