nif question: display my own dds file?

[davidlallen]

I have created a custom main menu screen as a dds file. In order to display it, I want to use art/civ4art_interface.xml and set MAINMENU_SCENE. However, this field takes a nif file, not a dds file. When I supply the dds file, there is no error message but I get only a solid black background behind the main menu.

I have looked at other mods, such as Gods Of Old in the BTS distribution, and they have a nif file which references a dds file in assets/art/interface/screens/loading. This is what I want. I have copied the Gods of Old nif file and its dds file, GodsOfWar.dds, into my mod directory, and now the GodsOfWar.dds file displays correctly behind the main menu.

But, I want my own graphic, with my own filename. I have tried to use SceneViewer to edit the nif file to change which dds file it references. I cannot figure out how to do it. I can bring up SceneViewer and look through the tree of elements inside their nif file, but I cannot find any reference to GodsOfWar.dds. That filename must be inside the nif somewhere.

How can I change the dds filename called by a nif file?

 

[cephalo]

I did this but I had to use the Gods of Old filename. My file, their filename.

 

[davidlallen]

Yes. But it's annoying I can't figure out how to use my own filename.

 

[cephalo]

I think you would need to edit the nif file, and if I'm not mistaken, you need 3DS max to do that.

 

[Amra]

You can do it with NifSkope.

1. Open the nif file in NifSkope
2. Click on the background image so that it is highlighted (has a white border around it).
3. In the "Block List" you should see a "NiTriShape" entry highlighted with a value of "Background", click the + sign to the left of it so that the tree expands.
4. Farther down in the tree that you just expanded, look for the "NiTexturingProperty" entry and click the + sign to the left of it.
5. Now you should see a "NiSourceTexture" line with a .dds file name in the value column.
6. Doubleclick the file name and change it to what you want. Press "Enter" when done. NOTE: Just enter the file name, NOT a path. Be sure the DDS file is in the same directory as the NIF file you are editing.
7. Save the NIF file and test it.

Hopefully this will help you but if you still are having trouble, I can take some screenshots and post them later this evening. I'm not where I can do that right now, sorry.

 

[davidlallen]

I am not where I can try it out till tonight, but these directions seem very clear. I had tried and failed in sceneviewer, but did not try nifskope. Thanks!

 

[davidlallen]

It is working fine. Thanks!