Modding Q&A

[Blue Monkey]

Yes, that would work. I'd recommend including instructions - both in the thread & in a readme - that the scenario specific folders should go in the same place as the master folder. Sounds obvious, but it's always good to have a reminder - especially when adding a new scenario at a different time than the original.

 

[Oni Ryuu]

All good.

Do you know what I’d have to type into the BIQ to get the new games to search the right folders in the correct order?
I don’t know what symbols it uses to indicate a second folder or sub folder.

 

[Blue Monkey]

memory's vague, but i think it's just the order they're listed in.

 

[Bluemofia]

All good.

Do you know what I’d have to type into the BIQ to get the new games to search the right folders in the correct order?
I don’t know what symbols it uses to indicate a second folder or sub folder.

As for what symbols used as delimiters, I *think* it's a comma. I seem to recall one of the scenarios that come with the base game search through multiple folders, so you can take a look at that.

 

[Nathiri]

As for what symbols used as delimiters, I *think* it's a comma. I seem to recall one of the scenarios that come with the base game search through multiple folders, so you can take a look at that.

Isnt it a semi colon?

 

[Bluemofia]

Isnt it a semi colon?

It could be. I'm at work right now, and away from my civ3 to confirm, so I was going off of memory.

 

[Oni Ryuu]

Something like this?

TLC Master Folder/Mercantile; TLC Master Folder/TLC

 

[Nathiri]

Something like this?

TLC Master Folder/Mercantile; TLC Master Folder/TLC

In the Conquests scenarios they use a \ not a /.

 

[Oni Ryuu]

Thank you guys, you’re all awesome.

It works perfectly; now every time I make a new mod, it can be reworked, shared and installed with zero effort.

Base mod Master Folder\Main Folder
Derived mod Master Folder\Specific Folder;Master Folder\Main Folder

 

[Oni Ryuu]

We can change ALL of the game’s graphics as you advance through each era.

The folders can be renamed if you alter the address

1. Place your new or existing mod in a master folder.
2. Assemble a folder that contains all of the artwork that you want for that era. Structure that folder in exactly the same way as you would for a mod. Do not include anything that you don’t want to be changed or any redundant files or folders.
3. Name this folder Era 1.
4. Do the same for the other eras and name them appropriately.
   Spoiler :

   
5. Write this address in your search bar.

Master Folder\Active Era;Master Folder\Main Folder​

Spoiler :

You need to inform the player to rename the necessary folder when they reach a new era.

“Open the Master Folder.
Delete previous Active Era Folder if applicable.
Copy the folder corresponding to your era.
Rename that folder to Active Era.”​

Spoiler :

 

[r16]

as Blue Monkey amply made clear it is really easy to miss a thing . ı have seen a couple of scenarios that used the sound files of Swordsman that used the shortcut method . One really wishes to give Civ III , after 10 corrections made , labourously to each text file , because the Swordsman has had a notorious .waw file issue that also needed fixing . But having one master file should work , as far as ı know it .

 

[Oni Ryuu]

It’s not referencing anything outside of your own mod (other than Firaxis’ stuff). It doesn’t need innumerable individual connections.

It’s no more complicated or confusing for the game than applying a mod to the Conquests expansion.

I’m using this system to make railroad optional. A copy of the BIQ has the train units removed and rail restored. I’ve placed a folder next to Art and Text called Railroad. The Railroad folder contains an Art and Text folder. The Text folder contains a civiolpedia specifically for the restored rail game. The Art folder contains a Terrain subfolder with the original x_airfields and detect.pcx (my copy has train stations in place of airfields for the industrial era).

Both BIQs use the same folder but the railroad BIQ has this address:

Master Folder\Main Folder\Railroad;Master Folder\Main Folder​

You can attach a mod and era control by further adapting the address. I’ll move the Eras to the Main Folder to keep things tidy.

Master Folder\Mod\Railroad;Master Folder\Main Folder\Active Era;Master Folder\Mod;Master Folder\Main Folder​

You can’t move the Railroad folder to the Main folder because your subsequent mods will likely need unique civilopedias.

 

[Oni Ryuu]

Are there any members who could write a new exe program?

It would be much better if we could automatically load the next era folder as you advance to the next age?

 

[Civinator]

it is the same principle as we use it in the CCM2 Betatest to switch between the original art, text and sounds mainfiles and the CCM2 mainfiles. The two CCM2 betatesters elephantium and Jersey Joe wrote a bat-file, that easily allows to switch between both kinds of mainfiles. Such a kind of a bat-file should work here, too.

 

[Nathiri]

it is the same principle as we use it in the CCM2 Betatest to switch between the original art, text and sounds mainfiles and the CCM2 mainfiles. The two CCM2 betatesters elephantium and Jersey Joe wrote a bat-file, that easily allows to switch between both kinds of mainfiles. Such a kind of a bat-file should work here, too.

Are there any members who could write a new exe program?

It would be much better if we could automatically load the next era folder as you advance to the next age?

Bat files are not difficult to do from my experience. If you want to look it up, you should get the concept and switch around some things. I used a pre-made code I copied and pasted for something, but from what I saw it was pretty straight forward. I've done some things with command prompt in navigation too and its all rather similar. If I needed to I'm pretty confident I could put it together, with just probably a bit of reference or looking up to make sure I got the commands.

 

[Civinator]

Bat files are not difficult to do from my experience. If you want to look it up, you should get the concept and switch around some things. I used a pre-made code I copied and pasted for something, but from what I saw it was pretty straight forward. I've done some things with command prompt in navigation too and its all rather similar. If I needed to I'm pretty confident I could put it together, with just probably a bit of reference or looking up to make sure I got the commands.

Nathiri, I cannot post that file here without the consent of elephantium and Jersey Joe as it is their work. There are two possibilities:

a) I ask them for their consent and
b) If you have free capacities, I can give you an invitation to the non-public CCM2 Betatest.

 

[Oni Ryuu]

I’ve never heard of a Bat file before.

Would it still work if I used this structure for my mod? I’d like to be able to add other mods and scenarios to my master folder in the same way I mentioned before.

Spoiler :

I’ll appreciate whatever help you can give me.

 

[Nathiri]

Nathiri, I cannot post that file here without the consent of elephantium and Jersey Joe as it is their work. There are two possibilities:

a) I ask them for their consent and
b) If you have free capacities, I can give you an invitation to the non-public CCM2 Betatest.

Oh.... I wasnt asking for whatever they did. If you want to send an invitation that is up to you. I was just responding to Oni and going off of what you said.

 

[Oni Ryuu]

I just read up on BAT files and they’re the notepad instructions with the gear symbol.

I still wouldn’t know what to type though.

 

[Nathiri]

Okay I'm coming up with something. Just waiting on a reply for the reset process (discord giving issues).