PiC: The Pediaicons Checker

IbnSina · Oct 20, 2004, 08:11 PM

This is a small program for W2k/XP (and now Win95/98/Me) that is designed to check the existence of all of the graphical objects in any scenario.biq/bix or pediaicons.txt file that you specify. It should check the following things:

* existence of all plain graphics files named in pediaicons.txt;
* existence of unit directories;
* existence and proper naming of unit .ini files;
* existence of all graphics and sound files named inside the unit .ini files.
* existence of labels referred to in the .biq file
* unit upgrade paths

There is a readme file in the archive file that gives brief instructions.

This is version 0.1. That means it has been improved from version 0.0 to the point where it may no longer work at all. Please help me identify bugs and improve the code. Good luck!

Pediaicons Checker v. 0.1

Ozymandias · Oct 20, 2004, 08:41 PM

Sounds great -- but the link's not working ....

IbnSina · Oct 20, 2004, 11:23 PM

Sorry - the entire process seems to have rendered me twitterpated. I meant to put this in the utility programs forum as well, but evidently became completely confused about my whereabouts. Not a good sign. In any case, I think the link should work now.

watorrey · Oct 20, 2004, 11:37 PM

This sounds *GREAT*

Can we get a moderator to move this to the Utilities forum?

Luddi VII · Oct 21, 2004, 09:27 AM

Finally!! This shall be useful, and I hope you come with other versions.

Goldflash · Oct 21, 2004, 09:36 AM

heh.. you said. .twitterspattered....

Oh, this utill looks really usefull. Can't wait to get home to try it.

Mr. Do · Oct 21, 2004, 09:51 AM

I asked for something like this recently, so hurrah!

MaisseArsouye · Oct 21, 2004, 09:58 AM

I'm gonna try it immediatly

LouLong · Oct 21, 2004, 10:59 AM

Could be extremely handy !
Now what would be really great is if it could show a preview of the icons at the same time... Hint ! Hint !

IbnSina · Oct 21, 2004, 01:04 PM

@Mr. Do: Yes, it was your thread that provided the idea for this. It's all your fault

@LouLong: As an avid thief of ideas as well as signatures, I say: hmmm... It's not completely clear to me what would happen here, but perhaps the program should check for large and small icons? If found, the small one could be displayed next to the list of any problems for the .ini file? Or are you thinking that all units should be listed, even if there is not a problem? Hmmm... why not? We could always close that section if we got tired of looking at it...

Turner · Oct 21, 2004, 01:21 PM

Moderator Action: Thread moved.

ainwood · Oct 21, 2004, 02:29 PM

You got it finished! Excellent!

Any plans to extend it to buildings, races etc?

IbnSina · Oct 21, 2004, 02:52 PM

Well, buildings and races were what I meant by "plain graphics files". They seem pretty easy to track down, with simple paths given directly in the pediaicons file. By contrast, the units were trickier, and I'm not certain that I have them right yet. They seem to be scattered about the entire Civ distribution, sometimes in several default directories, none of which has a direct path in pediaicons. Still, I think it already checks buildings and races and happy/angry leaderhead faces and such.

Dease · Oct 21, 2004, 04:40 PM

any chance it will support win98?

EDIT: it workson win98

perfectly too

ToJo_1 · Oct 21, 2004, 04:41 PM

Awesome! This is very useful. It won't wear out will it? Because it will get alot of use here!

IbnSina · Oct 21, 2004, 06:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dease

any chance it will support win98?

Um... sure. I think it will do the search part of its job right now, but the double-click bits won't work. I should be able to make it a little bit smarter about identifying the OS, so it can compensate.

embryodead · Oct 23, 2004, 06:05 AM

It's a little but awesome program! Saves lots of time and frustration.

hIdDeN_eViL · Oct 24, 2004, 02:34 AM

mad
this will help heaps

Mr. Do · Nov 04, 2004, 12:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by IbnSina

@Mr. Do: Yes, it was your thread that provided the idea for this. It's all your fault

And it works great too, many thanks!

IbnSina · Nov 18, 2004, 08:12 PM

Well, the first thing that happened to me when I used this program after posting was that my game crashed because I had put the wrong PRTO... in the .biq file. PiC didn't do enough... Thus, I had to update the program. It now looks in the scenario .biq or .bix file and tracks the actual unit labels to the pediaicons file. It also seemed useful to me to track unit upgrade paths. Since I belong to the "bucket o' units" class of modders, I always have trouble remembering and tracking where each unit fits into its respective chain. This might help with that.

I was going to wait to post this until the program seemed a little less dodgy to me, but last night I found that it helped enormously in some changes I made, so I thought I had better share it now. You can see where it is going - eventually it may show various details about units along with their snapshots. At that point, it will be time for Civ IV to render this obsolete.

As always, please help me find bugs and other problems. Thank you.

Changelog to v. 0.1
-------------------
* Added double-click functionality for Win95/98/Me
* Removed one bug that sometimes resulted in duplicate searches of one art directory
* Added ability to look inside scenario files
* Added ability to display upgrade paths

The program now uses the savexpnd.exe utility (I think this is due to Gramphos - thanks!), and thus must be installed in a specific place. I included a little install script (we don't need no stinkin' installshield), but there are instructions about where things must go, in case all else fails. Enjoy!

Oct 20, 2004, 08:11 PM	#1
IbnSina Former Lurker Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: fsa Posts: 523	PiC: The Pediaicons Checker This is a small program for W2k/XP (and now Win95/98/Me) that is designed to check the existence of all of the graphical objects in any scenario.biq/bix or pediaicons.txt file that you specify. It should check the following things: * existence of all plain graphics files named in pediaicons.txt; * existence of unit directories; * existence and proper naming of unit .ini files; * existence of all graphics and sound files named inside the unit .ini files. * existence of labels referred to in the .biq file * unit upgrade paths There is a readme file in the archive file that gives brief instructions. This is version 0.1. That means it has been improved from version 0.0 to the point where it may no longer work at all. Please help me identify bugs and improve the code. Good luck! Pediaicons Checker v. 0.1 __________________ The mod I play bears a strong resemblance to Civ III in a parallel universe. Therefore, all remarks I make are correct ... in a parallel universe. Got mod? PiC: the Pediaicons Checking Utility Last edited by IbnSina; Nov 18, 2004 at 07:52 PM.

Oct 20, 2004, 08:41 PM	#2
Ozymandias Civ3 Modding Archivist Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: The lone and level sands Posts: 6,167	Sounds great -- but the link's not working .... __________________ "... And on the pedestal these words appear: 'My name is Ozymandias, king of kings: Look on my works, ye Mighty, and despair!' Nothing beside remains. Round the decay of that colossal wreck, boundless and bare, the lone and level sands stretch far away ..."

Oct 20, 2004, 11:23 PM	#3
IbnSina Former Lurker Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: fsa Posts: 523	Sorry - the entire process seems to have rendered me twitterpated. I meant to put this in the utility programs forum as well, but evidently became completely confused about my whereabouts. Not a good sign. In any case, I think the link should work now. __________________ The mod I play bears a strong resemblance to Civ III in a parallel universe. Therefore, all remarks I make are correct ... in a parallel universe. Got mod? PiC: the Pediaicons Checking Utility

Oct 20, 2004, 11:37 PM	#4
watorrey Emperor Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Rochester, NY, USA Posts: 1,998	This sounds GREAT Can we get a moderator to move this to the Utilities forum? __________________ 1.22(f?) -- Supreme Lord: http://watorrey.net For better barbarians, add NoAIPatrol=0 to conquests.ini All Conquest & scenario players, map & mod makers: World size bug alert

Oct 21, 2004, 09:36 AM	#6
Goldflash Grumpy Old Man Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: How did you get in my house? Posts: 5,038	heh.. you said. .twitterspattered.... Oh, this utill looks really usefull. Can't wait to get home to try it. __________________ Do you remember me? I don't remember you!

Oct 21, 2004, 09:27 AM	#5
Luddi VII Sheep farmer Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: On the field... Posts: 1,049	Finally!! This shall be useful, and I hope you come with other versions.

Oct 21, 2004, 09:51 AM	#7
Mr. Do Emperor Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: UK Posts: 1,966	I asked for something like this recently, so hurrah!

Oct 21, 2004, 09:58 AM	#8
MaisseArsouye gentil petit nuton Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: au pîd do befroe di Djiblou Posts: 1,280	I'm gonna try it immediatly __________________ Li cia qui vwè voltyî s'payî vwè voltyî li cia dès oûsses ossi ! discover Wallonia Forum Babel My library My scenario : Feudal Belgium and Netherlands What I can do for you ! Anybody wants to take my units requests ???

Oct 21, 2004, 10:59 AM	#9
LouLong In love with Rei Ayanami Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Fontainebleau FRANCE Posts: 7,374	Could be extremely handy ! Now what would be really great is if it could show a preview of the icons at the same time... Hint ! Hint ! __________________ SCENARIOS : THE GREAT ARMADA (TGA) \| THE FALKLANDS WAR (TFW) \| THE FRENCH AND INDIAN WAR (FIW) \| THE SPANISH RECONQUISTA (RCQ) \| THE BOER WAR (TBW) CONQUESTS MAP DIRECTORY \| CONQUESTS SCENARIO and REVIEWS DIRECTORY \| My Civ stuff (maps & units) \| PBEM newbee guide \|

Oct 21, 2004, 01:04 PM	#10
IbnSina Former Lurker Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: fsa Posts: 523	@Mr. Do: Yes, it was your thread that provided the idea for this. It's all your fault @LouLong: As an avid thief of ideas as well as signatures, I say: hmmm... It's not completely clear to me what would happen here, but perhaps the program should check for large and small icons? If found, the small one could be displayed next to the list of any problems for the .ini file? Or are you thinking that all units should be listed, even if there is not a problem? Hmmm... why not? We could always close that section if we got tired of looking at it... __________________ The mod I play bears a strong resemblance to Civ III in a parallel universe. Therefore, all remarks I make are correct ... in a parallel universe. Got mod? PiC: the Pediaicons Checking Utility

Oct 21, 2004, 01:21 PM	#11
Turner More Cowbell! Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Randomistan Posts: 24,750	Moderator Action: Thread moved. __________________ LoneWolf's Real Unit and Terrain Data Compiled from Civilopedia: (Click the Civ3 Icon) Dianthus' CRpSuite Ainwood's CivAssist II ScreenPrint32, a screenshot utility Spyware/Adware problems? Spybot S&D SpywareBlaster AdAware SE My Browser: Avant Browser In all honesty, the chances of this are so small as to be virtually nil. - RedRalphWiggum Agreed. But when has that ever stopped an OT thread? - IglooDude

Oct 21, 2004, 02:29 PM	#12
ainwood I am The Law. Join Date: Oct 2001 Posts: 24,732	You got it finished! Excellent! Any plans to extend it to buildings, races etc?

Oct 21, 2004, 02:52 PM	#13
IbnSina Former Lurker Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: fsa Posts: 523	Well, buildings and races were what I meant by "plain graphics files". They seem pretty easy to track down, with simple paths given directly in the pediaicons file. By contrast, the units were trickier, and I'm not certain that I have them right yet. They seem to be scattered about the entire Civ distribution, sometimes in several default directories, none of which has a direct path in pediaicons. Still, I think it already checks buildings and races and happy/angry leaderhead faces and such. __________________ The mod I play bears a strong resemblance to Civ III in a parallel universe. Therefore, all remarks I make are correct ... in a parallel universe. Got mod? PiC: the Pediaicons Checking Utility

Oct 21, 2004, 04:40 PM	#14
Dease Be Original Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Eastern Canada Posts: 1,090	any chance it will support win98? EDIT: it workson win98 perfectly too __________________ Dease -- Where will this all end? www.StarSpangledMonkey.info Last edited by Dease; Oct 21, 2004 at 04:49 PM.

Oct 21, 2004, 04:41 PM	#15
ToJo_1 Chieftain Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: IN Posts: 1	Awesome! This is very useful. It won't wear out will it? Because it will get alot of use here!

Oct 23, 2004, 06:05 AM	#17
embryodead Deity Join Date: Jan 2003 Posts: 3,293	It's a little but awesome program! Saves lots of time and frustration. __________________ Warhammer Fantasy Mod \| Medieval European Mod II

Oct 24, 2004, 02:34 AM	#18
hIdDeN_eViL {кοтоя дѕѕαѕѕїй}² Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: sydney,down under Posts: 458	mad this will help heaps __________________ back temporarily to scoop up civ4 goodies

Nov 18, 2004, 08:12 PM	#20
IbnSina Former Lurker Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: fsa Posts: 523	Well, the first thing that happened to me when I used this program after posting was that my game crashed because I had put the wrong PRTO... in the .biq file. PiC didn't do enough... Thus, I had to update the program. It now looks in the scenario .biq or .bix file and tracks the actual unit labels to the pediaicons file. It also seemed useful to me to track unit upgrade paths. Since I belong to the "bucket o' units" class of modders, I always have trouble remembering and tracking where each unit fits into its respective chain. This might help with that. I was going to wait to post this until the program seemed a little less dodgy to me, but last night I found that it helped enormously in some changes I made, so I thought I had better share it now. You can see where it is going - eventually it may show various details about units along with their snapshots. At that point, it will be time for Civ IV to render this obsolete. As always, please help me find bugs and other problems. Thank you. Changelog to v. 0.1 ------------------- * Added double-click functionality for Win95/98/Me * Removed one bug that sometimes resulted in duplicate searches of one art directory * Added ability to look inside scenario files * Added ability to display upgrade paths The program now uses the savexpnd.exe utility (I think this is due to Gramphos - thanks!), and thus must be installed in a specific place. I included a little install script (we don't need no stinkin' installshield), but there are instructions about where things must go, in case all else fails. Enjoy! __________________ The mod I play bears a strong resemblance to Civ III in a parallel universe. Therefore, all remarks I make are correct ... in a parallel universe. Got mod? PiC: the Pediaicons Checking Utility Last edited by IbnSina; Nov 19, 2004 at 12:26 AM.

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