Preload units and abilities

[pr114]

On my map I observe lag spikes when creating custom units for the first time, or when adding a big hero skill (25 levels) for the first time.

I would like to remove these spikes by making use of preloading. I'd prefer to make use of the function Preloader, which is described to preload the entire contents of a folder.

Is this the right approach? And what pathnames must I use for the folders that contain
-All custom textures
-All custom models
-All custom abilities

Many thanks!

 

[millzy]

i dunno what ur talking about with preloading folders.

simply have the units preplaced on the map and remove them at 0.01 game time ?

 

[pr114]

I mean this:

Using preplaced units would be my last resort if I cannot get this to work, but it seems to me all I need is the path name where the resources are stored.

 

[Tasyen]

Using preplaced units would be my last resort if I cannot get this to work, but it seems to me all I need is the path name where the resources are stored.

blizzard melee preloader only preloads stuff that can be adressed with a file path. Abilities are content in a file so one preloads them by adding them to an living unit or having preplaced units on the map with that abilities.

A preloader file is an name.pld file, it is imported into your map. The plds text content should somehow look like that:

function PreloadFiles takes nothing returns nothing
    call Preload( "Abilities\\Spells\\Other\\Repair\\PeonRepair1.wav" )
    call Preload( "Abilities\\Spells\\Other\\Repair\\PeonRepair2.wav" )
    call Preload( "Abilities\\Spells\\Other\\Repair\\PeonRepair3.wav" )
    call Preload( "buildings\\Human\\AltarOfKings\\AltarOfKings.blp" )
    call Preload( "buildings\\human\\AltarofKings\\AltarofKings.mdx" )
    call Preload( "buildings\\Human\\AltarOfKings\\TrevSmokeA.blp" )
    call Preload( "Units\\Human\\Peasant\\PeasantYes4.wav" )
    call PreloadEnd( 6.0 )
endfunction

 

[pr114]

So do I understand correctly I would need to merge my assets into a .pld file and then import that?
Or is a .pld file simply a text file that contains a script with a bunch of 'call Preload //' function calls?

If the latter is true, then I do not really see why you wouldn't simply put that same logic in a trigger.

 

[Tasyen]

yes, a pld file is a bunch of preload calls. Each Preload call, preloads one asset. For custom imported files its the path shown in import manager.

 

[pr114]

Ah clear, thanks