The neo-standard thread- Standardising additional hull sizes.

[Suicide Junkie]

I didn't do any sort of path initializing, so C:\ is the default.

I set the minimum requirements as they were because all of those images either:
A) cannot be created/copied from elsewhere (eg. bigexplosion)
or
B) Are required by SE4.

Re: infantry.
Oops. Copy/paste error. I got into a routine, and forgot about that .

quote:

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there are a number of races that are considered complete and do not include custom shield or explosion

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True. I can easily remove those from the requirements.
On the other hand, Battlecruiser is used along with the race portrait when choosing your shipset during race creation.

Minimum requirements are now:
- pop images
- battlecruiser images
- main.bmp

quote:

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What about the idea of an easily editable .txt file defining ship sizes and copy chains.

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Not a problem, I'll include that in my next Version.
I just hardcoded the whole thing to get it done quickly, but I kept it in a nice format for using a text file for definitions.

quote:

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This is probably beyond your programming capabilities, but maybe you can find some pre-made library to resample bitmaps (note the difference between resample and just resize). You could make it copy and resample race portrait to create pop pictures.

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You're right. I'm not going to build that Tinman. The axe already has enough bells and whistles
Resampling images would be way too easy for the shipset's original creator to do, and thus not worth my time to automate.

[Andrés]

I just made a quick test.
Pics that are required by SE4 "add new race" window are:
racename_main
racename_race_portrait
racename_portrait_battlecruiser

"_portrait_battlecruiser"
Is used even if you make a mod where no ship size uses the battlecruiser picture.

IMHO really minimun requirements to create a shipset are:
_main and _race_portrait
Since they are both, indispensable and cannot be copied from anywhere else
and
_anyship_portrait, and _anyship_mini
It does not have to be necessarily the battle cruiser. Portrait and mini don't even need to be of the same ship. It will eventually be copied to all sizes including battlecruiser if necessary.

For example I have this unfinished shipset that so far only has main, race_portrait, pop pics, escort, frigate, destroyer, light cruiser and colony ship. I'd like the program to be able to make all copies and complete the shipset even if most ships will be copies of the light cruiser in the end. By copying the cruiserlight into the battlecruiser the program will actually be CORRECTING the error. If it doesn't have anything to copy to for example to troops ignore them but make all other copies anyway.

I'd just ignore other pics that cannot be copied from anywhere else.
Pop pics seem to be the only ones that if lacking are not replaced by the default shipset. I'd make copies of the race portrait even if you cannot resample them. It saves one step to the creator, if planning to resample them by giving the pics the right name and if not edited viewing the lower left corner of the race portrait is better than a white square.

BTW I hope you know that this is only constructive criticism, and that I do appreciate all your hard work. The NeoBuilder as it is now is already a very useful tool.

I don't want that Tinman, but I want a swiss-army-knife-like axe

[Suicide Junkie]

Ok, I've uploaded a slightly less stubborn Version of neobuilder.exe. This one will allow you to generate the shipset without having a main, shields, or bigexplosion, though it will spew warnings in the status window

The next things I'll do are:
- Allow user to override the battleship image requirement, if they acknowlede that the shipset may end up incomplete/unplayable.
- read mod preferences for alternates from file.
- Add an option to search/copy portraits and minis individually if there are partial images found. Sub-options are for mini chooses portrait, portrait chooses mini, and independant search.

[Suicide Junkie]

A new Version of the Neobuilder

It comes zipped with an example alternate definitions file.
Also, Battlecruiser is not required in order to attempt the image generation.

Minis and portraits are still treated as a unit in this Version.

[dogscoff]

Hey S_J, I'm updating the neo-standard site. Can I offer the neo-builder for download from there? You'll get full credit of course.

Any text or anything you'd like me to put in the html with it?

BTW, you introduced me to 8Bit & Schlock... now I want to repay the favour. Are you familiar with www.redmeat.com? I think you'll appreciate the humour...

[Suicide Junkie]

Feel free to host the Neobuilder. The title bar in the program mentions my name, so you don't have to go overboard

I got distracted, or I would have replied earlier (and gotten more done at work), but I've gotten through the redmeat archive already . Lots of good stuff, bordering on "sicko" at some points. Didn't stop me from eating lunch though

[TerranC]

Sorry to drag this out of the grave, but with new mods using new images, I think this should be revised once again