Tools: Unit and Building Editors: Caligula & Hadrian

[GodsPetMonkey]

The latest version of Hadrian fxes up some issues it had with the files from the RTR 3.0 mod, and hopefully, it'll prevent issues from happening with other mods where the makers didn't follow the CA format absolutely (its a matter of tabs instead of spaces, and one space instead of 2, pedantic stuff). Thanks to IrishRon for alerting me to the problem!

It also renames the readme as per Soulflame's suggestion. When I release the next version of Caligula, it's readme shall also be renamed.

[eadingas]

Well, I have a question about adding buildings.
This editor of yours... does it _really_ add new buildings, or does it only help in adding? Because it seems to me that it takes more than just editing export_descr_buildings... for example, where should I put the graphics for the building, or where do I point to a graphics if I want to use existing ones? A small tutorial for this would be v. helpful.

[GodsPetMonkey]

Well, I have a question about adding buildings.
This editor of yours... does it _really_ add new buildings, or does it only help in adding? Because it seems to me that it takes more than just editing export_descr_buildings... for example, where should I put the graphics for the building, or where do I point to a graphics if I want to use existing ones? A small tutorial for this would be v. helpful.

By your definition, it only helps. To tell the truth, adding was put in there because it was a simple expansion of what already existed (from a data handling point of view, Hadrian is MUCH more flexible then Caligula, partially due to the fact that the file format doesnt have many set restrictions, atleast, that I know of), its main purpose is the editing of whats there, particularly to be more newbie friendly for changing things like faction requirements, and building 'capabilities'.

As for adding a new building entirely, well, its no where near as easy as with units, where all the linking is done in the one file, so its very easy to cheat and assign a new unit an existing battle model and dictionary entry and away you go! Buildings are far more tedious, and if I had the time I would write a tutorial, or better still, expand Hadrian to support the other steps (similar to the battle_model editing in Caligula). Sadly, real life caught up with me, and I need something to pay the bills with, and as much as I would love for that to be RTW, its not really possible. So sadly, you can't expect much beyond emergency fixes for atleast a week. You should be able to use existing guides for such things though.
Adding buildings is very much a feature "to be expanded on soon!" The export_buildings file it generates is very much correct (simply tested by hand removing one building, then using Hadrian to put it back in!). Progress hasn't been helped by most of the focus being on creating new units rather then anything else (check these forums, or the twcenter ones).

[GodsPetMonkey]

Actually, I tell a lie! Only a little one, and it’s the good kind!

I have spent a short amount of time researching what the minimum modifications needed to other files in order to add a brand new building are, and, its all down to 3 files; export_descr_buildings.txt, export_descr_buildings_enums.txt, export_buildings.txt. And out of those, export_descr_buildings_enums.txt isn’t really needed anyway, but it seems to form a link between the entries in export_descr_buildings_enums.txt and those in other files (which take into account such things as builder culture, which is important else where).

By modifying those 3 files, I can add, and then build, a new building on the campaign map! (see http://www.users.on.net/~roehr/newbuilding.jpg and most of its just a copy, paste, simple modification of the existing trade-route chain of buildings, but it is an entirely new entry!). It is INCREDIBLY unlikely that these simple modifications will cause the new building to be drawn on the city view (battle map) as there is a file that specifies the datum for that (like the model, positioning, extras, etc.). But I am also under the impression that it should be fine without these modifications anyway, the building simply wont be rendered on the battle field, like with the trade-route buildings.

As an added bonus, the layout of these files happens to be VERY simple (but rather long), and should be quite easy to include editing capabilities into Hadrian for them, that WILL have to wait until at least this coming weekend, but it’s a start!

[Paul Peru]

I'd love to be able to make a Trade aoeu!
Something else I'd like to be able to do:
"Batch editing", like adding 1 to defence for all infantry units.
Is there an easy way to do this?

[Sinner]

Well, assuming you know Unix scripting and have 2000 or XP, try installing Windows Services for Unix 3.5. Unix is excellent for file manipulation, especially the awk command.

[GodsPetMonkey]

I'd love to be able to make a Trade aoeu!
Something else I'd like to be able to do:
"Batch editing", like adding 1 to defence for all infantry units.
Is there an easy way to do this?

Shhh, don't let out all my secrets!

Ok yes, its something I have actually been thinking about for some time, mainly because the big weakness of my editors is that is that its still a pain to do a large number of simple edits, so yes I plan on batch processing one day.