creating a theater

[Luke]

hi

I'm making a new theater for falcon 4.0 (for the moment) but i've got some questions...

first... in the theater tutorial we said:

- Copy existing korean files of: campmap.idx/.rsc, intel.idx/.rsc and main.idx/.rsc into arteurope/art/resource directory. You will find these files from falcon art\resource directory. unpack them with ./procidx1.pl campmap.idx and you have BIG_MAP_ID.tga file, replace this korean tga with your own BIG_MAP_ID.tga you created a minute ago. run the next script like:

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./irc2res1.pl campmap.irc

i have downloaded the TerrainScripts and i've instal Active Perl,
i created a folder under the bin directory than i put in the scripts and the files.
Now i opened my MS-DOS and i wrote:

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perl c:\ActivePerl\bin\resource\procidx1.pl c:\ActivePerl\bin\resource\campmap.idx 

and appear:

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Image BIG_MAP_ID 2048x2048 type 1 at 0 with pal 120 at 4194304
Write BIG_MAP_ID.tga
Image BIG_AWACS_MAP_ID 2048x2048 type 1 at 4194544 with pal 256 at 8388848
Write BIG_AWACS_MAP_ID.tga

now i write in MS-DOS :

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perl c:\ActivePerl\bin\resource\irc2res1.pl c:\ActivePerl\bin\resource\campmap.irc

and appear

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Add BIG_MAP_ID.tga as BIG_MAP_ID
Add BIG_AWACS_MAP_ID.tga as BIG_AWACS_MAP_ID

is right? the tutorial said:

you have BIG_MAP_ID.tga file, replace this korean tga with your own BIG_MAP_ID.tga you created a minute ago

but how? unpacking the .idx file i dont have the image but i've the .irc file...

i'm so cofused can you help me?

luke

P.S

sorry for my english i'm form italy

[Sherlock]

You should have two files to start with:

1. A .idx file.
2. A .rsc file

When you unpack the .rsc file (where the graphic tga files reside in compressed form) you will get your .irc file. You use the ./procidx1.pl campmap.idx command to unpack the campmap.rsc file and to create the campmap.irc file. The result should also give you the BIG_MAP_ID.tga file and one more tga file I believe.

Then use the .irc file to put your new images into the .rsc file again (and update the .idx file). You run the ./irc2res1.pl campmap.irc command to put your new tga BIG_MAP_ID.tga back into the .rsc file using the .irc file as a guide.

Hope this helps.

[Luke]

ok, i've the .irc file
but where i can see the BIG_MAP_ID.tga ?

...so.. when i unpack campmap.rsc whit "./procidx1.pl campmap.idx" it creates a file called campmap.irc but not a file .tga mmmm
my question is.. where i can find the BIG_MAP_ID.tga for overwrite it whit my .tga file?

thx.

luke

[Snake Man]

Perl script should create the content files from the RSC packet into the current directory you're at. But in any case, its the current dir, or the active perl dir... or the dir where you called the .pl script.

Search all of those above and you should find the created/unpacked files.

[Luke]

YEAH it works!

[Luke]

now for create a theater from 0 i should create a:

C:\MicroProse\Falcon4\art(name of the theater)resource and put in the .idx .irc .rsc files

C:\MicroProse\Falcon4\Campaign\(name of the theater) whit the campaign files

C:\MicroProse\Falcon4\terrdata\(name of the theater) whit 3 subfolder

-terrain----> files theater.* (p.s where can i download ntF4PTinstall.exe )
-texture----> flies texture taken from:
C:\MicroProse\Falcon4\terrdata\korea\texture

-wheather---> same of texture

what else?

[Snake Man]

No, you should use Unified Theater directory naming structure. Everyone else uses it too.

[Luke]

ok thanks

now ... what is the difference in the building of the theater for AF or OF?

so what i must change if i create a theater for AF?

[Snake Man]

Well there is different ART, CAMPAIGN and TEXTURE files for example.

For example the theater.irc file is different in AF than in RV/OF if I recall correctly, same for theater strings .idx / .wch files.

Art directories are setup differently in all of them (you still place them in theaters\<theater>\art\ but the sub dirs change).

Its kind of difficult to explain everything in one go. Maybe you could seek out specific questions and I'll try to get you specific answers.

However lets start this from the beginning;
Are you building a theater from completely scratch now?
What falcon version do you play yourself?
Do you want to support all falcon versions in the installer?
Are you making database edits?
Do you create new textures?

[Luke]

where can i download ntF4PTinstall.exe please

[Snake Man]

Use the PMC Editing Wiki to search with all kinds of keywords, by doing that you'll find out that we no longer use that old utility.

[Sherlock]

where can i download ntF4PTinstall.exe please

Luke, what version are you building your theater for? If it's AF then I recommend you use Tom Waelti's HTTI.exe to build your terrain. It can handle the new AF directory structure. The older version, F4install.exe will only work in the default old F4 directory structure. (not sure I got the name of the old version correct - working from memory while at work).

[Luke]

thanks

how can i do for create the .pal file if i don't have paint shop pro?

[Snake Man]

Luke, I can help you better if you answer to all my questions.

[Luke]

ops sorry

so

yes i'm building a theater from completely scratch.
i play whit falcon 4.0 allied force
no for the moment i'm thinking to use the theater only whit af

now i'm making a theater follow the tutorial, i've create the data file (theater.l2 ecc) and i edit the file.irc/rsc (artresource)

no, i don't create new texture for the moment

[Snake Man]

i play whit falcon 4.0 allied force

Ah okay then you get to enjoy the add package button

no for the moment i'm thinking to use the theater only whit af

I could help you out... if you'd be interested of adding support for RV and OF? Its not that hard really and dont even increase download size that much.

While I cannot promise to do all the work for you, certainly I'll explain everything into detail of whats required for RV/OF support and I'm sure many other guys here will chip in.

now i'm making a theater follow the tutorial, i've create the data file (theater.l2 ecc) and i edit the file.irc/rsc (artresource)

But does your theater war suit the AF database? Do you need to edit database at some point?

no, i don't create new texture for the moment

Okay, that leaves out the texture configuring.

So would you be willing to use the NSIS Installer which all PMC theaters and RedViper installers use for example?

[Luke]

ok

i said than i'm thinking to use oly whit af becouse i use so much allied force but is not a problem if it run whit of/rv

what you mean in order to modify the database?

yes i'm interesting to use NSIS Installer

[ccc]

out of curiosity, what's your theater?

[Snake Man]

You need to edit database if you are NOT making present day campaign with the existing units/vehicles/weapons from the AF database.

Database editing is bit tricky and careful task, however when you understand how its done, its actually very enjoyable/interesting to edit it and to see it ingame.

Technically database adding to the installer is just to create additional directory, add only the edited database files in this dir and then let NSIS Installer handle the copying of existing AF database and overwriting it with your modified files.

[Luke]

hehe my theater is Alaska!

@snake_man

there is a tutorial about the editing of database?

[ccc]

hehe my theater is Alaska!

woow..sounds like a WW3 scenerio!

[Snake Man]

there is a tutorial about the editing of database?

Yes, check PMC Editing Wiki out, use search there. You'll find good info on F4 database editing.

[Luke]

ok thaks but i need the .pal for create the theater.map but i don't have paint shop pro ....

mmm i think to create only one theater---> alaska
but for this theater i've used the database file from nevada
should i edit its?

[Sherlock]

ok thaks but i need the .pal for create the theater.map but i don't have paint shop pro ....

mmm i think to create only one theater---> alaska
but for this theater i've used the database file from nevada
should i edit its?

I think I understood you to say that you were using existing terrain tiles, correct? If so, why not just use the .pal file that comes with those terrain tiles (e.g., Korea .pal file if using Korea/Balkans terrain tiles). Please correct me if I mis-understood you.

[Luke]

i'm using the terrain files than i take from nevada theater (nevada folder)

Korea .pal ..... mmm i don't have it where is? in the falcon folder?

but in works on AF?

[Snake Man]

Nevada tiles are not suitable for Alaska theater, you are better off using default Korean tiles.

[Luke]

sorry

in my alaska folder :

C:\Program Files\Lead Pursuit\Battlefieldoperations\Theaters\Alaska\terrdata

i've thee subfolder:

terrain > here i've put the theaters.l2 etc files than i've created using the tutorial but i don't have the theater.map becouse i can't create it if i haven't the .PAL file..... ( i need the PSP.PAL file!!! )

texture> here i've the texture file from korea

wheater> wheater folder copy from korea


it's ok?

[Snake Man]

Use the .map file from Korea. Why do you insist copying dirs like weather from Nevada?

[Luke]

edit

ok now i've the terrain folder complite
the wheater folder take from korea
the texture folder take from korea ( i must edit this file? how?)

[Snake Man]

No you don't need to edit korean texture dir, just copy it and you're done regarding tiles.

Do you have HTTI and LxNormalFix already downloaded and ready to run?

[Luke]

yes sir!

i used htti for create the theaters files in Alaska/terrdata/terrain

i have LxNormalFix but i don't have idea how to use....

[Sherlock]

yes sir!

i used htti for create the theaters files in Alaska/terrdata/terrain

i have LxNormalFix but i don't have idea how to use....

Sounds like you are using the Korea tiles. So you can use the pal file that came with the Korea theater. The pal file and the tiles go together as a set.

There is a readme.txt file that comes with LxNormalFix that tells you how to use it to redo the normals of the terrain. For an AF theater its something like:

LxNormalFix.exe $LP .....

don't remember the rest (I'm at work and away from my Falcon stuff) but it is the one that starts with the "$LP".

[Snake Man]

The command line for lxnormalfix is this:

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LxNormalFix.exe @georgia @d:\games\f4\Theaters\georgia\terrdata

Replace the georgia with alaska and other paths to suit your falcon installation dirs.

[Luke]

ok it works

[Sherlock]

The command line for lxnormalfix is this:

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LxNormalFix.exe @georgia @d:\games\f4\Theaters\georgia\terrdata

Replace the georgia with alaska and other paths to suit your falcon installation dirs.

I thought he was making the theater for Allied Force? If so he has to run the other command line in LxNormalFix or the normals will be wrong in the terrain. AF uses different terrain normals than OF/RV.

[Luke]

yes i'm making a theater for allied force

GNGNGN ... i've a problem...

when i start TE and i go to mission builder the games going down and give me an error

[Snake Man]

Ah yes sorry my bad, I pasted that batch file from wrong dir

Correct AF syntax is:

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LxNormalFix.exe $LP @georgia @d:\games\f4\Theaters\georgia\terrdata

Sorry for the hassle.

[Luke]

GNGNGN ... i've a problem...

when i start TE and i go to mission builder the games going down and give me an error

nothing?

[Phoenix711]

The ownership and control values in the TE_NEW should be the same. And there should be only TWO owner/control teams.

I had the same at the beginning. It is written in the ultimate theater manual. Very important to set Owner/Control same, and two teams only in TE_NEW.

Also, in the CAMPAIGN section, the values Korea in the text boxes should be changed to Whatever your theater name is, and applied then saved.

Also, if you have any links, just delete them. My TE would work normally without any links. So you will know the problem is not link related.

[Snake Man]

Also, if you have any links, just delete them. My TE would work normally without any links. So you will know the problem is not link related.

Campaign crashes if you don't have two opposing teams linked together. I don't know about TE as I don't care about it, I always take working campaign file and export objectives into te_new.tac file.