right click the file, goto properties, then uncheck 'read-only' at the bottom. Now save as u usually would.

by the way, welcome to the forums!!

Will somebody please help me ??

I am able to add "new" units to scenarios ( by "new" I mean units that can be found within Conquests such as the PTW Extas units , and the unique units from the Napoleonic ,War in the Pacific scenarios etc)
I think I know all there is to know about Pediacons , Animnames , Civilopedia Entries , Unit Editors etc .( but perhaps I dont !!) as all the previously created scenarios with "new" units work fine.

Now I am trying to take the next step and introduce units from the WW2Global War scenario into a "my own WWII" scenario. I have carefully selected only "complete" unit files from WW2GlobalWar ( eg 4Stacker , Prinz Eugen ,M1340) and avoided complex ones like the IOWA ( there are 2 "Ini" files in the same unit file ?!)

I have downloaded INFANVIEW to allow me to read pcx .files and to add new unit icons to the scenario specific UNIT_32 file . I have carefully copied and pasted the new icons , saved the file ( it very kindly says at the bottom " this is the only valid icon file , others are an error or a delusion") .
I have also downloaded ZULUS UNIT_32 file , and tried using this as an alternative ( thank you to the creators of this for their work , any chance of it being updated to include some of the new Units like VINGRJOE's beautiful ships)

The Scenario loads , and the original units "fight" , but when I click on any city the whole file crashes .

Please , please can somebody tell me what I have done wrong or forgotten to
do.
I have read and re-read all the excellent tutorials ( again ,thank you to those people who have taken to the trouble to develop these for newbies like me)
and almost know them off by heart , but cannot find the answer to the problem
I have spent over 40 hours trying to get this to work and am sure there must be a DOAH I'M AN IDIOT explanation
Many thanks in advance
ps sorry for not using any SMILEY icons and apologies if this is the wrong place to make this request ( it says I can "post" here )

Will somebody please help me ??


The Scenario loads , and the original units "fight" , but when I click on any city the whole file crashes .

Does it give you an error message of any kind?, If so what?

Cheers

Timelord , thank you for responding.
Stupid of me not to have mentioned before that there are NO ERROR messages, the game just closes and flips straight back to the desktop.
Error messages are helpful as they tell you where and what to fix.

I am fairly certain that the problem is to do with the new ICON_32 file that I create.
I exactly follow the instructions in the Tutorial " Making a unit_32 pic", taking care to fit everything exactly into the square.

If I replace the scenario specific Unit_32 file (that I have created with its new icons and units) with a "basic" unit_32 file copied from the main conquest file , everything works fine ( except for the new units of course). So logic says that my error is something to do with the creation of my scenario specific Unit_32 file.

Could the problem be with the INFANVIEW programme? Do others use this successfully ? If it can read the files and allows me to paste to the new unit_32 file , it must be OK ( the file saves ok , the new units icons are all clearly there )

I have assumed that one can't "cheat" and simply assign an unused ICON of a "similiar" type . eg use ICON 751 on the ZULU file ( a Cruiser) and assign this to say Prinz_Eugen. It wouldnt bother me if the build queue/city garrrson icon was slightly different to the graphics of the unit in play.
Well I tried it anyway and it didnt work either.

So I am back to the asumption , that the Unit_32 Icon must be EXACTLY the one that comes in the Unit file. I am not yet suficiently advanced to make my own Icons , (thats the next task , once I learn how to properly make unit_32 files !!)
Thanks for your help.

supplementary , when I load the game in the EDITOR , all the units have a magenta square ( like in the unit_32 file) round them

Timelord , thank you for responding.
Stupid of me not to have mentioned before that there are NO ERROR

No not stupid, just a common happenstance

I am fairly certain that the problem is to do with the new ICON_32 file that I create.......If I replace the scenario specific Unit_32 file (that I have

That does sound like a units_32 problem. Though why it's crashing instead of giving an error I don't know

Could the problem be with the INFANVIEW programme?

Could be, I have never used Iview as a graphic editor, lacks to many features for a editor, make a fantistic viewer. I use either the Gimp (http://www.gimp.org/) or Hypersnap (http://www.hyperionics.com) Depending on what I want/need to do. for just fooling around or creating/editing units_32 The Gimp is excellant, for screen captures and things of that nature Hypersnap is the way to go, The Gimp is Freeware, while Hypersnap is Shareware.

Do others use this successfully ?

I don't know what the "others" use :) My space time machine is in the repair shop and saint nick has my spy ray :lol:

If it can read the files and allows me to paste to the new unit_32 file , it must be OK ( the file saves ok , the new units icons are all clearly there )

Iview can read just about any graphic format, so thats no indication


I have assumed

Never ASSume :nono:

that one can't "cheat" and simply assign an unused ICON

Sure ya can, or at least I have don so with the "original" release of Conquest/PTW, can't say for the "All in one" packages.

icon was slightly different to the graphics of the unit in play.
Well I tried it anyway and it didnt work either.

I presume that you don't have anything else pointing to the picture/file/unit?


So I am back to the asumption
thers that ASS U ME again.

that the Unit_32 Icon must be EXACTLY

If that were the case The all the folks in these forums would be out of a hobby, and you wouldn't be able to add in new units as easly as you can now.

Read this Tutorial (http://forums.civfanatics.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=75413) on units_32 and you'll see that you don't need to point to the exact unit icon of the new unit, but you do need to point to SOME icon for that unit.:science:

Try re-editing your units_32 with a actual graphic editor or use Zulu's Unit_32 file. Either way you should have a lot better luck.

Cheers

Thank you. I have downloaded The GIMP all 3 files .I can get as far as opening the icon from the unit file and opening the main
Unit32 sheet , then get stuck as cant find out how to loose the "paintbrush".
and simply "highlight" , copy the small file then highlight and paste on to the unit32 file.. which I could do with INFANVIEW. I live in Spain and my PC is set for Spanish Langauge so I have the additional headache of trying to make sure I correctly interpret English Instructions into Spanish, so thanks for your patience

supplementary. I ve got as far as finding the options of "move" and "edit" ( I suppose it must be one of these but cant get either to do what's needed-- at least the paintbrush has gone !!)
Please continue being patient as I hope we are not that far off finding the right route ( the tutorial seems to be written with JASC Paintshop as the Graphics programme and The GIMP aint the same ...plus ..I aint that bright..more patient and stubborn )
Just run me through the steps .. and lets see if that does the trick

The fact that all the unit icons have a magenta square when I load the scenario in the editor also makes me suspect that IRFANVIEW ( correct spelling) is perhaps not the right tool.

Many thanks again for your invaluable help

supplementary. I ve got as far as finding the options of "move" and "edit" ( I suppose it must be one of these but cant get either to do what's needed-- at least the paintbrush has gone !!)

:lol: Either use the menu (Tools/selection tools/free selection) or use the RIGHT CLICK menu. After putting the icon of your choice into the clipboard memory, VERY carfully select the region you want to paste your icon into and tell it to paste. I think you can use the KB for finer selection, but it's been a LONG time since I used GIMP so don't hold me to it.

Once the icon is on the sheet use the sizing tools for a better fit. IMO it's better to be a little short of the edges of the box then worry about fitting it to the exact demensions of the box or being over which can have disaterous affects and wind up :nuke:'ing the sheet for any/all icons that you paste after.

( the tutorial seems to be written with JASC Paintshop as the

Oh it is, but unless you're rich, or are into detailed modiling/graphics it isn't "cost effective"

Graphics programme and The GIMP aint the same ...plus ..I aint that bright..more patient and stubborn )

I think you'll like the GIMP once you get the hang of it's interface. For freeware, it's a very powerfull program, IMO it's comparable to those comercial paint programs.

The fact that all the unit icons have a magenta square when I load the scenario in the editor also makes me suspect that IRFANVIEW

Well as I said I have only used it for viewing and rarly re-sizing a picture, I-View isn't made to be a Graphic Editor. it's more of a graphic viewer then a graphic editor.

Cheers

i dont know if this question has been answered yet, but to get the magenta color transparent in the editor, make sure that the unit 32 palette contains the color in the last 2 boxes. This tells the program to make those colors transparent. In order to this you have to have a palette editting program...i dont know if irfanview has one...but jasc psp certainly does.

wow, colonel's tutorial is confusing!

Take it slow :) Ask questions. You`ll get there :)

wow this was hepful first try and i got a yamato, just a few problems, one i don't have sound for the unit and two i don't understand the civilopedia instructions too well, but other than that thanks a lot.

Sound? Open the .ini file of the unit you want to use the sounds from, and copy the sound section (or individual sound lines*) to your new unit`s .ini file.

* i.e. run- warrior
attack a - archer

What do you don`t undestand with the pedia? It is a bit tricky, atleast for me :)

is there a way to mod existing units in the game like turning the Modern Armor into a T 80 just for looks?

is there a way to mod existing units in the game like turning the Modern Armor into a T 80 just for looks?

Sure, make animations for the unit you want. Use the editor edit the text files (read this tutorial) and add the unit to the game with the same stats and either a new name or the same name with a space at the end. Assign which tribes get the new looking unit in the editor.

:dunno: HELP! Every time I try to make a new unit in debug mode, an error comes up saying "FILE NOT FOUND (ANIMNAME_PRTO_Light_Tank)". I don't understand why!
I would realy appreciate an answer. Thanks!:dunno:





:ar15: :ar15: Resistance is Futile!
:sniper:

:spear:

:dunno: HELP! Every time I try to make a new unit in debug mode, an error comes up saying "FILE NOT FOUND (ANIMNAME_PRTO_Light_Tank)". I don't understand why!
I would realy appreciate an answer. Thanks!:dunno:

Have you added it in the civlopedia entry in the editer?
Is the spelling correct (both directory and ini)?
is it in the correct path? (IE: \Infogrames Interactive\Civilization III\Conquests\Art\Units\)

I'm sorry Timelord, I already answered my own question. I skipped the part in the tutorial about the senario search folders. I have another question though: how do I get the civilopedia icons small and large for a unit that is used in another senario, such as the light tank in WWII in the Pacific?
Thanks in advance!:D


And, WHAT THE HECK IS AN INI FILE!

For the first question, you just copy them into your mods Art/Civilopedia/Icons/Units folder. However, all the unit icons from the Conquests scenarios are already available, so you don't need to copy them across, you just need to copy their Pediaicons entries.

And, WHAT THE HECK IS AN INI FILE!

In this case a ini file (filename.ini) is a file that "controls" the units animations, sounds etc.

Look at any unit in your art/units folder, they all have *.ini files.

But the senguko senario doesn't have any unit files! I CAN'T FIND THEM!
Thanks.:thanx:



:ar15: :ar15: :ar15: :ar15:

I use IrfanView. Here I spent hours trying to copy and paste those wonderful units to a units_32.pcx sheet, but when I go to the Map Editor and place them on the map, a magenta square appears behind them. How do I remove the magenta square behind my units, resources, and buildings? (If you know all the reasons why this would happen, I don't mind reading all of them!) Thank you so much.

I use IrfanView. Here I spent hours trying to copy and paste those wonderful units to a units_32.pcx sheet, but when I go to the Map Editor and place them on the map, a magenta square appears behind them. How do I remove the magenta square behind my units, resources, and buildings? (If you know all the reasons why this would happen, I don't mind reading all of them!) Thank you so much.

DON'T use Irfanview for editing of this sort, Download and use the GIMP (freeware) or or another true PHOTO/GRAPHIC editer. Irfanview is mainly a photo VIEWER not an editor.

Thanks for the input, Timelord. I already received help on this issue, and I forgot about the post in this thread. I apologize for that.

Here is the link for the post/thread where this issue was resolved: http://forums.civfanatics.com/showpost.php?p=5851051&postcount=219

I found them, they were in a different file. SORRY!

Do I really need to read all that..? :s

Do I really need to read all that..? :s

This is an easy question to answer.

If you don't know how to add a unit and want to add a unit, yes.

Otherwise no.

OMG. Long but useful. I stayed up to 3:00 A.M. trying it out. Any how, I have a question, is there a easier way to edit .pcx's? I want to add icons and they keep switching between .flc and .pcx, really confusing :S. Any how, this thread is awsome, really explains all the "PRTO" and stuff like that out.
P.S. Are you Colonel Jack O'neal?

Spike, if your file keeps changing between .flc and .pcx, try upgrading your IrfanView to the latest version. Also, make sure that you are saving the file type correctly - it might be defaulting to .flc and you aren't noticing that.

Lol. It's not that it keeps switching as in it goes to pcx then flc back in forth, it's that i keep neededing to switch between editing pcx.'s (like civilopedia icons) to flc.'s (like unit grafix) and becomes really hard to keep track of 2 programs... any how, thanks, i never new to get irfan so you helped in a diferent way :)

it didn't work for me can you write it so a kindrgartner could understand

Brexje, what didn't work? If you need help, tell exactly what the problem or something is.

I just saw this, so I don't know if this deserves any attention or if im just stupid, but does this work the same way for civ3complete?

I just saw this, so I don't know if this deserves any attention or if im just stupid, but does this work the same way for civ3complete?

Yes.............

Sorry, but I don't know how to quote.
This reply is for praxisdying:


Civ3 Complete is not a different game. It just has Civ 3 and its two expansion packs (Conquests and Play the World).
Just wanted to clear things up.;)

Plus, this outline on how to add units LOOKS complicated, but it really isn't. Once you get the hang of it, it really is quite easy. I have already created about 50 new units for My Mod. The game gets really interesting after you add that many units.

thank you so much! i knew it wasnt a different game, however it is a different version and i wasn't sure if there was anything extra added to it.
thanks again!

QUOTE=Meteor Man;6485464]Sorry, but I don't know how to quote.
This reply is for praxisdying:[/QUOTE]

Quote by clicking the quote button at the bottom- select the text and click the "wrap quote tags after selected text" button:) (remove first quote tag so that it isnt seen :))

Thank you for clearing that up.
I am thinking about writing the "kindergarten" explanation for how to add new units. I just haven't had the time.
But thank you for clearing things up.

alright im SURE someone has had this error but i cant seem to find a fix....
i followed the guide, and its really helpful but... i have a stupid error when i try to create my unit in debug mode. the error comes up and says

ERROR READING FILE

Missing entry in "Scenarios\My Mod\text\PediaIcons.txt": ANIMNAME_
The game will now exit.
...

wtf?
cuz i definitely have a ANIMNAME entry which i quadruple checked for spelling errors and spaces (i even went so far as to change everything to the same name, all without spaces)
heres the pediaicons entry: (note there are no large/small pedia icons or civilopedia entry)
#ANIMNAME_PRTO_RomanBallista
RomanBallista
i changed the name in every instance (including the .biq) to RomanBallista without spaces just in case...
i cant seem to find an error with the 2 lines and im really starting to get pissed off at the stupid game...
can anyone help me?

disregard my previous post... :p
im just dumb
i forgot to make a civilopedia entry in the edit unit screen.
blah

hi I am trying to add mi first unit an I followed the whole guide, but the unit picture isn't showing up in the unit editor window does anybody know why?

hi I am trying to add mi first unit an I followed the whole guide, but the unit picture isn't showing up in the unit editor window does anybody know why?

Did you edit the units_32 pcx with the icon for your new unit and place the editied version in the art/units folder?

Remember you have to reload the scenario if you pasted the icon after having opened it (the scenario).

Is anyone interested in a simpler version of this?? I KNOW how to add units, and following this tutorial confused me...I read through the thread (I have NO idea why so dont ask) and it seems that 3 out of 5 people had some trouble understanding it (Including me at the start)...

Now that I have little time to MOD I am willing to slam out tutorials for stuff I know (See siggy for link to tutorial on GIMP)...lemme know people...I check the forum when Im at school and at home every few hours (when Im not in the Comp lab...school computers are Awesome!!)

It took me like 3 or 4 hours the first time but eventually I was able to get it (using this tutorial)

Is anyone interested in a simpler version of this?? I KNOW how to add units, and following this tutorial confused me...I read through the thread (I have NO idea why so dont ask) and it seems that 3 out of 5 people had some trouble understanding it (Including me at the start)...

Now that I have little time to MOD I am willing to slam out tutorials for stuff I know (See siggy for link to tutorial on GIMP)...lemme know people...I check the forum when Im at school and at home every few hours (when Im not in the Comp lab...school computers are Awesome!!)

I didn't need a simpler version of this, I understood it perfectly, but thats just me :lol:. Yes, a simpler version would help many people out... now, who wants to post it (not gonna be me :D).

Im willing to write it if people need it...

Im willing to write it if people need it...
Well, I've spent many frustrating hours trying to add units, going by this article, and I never got anywhere.
If anyone thinks it can be put simpler, then I would be quite grateful. I think it has to be possible to make it easier, or not?

Im willing to write it if people need it...

Then go for it! I'm sure there'd be many that would love to have a more comprehensive (or maybe comprehendable :hmm:) tutorial. Many lurkers would no doubt be grateful as well.

Ok, so give me a week to get it detailed and I will post a new one...I will also offer support which this tutorial doesnt have...

it may seem kinda hard to understand at first as it did for me... but try not to understand it... lol. just do it. i dont think there is a better way to do it except to just follow the guide. i actually did everything according to the guide... including calling the mod "my mod." then i changed everything, of course.

but if you want a summary you basically just make a scenario. then go to scenario, and click custom rules. go to scenario properties in the same menu (scenario) and customize your stuff. then theres the unit part. by far the most annoying and confusing. find a unit you want, then download it in a folder, make sure the folder name and the ini file have the same name. make this folder structure. go to civ3/conquests/scenarios. make a folder called "whatever". save your scenario file into the scenarios folder, not the "whatever" folder. then inside the "whatever" folder, make 2 folders, text, and art. inside art, make a folder called units. download all your units into there, but make sure the .flcs and .inis are in individual folders, not just crammed into the units folder. in the text folder, copy the pediaicons.txt and civilopedia.txt from civ3/conquests/text. pediaicons.txt is where you do most of the actual adding. civilopedia.txt is where you make pedia entries, which i omitted because who cares. you do not need to edit civilopedia.txt at all to get your scenario to work. if you dont feel like doing it, dont. anyways. go into the scenario editor, and go to rules, edit. thats where you edit all the crap you want to from units to terrain bonuses and other stuff. go into units, and click add, name your unit (preferably the name of the folder you just downloaded) doing the icon is annoying so i wont talk about it. adjust all the settings of the unit, then, and this is the most important part in the middle, there is a box and on top of the box it says "Civilopedia Entry". type this into that box. PRTO_(unit name) without the parentheses, and make sure instead of spaces, you put _ underscores. look at other units that are in the game to see what flags you should have checked and stuff like that, for example for a cannon unit or for a transport. they can be quite tricky. now go into pediaicons.txt and search for "#ANIMNAME_PRTO_Mobile_SAM" which is the last conquests unit. after that entry, make all your PRTO_ entries. heres the format
#ANIMNAME_PRTO_Mobile_SAM (this is the entry)
Mobile Sam (this is the folder where the flcs and inis are located)

so, for simplicity, it is MUCH easier if everything you use has the same name. for example, if you name the unit something, then make the PRTO_unit_name different, and the folder where its found all have different names, you will get confused very quickly. maybe itd be easier to understand how the program works... the name of the unit that you specify in the editor, is the name of the unit in game. the PRTO_nonsense is what the program looks for in pediaicons.txt. the other PRTO_ crap in pediaicons.txt (#ICON_PRTO_nonsense) is to specificy what icon you see when you consult civilopedia for the new unit. i think its a waste of time and confusing so ignore it. thats basically it...
for the unit icon, if your lazy, use existing unit icons, or you can download corel paint shop pro X2, which reads and edits pcx files, which are the icons.
to do that, find the units_32.pcx file in conquests/art/units. copy that file into your scenario's directory, into the units folder. edit it with that program, and find an appropriate picture of your unit and copy it. then open the units_32.pcx and paste it as transparent into the next blank purple box. (its magenta but whatever). make sure the picture size is 32x32 (pixels). if its not, right click the picture of the unit, and resize it to 32x32(pixels). if the background is already magenta, and its sized correctly, just do regular paste and put it in an empty box somewhere. save it (as units_32.pcx, no alterations!) and then go to scenario, scenario properties and select debug mode from the bottom. then test your scenario by opening the game, going to civ content, and find your mod. play it, select whatever you want, it doesnt matter. if you did it right, you should see the entire map. this is good. its debug mode! yay cheating! anyways. hit Shift+F1 and find your unit (its probably on the very bottom) and hit enter. place the unit. if you see your unit, you win. if not, you did something wrong, or this little summary (which admittedly, is a LOT longer than i thought it would be) is too confusing. most of the problems are just with naming files. look through this thread to find if other people have the same problems. they probably have their solutions.

if you have questions, post them, ill try to get back to you to clarify or whatever, but the real guide is pretty comprehensive. if you specifically dont understand a certain part of it, just ask. i have school and shtuff but ill try to help if i can.

haha spacer... didnt see your post...
i guess we're taking over.
but to be honest, there is no way to make the guide comprehensive and completely understandable.... i guess you have to just read the fine print. thats how i had my issues but now that ive read the guide (at least 4 times) my mod is working perfectly. (i added 1-2 units for each civ and currently im working on adding a few more civs, which i need a good guide for...)
well, off to chem lab.

I plan on having pics...that always makes it easier :)...I have started writing it, and am done with the adding of text part...

now onto moving files...then the damn editor...which is by far the hardest part for most.

The editior is one of the funest parts! What do you mean hard?

it is once you know how to use it, but explaining what it all does is a pain...I guess I could just refer people to the other thread relating to editor functions.

It would probably be a lot easier for newbs to have it all in one place, without unnecessary explanation of things they won't be needing specifically for adding a unit. 'Course, you're the one making the tutorial. :)

Zeppelin and Spacer One, thanks for your efforts sofar.

It's about a year ago that I tried to add units, and I don't remember where I exactly I lost the plot. I've let it rest, but your offers of help would justify another try for me. At the moment I just have the problem of not having internet connection at home. I'm probably not gonna give it another try until I have internet again, although, well, I might copy your instructions at work and see if they make the penny drop for me...

By the way; I'm pretty comfy with the editor, so that will not have been my problem, I imagine.

Thanks.

i hope that the part about the ANIMNAME is a little more clear. that's the only place i mess up...

well, what exactly do you mess up?

alright well....
in editor, the civilopedia entry box should read
PRTO_UNIT_NAME
and then in pediaicons, the entry should read
#ANIMNAME_PRTO_UNIT_NAME
UNIT's FOLDER
thats about all you need with PRTO and ANIMNAME crap. but yes, it does suck

the UNIT_NAME part refers to the units name (so anyone reading this thread won't be confused)

ok, a quick update...I have had literally NO time to work on this...Im trying to include pics to help explain...

so here is a quick help for the ANIMNAME part

You will need to add 3 entries to your PediaIcons.txt file...

they are:

The large and Small Pedia Icons, and the "#ANIMNAME" is to tell the game where to find the animations...

they are written like this:

#ICON_PRTO_(Unit_Name)
art\civilopedia\icons\units\(Large File Name).pcx
art\civilopedia\icons\units\(Small file name).pcx

The above entry is for Pedia files, there is also:

#ANIMNAME_PRTO_(Unit_Name)
(Unit name on file folder or INI)

the names after the "PRTO" MUST match...and the final entry under the ANIMNAME MUST be the exact name of the folder containing the INI and animations

[edit] contact m via PM and I will provide support until I get a new tutorial up

Hi. I'm trying a MOD for the first time and I've been following this tutorial.

I'm trying to create a scenario based off of the Sengoku one that' spart of Conquests. I was gonna start by adding units that would be specific to each clan. What is the best way to build off of an existing scenario?

Where is the japan map that the game opens up when you run the scenario, and why can't I find it to edit it in CivEdit? The same goes for editing units within teh scenario; how can I add clan specific units when I can't figure out how to open the Sengoku scenario in CivEdit?

Thanks

:bump: naw, just kidding.

The senario map is in the Conquests/senarios folder

there is also a bigger senario map in the conquests/conquests folder

heres a pic to show were:

So, what's the status on a new tutorial?

Holy Comoly

This is amazing

Can you recommend me any books or sites that just go into the detail of creating civ mods?

What you did here is amazing

Thanks alot

:goodjob:

There are some tutorials out there:
http://forums.civfanatics.com/showthread.php?p=2637435#post2637435
go to his third post for link to specific areas like just techs, or only improvements.