Strange problem with new Civ4Col mod starting

[KJ Jansson]

I have a weird problem with new Civ4Col mod starting.

What was done?

- Full debug CvGameCoreDLL.dll was compiled without errors.
- all required xml and art files were added,
- in the CivilizationIV.ini the following lines were edited:

; Set to 1 for no python exception popups
HidePythonExceptions = 0

- Colonization_PitBoss.exe gives no errors messages.
- I can load my mod without any errors. CivPedia and other screens can be open and all is OK.

However, each time when I press "LAUNCH!" button, the loading screen appears but after couple seconds I have immediately CTD without any error messages.

Last screen which I can see has

Initializing
(green progress indicator)
Press [SHIFT + F5] (Single Player Only) to Quick Save​

What could be reason of this weird error and how to catch and fix it, if CvGameCoreDLL.dll (Full Debug dll), Python, and Colonization_PitBoss.exe give no error messages at all?

Thank you for your help.

 

[The_J]

Missing ethnic unit art or missing/wrong entries in the CityLSystem oder PlotLSystem.xml (if Col has one of these) can cause it.

Try different civs with different artstyles + unit artstyles.

 

[KJ Jansson]

Missing ethnic unit art or missing/wrong entries in the CityLSystem oder PlotLSystem.xml (if Col has one of these) can cause it.

Try different civs with different artstyles + unit artstyles.

No, I didn't touch civilizations, their units or CityLSystem/PlotLSystem.xml at all. Moreover, in case of graphics error I have a specific screen after CTD. Now I no error screen at all. I just return in Windows, absolutely the same way if I just close the game.

However, a critical error should be somewhere in the source codes.

Now I would like to understand what exactly the program is doing during "Initializing" stage. Based on this information, I probably could find a wrong fragment in the source codes.

 

[Afforess]

Are you using Visual Studio? If so, "Attach" the DLL to Visual Studio while the game is up, and it should show you where it crashed.

 

[KJ Jansson]

I'm using Code::Blocks 8.02.

I tried to "Attach to process". First CodeBlocks asked to show Debugger. As Debugger I give WinDbg:6.11.0001.404 X86. After that I could attach Colonization.exe process to CodeBlocks.

Then I pressed "LAUNCH!" button. This is exactly the moment, where CTD happens. So, I pressed "LAUNCH!" and had again CTD and again without any error messages.

Both CodeBlock and WinDbg show no information about crash.

 

[Afforess]

Only Visual Studio can be used for debugging. Looks like it's time for you to move up in the world of compilers.

If you go to the modiki, in the SDK section for Civ4, use Rafar's guide, it works great.

 

[KJ Jansson]

AFAIK, the optimal solution for Civ4 and Civ4Col compiling is the version of VS2003. Not VS2008 or VS2009. However, where to find this very old version?

Moreover, the PC where I am working with my mods is not connected to Internet. It's a pure local PC.

 

[EmperorFool]

If you can find the actual full Visual C++ 2003, then yes you can compile using that product. But if you don't mind using the makefile (works fine) and prefer to have a more modern IDE (though I haven't compared them), the free VS2008 works great.

 

[KJ Jansson]

Thank you for your time and advices.

Well, in my cause without Internet connection, I have only one way - to find somewhere full Visual C++ 2003. I practically sure that VS2008 will require Internet for activation.

 

[deanej]

Yeah, even the free version requires activation. What's up with that?

 

[Afforess]

Yeah, even the free version requires activation. What's up with that?

Activation from a free code; I suspect it is just to tell how many unique copies there are. And you have 30 days to enter it. IMHO, it's a non-issue.

Thank you for your time and advices.

Well, in my cause without Internet connection, I have only one way - to find somewhere full Visual C++ 2003. I practically sure that VS2008 will require Internet for activation.

It's impossible to hook your computer to the internet, even for one day? You won't be able to find VS 2003 full; it is not sold anymore. (Even if you did, I suspect it would require activation as well)

 

[KJ Jansson]

It's impossible to hook your computer to the internet, even for one day?

Even for few seconds. This is technically impossible to do at my home.

You won't be able to find VS 2003 full; it is not sold anymore. (Even if you did, I suspect it would require activation as well)

You are right, this version is impossible to buy now. However, as I remember earlier I never had problem of activation. The activation code was always on the program manual, on program CD, or on CD box. No internet activation was required at all.

I probably could find Microsoft Visual Studio .NET Professional 2003. I very hope that "full Visual C++ 2003" is included in this version.

 

[Androrc the Orc]

Afforess, what is the exact compiler you use, and where did you get it; do you know if it's available for getting online?

 

[Afforess]

Afforess, what is the exact compiler you use, and where did you get it; do you know if it's available for getting online?

Visual Studio 2008 Express Edition. It is free, from Microsoft.

 

[Androrc the Orc]

Visual Studio 2008 Express Edition. It is free, from Microsoft.

Thanks I'll try it out, I had been having some crashes and the debug function should help quite a bit.

 

[EmperorFool]

Just to clarify, Visual Studio 2008 is the IDE (editor and building tool) we use, but the compiler is actually Visual C++ 2003 Toolkit controlled via nmake (included in the Windows Platform SDK). VS 2008 is just a fancy editor that calls nmake and does remote debugging which is what I think you want.

It may seem like splitting hairs, but if you try to get VS to do the compilation itself you'll be pulling lots of those out of your head!

 

[Androrc the Orc]

Just to clarify, Visual Studio 2008 is the IDE (editor and building tool) we use, but the compiler is actually Visual C++ 2003 Toolkit controlled via nmake (included in the Windows Platform SDK). VS 2008 is just a fancy editor that calls nmake and does remote debugging which is what I think you want.

It may seem like splitting hairs, but if you try to get VS to do the compilation itself you'll be pulling lots of those out of your head!

I can compile with CodeBlocks and do the debugging with VS 2008 then, can't I?

 

[deanej]

You might need to compile in VS (don't know, have never used the debugging featues) but you can edit in CodeBlocks and do other stuff in VS.

 

[Afforess]

You need to compile with VS, codeblocks is only compiling a release DLL, not a debug dll.

 

[Androrc the Orc]

I forgot to ask - could a link to the place where I should download the compiler and the debugger be provided?