Generals Mod Selector

[Koen]

I'm currently working on a program to allow the mod user to easily have multiple mods installed and giving him/her the ability to select a mod at startup (if the user launcher the Mod Selector instead of the normal game shortcut). This is done through the new -mod switch in Generals v1.4.
While this switch does not work for certain files (audio, video, see The -mod switch thread), it's useful for most mods which do not yet use this.

Current features:
- User places the mod's .BIG file in a subfolder of the Command And Conquer Generals folder in Program Files: Mods. For example, C:\Program Files\Command And Conquer Generals\Mods.
- The program checks all BIG files in this folder for containmennt of a file called modinfo.ini. Example of such a file:

[ModSelector]
Name=My first mod
Icon=generals.bmp
IconTransparent=1
Author=Koen van de Sande
Website=http://www.tibed.net
Version=1.0
Date=15-03-2003
The picture for the mod should be 32x32 and be .ICO or .BMP. If you have a .BMP, then you have to specify whether you want to use transparancy in it (if used, the lower left corner of the picture is used as the transparent color).
- If the user selects a mod and hits play, the game is automatically launched with the correct -mod switch.

I could use some input about the features needed in such a program which allows the user to select a mod. What do you need?
I'll try to release a first beta version based on input I get here in a few days.

Edit: check the new screenshots below.

[DeeZire]

Very nice!

Heres a suggestion - given that the mod will be run by passing a command line parameter to the game, can you not have built-in functions to give the user extra options from the command line, such as -win and -quickstart?

[Koen]

I'll build in -noshellmap and -quickstart. I assume -win is "run in windowed mode"? Can be useful at times, so I'll add as well :)
Any other suggestions?

[mrpoo]

Koen you rule i loved tibed for redalert 2!!!!!!

I WANT YOUR BABIES

[PsychoLamb]

You scare me sir poo.....

http://www.bragg.army.mil/reupxviiiabn/images/confused.jpg

[Detail]

Is it possible to have the big "C&C Generals Mod Selector" image change when you click on each mod icon? This space could provide the mod creator with a nice space to show of the mod, making people play it instead of the others in the list.

Having the website address info be clickable would also be nice.

[SquaLdon]

Sounds like you got everything I'd bother concerning about, but that graphic up there is kind of... big, to say the least ;)

[Koen]

Having the website address info be clickable would also be nice.
Will be done.

I'm not to sure about changing the top graphic - I have to make a choice about size of the program here:
Currently it supports BMP and ICO, so you'd have to provide this image as a .BMP, because adding support for JPG will increase EXE size by about 50 KB (IIRC). But a bitmap this size is 72 KB @ 256 colors so your mod size will be a bit bigger (BMPs are compressible though).
I'll have a look at how hard it is to add.

[DeeZire]

If I was the 'end user' of this program I wouldnt be bothered about what image appears, but I would think its a little too big Koen. Try reducing it so the total window size is not as obtrusive.

[Koen]

I've added the clickable hyperlinks and the options. Also, the header bitmap can now be changed.

Deezire: it's a bit big, I know, but if I make it smaller I get a 'black hole' effect with lots of empty black space. Not sure if I want that. But maybe if I make the logo smaller I can make the icon list bigger (or perhaps the info box). I don't know exactly what to do. Some mod creators might like such a big space for a picture?

I'm having a bit of a problem though: None of the game files include version information! The game.dat does not contain any EXE-like version info. So I'm unable to determine whether the user is running 1.4... Ideas anyone?

[DeeZire]

Get your program to check this registry key;-

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Electronic Arts\EA Games\Generals\Version

Not sure if that still gets updated, but thats sure where earlier revision numbers were stored.

[Koen]

Get your program to check this registry key;-

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Electronic Arts\EA Games\Generals\Version

Not sure if that still gets updated, but thats sure where earlier revision numbers were stored.

Cool, it's still working :D
I've now added the option to let your mod require a certain minimum game version and/or a certain minimum version for the mod selector.

I've got the feeling I'm forgetting to add something... oh well. Still need to do documentation and installer. Would it be best to put this program in the Generals folder, or place it in a seperate folder?

PM me if you want to test this version.

[Detail]

Is it possable to add a 'mod database'? -- In half-life you have a mod selector screen, which is like what you made above, but in h-l there is a "get mods" button which connects to a database and shows a list mods which can be downloaded.
Can you make such a thing?
A simple alternative is to just have a link to a webpage which has a list of all Generals mods.

[Koen]

Is it possable to add a 'mod database'?
A simple alternative is to just have a link to a webpage which has a list of all Generals mods.

Possible, yes. But I do not feel it is my place to create such a database. After all, I'd have to setup a webpage/webserver with the files on them, or at least maintain a list of mods, people start submitting them, don't agree on their ranking, etc. And it takes away the mod website part, which can be a valuable addition to the mod.
It's just that getting a webserver with a lot of bandwidth and a database is something which requires a lot of effort and maintainance and I don't have the time to do that. Setting up something like this would require a large team to coordinate everything.
I could add mod-downloading from one or more websites (the user selects a server from a server list (which should be retrieved from somewhere), and then gets a mod list from this server). And then you can automatically download it. Ad-sponsored websites aren't going to like this as you never see their site.
Current program size is 300 KB, if I were to add online/internet connectivity it would rise to about 600 KB.

In short: this is not a no, it's actually a good idea, but I do not have the resources to run such a database. If someone is serious about setting something like this up, I would be willing to add support for something like this, bút it would have to be open to other people as well (e.g. if this is added then he/she would be able to select other sites as well).

[Detail]

That was not exacaly what i had in mind.

I was thinking of just a list with info about all mods on this list:
| mod name | description| version | site | download |
| Evolution | ever expanding | 1.0 | http://.com | * |
the "*" being a button linking to there mod creators file. I did not mean have all mods on 1 server, just a list of them.

How hard would it be to have a webpage open when you clicked "find mods" (would be next to the 'mod selection' and 'about' buttons) ?
I currently have a list (http://www.editingsource.com/forums/index.php?act=ST&f=82&t=821) (registration required) on my forum of all mods i know about. I could easly turn it into a stand-alone webpage. I would have 'add mod' and 'report dead mod' buttons of course ;)

[SquaLdon]

Personal opinion - keep the program out of the main generals folder. I'm one of those people's that have to have a seperate folder for every little thing. :)
I've always disliked when something places files in a directory already full of em *cough* RA2 DeeZire *cough*. ;)

The mod list does sound interesting, however it's not completely essential, and I wouldn't miss it if it weren't there.

[Koen]

How hard would it be to have a webpage open when you clicked "find mods" (would be next to the 'mod selection' and 'about' buttons) ?

Having an extra button there which would open a webbrowser is not hard. There's just some discussion whích website it would open (and how to ensure that it remains valid at all times).

[Black_Eagle]

thanks for the beta koen but im having a few problems

1. when i click play it starts up generals fine but its always in quick start even if the box isnt checked

2. it doesnt actually run my mod it starts generals and i go to play skirmish as the USA and i have set it so i start off with a hover crusader just to test it out, but it doesnt appear, now if i use a normal shortcut with the -mod command in the target path then it runs fine and i start with a crusader

im running the program from my documents/Command and Conquer Generals Data

and in modinfo.ini i have
[ModSelector]
Name=Hover Crusader
HeaderBitmap=header.bmp
Icon=generals.bmp
IconTransparent=1
Author=Black_Eagle
Website=http://eagle.cncguild.net
Version=1.0
Date=17-03-2003
RequiredMajorVersion=1
RequiredMinorVersion=4
RequiredModSelectorVersion=1

and modinfo.ini is in my big file called HoverCrusader2.big along with the header file and generals.bmp


is my problem a bug or just something i have set up wrong?

Thanks

[Detail]

How hard would it be to have a webpage open when you clicked "find mods" (would be next to the 'mod selection' and 'about' buttons) ?

Having an extra button there which would open a webbrowser is not hard. There's just some discussion whích website it would open (and how to ensure that it remains valid at all times).

In FA2 most of the settings are in a seperate ini file. You could have something like
[modlist]
url=http://.com
This way people can change the setting incase something happens to the list :scared:

[Phoib]

You're making this together with Olaf?

[Black_Eagle]

i dont think he is, making it by himself i believe

BTW nice poem in ur sig Phoib :)

[Koen]

Hmm... wait a minute. Must have made the stupid quote mistake again.
Try moving the program and the mod to something like C:\Temp so it does not contain spaces. It will probably work then (should anyway). Oops :rolleyes:. Better fix this ASAP.
Edit: I've replaced the file on the URL I sent you, it should now work correctly.

Phoib: No I'm currently working on this by myself.

[Phoib]

Contact him to use parts of his Mod Creator.

Especially the mod version number and updater was a nice tweak.

And BE: used a theme song of a 007. Guess the name for a cookie ;)

[Koen]

Contact him to use parts of his Mod Creator.

Especially the mod version number and updater was a nice tweak.

Which parts?
And what exactly does the version number and updater do?

[FoxMcCloud]

Let it go wherever the user wants it :D I for one do not like tiny little fodlers buzzing around my hard drive when they can be easily put in with what they are for, i.e C;\C&C generals\Generals Mod Selector\

Or, simple enough, put it in the My Documents\C&C Generals Data folder. Like where people put maps and what not, they will know ot put it there, and since its only 300kb then its not a _big_ program to have not solely on main drive, if you know what i mean. in hte Generals Data fodler is a much better idea.

Also, would it be so bad as to jsut have a combo box where you select the mod in question, then in a box to the right it shows the mod logo and relevent info that you have i.e author. Then at hte bottom you have buttons like Rungame and certain other things to your fancy, then underneath that in like small print or something the Current generals folder, its version etc ...

[DeeZire]

used a theme song of a 007. Guess the name for a cookie ;)

Die Another Day :p

I quite like Madonna, spot her lyrics a mile away :D

[Phoib]

*Gives DZ a "speculaasje" (Dutch cookie with cinnamon and a lot of other yummie :D)*

Like some songs of Madonna too.

My girlfriend (she complains about my use of the abbreviation GF :rolleyes: (She complains about the :rolleyes: too :dead: )) on the other hand doesn't, so I have to listen to it with a head-set on :p

[Phoibs_girlfriend]

My girlfriend (she complains about my use of the abbreviation GF :rolleyes: (She complains about the :rolleyes: too :dead: )) on the other hand doesn't, so I have to listen to it with a head-set on :p
Isn't he the coolest :P

[Black_Eagle]

well it works now koen but it still runs in qucikstart even if the box isnt ticked

[Koen]

It's time for beta 2. And the whole PM thing for the URL is too much of a hassle, here's the URL:

http://www.tibed.net/files/modselectorbeta2.zip

Beta 2

Changes:
- Email address can now be specified with your mod
- Version tag removed, replaced with MajorVersion and MinorVersion (1.0 would be MajorVersion 1 and MinorVersion 0). This is to ensure that version checking will work correct in the future if the version checking from a website is actually made. Use numbers only!
- BUGFIX: The options weren't restored properly (the checkbox could be off but the option would be on). Should be fixed now.

Todo:
- Installer / shortcuts
- Readme/documentation
- (possibly) version checking on a website

Please comment!

[Detail]

Dose it realy need an installer?
I find that having installers on littel programs is annoying. I'm sure some people here have tryed BigPOP, you have to un-zip it then install it and it's only 1 file, such a waste of time :dead:

On the other hand, making it newb friendly is a good thing and more people will use it.

MAybe you could make 2 versions :p

[SquaLdon]

Agreed, installers for programs with a small number of files is annoying.
2 Versions might work though.

[Koen]

The goal is to have an EXE file, a readme and possibly an extra DLL for online connectivity.
Some less advanced users might want to have an installer, so I guess I'll make 2 versions then :)
But don't complain if the zipped version doesn't work ;)

[SquaLdon]

If you do add the online bit, make sure the whole program doesn't stall and/or crash if it can't get a connection (or just add a timeout function). I've had a bad past with that. :(

Also, I sure hope the zipped version works, or I'll attack you ruthlessly with my AOL CD collection. :D

[Koen]

Also, I sure hope the zipped version works, or I'll attack you ruthlessly with my AOL CD collection. :D
My AOL CD collection is bigger :P

The installer version will allow the user to select the installation folder, auto-create mods folders in this folder/the Generals folder. Maybe it'll save this path to the registry, but if it does, the program itself will create this key as well if it's not there.

I'm not sure yet how I will implement the online bit. But if it would stall the program than that should be classified as a bug.