giskard
02-09-2003, 23:01
Hello fellow mod makers.
This is not spam, this is about 2 programs that will make your lifes and that of the players who use your mods much easier.
Packing up mods so users cannot install them in the wrong place is always a pain all mod makers have to deal with. However I was recently introduced to 2 programs from the click team that basically made all installs idiot proof.
No really, i mean it and ive met a lot of idiots whilst making mods and got them test it http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif
These tools have full backing of hundreds of mw4 fans who have suffered with dodgy installs in the past so i know players love them.
So heres what you need to know in order to use them.
The click team make 2 programs and other are free to use.
The installer
The patch maker.
Heres the link to their website.
http://www.clickteam.com/English/Welcome.php?L=English
The installer and the patch maker can be set to us a registry key to find where mtw is installed. These are the details you need to enter in order to make your install exe smarter than the average installer.
Root key = HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE
KEY = SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\App Paths\Medieval_TW.exe
Subkey = Path
That will automatically find where mtw is on everybodies system who tries to install your mod.
The installer
To use the install you first have to create a temp folder to place your mod in. Inside that you create a duplicate MTW directory structure. All directories should be empty at first. Next copy your mod files into the folders that they should appear in.
When you load the install select the temp folder or use the wizard to select it and setup all your install options. There pretty easy, the hard part is the reg key and ive posted that already. When your done, test the exe you made by running it. First check it finds your mtw install ok then extract it to a new location so you can see if the files are placed in the correct locations. The install should not create a mtw folder nor should it create your temp folder. You should simply see a list of directories that would normally appear inside the mtw folder. Atleast folders that contain your mod but not the others you didnt modify.
The Patch maker
To use the patch maker you can use the reg key info above again. However this program requires 2 mtw folders. One with your old install of the game (i just make a copy of my folder before i start work), the other is the one containing your new mod.
When you use the patch program to select the old install and the new install it will compile a list of changes and put them into a patch.
The resulting executable will be tiny compared to the full mode usually.
I tested this on Daves Patrician 1.2 mod and whilst he released a 7meg update i got the patch down to 160k. So you can save lots of time for players by using the patch program.
Just remember to make a copy of the mtw folder before you start work on the new patch.
We use these both these programs at Mercstorm and the players move them. We have recieved high praize for the easy of installation of our work so we know they are well worth it.
In theory you can make an uninstall patch using the same system too which could be handy for players.
Anyway I hope this helps. They are really great tools, easy to use for us mod makers and easy to use for the end user too.
Giskard
This is not spam, this is about 2 programs that will make your lifes and that of the players who use your mods much easier.
Packing up mods so users cannot install them in the wrong place is always a pain all mod makers have to deal with. However I was recently introduced to 2 programs from the click team that basically made all installs idiot proof.
No really, i mean it and ive met a lot of idiots whilst making mods and got them test it http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif
These tools have full backing of hundreds of mw4 fans who have suffered with dodgy installs in the past so i know players love them.
So heres what you need to know in order to use them.
The click team make 2 programs and other are free to use.
The installer
The patch maker.
Heres the link to their website.
http://www.clickteam.com/English/Welcome.php?L=English
The installer and the patch maker can be set to us a registry key to find where mtw is installed. These are the details you need to enter in order to make your install exe smarter than the average installer.
Root key = HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE
KEY = SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\App Paths\Medieval_TW.exe
Subkey = Path
That will automatically find where mtw is on everybodies system who tries to install your mod.
The installer
To use the install you first have to create a temp folder to place your mod in. Inside that you create a duplicate MTW directory structure. All directories should be empty at first. Next copy your mod files into the folders that they should appear in.
When you load the install select the temp folder or use the wizard to select it and setup all your install options. There pretty easy, the hard part is the reg key and ive posted that already. When your done, test the exe you made by running it. First check it finds your mtw install ok then extract it to a new location so you can see if the files are placed in the correct locations. The install should not create a mtw folder nor should it create your temp folder. You should simply see a list of directories that would normally appear inside the mtw folder. Atleast folders that contain your mod but not the others you didnt modify.
The Patch maker
To use the patch maker you can use the reg key info above again. However this program requires 2 mtw folders. One with your old install of the game (i just make a copy of my folder before i start work), the other is the one containing your new mod.
When you use the patch program to select the old install and the new install it will compile a list of changes and put them into a patch.
The resulting executable will be tiny compared to the full mode usually.
I tested this on Daves Patrician 1.2 mod and whilst he released a 7meg update i got the patch down to 160k. So you can save lots of time for players by using the patch program.
Just remember to make a copy of the mtw folder before you start work on the new patch.
We use these both these programs at Mercstorm and the players move them. We have recieved high praize for the easy of installation of our work so we know they are well worth it.
In theory you can make an uninstall patch using the same system too which could be handy for players.
Anyway I hope this helps. They are really great tools, easy to use for us mod makers and easy to use for the end user too.
Giskard