modding editor?

[Tnarg]

Some one might have already mentioned this, but I'll give it a shot. Has anyone ever thought about programming some sort of mod editor. It could be set up similar to the map editor that comes with the disk.

Instead of having to go in and changing each individual file (I have no advanced knowlegde on what modders actually go in and do when they create mods) ie: to change or create a facility one needs to go and edit the facility text, then the pictures text?

Anyhow the editor could be a program that just makes creating mods more user friendly so that computer illeterate people such as I can play around and spread the wealth.

Main Idea:
1) Have a main screen that allows the creation or editing of Components, Facilities, Ship Sizes, Base sizes, fighters, troops, ect. (perhaps even a blank one for creative types that want something completly new)

2) Within these indivual sections one would readily have access to everything that makes a componet a componet or a ship a ship: A box to fill in the name, a box for description, tonnage, group, ability types, ect. ect.

2b) For the picture one of two things could be done. A massive download or inclusion of the incrediable and ever expanding work from the Image Mod in which tiny thumbnail pictures could be chosen. Or one could just enter the number associated with the component they want. (Part of the programing would make all of the neccessary connections and make this work). Proper credit of course needs to be mentioned to anyone that puts there mod available for others.

2c) For ship, fighter, base, ect pictures one would just download what they like. Part of the program would consist of specific file in which the user could draw from what they have downloaded or put into. Again proper credit due where proper credit is due.

It took a while to figure out the Map editor, but once I figured it out it was pretty slick, just time consuming.

For comparision of what I am trying to portray try and remember Civ II the Gold Edition. That had a really effective unit and building editor. You would scroll through all of the unit or building pictures, then plug in all the values, and walla, a new unit or building was at your disposal.

For those who have not played that, the Map editor is a close second guess.

If anyone has any feed back on this lengthy idea let me know, and perhaps tell me if this is at all feasible. If not for SEIV; perhaps, SEV?

[geoschmo]

DavidG has a pretty slick program that he is upgrading all the time. Last I looked at it it didn't have the capability to edit all the files, but he was working on it. Curently it's a pretty kick butt viewer that has access to just about all the data files. I think you can find it in the mod download forum somewhere.

Geoschmo

[Taera]

Actually there are editors for most of the files - technology, component, facility and so on and thats only what i remember. the Last one i've seen does actually show the picture number you're giving it.

[DavidG]

Hmm the first post sounds like an add blurb for my program. Check out my Viewer for an idea of what it will look like. So far I've got the editor Version working pretty good for the components. I'll probably post a preview Version in the next few days.

The feature I really like is selcting a picture. I've got it so that it shows the components.bmp (which is a pic of thumbnails of all the pics). you can then select the pic by clicking on it. I've tested it with the massive # of pics downloaded from the image mode form.

I think the program should be pretty easy for non-modders to get into. I've got help on most of the field's that you get by right clicking and tooltips that for example tell you what value is expected for an attribute.

[Tnarg]

DavidG, This is my second attempt at trying to load up your viewer. Everytime I click on the set up I get multiple abort, cancel, retry prompts, and other miscalaneous problems. Could it possibly be from not having a specif file viewer on my computer. Long, long, ago a nasty virus wiped out a great deal of my computers ability to view certain types of files. What do you think or do you have other solutions? Thanks.

[Tnarg]

DavidG, I think I have it. Pretty slick. As far as viewing different races ships and troops, is there an easy way to do so? Also did you say that you are working on some sort of editing program for this? This is almost exactly what I had in mind from my first post. Wow, good job. Thanks.

[DavidG]

Originally posted by Tnarg:
Pretty slick. As far as viewing different races ships and troops, is there an easy way to do so? Also did you say that you are working on some sort of editing program for this?

Not sure about the first questions since I haven't really looked into that. Yes to the second one. Got it working to edit components now. I'm just debugging a little more and will post it soon.

[DavidG]

Originally posted by Tnarg:
Everytime I click on the set up I get multiple abort, cancel, retry prompts, and other miscalaneous problems.

Are you running the setup.exe file or did you just get the SE4Viewer.exe file? if it's the se4viewer the solution is simple. Just get the whole download. If it's the setup.exe file that's crapping out I'm a bit stumped. There is a list a files below that the program loads. The ones with the '**' are the ones the viewer uses for sure. The others I think are just used by the setup program (it's made automaticall so I'm not real sure what it uses) if you have the '**' marked files try just downloaded the exe file. If you still can't get things to work tell me exactly what the error says and post it or e-mail me and I'll try to figure it out.

VB6STKIT.DLL
COMCAT.DLL **
STDOLE2.TLB
ASYCFILT.DLL
OLEPRO32.DLL
OLEAUT32.DLL
MSVBVM60.DLL **
MSCOMCTL.OCX **