Requesting Explanation of ModBuddy Element

[DocBuchanan]

Ok so I've been modding with mod buddy for a while and think that the reason I'm having no success is the actions tab of the mod properties. In my case I'm trying to add Carthage to the game. I'm not sure... what to do in the actions tab. Do I add paths to every file in the mod? Or... well can someone who knows what I'm asking please explain.

PS I read the Kaels instructions but what I don't understand is what paths I'm supposed to be using (not explained in PDF) and if I have to make a pointer in this actions tab for every single file to include all XML and DDS files. If so... that's really dumb.

 

[Kael]

In general you have to add each xml file on the actions tab.

The reason is that Civ5 doesn't use XML. It uses a SQL database. What your mod is doing is reading your XML files, converting them to SQL commands and applying them to the database. For that to happen your mod needs to specific when you want it to do this (OnModActivated), what you want it to do (UpdateDatabase) and what you want it to use (the path and filename).

 

[DocBuchanan]

In general you have to add each xml file on the actions tab.

The reason is that Civ5 doesn't use XML. It uses a SQL database. What your mod is doing is reading your XML files, converting them to SQL commands and applying them to the database. For that to happen your mod needs to specific when you want it to do this (OnModActivated), what you want it to do (UpdateDatabase) and what you want it to use (the path and filename).

Roger that. And I DO see the wisdom in that. I do. I can see that once mods get intricate in the next six months or so... this will probably be a boon.

All I guess I'm asking... What path do I use? Is it the full C:\Users\Matt Buchanan\Documents\Firaxis\ModBuddy\Carthage\XML\Civilizations\Civ_Carthage.xml
path?

Or... well yeah what path man lol.

 

[Dark_Jedi06]

Kael, could you elaborate on getting a map to work with a mod without having to move it to the users Maps folder? Is there a specific action for this?

Despite having the map in the root folder of my mod you can only load it if the map is in the users Maps folder.

 

[ArgentumStudios]

The path you would use is: XML/Civilizations/Civ_Carthage.xml

Edit: Changed path separators to slashes instead of backslashes.

 

[DocBuchanan]

The path you would use is: XML/Civilizations/Civ_Carthage.xml

Edit: Changed path separators to slashes instead of backslashes.

That's not so bad. So the path starts inside the mod file directory.

 

[ArgentumStudios]

Yeah. That is the relative path that ModBuddy will use to package the mod, and also how it will be unpacked and referenced when loaded into the game.

 

[Cope]

What about adding things to UI related .xml files? I've been having trouble with that one. Like say I want to add a new Label to UnitPanel.xml, do I need to copy the entire file into ModBuddy and make my changes? How do I tell the game to use the modified file then?

 

[ArgentumStudios]

What about adding things to UI related .xml files? I've been having trouble with that one. Like say I want to add a new Label to UnitPanel.xml, do I need to copy the entire file into ModBuddy and make my changes? How do I tell the game to use the modified file then?

For now, when you want to modify existing UI you need to copy the file into your mod and make the changes you want and add the file to your mod just like any other. Kael covers the topic in his guide.

I've been doing some digging through the Lua API and am about to start seriously testing some ideas I have about how to modify existing UI elements without modifying the core game files. However, it is all just theory right now and may not work because of the way the game seems to organize UI elements when they are read in. If I make any useful discoveries I'll post them here in the forum and on the wikis.

 

[Shiggs713]

you pretty much want to only create your files from within modbuddy. It has trouble recognizing files (and even folders) that are not created from within it.