File Replacement in MPQs

[jonadrian619]

This may have been solved by the makers of TToR (the tales of raviganion) and Project Revolution but I'm having problems with this issue as well.

I tried to replace various files to change the UI, such as GlobalStrings.fdf, HelpStrings.txt and TipStrings.txt. Ok, I replaced that FDF with an edited version on War3x.mpq using MPQMaster. But when I run my TFT game for testing, the screen remains blank and it's black, and the game doesn't start. I had to open Task Manager just to exit the game. Maybe there is a way on how to properly replace it, or just used the wrong tool (if it is, then plz tell me which is the right one and the download like for it). I already finished most of the UI and Console textures for TSoT, my Total Conversion. Only problem is how to import them to the MPQ correctly without errors/crashes in-game.

Only few people know about The Sands of Time but I can do most of the stuff.

The project is on progress, and I got a modeller already but I'll keep his identity private until the mod gets enough progress. Anyone who can fix this issue will be credited and you'll be put in the Credits section. Also +rep.

Thanks in advance

Someone help me!!

 

[Thrikodius]

Why don't you try WE. If you can see the folders in the MPQ's you will only have to enter the same path to replace the files.
Let's say you want to replace the BatTroll image in the Textures folder. You just give the path Textures\BatTroll.blp (\ = in the end of all folder names).

 

[Rui]

MPQ discussions should go on the Warcraft Editing Tools forum.
~Thread Moved

 

[Rao Dao Zao]

This is nothing to do with replacing the file; the fact that you have a dead screen shows the process was successful.

No, this is because you've borked your FDF or something else and the game doesn't like it.

 

[HappyTauren]

game checks size of FDF files in bytes, so if it is not same as in mpq, it will fail. Way to fix this? If there are strings, and you encounter "Hello" and want it to be "Hi", what you do is simply typing "Hi ".

 

[jonadrian619]

If FDF filesize should be the same as MPQs then literally it would be impossible for a handful of string edits, like Project Revolution did, and succeeded.

I just change the stuff in the Globalstrings.fdf which contains the Upkeep determines the amount...... Then changed it, but I removed the |food%r%d thingy in there, but still retaining quotes (") to cover the value. I think that causes an error, what do you think? (I forgot it's field in that FDF file)

 

[Rao Dao Zao]

Your problem there is that the field is no longer taking parameters, then; note the %r and %d. These tags will be replaced by parameters sent to the string, so if those parameters are given but not used...

 

[jonadrian619]

I'll just leave those fields to what they are..

Are basic string edits ok, like editing Credits (KEY_CREDITS) in the main menu and turning it to TSoT Credits, or Warcraft III Tips to Dune 2 Tips, and other editable fields which contain strings on the menus?

Are replacing images in MPQs fine? (Sort of: I replaced the unit queue, UI and Scorescreen backgrounds and Main Menu interface). I finished a bunch of images in the game UI, but I'll need to know how to import them.

I've observed some WC3 total conversions, and they removed some content in the game. How do I remove the ff.

- Heroes section in Scorescreen
- Upkeep panel in-game (where the 'upkeep' shows up)
- Food panel ingame

This is true to some projects like P. Revolution or various total conversions at Moddb that I saw. I wonder how do they do this?

I'll try to get a screenshot of the modification if there are no errors or crashes whatsoever.

 

[HappyTauren]

mindworx partially succeed with such thing as well. Point is, you need to experiment ALOT with it.

 

[jonadrian619]

I'm ready to implement some customized stuff like Buttons and whatsoever, and find a way to remove the Upkeep ubertip or the Heroes section of scorescreen. I hope there aren't errors. I'll show the results tomorrow night.

For now, I just want to know if making a Total Conversion is perfectly legal. I'm just adding the essence of Dune into Wc3, which means adding models, new object data, new UI, new music/sounds, new campaigns, and much more. Like PR, this one uses Battle.net but bnet's top interface remains the same, and with a different Login UI. Also I changed the 'welcome to bnet' image at the top and changed it to The Sands of Time. All those stuff, no reverse engineering or whatsoever illegal in the EULA.

 

[jonadrian619]

Ok. I'll send you guys a sample of my work for now. It's just a test to see if I could make changes in the MPQ's of a second copy of Wc3 in my comp (took the computer 15 minutes to copy a 1.4 gig game.).



I encountered one error previously. I also tried to replace the Wc3 Fonts. I renamed Book Antiqua font into FRIZQ__.TTF (whatever it is). It's a Truetype font so no worries. I replaced the file. But when I run Wc3 it shows an error dialog and says something like:

This program has encountered a critical error....
File is corrupt
war3/fonts/FRIZQ__.TTF

What's the problem in that?