Modify the Origional file? Please no ....

[weakciv]

I have noticed that the current mods being made are saying that they are changing the origional file. My thought has always been that the moding shoud not change the origional but instead override the origional.

I know we have a custom assets folder but how do we use it? Say I want to change the way a function works, should I copy the origional file into the equivalant custom assets folder and load the mod from there?

It would be nice to know the intended method of how Firaxis designed the modding structure. I cant believe they want us to change the origional files. I know that the origionals need to be accessable so that we know what/how/where to make changes. But changing the origionals, back-up or not, is still risky (in my mind anyway).

just my thoughts.

 

[kattana]

that custom assests folder in your user profile path is the PERFECT place to be playing around with making changes.

copy the files you want to change from the civ4 program paths into the corresponding paths within the custom assests path.

when civ4 loads, it checks the custom assests folder and if it finds files in there, it loads those instead of the files in the civ4 program paths.

its great for testing stuff out without worring about making changes to the original files.

 

[WildWeazel]

You're right, you should never change the original files. You create a mod folder like the ones for the Firaxis scenatios, putting all files in the appropriate folders like they would be in the main directory. Then load your mod as a custom scenario. Also, if you want to play a certain mod by default, you can do the same thing in the custom assets folder. It's actually located in the My Documents folder. Whatever files are in there automatically override the originals when the game boots.

edit: cross-posted

 

[Gaias]

Hmmm... Everything that I have in the CustomAssests folder (mostly custom gameinfo) works perfectly fine. I am just assuming that Civ4 looks at the CustomAssests folder first and then loads any file that is there instead of the original. You can actually see it happen when you load up the game, ie "Init XML" as such.

 

[Jecrell]

You're right, you should never change the original files. You create a mod folder like the ones for the Firaxis scenatios, putting all files in the appropriate folders like they would be in the main directory. Then load your mod as a custom scenario. Also, if you want to play a certain mod by default, you can do the same thing in the custom assets folder. It's actually located in the My Documents folder. Whatever files are in there automatically override the originals when the game boots.

edit: cross-posted

I whole heartedly agree -- that is much -- much better than playing with the original files. Your original files keep the game playable with multiplayer and also keep the regular game together. Putting your mods in your mods directory makes all the sense in the world.

And if you're going to modify the original files, make sure to document your work so you can backtrack if something goes wrong. You don't want to have to reinstall just to fix your problem.

 

[weakciv]

Good to know it works. each of the mods that I have seen thus far all have a disclaimer that "this mod changes the origional files to back them up". I dont think I have seen all the created ones at this point but I didnt like the trend I was seeing.

again, good to know thanks.

 

[WildWeazel]

And if you're going to modify the original files, make sure to document your work so you can backtrack if something goes wrong. You don't want to have to reinstall just to fix your problem.

If you do modify the originals, keep a backup with no changes whatsoever. But better yet, just use the custom assets folder. It's possible that messing up an original file could do something to the game that would make you have to reinstall.

 

[Dale]

The game engine over rides files as such (the left over rides the right):

Mod folders --> Custom Assets --> Originals

Dale

 

[Paasky]

CustomAssets Schmuschton Schmaschets! I use the Mods folder in the Civ4 folder, down with this modern "games filling up my C: drive" mumbo-jumbo! Just add PaaskyMod into the Mod= in the civ4.ini

 

[Dale]

Why bother with defining a mod in the ini file? Why not just create a shortcut to the civ exe on your desktop and add the command line parameter mod="Mods\PaaskyMod"

Dale

 

[Paasky]

Because

I didn't know that was possible...

 

[Granias]

CustomAssets Schmuschton Schmaschets! I use the Mods folder in the Civ4 folder, down with this modern "games filling up my C: drive" mumbo-jumbo! Just add PaaskyMod into the Mod= in the civ4.ini

Ehm, you can change the location of you My Documents folder. Doesn't have to be you're OS drive :')

 

[Paasky]

You people just don't stop do you?

 

[Jecrell]

Why bother with defining a mod in the ini file? Why not just create a shortcut to the civ exe on your desktop and add the command line parameter mod="Mods\PaaskyMod"

Dale

DALE!! YOU ROCK MAN!!
*immediately steals code and runs to his desktop to make a shortcut to his mod*

 

[WildWeazel]

Somebody has a comment about "shell= civ.exe" in their sig, I wonder if that would work...

 

[Adam7Eight]

For all the whiners, I fixed my thread with the Gigantic option mod. Seriously, you guys are right though. Had I of known about the "CustomAssets' folder from the get-go I wouldn't have suggested overwriting the original.

 

[Fenryial]

So if I put files that are modded in the custom folder I can leave the originals alone? I put some mod files in but I renamed the originals and put them in. So I should of just put those in the custom folder?

Fenryial

 

[Adam7Eight]

So if I put files that are modded in the custom folder I can leave the originals alone? I put some mod files in but I renamed the originals and put them in. So I should of just put those in the custom folder?

Fenryial

Correct.

 

[snepp]

Things are going to get out of hand in a hurry when the mods start pouring out, especially once the sdk is available. What's really going to be needed is a decent mod manager.

 

[KMadCandy]

in case anybody else has this trouble, i'll post in this thread because the answer i found was several pages back.

i made changes in the custom folder but the game wasn't recognizing them. found a post that said to delete your cache, i went into the cache folder and deleted all the files (there probably is a more elegant way to do that but i'm no techie) and the next time i loaded the game, the custom files were in