How do I install buttons?

ggganz · Jul 23, 2006

Sorry for the noob question, but...
I just downloaded the Black Knight Skin, and I really want to know how to install the button that CrazyAce posted. I asked the question in the thread, but nobody answered me, and I got a private message from Bhita saying that he didn't know, either. :confused:

Please help. :thanx:

in advance.

Osymandias · Jul 24, 2006

1st: put the btn_XY.dds into Art\Interface\Buttons\Units
2nd: copy the filestructure of your button, ex Art/Interface/Buttons/Units/blacknight.dds, and overcopy the existing tag (which looks like that: ,Art/Interface/Buttons/Units/*button*.dds,Art/Interface/Buttons/Unit_Resource_Atlas.dds,6,5) of the black knight entry in the CIV4UnitInfos.xml
3rd: done

ps: don't forget to overcopy the comma at the beginning of the original button-tag! it doesn't work if you leave it at it's place

ggganz · Jul 27, 2006

uuuuhhhhhhhh...jpg.?
:stupid:

Officer Reene · Jul 28, 2006

the long explanation:
(more detailed and more thorough)

here is a tutorial on how to make a unique civ:

http://forums.civfanatics.com/showthread.php?t=148507

it explains alot... AND what you need to do in order to make a button for a unit: goodjob:

if you cant read it all ...

READ PART 1 of Post #1
and PART 4 of Post #1 - Making the Buttons

Note He lists Part 4 twice... read the second Part 4 :crazyeye:

Read it carefully it explains alot

the short explantion:

you have to take an image jpg/bmp/png

and covert it to .dds file

(use a free coverter out there... the link above have one... but there are free others out there

)

MAKE SURE the image is 64x64 in size since CIV4 is picky about the size of the file.... and dds only coverts in specific sizes

you have to put the dds file either in customassets folder... or your folder in your newly created mod

follow the instructions above and you are set

or....

follow these instructions on the links:

http://forums.civfanatics.com/showthread.php?t=156760

http://forums.civfanatics.com/showthread.php?t=151450

they are a little less clear :eek:

but they both contain info concerning the referencing of your new dds file in XML

hope that helps....

but read the tutorials thoroughly... it gets explains alot :goodjob:

ggganz · Jul 28, 2006

What program is the easiest to get for converting (must be free)?

Officer Reene · Jul 28, 2006

ggganz said:
What program is the easiest to get for converting (must be free)?

this is the easiest (and free) coverter for buttons:

http://eliteforce2.filefront.com/file/DDS_Converter;29412

it works great with buttons but sometimes it doesnt work with alpha channel images...

however if you are only making buttons (which dont need alpha channels...except a few.... files :mischief:

) you can you that...very easy

now if you want to make flags/great specialist pics...

try this free program:

http://www.mnwright.btinternet.co.uk/programs/dxtbmp.htm

it's not as user friendly but it gets the job the done!

(From my experience it works with all dds files... with alpha channel)

this program can make buttons/flags/specialists...everything

just remember to save the files to DXT3 to get the alpha channel saved (it is an option when you save the file)

NOTE: this program is uses another paint program to edit the alpha channel... but your default free MSPaint (or similar) will work with it...I think

this program is easier on your eyes when you edit the XML files:

http://notepad-plus.sourceforge.net/uk/site.htm

remember to d/l the XML tools plugin too!

then when you run the program you can activate the XML tagline checker in "plugins" tab

the XML tool plugin is basic (doesnt catch all the errors) but it catches alot of the common ones....

most of these programs can be found using any search engine... or using the links post in the tutorial links I posted above...

Like I said before ..... READ those posts thoroughly...they answer alot your questions... :crazyeye:

hope this helps

ggganz · Jul 29, 2006

I can't download until tomorrow (lousy connection here, better where I'm going tomorrow), but I will let you know how it goes by Wednesday. :thanx:

Officer Reene · Jul 29, 2006

ggganz said:
I can't download until tomorrow (lousy connection here, better where I'm going tomorrow), but I will let you know how it goes by Wednesday.

cool hope it works out for you... :goodjob:

I've subscribed to this thread so if you have any problems... I'll try to help if I can (cant make promises thought)

ggganz · Jul 30, 2006

Okay, I've tried everything, but it won't work.

Here are a few clarifications:
I don't want it in a mod, I want it in vanilla.
I don't want a new unit, I want a new skin for the regular Knight.
And I'm not what you'd call computer savy. I can just learn normal interfaces easily, not in-depth programming mechanics.

I just need three things:
1. What to save the .dds file as. (I already converted.)
2. Where to save the .dds file.
3. What to do to the XML file. (I am almost certain that it is Assets/XML/Units/CIV4UnitInfos. Is that right?)
And, for the eighth time in this thread:
:thanx:

Officer Reene · Jul 30, 2006

ggganz said:
Okay, I've tried everything, but it won't work.

Here are a few clarifications:
I don't want it in a mod, I want it in vanilla.
I don't want a new unit, I want a new skin for the regular Knight.
And I'm not what you'd call computer savy. I can just learn normal interfaces easily, not in-depth programming mechanics.

put all edited files in the CustomAssets Folder (shortcut for it should be in your main civ4 directory

this will take in effect when you normally load the game (vanilla version)

ggganz said:
I just need three things:
1. What to save the .dds file as. (I already converted.)

using the convert make sure it a "dxt3" type dds file

ggganz said:
2. Where to save the .dds file.

put the file in the corresponding CustomAssets folder where your XML points to that unique file

ggganz said:
3. What to do to the XML file. (I am almost certain that it is Assets/XML/Units/CIV4UnitInfos. Is that right?)..

the best thing to do is follow the tutorials I have already posted(previous posts) :goodjob:

for specific art files/skinning new mods follow this link:

http://forums.civfanatics.com/showthread.php?t=176460

it explains how to add unique units skins (your black knight) to your XML flies!

they explain it better than I can :mischief:

follow their directions and if you have a question... be specific in what problem/file/edit you are having....

hope that helps

ggganz · Aug 2, 2006

Rabbit said:
it doesnt cover units that have only been reskinned.

Which is exactly what I want.

Officer Reene said:
using the convert make sure it a "dxt3" type dds file

I mean the filename. Also, I put my reskinned units in the Assets/Art/Units folder. I created a new folder called Knight and the skin works fine.

Officer Reene · Aug 2, 2006

***remove Post***

Officer Reene · Aug 2, 2006

*****remove Post*********

Officer Reene · Aug 2, 2006

ggganz said:
Which is exactly what I want.

ok I misunderstood your question

ggganz said:
I mean the filename...

for the button pic (dds) you need to put it in

customassets\art\interface\buttons\units folder

(CREATE any folders that are not LISTED!)

the dds file for the button is called:

knight.dds

put that file (button pic) in the the units folder (path mentioned above)

that should do it

ggganz said:
...Also, I put my reskinned units in the Assets/Art/Units folder. I created a new folder called Knight and the skin works fine.

you can put it there... but since CIV4 unpacks the art files (they are compressed and not visible when you go to the main directory....)

it's better to put it in the customassets folder so that you keep all your custom changes in the same place :goodjob:

to find more about the file names and folders (how I answered about the dds name and place as stated above in this post :mischief:

) and art stuff check this link:

http://forums.civfanatics.com/showthread.php?t=139721&page=6

pay attention to post #101 and #115

they will explain the stuff

this is the start of that thread which explains some reskinning info:

http://forums.civfanatics.com/showthread.php?t=139721

read the posts #1-3 but refer to the posts above for updated info on how to use pakbuild and stuff

here is the pakbuild utility program (the instructions are out of date :sad:

just use my other posts for instructions :crazyeye:

)

http://forums.civfanatics.com/showthread.php?t=136023&highlight=pakbuild

the reason I include that last part is because:

1) now that you know how to reskin and units you can not take the original files and edit them with colors you want

2) you can find out the names of the files and buttons/folders so you know what to rename/add them to your customassets folder

3) you can use the art folder (you unpacked) as a reference for future edits/additions

hope that helps

ggganz · Aug 6, 2006

Okay, I will try that later. I recently re-insalled due to a bug, so I moved all my skins to the customassets folder. So, you don't have to change the XML file at all?

Officer Reene · Aug 6, 2006

ggganz said:
Okay, I will try that later. I recently re-insalled due to a bug, so I moved all my skins to the customassets folder. So, you don't have to change the XML file at all?

as long as the skin art files (dds) are named the same as the original files you plan to change... no I dont think so...

just make sure you put the art skin files in the correct customassets folders (that match the assets folders) and it should work w/o any changes to the XML... :crazyeye:

well come to think of it.... to use the custom button you would have to remove the comma in the tagline... (as in Post #2...)

this:

Code:

,Art/Interface/Buttons/Units/*button*.dds,Art/Interface/Buttons/Unit_Resource_Atlas.dds,6,5

should like this:

Code:

Art/Interface/Buttons/Units/*button*.dds

notice the commas are removed... and the atlas part too!

and the dds button has the same name as the one you designate in this line of code!

that is the only XML line and file you would have to change to use your custom button....

let me know how it works out!

ggganz · Aug 16, 2006

Now what was that liknk to get rid of the "!" again?

Officer Reene · Aug 16, 2006

ggganz said:
...Now what was that liknk to get rid of the "!" again?

as I posted earlier:

Officer Reene said:
...to use the custom button you would have to remove the comma in the tagline... (as in Post #2...)

this:

Code:

,Art/Interface/Buttons/Units/*button*.dds,Art/Interface/Buttons/Unit_Resource_Atlas.dds,6,5

should like this:

Code:

Art/Interface/Buttons/Units/*button*.dds

notice the commas are removed... and the atlas part too!

and the dds button has the same name as the one you designate in this line of code!

that is the only XML line and file you would have to change to use your custom button....

just remove the comma and atlas part of that tagline and you should be ok :mischief:

ggganz · Aug 19, 2006

I did that! But the city billboard has a "!" where the picture should be when it is being build. (By city billboard, I mean the thing you click on to open the city screen.)

Officer Reene · Aug 19, 2006

ggganz said:
I did that! But the city billboard has a "!" where the picture should be when it is being build. (By city billboard, I mean the thing you click on to open the city screen.)

where are you putting the modified files? :confused:

are you loading a mod up also?

It works fine for me....

but if you put the files in custom assets... but dont put the files in a new mod folder and load up the mod folder ... it wont work because CIV4 uses the overriding files in this order of preference:

1) Mods
2) Custom Assets
3) Civ4 Vanilla version

also are you using the warlords expansion?

I am not sure if this method works in warlords :sad:

FYI you can not put the files in direct corresponding mods folder

you must make a new mods folder (like calling it mymod or something) in the MODS folder

I am not sure why my instructions are not working.... :mad:

If you post your files I can examine them more thoroughly and possibly find a solution :mischief:

How do I install buttons?

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