Steel Armor Mod questions

[Kyth]

Hi everyone,

You're overlooking the significance of the "cd ..\..\.." line.

Each ".." is to bring you up one level to the next higher directory (or folder, in newspeak). So that the batch file can find the "Starter.exe" executable, which resides in the game's main folder.

If your cmd batch file is in the main folder already, skip the "cd" line.

If your cmd file is one level down, use "cd .."

Two levels down, use "cd ..\.."

Three levels, "cd ..\..\.."

Not voodoo, just basic Dos commands 

[Rod]

Thanks Kyth-that did the trick for me as getting the mkflat cmd to work from the root folder. 

Code:

cd ..
starter.exe  root\programs\mkflat.progpack,  users\modwork\test_pack.flatdata, users\modwork\test_pack.!flatlist 

[Flashburn]

DOS is voodoo!     Good catch btw.  Don't forget your way back hat!

[whukid]

I just stuff this in my "Packed_data" folder?


Nevermind



The flags are still Iranian though. How do I change those?

[Flashburn]

Best way is to add via an addpack file thru games updater.   if you are just trying to if it works and ALL files are there......I guess you could replace origianl.  Just back up first. 
There is an addpack template somewhere in doc folder I think now.  This one can be followed in how too docs with out much problem. 

[whukid]

Best way is to add via an addpack file thru games updater.   if you are just trying to if it works and ALL files are there......I guess you could replace origianl.  Just back up first. 
There is an addpack template somewhere in doc folder I think now.  This one can be followed in how too docs with out much problem. 

I'm working on making an ".addpack" file now.


what all do I add? So far, it looks like this;

Code:

i_updater:updater=()
{
	//ïóòü ê äîïîëíåíèþ
	path[s]	= <IDF_Mod>;
	//íàçâàíèå äîïîëíåíèÿ
	desc[s]	 = <IDF addon>;
	//àâòîð(û) äîïîëíåíèÿ
	authors[s] = <Whukid>;
	//âåðñèÿ äîïîëíåíèÿ
	version[u] = 100;
	//òèï äîïîëíåíèÿ
	//CAMP - êàìïàíèè/ïîëèãîíû, 
	//RES - îáíîâëåíèå ðåñóðñîâ,
	//ADDN - àääîí
	type[*]	=  RES;
	//óäàëÿòü ïåðäûäóùóþ âåðñèþ äîïîëíåíèÿ
	//ðåêîìåíäóåòñÿ ñòàâèòü true
	clear_prev[b]	= true;
	//âåðñèÿ èãðû íà êîòîðóþ ñòàâèòñÿ äîïîëíåíèå (â 16-ðè÷íîé ñèñòåìå)
	//åñëè óñòàíîâëåí ôëàã 0x80000000 – ñòàâèòñÿ òîëüêî íà óêàçàííóþ âåðñèþ
	eng_ver[u] = 0x0000050b;
	//ïóòü ê ñèñòåìíûì ôàéëàì (äëÿ ïîëüçîâàòåëüñêèõ äîïîëíåíèé îñòàâëÿòü ïóñòûì)
	sys_path[s] = ;
	//ôàéë èñïîëüçóåìûé äëÿ ñîõðàíåíèÿ çàìåíÿåìûõ ôàéëîâ (îñòàâëÿòü ïóñòûì)
	recover[s] = ;

}

Like what do I put for the "sys_paths" and "recovers"?

[Flashburn]

No idea... You are doing stuff no one other than graviteam has touched (that I know of).     But post screenies!  Might be able to help if you need it.  I have messed a little bit with the text files so I may be able to help there.  In the next few days I will try and create a down and dirty retexture of an Iraqi bmp1.  Found a pretty good picture of a bmp1 from iran/iraq war.  Only 2 sides are shown, but I can make educated guesses.  When I go thru files I keep your project in mind.   

[whukid]

No idea... You are doing stuff no one other than graviteam has touched (that I know of).   

How did you do your desc.addpack though? It's really too bad this game didn't use a JSGME type system where it's easy to over-write files

[Flashburn]

Under DOC/modwork/stencil there is an example addpack file.  Of course I just checked it and the commented bits are in RUSSIAN....lol.  ok new plan....

Code:

//Cfgp2Pd auto converter

i_updater:updater=()
{
	path[s]	= FlashBurn_addon_V1.4;
	desc[s]	= Mini_mod_V1.4;                   best I can tell is a basic discription of mod that appears in updater
	authors[s]	= FlashBurn;
	version[u]	= 104;                       3 digit version number  this ends up meaning 1.04 in updater......  Numbers are what you pick
	type[*]	= ADDON;                                   this is somewhat explained in docs.   Does a better job than I would
	clear_prev[b]	= true;                            erases older addon of same name if yes......ie updated mod/files
	eng_ver[u]	= 1357;                            this is supose to be in HEX code?  Never bothered changing.....if it does not work with current build of sabow user should read the the readme....
	sys_path[s]	= ;                                          No clue, not needed
	recover[s]	= ;                                             ditto.

} //endof i_updater:updater

This is an old addpack file I made for my little minimod and missions deal.

Ok.  that is all to the meat of the addpack file.
1. save as a desc.engcfg2 in unicode (what i usually use)  Better still use the example tempate and ignore the crazy crap.   
2. run pd2cfg on file
3. It should now say desc.config.  Open with notepad++ and save as desc.addpack.

That part is now done.

[Flashburn]

The easy way to figure out the rest is download someone else mod and take a look at structure........  I highly recommend flashburns mini mod and missions V1.5.  LOL   http://www.mediafire.com/?7v2k11bkil29shf

Ok, heres the deal.  The file locations are VARY important in mod structure.  You need to recreate file structure of game.  What it does is like the old k42 mod installer.  It does not over right original files but uses them over originals.  Hope that makes sense.  File structure has to duplicate!  However, NEVER overwrite dev updates!  You can use files from dev updates.......in fact you want too for a mod that will work with newest versions BUT DON"T EVER TAKE A PATH OF DEV UPDATES! 

Also dev updates always needs to be at bottom of updater list.  Otherwise it will over write your mod. 

Oh forgot a couple things.  That crazy text is Russian.  to see what it says......in notepad++ go to encoding>character sets>windows 1251.  Does not always seem to work.......but sometimes it does.  GO figure. 

The other is that sometimes graviteam and other sights like sukhoi.ru see to go down for prolonged periods of time........at least for us in the West.  Its weird.......feels like big brother is being a bastard, lol   But if this board is down you can PM me on SIM HQ .

 

[whukid]

wow! Thanks! IT WORKS

I understand the BASIC basics of modding all this .cmd/.addpack/.flatlist/al;dkfjal;fkja;sdlf stuff has my noob head spinning

[Flashburn]

 

Honestly, at first I was like WTF is this stuff.  Then had to get by way back hat on and was like......OH.

[whukid]

Honestly, at first I was like WTF is this stuff.  Then had to get by way back hat on and was like......OH.

That's more or less my situation Right now, I'm knee deep in figuring out where to put the flags and then I have to find a way to put the Centurion (formerly "Olifant") in the IDF roster

EDIT: It's not so much really where to put the flags as to where to put them so that all the icons in the game don't go haywire

[Flashburn]

That is not vary hard at all.  I added in a t62 to unita with a high speed tank commander.  Let me find code for what I did....lol forgot already. 


this is under squads of div_units_misc.loc_def

Code:

un_t62_FB, sq_tank, txt_ce_cub_t62, TANK, 1000, 2, 0, 0, TECH, STR, TANK, 3, 2, 0, 0, sau_t62, 1, un_crew_t62_t55_FB, 1, , 0, , 0, , 0, , 0;

Doing something simple like that would bring the tank over to whatever side you want.  However.....of course there is a however, with custom textures you will need to create a custom vehicle with imported model with texture paths. 

Under addins of common_res_mod will point to mesh and texture files.....some of mine from my ever expanding mod.

Code:

	ENERGA_FB, energa_fb, sh_object, false, false, 0.2, energafb_dift, energafb_norsp, , 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0;
	R1M1_FB,  energa_fb, sh_object, false, false, 0.2, energafb_dift, energafb_norsp, , 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0;
	UN_CAPFB, un_kepkafb, sh_object, false, false, 0.3, hats1fb_dift, hats1fb_norsp, , 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, -0.01, 0, 0, 0;
	M2HB_FB, m2hb_fb, sh_object, false, false, 0.3, m2hbfb_dift, m2hbfb_norsp, , 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0;

LOL just figured out why my texture is not working on my .50cal.     Got to fix that. 


OOPS should probably explain that.

     M2HB_FB,<--name of object> m2hb_fb,<--name of mesh> sh_object,<--no clue right now> false, false, 0.3, m2hbfb_dift, m2hbfb_norsp, , 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0

dift (this is texture) norsp ( this is normal map)  you probably got that down already.   Not sure what ALL of 0's do, but some of them are position away from models pivot point. 

[Flashburn]

Honestly, at first I was like WTF is this stuff.  Then had to get by way back hat on and was like......OH.

That's more or less my situation Right now, I'm knee deep in figuring out where to put the flags and then I have to find a way to put the Centurion (formerly "Olifant") in the IDF roster

EDIT: It's not so much really where to put the flags as to where to put them so that all the icons in the game don't go haywire

You mean country flags?  Just saw a bit of code that looks like to decals.....do not know if this will help or if you have seen this.
this is under techn_base_mtc80 and m60 model.   I am guessing numbers are once again possition off of pivot point.

Code:

mslots[sssffff]()
	{
		num2, s_mark_01f, s_mark_01, 0.7, 0, 0.007, 0.17;
		num2, s_mark_02f, s_mark_02, 0.7, 0, 0.007, 0.17;
		markc, s_mark_03, , 1.5, 0, 0.007, 0;
		markr, s_mark_04, , 0.5, 0, 0.02, 0;
		markr, s_mark_05, , 0.5, 0, 0.01, 0;
		markr, s_mark_06, , 0.5, 0, 0.01, 0;
		num_veh, s_mark_07f, s_mark_07, 0.4, 180, 0.007, 0.12;

	} //endof mslots

[whukid]

Honestly, at first I was like WTF is this stuff.  Then had to get by way back hat on and was like......OH.

That's more or less my situation Right now, I'm knee deep in figuring out where to put the flags and then I have to find a way to put the Centurion (formerly "Olifant") in the IDF roster

EDIT: It's not so much really where to put the flags as to where to put them so that all the icons in the game don't go haywire

You mean country flags?  Just saw a bit of code that looks like to decals.....do not know if this will help or if you have seen this.
this is under techn_base_mtc80 and m60 model.   I am guessing numbers are once again possition off of pivot point.

Code:

mslots[sssffff]()
	{
		num2, s_mark_01f, s_mark_01, 0.7, 0, 0.007, 0.17;
		num2, s_mark_02f, s_mark_02, 0.7, 0, 0.007, 0.17;
		markc, s_mark_03, , 1.5, 0, 0.007, 0;
		markr, s_mark_04, , 0.5, 0, 0.02, 0;
		markr, s_mark_05, , 0.5, 0, 0.01, 0;
		markr, s_mark_06, , 0.5, 0, 0.01, 0;
		num_veh, s_mark_07f, s_mark_07, 0.4, 180, 0.007, 0.12;

	} //endof mslots

Oh no. Let me show you my pain.

These are the BEFORE pictures;




Then I do this;


and then this


And now I have this;




(THose things are tanks)

[Flashburn]

OMG.  Thats screwed up    You are most certainly gone where noone other than graviteam has been...............

But the squares are telling.  What version are your source files from?  Are they from first version or newest patch?  Or even after they changed movement map?

[whukid]

OMG.  Thats screwed up    You are most certainly gone where noone other than graviteam has been...............

But the squares are telling.  What version are your source files from?  Are they from first version or newest patch?  Or even after they changed movement map?

I used the files in the March update. I think I'm overlapping the files somehow, but I have no clue what I've done. if I get rid of the "tex_misc.flatdata", the Iranian insignia's for the quick battle map become the Star of David, which is good, however everything else stays messed up.

[Flashburn]

Oh man.....can't help on this one.  No idea  .

[whukid]

Oh man.....can't help on this one.  No idea  .

oh well I combined the files into a relatively small download. I think I've hit a wall with this flag fiasco though, as have I with getting the IDF their Centurions

If anyone wants to take a look; the download link is here http://www.mediafire.com/?8jd53595sskx1u4


Anyways, I'm out for the night