file/mod comparing

[Lemmy]

A while ago on another forum someone mentioned that a program that could compare mod's would be quite useful.
I never read anything here about it so i assume no one made this program.

The reason i'm asking is because i started working on such a program in the weekend and i was just wondering if i'm the only one, and of course if there is a need for such a program.

I'm already working on a program to compare the components.txt files, it doesn't compare weapons yet just the components. I anyone wants it i'll post it when it also compares weapons, the end of this week maybe.

[Lemmy]

it seems Dubious posted a program to compare files in the mod section, i'll take a look at them and see if my program can add anything useful to it.

[This message has been edited by LemmyM (edited 21 May 2001).]

[Lemmy]

oops...that went wrong

[This message has been edited by LemmyM (edited 21 May 2001).]

[Lemmy]

i downloaded that other program and decided that i will continue working on my own comparing program, even though no one replied.

[capnq]

quote:

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i downloaded that other program and decided that i will continue working on my own comparing program, even though no one replied.

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Lemmy, your first post and this one are only 5 1/2 hours apart. I rarely ever check these Boards more than once a day, and I'm sure people who, unlike me, actually Have A Life, check even less often.


That said, since the mods are just .txt files, there are lots of standard utilities that can do text comparisons which are sufficient for most people's use. I myself haven't done enough modding yet to need more than opening multiple copies of Notepad or Wordpad and rearranging the windows. Custom comparing programs are only of interest to people who aren't satisified with the tools they already have.


------------------
Cap'n Q


The most merciful thing in the world, I think, is the inability of the
human mind to correlate all of its contents. We live on a placid
island of ignorance in the midst of black seas of infinity, and it was
not meant that we should go far. -- HP Lovecraft

[This message has been edited by capnq (edited 21 May 2001).]

[Lemmy]

quote:

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Lemmy, your first post and this one are only 5 1/2 hours apart

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hehe, yeah i was a bit impatient, that's what happens if you don't have a life i guess

[Dubious]

Lemmy, if you really want to program something consider a program to allow the modders to produce a "difference" file with just their changes to the standard files. What we need is a program which would take that 'diff' file and allow the 'non-modder' player to merge the difference file with the existing file in the 'modpath' directory. This would allow several independent mods to be merged together.

While simple in theory, this is quite complex because many mods alter a number of files to different degrees and all the changes are needed for it to work together correctly the way the author intended. What's probably needed is a multi-pass approach to identify what (in general terms) gets modified and then whether the file or specific parameter has already been modified from that distributed with the game. Then an option to merge the changes wholesale or piecemeal. Whenever presented with a dilemma as to what to do, offer the user a choice.

Or you can take a look at some of the mod tools which are already in the modding archive and work on something which is missing. Zeno42 is the most active in this area as I recall.

[Lemmy]

i like that idea, but as you said it's is quite complex because you can't just merge two components.txt files, you have to merge all of the files, or at least all of the modded files. I will take a good look at the files and see if it is possible for me to program it in a acceptable time period (several weeks).
But before i start working it, i think i will first finish the comparing program.

[raynor]

Dunno if this info will be helpful...

The generic file difference program I often use is called WinMerge. The souce/binary are available here:
http://winmerge.sourceforge.net/

[chewy027]

Lemmy i for one will use your program sp bring it on. Now i can easily combine new techs from all the different mods thanks