Component modding tool. Get it here.

DavidG · #1 June 23rd, 2002, 02:43 AM

I've got my Viewer program working now so that it will edit and save components. I would consider this still very buch a 'beta' Version so if anyones is wiling to test it out it would be great. So far there isn't much in the way of help files so hopefully you can figure it out. Some of the non-obvious features include; double clicking the pic file to select from the master pic that shows them all, right click on a field for help, and a few things such as the values for attributes have tool tips.

http://www3.sympatico.ca/dgunsten/SE4Modder.zip

or for just the EXE
http://www3.sympatico.ca/dgunsten/SE4ModderEXE.zip

Phoenix-D · #2 June 23rd, 2002, 07:01 AM

Comment: I run at 800x600. The component editor apparently expects a higher resolution, and it won't resize.. result: some controls can't be used til I bump the resolution up.

DavidG · #3 June 23rd, 2002, 07:05 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Phoenix-D:
Comment: I run at 800x600. The component editor apparently expects a higher resolution, and it won't resize.. result: some controls can't be used til I bump the resolution up.

You need to click the 'tree view' button. This will slide the tree view out the way. There also should be a scroll bar on the right to scroll up and down. Although I concede the program may be a bit of a pain to use at that resolution

Tnarg · #4 June 23rd, 2002, 07:14 AM

Woooowwww. DavidG, you read my mind to the T. This is exactly what I have been hoping for. Very nice work. Now the questions.

I see that you have the ability to add and create new components. Very nice. Is there by any chance that one can go in and edit ship, troop, base, fighter, ect sizes and abilities, and add some more?

Also from my previous post in your other thread, I had mentioned something about viewing ohter race ships, troops, fighters, ect. It seems that maybe you just put in a random ship "Norak" for misc. reasons and that is the only one that can be viewed in the editor?

Last question, kind of dumb, but I don't want to risk screwing up my current game. Once you make a change or add a new component, it is saved and automatically applied into the mod one is working with? Koodos to you if that is so. You made my life super easy.

Thanks

Tnarg · #5 June 23rd, 2002, 09:10 AM

Been playing around with your editor.

Couple more questions have arisen. When I was editing a component or I think I was adding one, I for some reason replaced an excisting component.

Maybe there could be some sort of undo function?

Being that I accidentally replaced one component with my new component, I figured that the only way to get the original component figures was to reinstall the original mod files. Doing so, of course replaces any changes that one might have made with the original files. So when it comes time for a new Version of a mod, any work you yourself might have done is going to be replaced. Is there any way to counter all of this?

Long winded I know, some day I will learn the art of one sentence descriptions.

DavidG · #6 June 23rd, 2002, 12:36 PM

First yea when you hit the save button the changes are aplied to the components.txt file and thus into the mod. Yea I do have plans to provide some sort of undo feature. For now if you mess things up look in the data directory for the mod. You will see a couple of extra files. "Components.bak" is a backup of the .txt file that is made when the program is first started. "Components.bk1" is made each time you save. So if you delete the 'componets.txt' file and rename the '.bak' file to '.txt' you will undo all changes since you started the program. Remaming the '.bk1' file will undo the changes for the Last save. To avoid messing things up I'd suggest copy a mod into a new directory or use the handy 'Create new mod' from the file menu. It will copy all the '.txt' data files to a new directory.

You will notice that right now the program can view the vehcile sizes, facilities, and tech areas. I do plan to make these editable too. And yea I did just randomly pick the Norak for a pic for the vehicle sizes part. The reason really was that it was just my intentions to show details about the vehicle size. The pic was just eye candy. But maybe in future Versions...

As far as abilites go I don't think these are editable??? I think they are probably hard coded into the program. Can anyone confirm this?

[ June 23, 2002, 11:47: Message edited by: DavidG ]