For those of us that are computer illiterate
 

All right, I just received my SEIV gold, and am pumped. However, beleiving that being able to use all of the mods would be just a matter of doing nothing other than loading the game, I am deeply saddened. So I am a bit on the backwoods side when it comes to opening up, and utilizing these files. I need a "laymens" step by step on how to do this. Right now I just want to be able to add more race types with their cool ships. So if someone could explain this to me, I will be greatful. Remember in laymens terms or "Idiots Guide to opening Race files and using them in a regular SEIV game.

Re: For those of us that are computer illiterate
 

yep, have same problem, pulled out what little hair I have left, and at my age, well thats another story, quite agree, I'm a layman to when it comes to mods, would be nice to have a step by step, where to go, what to clik on, etc,

just some ideas mac

Re: For those of us that are computer illiterate
 

Well, if you're used to manipulating files through the main window display (rather than windows explorer):

First - unzip the file to your desktop.

Second - if it is a full mod (like P&N) then click on the folder and see if it has a folder inside with the mod name you can pull out the folder to the desktop. If you click the folder and you see other folders like "Data", "Design Names", "Pictures" then you are already in good shape.

Third - double click down this line: "My Computer", "C Drive", "Program Files", "Shrapnel Games", "Malfador Machinations", "SE IV Gold" - this may be different if you chose to install the game elsewhere, but odds are this is where it will be.

Forth - Drag the folder into the SE IV Gold folder.

Fifth - make sure you install Modchooser to that folder as well, and drag a shortcut to modchooser out to your desktop. Now you can use Modchooser to select which mod you want to play without having to mess with the Path file.

---- Now if you want to add a race to the existing game ----

First - as above.

Second - as above, except the folder may just have a race name in it (such as Shadri) or it may have folders called "Design Name", "Empire" and "Picture"

Third - as above.

Forth - If there are seperate folders, drag the contents of the folder into the corresponding folders in the root of SE IV Gold - make sure to drag the contents and not the folder, otherwise you will have a folder in the folder that the game will not find. If all you see is a race foler with pics and AI in it, then you will need to continue to open "Pictures" then drag the new race folder into the "Races" folder.

Fifth - Play the standard game, those races should now be available. You may need to use the neostandard VehicleText file to see extra ships in a set.


Hope this isn't as confusing as it looks http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon12.gif

Re: For those of us that are computer illiterate
 

<blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><hr>Hope this isn't as confusing as it looks <hr></blockquote>The only thing I can think of to add is a series of screenshots, showing the process. Turning on mouse trails, and/or doing a bit of image editing couldn't hurt either.
I can do that tonight if anybody wants me to.

Re: For those of us that are computer illiterate
 

Val, what's a desktop?

SJ - I think your screen shot idea is splendid - Please please please could you do that

Re: For those of us that are computer illiterate
 

The desktop is the very bottom layer in windows, what you see when you've closed everything you can.
It will have "my computer", the recycle bin, "network neighbourhood" and "my documents" Icons on it, plus various other files you may have dropped there.

Re: For those of us that are computer illiterate
 

SJ, you are a kind individual for not using my post as an opportunity to pour scorn

I actually knew what the desktop is but that probably is the limit of my knowledge

Re: For those of us that are computer illiterate
 

GT:

I'll put that one up there with your love of Kenny G http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon12.gif

Re: For those of us that are computer illiterate
 

I'm working a help desk in a university, but don't think that makes all the Users geniuses.
You be surprised at some of the things I've seen and heard.

I once got a call: "my overhead isn't working"
I walked across campus, entered the room, and pushed the 30-cm wide, neon orange (on a dark brown box) switch that says on/off.
The prof got a face full of light, and I quickly left.

Just like the fact that there's always someone better than you at something, theres always someone much, much worse http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon12.gif

Re: For those of us that are computer illiterate
 

Val, we don't want to open that old sore again do we? otherwise, you will have to admit you own Kenny G and Curtis Stigers CDs and Gryphin will be going on about Enigma again

Re: For those of us that are computer illiterate
 

SJ,
Well said. I do desktop support for about 100 people. It is good to see another support person who does not deride the Users. When I supported MS, (don't hate me), many of the techs did it on a regular basis in subtle back handed ways. It was nothing you could point at since the tone infection was polite. Later in the "real world" I found they continued to do so.
I'd work for you anyday.

Re: For those of us that are computer illiterate
 

Those of us working in the computer support industry often fall victim to the "Nick Burns" syndrome. But hopefully noone does that in this forum. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon7.gif

Re: For those of us that are computer illiterate
 

Tks SJ, Geo, Val, Tesco for the help, I admit I'm not one up on computerology, so I need all the help I can get and I have a hunch there are more out there they just afraid to say or ask, But, I admit my ignorance in certain aspects of Mods. Tks again, and SJ, by all means do the pics, anything that will help, Now for my dumb question of the day.

I go to my computer, find D drive, find the extras with the mods on the CD, now when I pick one, up pops winzip which I have, This is the one place I lose it. When I unzipped it, it went to the unzipped file folder and created folder of its own in My Documents, this was the Mod Helper Mod. Soooo, When it shows the path in the box, before I hit the unzip button what do I change in order to get it to go to SE4Gold or get it to the desktop? dumb right?

willing to learn mac

[ 12 March 2002: Message edited by: mac5732 ]</p>

Re: For those of us that are computer illiterate
 

Go figure - I do tech support as well, and have the Nick Burns episodes in .avi on my PC http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon12.gif Must be where we all get our love of logistics in SE IV!

I've actually types up pages of documentation (along with screen captures) for them, so I got a chuckle when I read SJs first response http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon7.gif

GrowlTigga:

Yeah, hate to replay that thread!

Re: For those of us that are computer illiterate
 

The next TDM-ModPack might feature an "Install Shield" and with some luck it might be even capable of finding SE4 on its own. No more hassling with the pack...

Re: For those of us that are computer illiterate
 

Now that is a good idea!

Re: For those of us that are computer illiterate
 

Hrmph. Here I was, thinking that the shrapnel forum was down (I could see any other site, and even shrapnels homepage), when it is just IE that refuses to load it.
Netscape 4.7 slogs through a slow transfer, and a few broken images, and here I am.

To start with, go here and download TDMv3.00.zip, unless you can find a TDM Version 3 on your CD, then just copy instead of downloading.

Images: (interlaced, and kept down to 50Kb each, so some look better than others)
#1.gif: Starting Download from the SE4 AI file-posting thread..
#2.gif: Save to a nice place.
#3.gif: Find your download.
#4.gif: Open Zip with Winzip.
#5.gif: Open Extraction dialog.
#6.gif: Find SE4 directory, and press extract.
#7.gif: Extracting TDM
#8.gif: Open "My Computer"
#9.gif: Browse to SE4, and note "TDM-Modpack" is one of the folders.
#10.gif: Open Path.txt
#11.gif: Change the path, and save.
#12.gif: Close Path.txt, and Run Se4
#13.gif: SE4 loading, with TDM text in the corner.
#14.gif: TDM races are available.

[ 14 March 2002: Message edited by: Suicide Junkie ]</p>

Re: For those of us that are computer illiterate
 

SJ,

Does it seem around 11-12pm the Last few nights, the shrapnel forum has been down? It happened to me Last night too. Every other site works fine too. Are you using rogers@home?

Re: For those of us that are computer illiterate
 

I have the same problems. Must be the server.

Anyway, I have posted the TDM-ModPack with an Install Shield that should be capable of locating the right directory on its own.

Grab it here.

Re: For those of us that are computer illiterate
 

I am seeing the problem as well. and I am on dsl

Re: For those of us that are computer illiterate
 

I don't recall exactly when, but it has seemed sporadic all night lately. I'm using sympatico.

Re: For those of us that are computer illiterate
 

<blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><hr> Does it seem around 11-12pm the Last few nights, the shrapnel forum has been down? <hr></blockquote>

Guys. We have been crushed. Between the releases of BCT Commander and Space Empires IV Gold we have times when we can't keep the server running. Already this month we have done over a terrabyte of transfer. Bear with us. We are adding a second server, but it won't be in place until early next month.

Re: For those of us that are computer illiterate
 

Tim,
Thanks for menitoning that. I was begining to think it was me or my new cable connection.

Re: For those of us that are computer illiterate
 

A terabyte in 14 days http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/shock.gif
Wow. That's the same as 35,500 downloads of the SE4 Gold demo, one every 30 seconds, for two weeks straight!

There isn't an ISP getting upset (or rich) because of this, is there?

[ 14 March 2002: Message edited by: Suicide Junkie ]</p>

Re: For those of us that are computer illiterate
 

SJ, I don't know if you saw it. One of my concerns about starting the "Gryphin GrowlTigga" thread was that the partisipants would run up the band width usage. I'm relived to know that while maybe we did, it was small compared to the total.
&lt; phew &gt;, I don't want to get kicked off.

Re: For those of us that are computer illiterate
 

SJ:
What Version of WinZip are you using? You should upgrade to 8.1.