cloning improvements without nif viewer?

[davidlallen]

I have done simple XML mods, but now I want to go a little further. For a specific scenario, I need to make some clones of the "city ruins" improvement with different names and different effects. I can modify CIV4ImprovementsInfo.xml, but I am stuck on the art. I have unpacked the art fpk's and located destroyed_city.nif and destroyed_city.dds, and I can edit the dds file in photoshop fine. My plan would be to create several copies (initially just different colors) of destroyed_city.dds, for example destroyed_city_2.dds, destroyed_city_3.dds.

But I am stuck on how to copy the nif files. If I understand correctly from the forum, the nif viewer is a component of 3dsmax. I do not have 3dsmax, and I don't really want to get involved in 3dsmax work. Unfortunately it seems the destroyed_city.nif file has a string reference to destroyed_city.dds. So if I just copy destroyed_city.nif to destroyed_city_2.nif, it won't link up with the proper dds file.

How can I clone improvements (or anything else with a nif) without owning 3dsmax to copy/modify the nif?

 

[davidlallen]

OK, I have learned a little more but still stuck. The skinning tutorials showed me how I can use nifskope to view the nif files. That is fine. But I do not understand how to change which dds file is used by a particular nif. I want to create destroyed_city_2.dds and have *some* nif file refer to it. I cannot see how to use nifskope to change the name of the dds file it refers to.

I suppose one solution is to put each cloned improvement into its own directory, but that is not the way the existing art/structures/cities directory works. All the building dds files are in the same directory.

Can anybody tell me how to change which dds file is used by a nif file in nifskope, or confirm that nobody ever has to do this in practice?

 

[davidlallen]

OK, if I use a separate directory for each one, I don't need to change the dds filename within the nif. Problem solved.

 

[Roads]

I haven't done anything with graphics yet but hope to change some things eventually. This stuff is good to know and for once I can say and really mean it, "Thanks for sharing."

 

[NikNaks]

There's a program called NifSkope which allows you to easily change the references to DDS files.

 

[davidlallen]

There's a program called NifSkope which allows you to easily change the references to DDS files.

Thanks for the pointer. I have installed NifSkope, and I have tried it and read its tutorials and documentation. However, I cannot find within NifSkope how to change the dds file reference. Can you help me with that specifically?

 

[winddelay]

When you open up your nif in nifskope, select view>block details. The passages for the dds's are the ones with the purple flower looking icon. You double click it to change, and then you have to make sure you save, because it won't save the change on it's own.

 

[davidlallen]

When you open up your nif in nifskope, select view>block details. The passages for the dds's are the ones with the purple flower looking icon. You double click it to change, and then you have to make sure you save, because it won't save the change on it's own.

Thanks, I see it now. I don't think I would have figured it out on my own.