Curse

A target hud to simplify targeting players, NPC and mobs, both in combat and out of combat by using an addon and a macro instead of always typing '/target' in the chat window. The target can also be quickly marked with a raid icon. The addon uses a macro because Blizzard blocked addons from targeting a long time ago. The addon was originally created to fix the issues that '/target' normally has (see the features below).

INSTRUCTIONS ON FIRST USE:

• 1. Open Blizzard's macro window
  
• 2. Find the macro QTARGET in the general tab created automatically after logging in.
  
• 3. Add the macro icon to the action bar and assign a keybind. Recommend using two keybinds; one for the left hand and one for the right hand, so more ergonomically comfortable for one hand to rest since usually pressed repeatedly and quickly.
  
• 4. Do not make any custom changes to the macro because the addon always updates and erases it.

INSTRUCTIONS FOR NORMAL USE:

• 1. Setup everything before entering combat.
  
• 2. Use the macro or press the keybind on the action bar to open the target window if not already.
  
• 3. Type a target name in the window, press enter or click the 'save macro' button. Use the 'current' button to save the name of anything already targeted.
  
• 4. Use the macro or press the keybind at anytime to find target again.
  
• 5. The target window should stay open while targeting or before entering combat.
  
• 6. The macro is always updated whenever typing a target name, using 'save macro' button or closing the target window.
  
• 7. During combat, any changes are not updated yet and will automatically finish updating after out of combat.
  
• 8. Disclaimer: personal injury can occur when spamming a target physically the same exact way for long periods of time. Known as repetitive strain injury (RSI) or carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS).

FEATURES:

• Keep the target window open and make it fast/easy to quickly target.
  
• Fade the target window a little when not being used by the mouse or keyboard to focus back to the game world. Creates a more minimalist frame.
  
• The escape key does not close the target window so that the target macro remains available once combat starts.
  
• Option to use a raid icon when target is found. Option to choose which raid icon.
  
• Option to never target the dead or a corpse (fixes the issue with /target). Option to find the dead or a corpse, like for a named mob after a big fight. Has limitations, see below.
  
• Clear the target if none found (fixes the issue with /target). The current target should be cleared if it does not match the name we are trying to find.
  
• Never find random targets (fixes the issue with /target). Only find target if left portion of name exactly matches text typed in the target window, partial or full names. Presumably fixed by Blizzard after patch 3.0.x, but still checked by the addon to guarentee it works.
  
• If you dont want to type the name, then select a target that is in range and select the 'current' button to save the name.
  
• Names are saved in a dropdown so easier to do dailies or whatever next time.

SLASH COMMANDS:

/qt
/qtarget
/quicktarget
/qt <targetname>
/qt reset

SLASH COMMAND INSTRUCTIONS:

• Show target window,
  /qt
  or, click on the macro QTARGET on the actionbar, after putting the macro QTARGET on the action bar
  or, use the keybind on the action bar, after putting the macro QTARGET on the action bar

• Find and target a mob only with the macro QTARGET and not a slash command,
  Click on the macro QTARGET on the actionbar, after putting the macro QTARGET on the action bar
  or, use the keybind on the action bar, after putting the macro QTARGET on the action bar

• Put the target name into the target window from chat or macro, (optional)
  /qt <targetname>

• Move the target window back to the middle of the screen, (optional)
  /qt reset

OPTIONS IN THE TARGET WINDOW:

• Click on the lock symbol in the corner to move or lock the target window.
  
• Click on the "X" symbol in the corner to close the target window.
  
• Click on the "Current" button to add a name that is currently targeted.
  
• Control-Click on the "Current" button to erase any name so we can type another one.
  
• Click on the "SetRaidIcon" checkbox to enable or disable adding a raid icon to targets.
  
• Click on the "SetRaidIcon" picture to change the icon.
  
• Click on the "FindDead" checkbox to enable or disable find the dead or a corpse (see limitation below).

• Click on the editbox to enter a name to find and target.
  
• Hover over the editbox with the mouse to enter a name to find and target.
  
• Click on the dropdown arrow to open a list of saved names.
  
• Click the add button to add a name to the dropdown list.
  
• Left click a name in the dropdown list to use it.
  
• Right click a name in the dropdown list to remove it.
  
• The "MacroSaved" button helps show when the macro was saved or not.
  
• The circle and crosshair in the corner helps show when the macro is being used or not.

INSTALLATION:

• In Windows XP, extract the ZIP file, to your World of Warcraft interface addons directory, which might look like,
  .\World of Warcraft\Interface\AddOns\QTarget
  
• Free up at least one macro slot in the macro interface in the general tab so a macro can be added automatically by the addon.

UNINSTALL:

• Remove the game folder, .\World of Warcraft\Interface\AddOns\QTarget
  
• Remove the macro QTARGET

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Todo:

• A minimalist frame with only the target name and flags for options. Keep smaller and only show the whole target window when the mouse hovers over it. More compatible with custom UI client packs. This is an alternative to just fading the target window.
  
• Use the keyboard while the list of names is open to start entering a target name and autoscroll the list. The workaround is to click on the editbox first to see the flashing cursor, then go back to the list of names and then see it autoscroll the list while typing.
  
• A slider option to control the fade out amount and fade out time.
  
• Doubleclick the target name in the editbox to highlight the whole name and make it easy to type a new name.

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Known bugs:

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Known limitations caused by Blizzard:

• Updating macros and clearing target is only done when out of combat or waits until after combat, a limitation by Blizzard.
  
• When ignoring the dead or corpses, the addon might still find the dead and corpses even though there are clearly other living units with the same name nearby, a limitation by Blizzard (many patches ago). The issue is with '/target' or 'TargetByName()'. Workaround is to move farther away from the dead or a corpse to find the other units.
  
• When finding the dead or corpes, the addon might not find the dead or corpses if there are other living units with the same name nearby even though clearly the dead or corpse is nearby, a limitation by Blizzard (many patches ago). The issue is with '/target' or 'TargetByName()'. Not an issue when used with named, rare and unique mobs since no more are living nearby anyway. Workaround is to kill all living mobs or move farther away to despawn living units. Blizzard no longer allows us to just move closer to the dead or a corpse until found (patch 3.3.5).
  
• Minimap location/direction of units can not be calculated anymore and finding units will be harder. GetPlayerMapPosition() function is broken because of blizzard restrictions.
  
• Distance is limited to targeting between 10 to 100 yards depending on when the target is visible on screen, which is a limitation of Blizzard. Usually there is a shorter distance for targets ahead of you when running, while larger distance behind player. Detecting targets farther away can not be adjusted which is a limitation of blizzard. GetPlayerMapPosition() function is broken because of blizzard restrictions.
  
• Wildcards or portions of a name can not be searched because of blizzard restrictions. E.g. Mob name is 'Prairie Wolf', so can not just search for 'wolf'.
  
• Must target manually with a macro or command in chat. There is no more option to continuously target because of blizzard restrictions. No more options to search continuously every 2 sec, which used to flash while in progress and stopped when targeted. Disclaimer: spamming a target for long periods of time can cause carpal tunnel.
  
• Game still pauses slightly sometimes when the addon uses ChangeActionBarPage(). For some reason blizzard takes a while to refresh the icons. Occurs because units with similar names are around and addon has to clear the target if not matching. To duplicate the test without using the addon, change the actionbarpage manually with the mouse while moving and see the screen freeze.
  
• Targets are found below, above, or any direction regardless which way player is facing or if obstacles block line of sight. Though, we can not see an icon or target deep inside buildings or caves. Even if not easy to find, we know the unit is at least nearby. Suggest using another addon like RangeDisplay or whatever to at least know the distance.
  
• The blizzard scrollbox updates slowly and adding a new name that sorts to the bottom does not scroll. Need to click add twice to see names that sort to the bottom.

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Change log:

(see "changes" section in website)