• Added: New settings tab to allow adding of any arbitrary files or folders to be included in the backup / restore process!
  This one should prove popular with modders. I've even added a specific checkbox to automatically add MineCraft.jar into to the backup process. The big advantage of this is that it ensures the backup is saved with the specific version of MineCraft running at the time the backup was made (ensuring backup may be always be played in future). This option is turned off by default.
• Improved: Changed the settings screen, grouping related settings under appropriately named tabs.

• Fixed: Cull feature not functioning against Archive Backups.
  The Cull feature has been updated to correctly recognise archive backups.
• Improved: Launcher will now intelligently choose between launching via the MineCraft executable and via the Java runtime (as configuration changes are made).
• Added: Automatically finds the install location of Java runtime environment.

• Fixed: Removed backup failure message received for very small worlds.
  The archive backup feature makes a number of checks to verify the integrity of the archive. One of the checks is a size check. This size check was sufficient for all ordinary worlds. However, an Anvil Superflat world map is incredibly small and it tripped this alert. This issue has been resolved.
• Fixed: Augmentation process broken by new map chunk caching. Augmentation process now works again correctly.
• Added: Automated Mob Clearing, removes all mob types from a designated area (anoying over-spawning slimes, slimes where great when they where a 'rare' mob).

• Improved: Faster Map Editing (Map Chunk Caching).
• Added: Block details summary in tooltip. Has details of Block Light, Sky Light, Block ID.

• Improved: Player Location Restore now restores the direction being faced.
• Improved: Error handling to try to catch any errors resulting from miss-configuration.
• Added: Ability to create arbitrary new NBT tags
  
  Right clicking on the NBT tree to add a tag to the tree.
• Added: NBT Search and Replace
  
  Right clicking on the NBT tree will summon new menu.
• Added: Adding Inventory Items to Empty Inventory
• Addressed: Empty compound lists now default to byte lists (this is a MineCraft feature, MineBack now accounts for it).

• Fixed: Rendering Map when player is located at bottom edge of chunk.
  
  When rendering the map, a tiny cross is rendered at the player location. If the player was parked at the very corner of a chunk, then the map rendering prior to v7.1.5.3 would try to render outside of the chunk bitmap leading to an application hang. This has been fixed.
  
  

• Added: Username and Password.
  
  Added option to store your Username and Password to be passed to the MineCraft game launcher. The username and password are stored in an encrypted form.
  
  
• Added: Quick Xms and Xms Parameter setting
  
  Some users prefer to pass custom heap settings to the Java engine. Most users won't need these settings but will be handy for power users (Placed in Advanced settings section). Thanks go to MW for suggesting this feature.
  
  
• Fixed: Quotes in Command Line.
  
  I have renamed the option "Game Client File Spec" to be "Game Launch Command Line" to clarify this settings purpose. I have also identified and fixed a bug with the processing of quoted strings in the command line.

• Added: Map Cross Section Views.
  
  The region map now features a 'cross section' option. You can select any orientation (Top, Left, Right etc) to view the map from that orientation and you will see a cross section at the selected height / depth.
  
  
• Added: Map view transparency.
  
  The region map now renders the surface map with transparencies, so for example you can get an idea what blocks are under water and ice.
  
  
• Fixed: Map Editing Orientation.
  
  Editing the map from any orientation is now working again. In the previous release, only the top down view rendered correctly. Fixed.

• Fixed: Launch game button being disabled if the game client was not located in Documents folder.
  
  Thanks go out to Darth68 for helping me identify this issue!
  
  
• Fixed: Location Restore.
  
  I was playing MineCraft today and fell right out of the Nether, so I went to use MineBack Ultimate to restore Steve back to somewhere sensible and I found I'd introduced a bug during the Anvil update preventing location restore. Fixed this!

• Added: Added a new 'verbose' feedback mode.
  
  When enabled MineBack Ultimate and MineBack professional will report more minor issues (for example, if MineBack cannot locate the Game Client Executable).

• Added: Anvil File Format Support.

  This has been where the effort of the last few weeks has gone, making sure that both Anvil and pre-anvil worlds are fully supported.

  Added: Optional automatic removal of pre-anvil backups post conversion.

  When MineCraft 1.2+ converts your worlds from pre v1.1 format it very sensibly leaves a full copy of the pre-anvil format world in your save folder. However, if you already hold a backup of your pre-anvil save this is unnecessary extra bulk added to future backups. MineBack Ultimate and Professional will ask you once how you want to handle this extra data and if you choose will automatically remove it from future backups (after first ensuring its definitely got a copy to restore).

• Added: Anvil format world editing.

  MineBack Ultimate now fully supports map editing in Anvil!

  Added: New 'mood lighting' Augmentation

  This was added just for a bit of fun. If you apply the "mood lighting" augmentation to a map region or chunk it will add a dapple lighting effect to the area. Its not tremendously usefull because MineCraft will eventually recalculate the lighting variables and restore "expected" lighting but it lasts long enough to see and might give you some ideas about lighting.

  Added: New version column in world list

  The version column reports the version found in the level.dat file. It also reports the version of MineCraft it associates with the version (as of this time either 1.1 or 1.2).

  Added: Section and Height Indicator / selectors to Map Editor

  With the new Anvil format, the world data can hold maps as high as you like! However, MineCraft will only render to its maximum height of 257 blocks (and seems to delete any sections which fall outside this range e.g. 0 to 15). The Section selector can be used to quickly jump to a Section for editing.

• Improved: Archive backup handling.

  The archive backup feature had added extra potential for delay when switching between backup worlds lists views. I have now accounted for these extra delays.

  Fixed: Manual Backup Disabled for new Worlds (automatic backup uneffected)

  In my rush to correct the previous issue, I inadvertantly disabled Manual Backup for new worlds. It is a good job I've been working on updating ready for Anvil otherwise I may have missed this issue. Appologies to all users, please download version 6.0.0.2.

• Fixed: Teleport to backup Location and Intentory Restore Menu

  Right click menus on backups now available again. My appologies to MineBack Ultimate users for this temporary loss of functionality, I thoroughly tested Archive Backup functionality but forgot to test this menu. All fixed now. Version 6.0.0.0 Ultimate users should download the update to regain full functionality (v6.0.0.1).

  NOTE: Other than those missing features version 6.0.0.0 functions normally.

• Added: Archive Backups

  Well, I have had a few requests for this now, so here it is!

  There is a new setting 'Archive Backup' when ticked it causes all backups to be automatically compressed into a single file using Windows Compressed folder functionality. Everything works exactly the same wether compressed folders are used or not (though obviously the CPU used to compress your worlds is a consideration).

  Since compressing your worlds during backup results in extra CPU usage. This feature is initially disabled by default.

• Added: Restore from Backup when original world folder is missing

  If you somehow managed to accidently delete your world, the backups for that world became inaccessible via the MineBack user interface. Now, even if you where to delete your world from the MineCraft UI you can still restore from a backup.

Happy New Year!

• Added: World Map View

  Right click on a world and choose either Edit (Nether) or Edit (World) and it will generate a Region Mapping of the regions you have explored in your world.

  Clicking on a Region in the map will render the region as a surface map (in a view similar to that found on in game maps).

• Added: World Map Editing

  Well, MineBack has evolved so much it just did not make sense to not include this feature.

  The new map editor is just packed with editing features:

  • Scalable Map view of Region (surface level).
  • Teleport Player to any location (including underground. Explore those exciting looking caves without runining your landscape).
  • Block Painting tool to quickly place blocks (Per Chunk).

  Clicking on any area (Chunk) in the region surface map will load the relevent chunk into the block editor for manipulation.

• Added: Teleport Anywhere (Nether Included)

  Right clicking anywhere on the region surface map or from within the block editor will present an option to teleport to that location (a warning will be given if teleporting to that location will be immediately unsafe/harmfull to the player).

• Added: Quick Enviromental Controls (aka Weather Control, Time Control)

  Right click any world and select from a range of Enviromental Conditions, including:

  • Sunny Dawn - Sun rise on a perfect day
  • Perfect Day - The sun is high in the sky.
  • Stormy Night - Night has fallen and a storm is swirling
  • Rainy Afternoon - Sun is just about to set and the rain (or snow) is falling

  NOTE: Rain, Snow etc are subject to biome / cloud cover.

• Added: many automated map augmentation features:

  Since there are already powerfull in game map editing features, and well established third party editors (aka MCEdit) MineBack map editing focuses on eliminating repetitive tasks or providing editing ability which is just not possible in the normal game (placing Water in the Nether, placing blocks underground without disturbing the surface, random block placement and so on).

  • Clear Area (Destructive)

    Sets the entire blockable area to Air (removes bedrock)

  • Clear Halves (Destructive)

    Based on the Augmentation direction clears precisely half the chunk(s) selected.

  • Shunt Chunk (Friendly)

    Based on the Augmentation direction rotates/moves all blocks in the specified direction (per chunk)

  • Mine Entire Area (Very Very Destructive)

    BACKUP FIRST!! This augmentation places TNT randomly throughout the selected area and a single stone pressure plate which will trigger a chain reaction (surpisingly fun).

  • Make Walk Safe (Friendly)

    This ensures their is a layer of bedrock at the very bottom of the map for the area selected.

  • Make Walk Safe (Friendly)

    This ensures their is a layer of bedrock at the very bottom of the map for the area selected.

  • Burry Blocks (Use with Care)

    This will quite litterally burry blocks of the brush types randomly throughout the area.

  • Burry Blocks (Use with Care)

    This will quite litterally burry blocks of the brush types randomly throughout the area.

  • Hollow Chunk(Destructive)

    This turns all non-player visible areas of the map into air. Think eggshell.

  • Surround Chunk(Destructive)

    This outlines the entire chunk using the two selected block brushes (think of this as giving chunk edge guides). Think eggshell.

  • Edge Chunk(Destructive)

    This surrounds the entire chunk using the two selected block brushes

  • Replace Block(Use with Care)

    This replaces blocks of the first block brush type with blocks of the second block brush type over the entire area.

  • Random Blocks (DANGEROUS)

    This places random blocks across the entire chunk. This is not really that usefull, but you never know what you will get..

  • Ordered Brush Drop (Friendly)

    This will place the selected brush block at an ordered interval where there is space to put the brush (e.g. unobstructed).

  • Ordered Brush Drop (Friendly)

    This will place the selected brush block at an ordered interval (defined by the spacing value) where there is space to put the brush (e.g. unobstructed, or replacing air).

  • Quick Dry (Friendly)

    Removes all water from the selected area.

  • Remove Lava (Friendly)

    Removes all lava from the selected area.

  • Bright Light (Friendly)

    Lights every block to its maximum light level

• Improved: Server Side Backup

  Prior versions of MineBack expect/require a user to be playing MineCraft on the same machine for smooth operation (since all errors where notified, with forced acknowledgement).

  Play testing with MineBack running on a remote machine, I found this behaviour to be most inconvinient (as conditions such as Anti-Virus scans can cause a momentary file locking causing itermittant issue).

  The latest release of MineBack does not forcefully alert the first couple of errors encountered, it now displays a message within the main window without forcing focus, if not acknowledged and more errors occur a focus forced error will be displayed (this is to avoid serious error going unalerted and continued operation in repeating error conditions).

Merry Christmas! :)

• Added: NEW configuration option to either turn off or be prompted for automatic backup upon restore.

  The Mineback paid version is designed to be very-very safe indeed, for some users just a bit too safe! If you need to do alot of world restores one winds up with alot of "precaution only" backups (easily deleteable). In order to make MineBack paid just that bit better, I have included a new setting which allows you to choose to either not have automatic backup on restore, always have it or to be prompted each time (my personal favourite).

• Added two NEW partial restore modes:
  
  
  • Location Restore (Teleport)

    Sometimes a backup just isn't enough. Let me paint a picture: You've been exploring for days and days and your ready to head home.. but, wait.. where IS home? All I remember is that massive Skeletal attack last night! I know I backed up at my home last week, but I don't want to go back a week. Not a problem, just choose a suitable backup, right click on the backup and choose "Restore Player Location (only)" (whilst not playing the game). Next time you enter the world you will have been returned to the place you where when you made the backup, but, most importantly nothing else has changed since you last exited the world.

  • Inventory Restore

    No excuses here. This is plain cheating. So, you remember having a clock, but now you can't fathom where the heckers its gone? No problem. Just use this handy "Inventory Restore" to reset your entire inventory to the inventory you had at the time of the backup (again nothing else will change).

• Added NEW configuration option to customise the backup sonar sound.

  The Mineback Ultimate backup sonar feature can now be configured to play any Wave format sound file whenever a backup is created.

• Improved the World List to default to displaying the worlds in order of latest use.

  In the previous release worlds where sorted in "oldest backup first" order. I found this tended to mean the world you where interested in was displayed last so changed the default sort order appropriately (click the column headers to change the sort).

• Tested with MineCraft Release tested and working for MineCraft (release) v1.0.0

  MineCraft is final out of Beta and MineBack is all tested and working.

• Improved Levels Reset (aka Hunger Reset)
  
  The Levels reset now resets all of the following:
  
  • Oxygen
  • Fire
  • Health
  • Hunger
  • Food
  • Death

• Improved Automatic Backup so it is no longer necessary to select the correct world.
  
  MineBack now monitors all worlds (shown listed); If any world is played a backup is made (seriouly, its ammazing! It now really is fire and forget, previously you had to make sure the correct world was selected and that it had been backed up at least once).

• Changed Behaviour so that all worlds are considered for automatic backup, not just those worlds previously receiving manual backups.
  
  In previous versions the logic only tried to automatically backup worlds which had previously been the target of a manual backup. This behaviour became confusing as I created new worlds so I changed the backup behaviour so I did not need to consider this either.

• Fixed bug unable to change backup interval
  
  MineBack had a setting for backup interval which was not being correctly saved and was therefore fixed at 5 minutes regardless of reconfiguration.

• Fixed bug (Ultimate) preventing resetting hunger levels with empty inventory
  
  If you had tried to reset the hunger level when playing the game with an empty Inventory in version 4.2.7.1 (very rare). Incidently, the new patch now supports resurrection from the dead (no need to run back for your stuff, just come back to life using the 'Reset All Levels' context menu option).