MSMD: How to Create a Mod (video demo)

[Sam_Yeager]

"C:\Users\Jimmy\AppData\Roaming\Firaxis Games\Sid Meier's Civilization 4\Beyond the Sword\Civ4BeyondSword.exe"

Thanks a million moopoo! Wonder how it ended up here? should I reinstall vanilla and BTS to the proper folder?

EDIT: I opened the files above and when I get to "C:\Users\Jimmy\" there is no file called "AppData".

IIRC the folder "AppData" is hidden by default. The folder options need to be changed to allow you to see hidden files and folders.

 

[Lord Civius]

IIRC the folder "AppData" is hidden by default. The folder options need to be changed to allow you to see hidden files and folders.

Thanks but I went ahead and reinstalled and put them in the "Crogram Files" folder.

One more question. I only have notepad but when I edited the Washington leaderhaed XML to Colbert it wouldn't let me save it. Do I need to "save as" or just "save". When I tried to exit it asked me if I want to replace the original I said yes then it looped me back to it couldn't save it. Sorry for all the questions but it's just giving me alot of problems.

 

[Sam_Yeager]

One more question. I only have notepad but when I edited the Washington leaderhaed XML to Colbert it wouldn't let me save it. Do I need to "save as" or just "save". When I tried to exit it asked me if I want to replace the original I said yes then it looped me back to it couldn't save it. Sorry for all the questions but it's just giving me alot of problems.

Sounds as though it's a permissions problem. I don't have Vista so I can't say for certain. Perhaps you need to run as admin and/or change the permissions on ColbertNation?

 

[Lord Civius]

Sounds as though it's a permissions problem. I don't have Vista so I can't say for certain. Perhaps you need to run as admin and/or change the permissions on ColbertNation?

I downloaded Notepad++ and problem solved.

 

[the_communist]

Nice tutorial, but I'm confused as to how you're supposed to create the button. What specific steps do you take to make it? By the way, I use GIMP as a photo editor, not Photoshop.

 

[Jimmyballz]

Nice tutorial, but I'm confused as to how you're supposed to create the button. What specific steps do you take to make it? By the way, I use GIMP as a photo editor, not Photoshop.

Crop an even square on your picture around the part that will be the button (I use the ruler to make it much easier). Scale it to 64x64, and fit the canvas to the layer. When saving/exporting, keep the quality in the high 90s. The buttons will sometimes look blury if you export at 85% quality. For brackets, use the attached if you'd like. I got 'em here at CFC in some thread. When finished, convert it from a bmp to a dds.

The buttons were difficult indeed, as I gave up on getting the alpha channel to work. I assume its easier with photoshop, because everything was tried. The part I couldn't get to work are those rounded edges that the buttons should have.

 

[Lord Civius]

I cannot create the shortcut in "ColbertNation". It doesn't give me the option when I right click in the empty "ColbertNation" file. I know I don't need it but is there a way around doing it the way it is done in the mod. Also it did not automatically create the "ini" files in the "ColbertNation" file as it did in the mod. How important are these files and can I create them manually? BTW I am using Vista. Any help will be greatly appreciated.

 

[Firestorm94]

uhhh it just shows a pink rectangle when i check the civilopedia the code for his leaderhead is,
<LeaderheadArtInfo>
<Type>ART_DEF_LEADER_COLBERT</Type>
<Button>Art/LeaderHeads/Colbert_Button.dds</Button>
<NIF>art/LeaderHeads/Colbert_Leaderhead.dds</NIF>
<KFM></KFM>
<NoShaderNIF></NoShaderNIF>
<BackgroundKFM></BackgroundKFM>
</LeaderheadArtInfo>




i know those are the correct names for my pics, so what's wrong? i might just be tired, ill try again tomorrow.
EDIT: added a button template

 

[hevehoc]

Is this only for BTS?

 

[hevehoc]

I have a problem, the only thing that exists in program files/Firaxis games/Sid meier's Civilization 4 is a text documet labled "ThemeParseLog" with the text: [Mar 31, 2007 - 19:11:44] Messages while processing 'Resource/Themes/Civ4.thm'

Error : Decl - ('Civ4Theme_Common.thm', Ln:401, Col:13) Assignment source propertyId 'SF_CtrlTheme_Civ4_Control_Font_Size3_Italic' not found
Error : Decl - ('Civ4Theme_Common.thm', Ln:402, Col:13) Assignment source propertyId 'SF_CtrlTheme_Civ4_Control_Font_Size3_BoldItalic' not found
Error : Decl - ('Civ4Theme_Common.thm', Ln:408, Col:13) Assignment source propertyId 'SF_CtrlTheme_Civ4_Control_Font_Size1_Bold' not found
Error : Decl - ('Civ4Theme_Window.thm', Ln:3048, Col:9) Assignment source propertyId 'SF_CtrlTheme_Civ4_Control_Font_Size1_Bold' not found

what shall i do to find the Assets (and the acctually unnessecary shortcut)?

PS: i only have Vanilla

 

[hevehoc]

is there anyone here to help me?

 

[moopoo]

@ hevehoc:

1) While the movies were made with BTS, there shouldn't be anything in there that doesn't work with vanilla.

2) I have no idea what that error message means, But you'll have to search through your program files to find where you installed the files, or reinstall and take note of where you install it. Also note that some folders might keep it's files hidden, to change this you need to go into the folder's properties (by right-clicking).

 

[icemanjsg]

When making the button for your leader head in section two, You just placed the leaders head into the civ button frame without explaining how on adobe? Without knowing how to do this when you past your leader head into the frame it just copies over the bracket?

How do you past the leaders head into the bracket without losing the bracket?

Many thanks

 

[hevehoc]

moopoo thank you! thank you very much! you gave me an idea of using the search tool, and i found it! thank you again.

 

[moopoo]

lol no worries

 

[bostonredsox34]

My computer gives me an error saying that the target location is not valid and to be sure the path and file name is correct. HELP!!!!

 

[GustavBjorklund]

Thank you for the excellent tutorials Kael! (fellow Colbertian here )

My computer gives me an error saying that the target location is not valid and to be sure the path and file name is correct. HELP!!!!

First of all, what file are you modding? Second, when do you get the pop-up? Are you trying to save a Notepad++ document to the mod directory, or does this pop-up occur when you are trying to load up the game? Third, do you have Vista? I might know of a Vista-related bug.

 

[bostonredsox34]

I am trying to create a mod like in the first video, but when i tell it in the properties pane to try to have it load a mod it says that the location is not valid. I'm running XP so thats not the problem.

 

[GustavBjorklund]

I am trying to create a mod like in the first video, but when i tell it in the properties pane to try to have it load a mod it says that the location is not valid. I'm running XP so thats not the problem.

Ah yes, that happened to me as well. I can't remember how I solved it though I suggest you take a second look at the video where he types the properties line in. Double-, triple- and quadruple-check to make sure it's the exact same as what he put in.

It should be "blabla\blabla.exe mod=/NewMod". If you typed in NewMod, the mod directory you created has to be named NewMod. I believe it is case-sensitive, so make sure that they are called the same.

 

[bostonredsox34]

Thanks GustavBjorklund