MPQ Storage

[Vinz]

I heard there was some way to store files in an MPQ and avoid skyrocketing map size. The downside is that everyone needs to have the MPQ to see everything imported. How?

 

[Daffa]

I don't know how to do this but some MPQ Extractor such as MPQ Master and RXMPQ (I forgot the correct name) can extract data, possibly they can do the reversal.

However, this has been done in Mods (See Kam's Mod List at Map Dev), and yes, all people need the MPQ.

 

[Vinz]

I'll just wait for someone who knows, though maybe no one does. :C

 

[Chaosy]

use any mpq editor and replace/add files, simple as that

 

[Vinz]

And how would I connect that to the WE? Would simply putting the path of something that does not exist in the Import Manager be fine?

 

[Chaosy]

lets say that you edit the xxxx.mpq.
create a folder called custom
put custom models inside
use the custom/modelname.mdx

 

[Daffa]

^how would it define the data of the custom object?

 

[PurgeandFire]

You would add files to war3, war3x, or war3patch.mpq. Then in the object editor you would just assign the objects to those file paths. Example: You put an icon in the folder "ReplaceableTextures" -> "Command Buttons" in war3x.mpq. The file is named "BTNIcon.blp". In the object editor, you would just put the path "ReplaceableTextures\CommandButtons\BTNIcon.blp".

If you edit the MPQ, make sure you do it while the editor is not open. Close the MPQ fully before opening the editor to make sure the changes go into effect.

Just note that this is against Blizzard's EULA.

 

[Xonok]

I simply use a folder. Changing the MPQ is sort of risky, since you can fuck things up. And more complicated. Although the risk can be mitigated by thinking, aka backing things up, but still.

I just put a folder in the WC3 folder, named "Local"
Then I organize things by author and modelname.

Example:
Local\Alpain\Mage

With icons I put one icon like the example above(main icon) and then the other I put into ReplaceableTextures\CommandButtonsDisabled\Iconname
I've tested and it does work, while still not ruining my system.

Why do I go through all that?
1. Incredibly easy to look up and add models to map.
2. Don't have to import to map and don't have to restart editor.
3. Don't have to keep or make a list of people to credit, as I can just look them up in model paths.
4. Absolutely impossible to NOT know who made a model, because I can't place it anywhere if I don't know the author.
5. If this ever goes into a wider scale, then it's impossible to fake models, as everyone needs to have the same folder and so far it's only possible to get from me.
6. Map space is not used up and memory is only used for models that actually have been used ingame.

 

[Vinz]

Ok thanks guys that would certainly be useful.

EDIT:
Strange, but none of the above seems to work.

EDIT2: Okay, the MPQ thing seems to work now.