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How to create .LVL files?

Posted: Fri Jun 30, 2006 3:59 pm
by Aramil
Hello,

Okay, first off, I'm completely new to modding. After seeing some pretty neat mods, I've been inspired to create my own. Actually, just a little tweaking here and there to improve a few things.

I know about the .odf files, but other than that, please assume I know nothing else. You guys are probably gonna have to spoon-feed me. So, my question is, how can I - after modding/tweaking the .odf files - create .lvl files out of them? Thanks.

RE: How to create .LVL files?

Posted: Sat Jul 01, 2006 11:22 am
by Leviathan
Off-topic : Aramil, if I had been you, I would have exploited the "Search" feature embedded in GameToast Message-Board before creating a thread similar to the current one. However, as the Sections referring to Star Wars Battlefront have ceased being consulted as much frequently as in the past, I would not mind providing you the Support and Resources you might need to achieve a few Projects of your own. But above all, I would be rather interested in knowing what exact *.ODF files you have modified so far, while reminding that any Design built for the aimed LucasArts® video-game must be initially generated thanks to BFBuilder...

PS : By the way, I wish you welcome on GameToast Forums !... :D

Posted: Sat Jul 01, 2006 4:06 pm
by Aramil
Alright, thanks, I'll keep that in mind.

Okay. I was thinking of modifying the cis_weap_inf_sniperrifle_ord.odf file to change the colour of the laser. In reality, it doesn't really matter what modifications I make...I'm just keeping it simple for now. What I need to know is how to incorporate those changes into the game. I've gotten access to the .odfs from BFBuilder. If you're interested, the exact path to this one .odf is:

C:\BFBuilder\Assets\Sides\CIS\ODF\cis_weap_inf_sniperrifle_ord.odf

Isn't the trick to munge my files or something? If I'm right, would you mind providing me with some instructions? I don't think I quite get the whole "munge" thing...

Posted: Sun Jul 02, 2006 10:39 am
by Aramil
Okay. You know what? I think I've got it. I've actually decided to RTFF, and I've taken the tutorial entitled "A Quick and Easy Step-By-Step Tutorial to Editing Factions". But I still have a problem.

Whenever I get to the step where I'm supposed to click "Munge", the program generates an error message, saying "An error has occured in the script of this page", telling me that The system cannot find the file specified. Can you give me any pointers on this? Thanks.

Posted: Sun Jul 02, 2006 11:25 am
by Leviathan
It unfortunately seems that such Issues have never ceased increasing since the public release of BFBuilder Pro, Aramil, and that's probably why I have always preferred generating, assembling and merging / compiling Star Wars Battlefront-intended Projects using manual Processes, which should highly help you. Indeed, as Star Wars Battlefront World Builder seems to have successfully created your brand-new Side, all you have to do now you have made all Modifications you wished is to execute the "munge.bat" file located inside the "[Hard-Drive's letter]\BFBuilder\Data[Mod_ID]" Folder, while making sure you have copied the "cis_weap_inf_sniperrifle_ord.odf" file - Among many others, I assume - towards the "[Hard-Drive's letter]\BFBuilder\Data[Mod_ID]\Sides\CIS\ODF" Directory...

Posted: Sun Jul 02, 2006 1:09 pm
by Aramil
Am I correct in assuming that once I've run the proper munge.bat file, I should find my completed .lvl files in the BFBuilder\Addon\ folder? I can't seem to find anything like that...perhaps I ran the munge incorrectly? As I recall, the MS-DOS window said that some files couldn't be found, but there were no errors listed in the log. Maybe I'm missing some files? This is rather confusing...

Posted: Sun Jul 02, 2006 1:25 pm
by Leviathan
It sounds not to be that surprising, Aramil, since a large part of GameToast members willing to conceive their own Factions built for Star Wars Battlefront have usually faced two major Troubles, one of them being related to the fact Star Wars Battlefront Modification Tools had not been extracted towards their primary Hard-Drive's Root, and the other referring to more "Advanced" Steps, having to be imperatively followed and made available at this URL...

Posted: Sun Jul 02, 2006 5:14 pm
by Aramil
Alright...I've tried it your way, and even with the instructions you gave me a link to, I can't get it to work. I've tried at least 3 or 4 times, and the only thing actually added to the addon folder is C:\BFBuilder\AddOn\Data\_lvl_pc\Movies\Mod3A.mvs. I've tried everything I can think of. I honestly have no idea...it's getting kinda frustrating. (Maybe I should just stick to making my games instead. My current one is looking beautiful. :wink: ) I'll try looking for some more tutorials...maybe the solution is over there somewhere.

Posted: Mon Jul 03, 2006 8:40 am
by Leviathan
Off-topic : Any problem is usually associated to probable Solutions or even Workarounds, Aramil, and if you have not succeeded in making your custom Star Wars Battlefront Side working properly through the "Modification Tools" intended to this LucasArts® Product, then I could have a look at it so as to determine origins of the Issues affecting your Progress if you would be ready to upload your "Data[Mod_ID]" Folder on a Specialized Location, such as either Savefile© or BaDonGo©, amongst many other similar web-sites... :wink:

Posted: Mon Jul 03, 2006 11:04 am
by Aramil
Alrighty, then...

You'll find my complete ZippedDataExample.zip file at this link here. I really have no idea what I might be doing wrong. I appreciate the help.

Posted: Mon Jul 03, 2006 12:10 pm
by Leviathan
Off-topic : Alright, Aramil, I will get my hands down on the Star Wars Battlefront Project you have accepted to share with me as soon as possible, in order to figure out what may be wrong with it, and hopefully, a large part of your current Issues should be worked out in the Days to come, while reminding that a few chances of failing nevertheless remain among all others...

Posted: Tue Jul 04, 2006 8:40 am
by Leviathan
Well, Aramil, I have succeeded in conceiving a brand-new Project built for Star Wars Battlefront which is supposed to make things much easier for you in case you would wish to assemble an updated version of the "cis.lvl" file, which can be downloaded from this Location. (Do not worry about the current Filesize of the concerned Stuffs : I have indeed proceeded to a Cleaning having appeared as being at the very least favourable to you...) Moreover, the only thing you would be forced to do would be to copy the whole "CIS" Folder from the "[Hard-Drive's letter]\BFBuilder\Assets\Sides" Directory towards the "[Hard-Drive's letter]\BFBuilder\DataExample\Sides" one, while making sure that all the *.ODF files you have modified so far must be placed inside the "[Hard-Drive's letter]\BFBuilder\DataExample\Sides\CIS\ODF" Path, additionally to the fact these same Entities have imperatively to keep their native Extension ("*.ODF") in replacement of the "*.TXT" being usually associated to such Written Documents. Once you are completely done, you will just have to execute the "munge.bat" file located inside the "[Hard-Drive's letter]\BFBuilder\DataExample" Location, and you will eventually obtain an updated Confederacy of Independent Systems Faction, easily findable toward the "[Hard-Drive's letter]\BFBuilder\AddOn\Example\Data\_lvl_pc\Side" Folder, which will have to be moved to the "[Hard-Drive's letter]\Program Files\LucasArts\Star Wars Battlefront\GameData\Data\_LVL_PC\SIDE" one...

PS : Of course, do not forget to make Preliminary Back-Ups of all Original Sides you might modify using Star Wars Battlefront Modification Tools before proceeding to their complete Substitution, as that could else lead to annoying Troubles, as mostly happened with user-made "imp.lvl" Packages, amongst other similar Situations...

Posted: Tue Jul 04, 2006 10:53 am
by Aramil
Wow...I can't really thank you for all the effort you've put into helping me. Unfortunately, my problem still remains the same. I've done everything you've told me to; I've followed your instructions to the letter. Since I've done everything as I've been told to, I can only assume that something must be wrong with my computer.

I was wondering if you could test the files that you have just sent me yourself. Using your own instructions that you gave me, could you please tell me if it works?(I'm not saying that you've done anything incorrectly, sheesh, as if I'm one to talk) If it does, then I'll know for sure it's my computer. Thanks again!

Posted: Tue Jul 04, 2006 4:08 pm
by Aramil
I guess I can answer my own question here. The problem is with my computer... I've been running Windows 98. Apparently I require Windows 2000 or greater. That shouldn't be a problem for me; this sucker's gonna be updated soon enough.

The answer to my problem(to get a higher version of Windows) was stumbled upon quite accidentally right here. Hopefully that'll also help anyone with the same problem.

Thanks again, Leviathan, for providing the support.

Posted: Wed Jul 05, 2006 12:25 pm
by Leviathan
Off-topic : You are welcome, Aramil, although you did not really need to thank me because of the fact I have not appeared as being that helpful to you, and that's why I would like you not to hesitate requesting additional Support and Resources once you will have obtained and installed a Microsoft® Windows version which could make Star Wars Battlefront Modification Tools to work decently and properly on your Personal Computer... :wink:

Posted: Thu Jul 06, 2006 9:26 am
by Aramil
Whoa!! I got it to work!! Apparently I needed to move the files in BFBuilder\ToolsFL\Bin to BFBuilder\Data<ModID>\_BUILD_PC\Sides\<Side>. That was the trick right there. I've already successfully created a mod for the Alliance side where the soldier plays as a jedi(force powers and everything!!)...I'm working on the Republic now, but I guess I'm missing some animations. Thanks again(yeah...I know).

Posted: Thu Jul 06, 2006 10:25 am
by Leviathan
Off-topic : I am glad to hear such a News coming from the mouth of a newly-registered GameToast member, Aramil, and I assume the Workaround you have succeeded in finding could appear as being rather helpful towards other ones who might equally encounter such Incompatibility Issues with their respective Microsoft® Windows version, and that's probably why I will never cease thanking sufficiently you for having made this discovery... :wink:

Posted: Thu Jul 06, 2006 11:35 am
by Laserblast
Unforunately, Aramil, the force power pull under the original settings is just another push (and choke is really no different). Probably just something they started working on but couldn't finish in time.

Also, I doubt all the files in the tool bin are completely necessary. I already told you this, but the DOS prompt does not show many of them being used. However, since I only came upon the solution through trial and error, I have no way of being certain (not messing with something that has served me so well for so long). In any case, I will be happy to help again.

P.S. Since I helped you through PMs, you might wish to clarify who you are thanking better next time. No need to confuse Leviathan. Sorry for the confusion, anyone else who reads this far.

Posted: Thu Jul 06, 2006 12:10 pm
by Leviathan
Off-topic : Thanks for having cleared things up that efficiently, Laserblast, but now you have engaged another Discussion dealing with Star Wars Battlefront Modification Tools-related Microsoft® Windows Applications present inside the "[Hard-Drive's letter]\BFBuilder\ToolsFL\Bin" Directory, I would wish to precise that they are nearly all exploited, except for a few ones which must be executed manually in case you would want to compile specific Stuffs being highly vital for the aimed LucasArts® Product, such as Shaders or LUA Scripts containing Advanced Instructions...

Posted: Thu Jul 06, 2006 12:43 pm
by Laserblast
I was refering to the ones used explicitly by the munge_side batch file. This list seems to include (some of them obvious) odfmunge, texturemunge, soundflmunge, modelmunge, configmunge, and levelpack (I like leaving room for error though). While not part of the tool bins, it is also necessary to have the munge_fpm batch file in the _build_pc/sides folder (it should be there already).

Obviously, the other tools are used elsewhere and are by no means unnecessary. My point is that you might not need to drop all the files in the tools bin into the _build_pc/sides/<side>, since not all of them would be used.