Unit.gif - editing on Windows 7

[Solkatten]

New computer with Windows 7. Got the MGE and the patch to be able to play Civ 2. Installed my own patch on top of it.

Everything works except with MGE the position of the icon for the rebel leader has moved and is now at the bottom right at the UNITS.GIF so all rebels are now lead by a sea monster...

No problem, I'll just edit the UNIT.GIF using MS Paint. Should be easy, no? No, appears there is some compability issues with the format of the GIF file. Trying to start Civ 2 with the modified UNIT.GIF I get the following message:

Error: ERR_BADPICFORMAT

File: D:\Ss\Smeds32\Port.cpp
Line: 918

Stack trace not yet available in WIN32

Does anyone know a tool to use to edit the GIF file and still have it compatible with Civ2?

 

[Solkatten]

Tried another editor (Irfanview) and made the same changes to the UNIT.GIF. That doesn't work either but now the game just refuse to start with no error messsages whatsoever.

 

[Solkatten]

Hm, if I use the option for GIF to "save transparant color" the game does start but everything is in distorted colors, evven stuff that isn't in the UNIT.GIF file.

There is a text in the file itself that says the last three colors of the palette must be transparant, border, transparant and looking at the palette in Irfanview I think they are.

I tried setting the transparancy color to 253 and 255 which seems to be the indeces for the two transparant colors but still get corrupt pictures.

There is also an option to save the GIf file as "interlaced". I tried with it on and off and that doesn't seem to affect anything.

*sigh*

Maybe a sea monster as the leader of the rebels isn't such a bad idea after all?

 

[Catfish]

They need to be type 87a non-interlaced. Indices 253 and 255 are transparent within the game only. You don't need to set their transparency within the file; you can't anyway, because the 87a specification doesn't support it. What graphics editors are suitable? Paint Shop Pro and Photoshop definitely. Free stuff? Hmm, try XnView and GIMP.

 

[Solkatten]

They need to be type 87a non-interlaced. Indices 253 and 255 are transparent within the game only. You don't need to set their transparency within the file; you can't anyway, because the 87a specification doesn't support it. What graphics editors are suitable? Paint Shop Pro and Photoshop definitely. Free stuff? Hmm, try XnView and GIMP.

Thanks! It still amazes me how there is help to be had on these kind of forums for practically everything.

I was afraid someone would suggest GIMP. I looked at it but I got the impression the developpers weren't too keen on Windows since you needed a separate Windows installer.

But you mentioned Photoshop so I removed the dust from my ancient Photoshop Elementals 3.0 disc, inserted it in the drive only to get it spat out. Seems that too isn't Windows 7 compatible.
But since I used that program a lot over the years for red eye removal and other photo manipulations I guess I could throw some new money at Adobe and upgrade to 10.0.

EDIT: XnView solved the problem! And once again, from one cat to another, thank you for the help, Catfish!

 

[Catfish]

I was afraid someone would suggest GIMP. I looked at it but I got the impression the developpers weren't too keen on Windows since you needed a separate Windows installer.

I've run it (a few iterations ago) on Windows (32-bit and 64-bit) systems without problem. The interface takes some getting used to, but it's easily the most powerful free image editor I've run across. The link I provided was the Windows package. Paint.NET is good, too, if you're looking for something simpler. I don't know if it'll preserve GIF formats, though.

EDIT: XnView solved the problem!

Great.