Correct usage of a model with variations

[defiled]

I try to place a decoration, that uses blizzards' model of rocks (Doodads\Terrain\RockChunks\RockChunks.mdl), but can't make it use different variations (e.g. Doodads\Terrain\RockChunks\RockChunks1.mdl). What's the problem?

 

[Pharaoh_]

You need to add the Rocks <Base> model in that field instead of one of the variations.

 

[defiled]

when i do this, i see in we and in game green cubes instead of models.

 

[Pharaoh_]

Did you change the field "Stats - Variations" to the number of the model's variations?

 

[defiled]

yes, i did.

 

[WaterKnight]

The object's model path should be Doodads\Terrain\RockChunks\RockChunks without the .mdl. However, when you change that field, the editor actually demands the format with .mdl, therefore automatically morphs it into. Your chances are to directly base your object off that one with the right original path or you change the value with another tool like ObjectMerger in JNGP.

 

[defiled]

WaterKnight, can you describe process in objectmerger?

 

[WaterKnight]

Okay, because of the other possibility, this one actually makes more sense for customized variation sets. I recently wrote a tutorial about it but this was not here and not in english.

As said, you need the JNGP. You open your map and go in trigger editor. Create some page where you can unload following script:

//! textmacro SetDoodadModel takes id, path
    //! externalblock extension=lua ObjectMerger $FILENAME$
        //! i setobjecttype("doodads")

        //! i modifyobject("$id$")

        //! i makechange(current, "dfil", "$path$")
    //! endexternalblock
//! endtextmacro

//! runtextmacro SetDoodadModel("D000", "Doodads\\Terrain\\RockChunks\\RockChunks")

You need to edit the parameters for the last runtextmacro-line. The first one represents the id of your doodad, which you can see in object editor by raw data display (CTRL+D). Take the first four letters that are shown for your object on the left tree like ATtr for standard Ashenvale. Pay attention to case sensitivity. The other parameter is the desired model path, Doodads\\Terrain\\RockChunks\\RockChunks in this case. Backslashes are doubled. Then save the map once, it will run the external script/tool. Afterwards, reload the map to update the editor and remain the changes. You can then remove the script again or comment it out.

If your object is not a doodad but a destructable (when you say it's a decoration only, it would more likely be a doodad), you need to replace //! i setobjecttype("doodads") by //! i setobjecttype("destructables") and //! i makechange(current, "dfil", "$path$") by //! i makechange(current, "bfil", "$path$").

 

[defiled]

thank you.
oh, tested the code, jngp returnes this error on compilation

 

[WaterKnight]

Maybe you still need the latest version of JassHelper. The $FILENAME$ in the external header signalizes that the lines get stored in a new allocated file and afterwards sent to the tool.

You have not replaced $FILENAME$, have you? Should not.

 

[defiled]

maybe i should use war3 1.21 to edit instead of 1.24?

 

[WaterKnight]

No, but usually the lastest version which is 1.26.

 

[defiled]

so you mean that on 1.26 this should work?

 

[WaterKnight]

No, probably not. But it's better in general to have things up to date. It works for me.

 

[defiled]

after some street magic with nod's quarantine ive made this code compile. but still green blocks both in we and game, and when i try test map from we (newgen we) war3 crashes.

 

[WaterKnight]

Then it was probably not related to my point (or falsely done). Can you upload a test map?

 

[defiled]

here's the test map.

 

[WaterKnight]

The object editor still shows the .mdl. Simply saving the map once you gave and then reloading it worked for me. Are you sure you reloaded it and did not save it again with commented out script before? Have you disabled oudated things like UMSWE and Reinventing the Craft?

 

[defiled]

so, i need to open the map, delete macro code except call of the function, disable rtc and umswe and test this?
maybe i need to set correct options in grimoire?

Edit: whoa, i got something, not related with scripts and maybe a kind of perversion, still better than nothing.
you'll need to set all the required parameters of your object (doodad, destrusctible, etc.) and set a model with variations in object editor. save and close your map. then, open your map in mpq archiver (mpq master, for example), find in a root of archive file war3map.w3d. extract it and open in hex editor (i used hex editor neo). find a path, spoiled by the editor, and remove '.mdl' (maybe it will be easier to find it in notepad first, but don't save file in notepad!)Don't forget to remove point separating filename and extension!

Checked it in we, models look like should, all is fine. Seems it will be ok until you will touch 'Model' field in object manager.

 

[WaterKnight]

Of course that's a way as you can change any aspect of your map via hex editor. But that does not seem to be simpler and you can easily corrupt your file.

 

[defiled]

just spent too much time trying to make scripts work) WaterKnight, thank you for help. It would be great if you'll translate your article into english and post it here.

 

[WaterKnight]

That's also a reason why I broached the subject. To know whether I need to add special requirements or configurations. The ObjectMerger however is useful for a lot of other things. You can practically use it to dynamically create/modify objects and save a lot of work. So maybe you will be good with it at some later point.