Mac GOTM Installers

[AlanH]

The files in the packages when they leave me are all Type = 'TEXT' and Creator = 'R*ch', which is the BBEdit signature. So unless the uzip process is stripping that info I don't think that explains it. It's certainly not necessary for shell scripts to have the .txt suffix as a general principle, and they can be created by a Unix text editor such as pico or vi with no creator/type info. This seems to be a peculiarity of the Installer, and it doesn't show up on my system at all.

 

[AlanH]

Originally posted by BuddhaBubba
alanH ... can you post the links to all the installer again ...

I want to try them again after Mr. Hefner brilliantly solved the Panther incompatibility issue

thanx

Does all this mean that the solution we reached for Sid didn't work for anyone else? It would have been very helpful to have that sort of feedback, rather than total silence for the last week!

 

[AlanH]

Sorry, guys, I've just tested the proposed new solution. It doesn't work. Changing the name of the script file simply means that the Installer application ignores it, so the problem of not having permission to execute it goes away. But so does the script!

The preflight scripts are mostly used for checking that you have selected a valid directory to install the file into, so as long as you are careful to choose the correct location, the installer will not fail as a result of not executing the preflight script.

The postflight scripts exist in a couple of the installers to copy files around after the installer has done its thing. If they don't execute then your GOTM installation will not work properly, unless you do some manual file copying yourself.

So I'd still like to know whether anyone else has tried changing their copy of Stuffit Expander and downloading the installers again. Or has anyone tried the test version of the GOTM23 installer that I produced as a disk image. It worked for Sid, so I'd really like to know if that's a one-off?

 

[mickelsp]

I discovered I was using Stuffit Expander 8.0 after the fact (despite believing I had 8.0.2). After updating to 8.0.2 and trying again, I still had the issues with the permissions.

I didn't check the disk image version of the GOTM23 installer.

 

[AlanH]

Originally posted by mickelsp
I didn't check the disk image version of the GOTM23 installer.

I would really appreciate it if you could do so? I was waiting for additional evidence before rebuilding all the installers. The longer I have to wait for someone else to verify this solution, the longer the problem will remain open.

This version is HERE

PS. I'm also surprised that Stuffit Expander 8.0.2 has not solved the problem, as that is what I use here, and it works. Please can you confirm that you have deleted 8.0 and that you definitely unzipped the installer using 8.0.2? Also, please make sure that your Stuffit Expander 8.0.2 Preferences are set to "Set execute permissions by default”.

PPS. I just re-read Sid's post concering his Stuffit version, and he believed he had 8.0.2, but he still had 8.0 as well, and he thinks it may still have been active.

 

[Txurce]

Alan, I have one of my usual questions for GOTM27, and a new one as well.

The usual: the leaderhead for the closest offshore civ doesn't jibe witht eh civ. Is this what I should have?

The new one: F7 doesn't do anything. It used to show me who was building what wonder. (I am using an iBook G4 with 10.3.2.) Is there another way to access that screen?

 

[tao]

Originally posted by Txurce
Alan, I have one of my usual questions for GOTM27, and a new one as well.

The usual: the leaderhead for the closest offshore civ doesn't jibe witht eh civ. Is this what I should have?

The new one: F7 doesn't do anything. It used to show me who was building what wonder. (I am using an iBook G4 with 10.3.2.) Is there another way to access that screen?

Both effects don't show on my PB G4 with 10.3.2. And I don't know of another way to access the wonder list.

 

[AlanH]

Originally posted by Txurce
Alan, I have one of my usual questions for GOTM27, and a new one as well.

The usual: the leaderhead for the closest offshore civ doesn't jibe witht eh civ. Is this what I should have?

The just-offshore civ that you meet early in the game shows up as a flag with a blue flower emblem in the F4 screen in my game. I've reached about 1300 BC, so PM me if you need to breech spoiler regs to explain what you see.

The new one: F7 doesn't do anything. It used to show me who was building what wonder. (I am using an iBook G4 with 10.3.2.) Is there another way to access that screen?

No problem here. I don't think it's something the GOTM mods could affect. There are three graphics files in /Art/, each with names beginning with 'Wonder', that are the templates used to display the Wonder window. Are they there? I assume your other Function keys work? I seem to recall that it's possible to change the operation of Mac function keys so that they don't do the standard 'Function' operations, but I'm not sure where you do it.

 

[Txurce]

Originally posted by AlanH
The just-offshore civ that you meet early in the game shows up as a flag with a blue flower emblem in the F4 screen in my game. I've reached about 1300 BC, so PM me if you need to breech spoiler regs to explain what you see.

No problem here. I don't think it's something the GOTM mods could affect. There are three graphics files in /Art/, each with names beginning with 'Wonder', that are the templates used to display the Wonder window. Are they there? I assume your other Function keys work? I seem to recall that it's possible to change the operation of Mac function keys so that they don't do the standard 'Function' operations, but I'm not sure where you do it.

I'm not sure which graphics files you're referring to - I didn't spot them on first look - but the F7 key is the only one not working. it's alwys worked before. (F4 never worked, because it's a sound key on the iBook.)

To clarify my other question, the proper leaderheads are on the diplomacy screen, but I get a black banner instead of the diplomacy face when in the dialogue screen. I think this is the way it's supposed to be.

 

[AlanH]

Originally posted by Txurce


I'm not sure which graphics files you're referring to - I didn't spot them on first look - but the F7 key is the only one not working.

They are in the /Art/ folder, and called: wonders_backgroud.pcx, wondersBOX.pcx and wondersBOXoverlay.pcx, and they shouldn't be affected by the GOTM installation.

it's alwys worked before. (F4 never worked, because it's a sound key on the iBook.)

I assume F7 worked OK in GOTM26 and 25, and you haven't changed your installation since then?

To clarify my other question, the proper leaderheads are on the diplomacy screen, but I get a black banner instead of the diplomacy face when in the dialogue screen. I think this is the way it's supposed to be.

I've just seen what you describe - the civ with the pink borders? It's built into the game file, either by accident or design. That race's file pointer for the diplomacy screen within the .SAV is set to point to a different race's .flc file.

 

[Txurce]

I found the three files you mentioned in the Civ3/Art/Advisors folder. is this where they belong?

F7 worked in GOTM 25 and 26, and I haven't changed my installation since then. What I have changed is computers. Is it possible that my new one has a default use for F7, as it does for the F1-6 keys?

 

[AlanH]

Originally posted by Txurce
I found the three files you mentioned in the Civ3/Art/Advisors folder. is this where they belong?

Yes. Sorry, I had that sub-folder expanded when I was looking for them and didn't notice.

F7 worked in GOTM 25 and 26, and I haven't changed my installation since then. What I have changed is computers. Is it possible that my new one has a default use for F7, as it does for the F1-6 keys?

Not according to Apple Help. Portables do have alternate functions on F1-F6, so you have to use Fn as a modifier, but not F7.

Hmmm, new computer. Maybe the key is faulty? Has it ever worked? Does it work in any other application? Try assigning it to something in Keyboard & Mouse preferences/Keyboard Shortcuts, see if it works then. For example, change "Capture screen to file" to F7 and see if it snapshots the screen to the desktop. Revert it to Command-Shift-3 afterwards.

PS - Another way to test it is to open the Keyboard Viewer (OS X equivalent of the old Key Caps - enable it in System Prefs/International/Input Menu). You should see teh F7 key highlighted in the Keyboard Viewer when you press the key.

 

[AlanH]

Originally posted by AlanH
So I'd still like to know whether anyone else has tried changing their copy of Stuffit Expander and downloading the installers again. Or has anyone tried the test version of the GOTM25 installer that I produced as a disk image. It worked for Sid, so I'd really like to know if that's a one-off?

I'm bumping this issue, because no one has given me any feedback to confirm Sid's result or otherwise.

Pleeeeease? I'm not going to rebuild and upload all the installers until I get at least one more confirmation that it's worth doing.

 

[Txurce]

Originally posted by AlanH


Hmmm, new computer. Maybe the key is faulty? Has it ever worked? Does it work in any other application?

PS - Another way to test it is to open the Keyboard Viewer (OS X equivalent of the old Key Caps - enable it in System Prefs/International/Input Menu). You should see teh F7 key highlighted in the Keyboard Viewer when you press the key.

I tested it by this very easy method, and it... doesn't work. Thanks very much for the troubleshooting, Alan - I'll take it from here!

 

[AlanH]

Well, Dan Hefner has confirmed that the modified GOTM25 disk imaged installer (not 23, sorry!) works for him, so with two votes for and none against I'll rebuild them all.

 

[Sid]

Gudonya Alan. I'm sure that people will appreciate all your work when they get to play the later games. I never submit my games because I usually get thumped early, but I do enjoy the debriefs and the consequent improvement in my skill levels.

 

[BuddhaBubba]

AlanH, I've got a problem...the Installers are not unzipping...I'm getting the error message:

Unable to Archive ... with a big red Stop Sign

I'm running Stuffit 8.0.2 ... I'm confused ...

 

[AlanH]

Are you sure it says "Unable to Archive"? I suspect it says "Unable to unarchive ...", and I suspect that's not Stuffilt Expander but the Finder's built-in BOMArchiveHelper application which arrived with Panther. I haven't tried to use that before, but if I try to expand them using BOMArchiveHelper I get that error message as well, and I don't know why. Right-click/control-click the zip file and tell your system to open it with Stuffit Expander.

 

[Raijer]

Hi Alan - you said I could come to you with stupid noOb questions, so here's what will probably be a first in a long series!
I went throught the installation process, and it seemed easy and smooth enough. I did as you suggested, and copied my Civ folder (renaming it CivIIIgotm) onto the destktop, and then I installed everything into that folder. I then cleaned out the copied old saves in the save folder, leaving ONLY the gotm saves. I thought I was ready to roll, so I went to the CivIIIgotm folder, opened it and clicked on the Civ icon to open the game. Once opened, I went to Load Game, fully expecting to find ONLY the gotm save folder, but instead, finding all my original saved games from my original folder!? - with no GOTM folder in site. Funny thing is, if I load one of these old games, it is obviously using the mod files from the new gotm folder. My question is: is there a way to completely disable my original Civ folder while I'm trying to play the GOTM?

 

[AlanH]

Hi Raijer

The problem you saw is a familiar one to those of us who use multiple Civ3 installed folders. It's caused by a preferences file remembering where you last loaded and saved your game files. So the version of Civ3 you are running is the one you want, but it's trying to load and save games in the old copy's Saves folder.

There are (at least) two solutions:

1. Trash the Prefs
Go to ~/Library/Preferences, in your Home folder, and find a file called com.westlake.Civ3.plist. This is the file that remembers your file locations. Trash it and then relaunch the GOTM copy of Civ3, and a new Preferences file will be created based on your new location. If you are really keen you can open the file - it's an XML text file - and edit it, but why bother?

2. Just locate the File you want
You ought to be able to navigate to the file you want, in the other Saves folder, and this should update your preferences so that future file loads will use the new Saves folder. However ...

Bad News:
Depending on how your Civ3 folders are set up, the standard Civ3 file selection dialogs may not allow you to jump across to the other game folder. BUT ...

There's Good News:
Select "Use Mac OS file dialogs" in the initial dialog that is displayed when you launch Civ3. Then when you select "Load Game" you will see a standard OS X file selection dialog. This will allow you to navigate anywhere in the file system to find the file you want to load. BUT ...

More Bad News:
Until MacSoft get their fingers out and deliver the release version 1.29f, we have 1.29b2, and that doesn't let you select a file unless it has its Mac Type and Creator tags set correctly to 'GAMd' and 'Civ3' respectively. It also has to have the file name suffix '.SAV' in upper case. So if you are trying to Load a file that was created on a PeeCee, for example a GOTM start file or a succession game file from a PC player, then it will show up greyed out in the file dialog. BUT ...

There's more Good News:
I have created an Applescript droplet/applet/folder_action_script that fixes save files to overcome exactly this problem. Find it in this thread

Needless to say, I use Option 2. I have set my File Fixer script up as a Folder Action on my downloads folder (which isn't my Desktop - that's a recipe for total disorder !). Now any file I download is checked, and if it's a .sav or .SAV its type and creator are set automagically and I use Mac OS X file dialogs to open it from there or from anywhere I care to put it, using any copy of Civ3 I choose.