ZH -mod command line parameter?

needleman · 02-08-2004, 04:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by From the 1.02 Patch readme

NEW COMMAND LINE PARAMETERS - Added "-quickstart" and "-mod" command line parameters to the Zero Hour executable.

Okay, so I share my computer with someone else who detests my feeble attemts at modding. How do I set up this -mod extention stuff so that I can start up my mod with a separate shortcut?

Zrakh · 02-08-2004, 05:10 PM

Copy your shortcut, paste it, rename it, go to properties on it, add -mod modname.BIG one space after the final "

needleman · 02-08-2004, 05:26 PM

Umm.... whenever I put a .big file in the ZH folder or any subfolder, the graphics files take effect if they overlap anything, no matter what the file's name, without the -mod thingy. Ditto with INI files. What's the point?

Besides, it's a pain in the ass to recompile a .big every time you make a single change. Is there any way to set up a -mod in a subfolder?

HeXetic · 02-08-2004, 09:54 PM

The idea would be that you develop the mod as separate files then package them together as a BIG (and test it) when you release. The advantage of the -mod parameter is that it allows players - the users of your mod - to have multiple mods installed but easily pick and choose between them when launching the game.

Of course I still think the best would be an ingame mod menu, but that's probably not going to happen to Gen or ZH.

key0p · 02-08-2004, 11:23 PM

rename your ini and art folders when you start/finish.Maybe you could even make a little script that does it for you with a mouse click, I dont know.

ccs · 02-09-2004, 02:17 AM

take your shortcut and copy it
then edit it so that after the command code it says "-mod %#$#.big"
and it should work

Zrakh · 02-09-2004, 01:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by needleman

Umm.... whenever I put a .big file in the ZH folder or any subfolder, the graphics files take effect if they overlap anything, no matter what the file's name, without the -mod thingy. Ditto with INI files. What's the point?

Besides, it's a pain in the #$@! to recompile a .big every time you make a single change. Is there any way to set up a -mod in a subfolder?

The advantage is testing, especially for cluzy forgetful oafs like me. When I'm modding I have a test1.big and a test2.big. I rotate compilings, so if I royally screw up (it happened once after about 15 changes I made without saving, had to re-do them all) I can just un-pack from the last version and not have to re-do anything but my most recent change.

needleman · 02-09-2004, 05:28 PM

Well, my method for that is to leave the TextPad windows for the .ini files open while I test. TextPad can undo a huge number of steps (and I've had to). But I see your point. Hmm... maybe I'll just set up a batch file like KeyOp suggested. Althogh my roomate hasn't been complaining at the changes yet. Then again, I haven't done anything really big yet.