WoW Cardio Raid Manual for WCR version Beta 34
Documentation Version 0.4 By: Darkbubbles of Garithos-US

Contents

What's New in this Documentation Release?

The manual has been significantly updated to reflect feature and GUI changes in the most current version of WoW Cardio Raid, release beta 24. Significant changes include:

About this documentation

This documentation is a continued work in progress. I appreciate all comments, criticisms, and corrections you may have to offer and ask that you please contact me via private message on the WCR official forums, located at: http://wowcarto.virtuaboard.com/wowcardioraid-f8 ; my username is “genericlifeform.” I will try to respond to your message within 2-3 days.

If you have a bug to report or comments about the program itself, please contact “Tixu” or create a new forum post.

Introduction

What is WoW Cardio Raid?

WoW Cardio Raid (WCR) is a tool for the analysis of raids in World of Warcraft. The program can load a combat log saved from the game and display information about a fight, such as units' health, damage per second (DPS), healing per second (HPS), debuffs, casts, and targets, all in a timeline style.

WCR also have a stats feature similar to in-game meters like Recount and online tools like WoW Web Stats to track people's aggregate DPS, incoming damage, and the like. Paired with one of these tools, both a macroscopic (via Recount) and microscopic (via WCR) analysis can be done, allowing one to fully see and evaluate a raid.

WCR really shines in the area of understanding mysterious deaths, tracking the effects of buffs on raid members, and general problems where you or your raid leader has wanted to say, “Ok, pause for a moment. Rewind 5 seconds. Ok now, what happened here?”

WoW Cardio Raid vs. WoW Web Stats

While WoW Cardio Raid and WoW Web Stats (http://wowwebstats.com/) are combat log parsers used for analyzing raids (or anything combat in game, for that matter), they have distinctly different goals, strengths, weaknesses, and applications.

Here's a quick look at how the two analyze a combat log and represent data for you:

WoW Cardio Raid WoW Web Stats

The good news: used together, they are an unstoppable team for ironing out almost any raid mechanic, strat development, or rotation theorycrafting problem!

Getting Started

Upgrading from Previous Versions

When upgrading from a previous version of WCR, save the pref.ini file (located in the WCR folder at the base level) before overwriting with the new version. This file contains the saved filter list, chat black-list, and other preferences.

Recording a Combat Log

In order to use WCR, you'll need to create a combat log. A combat log is basically a written transcript of the encounter and includes all abilities used by you and anyone upto a 30 yard radius around you.

Next time you're about to jump into a raid instance, simply type/combatloginto the chat frame to begin logging. To stop logging, type it again. If you plan to be recording a lot of raids, you might want to make a macro to do this or use an addon like Loggerhead (http://wow.curse.com/downloads/wow-addons/details/loggerhead.aspx) to auto start/stop the combat log every time you zone into an instance .

Combat logs are saved to the following path:(WoW Directory)/Logs/WoWCombatLog.txtand “new” logs are appended onto each other. Thus, it's a good habit to every night after a raid to quickly log off and save your log into the WCR format, upload it to WWS if you wish, and delete it.

Opening a file

Once you have unziped WCR into its on directory, double-click on WowCardioRaid.exe. From the home screen, you will see a button “Load Log.” Use it to select the combat log in the logs directory detailed above. After a few seconds of parsing the log, the graph screen will appear.

Opening a file (Live Mode)

WCR supports the opening of the combat log during an ongoing raid, to monitor its status in semi-real time. To set up this feature, you must first specify the location of your combat log by entering the absolute path in the “Direct path to live wowcombatlog.txt” field located in the “Options” screen. From the options menu you can also select how often WCR updates while in using the auto-update feature (default: 1 min).

Associating .wcr files with WCR

WCR can save files into a proprietary, highly compressed format, a “.wcr file.” To set up Windows to automatically open .wcr files in WCR,

  1. Right click on a .wcr file and choose Open.
  2. Choose “Select a program from a list of installed programs” from the dialog that appears.
  3. Click “Browse...”
  4. Browse to and select your WCR executable.
  5. Click “Ok.”

Now .wcr files will be opened by WCR when you double click on them.

The WCR Screen

Here's a quick rundown of the WCR window.

Where...

There is also data along the bottom. The most left bar is the status bar while loading a log. The central message box shows the time (military, time of the system that recorded the log), unit HP if available, unit name, and HP deficit/DPS/HPS.


The Home Page

Overview

When first loaded WCR, the home page (pane) will appear:

From the home page, you can view the commands quick reference list, readme, and load combat logs, WCR file format logs, and live logs. The demo log used throughout some parts of this this documentation is also loadable from this screen. Finally, the log index can be accessed through the link at the top of this page. The log index is discussed next.

The Log Index

The log index is a tool to allow the quick viewing of past logs saved in the .wcr format. The first thing you must do is set the log directory to where you keep your past logs.
If you have any logs saved in the old .wcr format, you will get the following message near the top of the screen:

[Change log directory] [Rebuild Index]
Some logs seem to have an old format: do you want to [convert] them?
(this can take some time. Hit 'Esc' to interrupt the process)

Use the convert link to mass convert your logs to the new .wcr format. This tool will open each log and resave it into the new format, overwriting the previous file. You may wish to backup your files before continuing.

Important Note: Once your log files have been converted, they will no longer be readable by previous version of WowCardioRaid.

Once the index has been rebuilt, you will see every log file in the directory with the following information:

[06/10 18:00] 06_10__18_31.wcr [x]

Achelois Aer Priapos Callisto Mormo Echidna Attis Boar Graeae Amalthea Hespera Alcyone Podarge Aiolos Birds Boar Paion Nikothoe Oannes Dike Empousa Hephaistos Salmoneus Deimos Horae Semele Asteria Kybele Menoitos Ouranos Notos

The Graph Page

This main graph screen is the most distinguishing feature of WCR as well as the most daunting. There is a high concentration of data in a very small space, but we'll try to go over it piece by piece.

The Toolbar

The most revolutionary – although admittedly confusing – aspect of WCR are the unit graphs (sometimes, called the EKGs). Let's have a quick look at how to read one.

Basic Toolbar Functions

From left to right, each toolbar icon means,

Filter Toolbar Functions

This group of toolbar icons affect how filters affect the display of elements of the EKGs. Starting from the magnifying glass with a cross though it,

Line Types and Styles Functions

View Toggle Functions

Line Filter Functions


Important Note: If, when looking at the graph, there appear to be no DPS/HPS lines and/or way too few line, make sure that it isn't because of this feature. Its easy to be looking for some buff, using a filter to find that buff, and then decide to look at some DPS/HPS line and forget that the filter is still engaged.

Raid display functions

This group of toolbar icons affect what is visible in the “raid” row located at the top of the graph. The options are,

Using the Graph

General Features

Here are some other important features about the graph (ie, EKGs because of their similarity to medical EKGs and “Cardio” in the name “WowCarioRaid”),

Context Menu

You can also Right-Click anywhere on the EKG to bring up the following context menu:

NPC Options Window

When right clicking on an NPC and choosing the Options menu will bring up the following window. The top two text boxes show the NPC's name and the Unit's ID.

Unit Detail Screen

From the main graph, Right-Click on a unit and select “Details for: <Unit>” to bring up the detail screen,

This screen shows a Health graph concurrent with a DPS and HPS in graph, a DPS out graph, and an HPS and Effective HPS out graph. Following these detailed graphs, is each buff divided out on its own row. You can change whether the divided out buff section shows buffs on the unit or cast by the unit by using the toolbar button, described in an earlier section.

The DPS and HPS in graph is great for looking at how effectively your healers are responding to your tanks' taking damage (how far behind the DPS-in line does the HPS-in line lag?). The individual buff rows are good for seeing how well a player is keeping up abilities like water shield, as well as how often clear casting/hot streak/etc... buffs proc and how they affect DPS.

The Stats Page

Overview

The Stats Screen is pretty similar to cumulative graphs you might find in WWS, Recount, and other combat log tools. Viewing of aggregate data is available for Damage Done, Damage Taken, Damage Mitigated, Total Healing Done, Effective Healing Done, and Healing Taken. Units are broken out into raid members, hostile NPCs, and friendly NPCs.


The Stats Screen, sorted for damage done.

Toolbar

The toolbar options are, from left to right are below. The first eight are discussed in detail on page 11 in section 5.1.1.

Stats with Filters

Besides giving a quick view of a fight, the Stats screen can show total stats compared to a filter. This example uses an older version of WowCardioRaid but is substantially the same process and observations as in the most current version.

For example, this is a screenshot of a stats report showing what damage was done to and taken by Lava Blazes in a Sartharion 3-drakes kill. This filter was obtained by toggling the focus on to each Lava Blaze.

When you click on a heading, everything is sorted with respect to that heading. If a filter or selection is applied, as is the case here, the sort will be with respect to the filter. The colored section of the graph indicates the filter while the grayed out is the renaming total.

Nix, the assigned Lava Blaze tank, has about 60% of his damage taken from Lava Blazes. (Nix also had to tank a drake because a tank died, hence why this percent is so low) From this filter, we can see that Nix is doing a fair job of keeping Blazes off of healers, accounting for about 60% of Blaze damage taken. However, Daphnaie was the drake tank and would pick up Blazes in his free time, so its ok Daphnaie was next in line to take damage from Blazes. Zephyros, a shaman healer, should be looked at closer next time though; maybe Nix should have a taunt macro for him or make sure to keep close to him in future runs.


The Overview Page

The overview page allows you to quickly view dispels, interrupts, spell-steals, and crowd-control (CC) breaks that occur throughout the log.
The overview toolbar is substantially the same as previous toolbars. To see more information about it, refer to page 11 in section 5.1.1.

Important Note: When first loading the overview page, or after changing the boss selected/time frame, you may need to hit the button.

The units are broken out by raid players, hostile NPCs, and friendly NPCs. Click the arrow next to a character's name will show the detailed information for that character. For example, in the picture above we can see that there were 33 interupts and that Thelxinoe had 8 interrupts in this combat log, that 6 of those interrupts were on Kel'Thuzad's Frostbolt.

The Events List Page

Overview

The Events List screen provides a near replica of the combat log exported by WoW.

Important Note: You may have to hit the button when you first load this screen in order to populate the list.

Each row is a line from the log, colored by the event type just like dots in the EKGs.

Toolbar

Filters, The Most Fundamental Context Tool

Filters are are an integral part of WCR and have already been used to a small degree in this manual up to now. Filters help sift though the corpus amount of data provided in WCR and reduce it to the most informative information. Now lets take an intensive look at what sorts of things you can filter and how they work.

Overview

On the right side of the WCR window is the context tool area.

Using Filters

For every Filter, clicking on the check box will do the following, in order:


These successive clicks will be shown graphically as the check marks next to each item and disappear and reappear appropriately.

Important Note: The tags filter items do not give this visual indication but do have identical responses to clicks as the other filters.

Units

The units are sub divided into Player, Pet, NPC, and Object categories. Clicking on the arrow next a unit will show all the instances of that unit.

NPC units' names are colored to show,


If you right-click somewhere in the B pane, you will get a context menu with the following options:

Tags

Under Filter > Tags is a long list of tags associated with the API Combat Log Event parameters (to sort on the event types themselves, use Filter > Event). More information about the API Combat Log parameters is available at http://www.wowwiki.com/API_COMBAT_LOG_EVENT. The options here are numerous and mostly self explanatory, however let's highlight a few:

Spells

Under Filter > Spells is a long list of every spell, buff, debuff, and ability used by PCs and NPCs in the log. There is a search box near the top to help you find the spell for which you are looking. Here are some quick examples of how spell filters can be useful.

Helpful Hint: If you select a character while in the Stats pane, the spell list will be automatically reloaded to show only those spells to/from that unit, which can also be useful for sorting through the list. To further reduce the options, select the damage done, healing, damage taken bar to show only that kind of spells for that unit.

Right clicking on a spell will bring up a context menu with the following options,

Events

Under Filter > Events is a list of every event category used by the WoW Combat Log API. Events are triggered when a spell is cast or interrupted, or when damage is dealt or taken. These are mostly self explanatory and will not be discussed.

Using Predefined Filters


Located directly below the context tool pane is the following filter list:

This contains a list of predefined filters. Some predefined filters come with the program and reflect common filters used in WoW. You can also add your own filters by right-clicking in the pane and selecting “Save Filter.” This will save your current filter selection with a name your provide. You can also rename and delete filters by selecting a filter, right-clicking, and choosing the appropriate option from the contextual menu.

Other Context Tools: Comparison Lines and Chatlog Import

Line Comparison Tool

Basic Usage

The line comparison tool allows you to compare previous attempts with the attempt you're currently looking at and see and changes that stand out. To do this, you save the raid-wide DPS or HPS line(s) you'd like to compare. For example,


Green = Perfect Kill; Brown = Failed Attempt

The green raid line is a perfect 3 drakes kill and the brown line is a failed 3 drakes attempt. Interrupting this graph, one may conclude that DPS may have been a factor that lead to this unsuccessful attempt. While the DPS substantially increases when Tenebron drops in the failed attempt, there is not nearly high enough DPS, compared to the perfect kill, when Shadron drops 45 seconds later. A raid leader in this circumstance might want to emphasize the need for higher DPS on Shadron, even if it means a small sacrifice in DPS when Tenebron drops.

To create a basis line,

  1. Select a time frame for the basis of the comparison. (Please note: A time frame must be selected, even if the log contains only one boss) Clear any focuses you may have.
  2. In the Graphic pane, the “Raid display features” section of the toolbar (see earlier chapter) allows one to choose four raid lines: DPS In, DPS Out, HPS, and EHPS. Select which line(s) you'd like to uses as your basis.
  3. In the context tools section on the right side of the screen, select the icon to bring up the line comparison tool.
  4. Right-click in the large, white box and select “AddRaidLine.”
  5. A dialog is brought up from which asks you to enter the name of the raid line. You can also click on the color strip to the left of the box to choose a custom color.
  6. The line is now available for use as a basis. You can save this/these line(s) by right clicking and choosing save.

With a basis line, you can conduct a comparison by

  1. Select a time frame for the comparison. (Please note: A time frame must be selected, even if the log contains only one boss)
  2. If necessary, load the basis line by right-clicking in the large box and selecting “Load.”
  3. Check the line(s) you'd like to use in your comparison.
  4. In the Graphic pane, the “Raid display features” section of the toolbar (see earlier chapter) allows one to choose four raid lines: DPS In, DPS Out, HPS, and EHPS. Select which line(s) you'd like to uses as your comparator.


Important Note: In order for the comparison to make any sense, the DPS/HPS calculation interval (default, 5s) must be the same for both the basis and the comparator.

Individual Players

It is possible to save a basis line for an individual unit or group of units by doing the following:

  1. Set as your focus the unit or units you wish to save a basis for.
  2. Verify you are in inclusive mode by ensuring the focus highlights are orange.
  3. Using the raid's HPS/DPS selectors (located on the right side of the toolbar) not the unit's selector, choose which line you'd like to save.
  4. Save the line as though you were doing a raid basis.

For use in a comparison, make sure you have the same unit(s) set as the focus.

Chatlog Import Tool

Saving a chatlog

To save a chatlog, you follow a procedure similar to saving a combatlog. While World of Warcraft is running, and at the same time you are logging a raid, enter/chatloginto the chat prompt.

Chat logs are saved to(WoW folder)/logs/WoWchatlog.txt

Load a Chat Log

To load a chat log,

  1. Open up the chat log context tool.
  2. Click on the “Load ChatLog (beta)” button and navage to the chat log.
  3. The log is now loaded in the right side of the screen as well as a series of dots on the graph above the “raid” frame, as shown below. Hover over a dot to see that chat log event.



Chat log entries that occur outside of the currently visible graph area appear in grey text; the currently visible entries are in black text.

You can also navigate directly to the point in the graph where a chat event occurred by finding it in the chat log frame and double-clicking on it. This will navigate you to that time in combat and place the torques time cursor at the appropriate time, as show in the screen shot above.

Filtering the Chat Log

The chat log saves a large number of superfluous events – such as the logging on/off of people, loot distribution, and addon channel “text” – that you probably do not want to view. To remove these items:

  1. Find an event in the chat log list that is similar to the kind you wish to filter.
  2. Select it, right-click and choose “send to BlackList.”
  3. Edit the text in the pop-up dialog box to include the part of text that matches all the items you wish to filter (for example, “[6. Channel]” to filter all chat from that channel or “has gone offline.” to remove all offline status messages).
  4. To apply your black-list filter, right-click anywhere in the chat log list and select “ApplyBlackList”