Changing Skins for CUSTOM side classes

jangoisbaddest · Post by **jangoisbaddest** » Sun Apr 30, 2006 1:16 pm

I am editing my sides by using a brand - new side, and I wish to add a custom texture to one of them. I tried placing the TGA file in the msh folder of my custom side, then took the msh files from a standard class, re - named them, put them into the msh folder as well, and then replaced the tga it refrenced to the one i added. Then I told my class' ODF to use that msh file I had just created/modified. I tested it, and it crashed the map. Parhaps I'm going about this the wrong way, but I don't want to replace anything - I want to make a brand - new skin to use.

MercuryNoodles · Post by **MercuryNoodles** » Sun Apr 30, 2006 1:51 pm

Did you add or delete datablocks/spaces/characters when you edited the msh? That in itself will crash the game. The character length not only has to remain the same for the tga name, but you have to actually overwrite the name itself. Just type over the name that's already there. You can also use the string replacement function in whatever editor you're using. (I'm using XVI.) Deleting or adding anything at all will screw up the file, thus the crashing.

jkempster · Post by **jkempster** » Sun Apr 30, 2006 2:35 pm

i had this problem. the .msh file actually has info inside it saying what texture to read, eg if you renamed a rep_hero_obiwan the msh will still read that. you need to download a hex editor and hex edit the msh changing all things with .tga at the end to what u renamed your character

jangoisbaddest · Post by **jangoisbaddest** » Mon May 01, 2006 6:50 pm

This is odd, now. I got a HEX Editor, then copied the ep3 rifleman's msh and low1 files to my side folder, renamed them all, told the ODF to look for that name, and changed the .tga refrences in the msh and the low1 files with my new texture. And guess what? It can't find the geometry. I can see the file right there, in the msh folder, with the exact same name as what my ODF is refrenceing. Stupid BFII, I'm staring right at it!!! Maybe you can't change msh files' names? Or you have to do that with a HEX Editor?

jangoisbaddest · Post by **jangoisbaddest** » Mon May 01, 2006 10:02 pm

Where do you put the msh files so that they;ll be recognized by the ODF?! Because obviously the logical place (the msh folder in the same side folder) is not it!

NegativeSmiley · Post by **NegativeSmiley** » Mon May 01, 2006 10:04 pm

well the ODF will call upon the units MSH. If you open up the units MSH it should have XXXXXXX.tga somewhere up in there. XXXXX being something. Just rename the .tga file and rename it in the Msh. You should leave your ODF alone because thats calling upon the units model (XXXX.msh) which in turn calls upon the units skin (XXXX.tga)

MercuryNoodles · Post by **MercuryNoodles** » Mon May 01, 2006 10:34 pm

Also be sure you have the req files set up, and that the proper files are referenced by the shell.req/xxxshell.req files.

jangoisbaddest · Post by **jangoisbaddest** » Mon May 01, 2006 11:42 pm

NegativeSmiley wrote:well the ODF will call upon the units MSH. If you open up the units MSH it should have XXXXXXX.tga somewhere up in there. XXXXX being something. Just rename the .tga file and rename it in the Msh. You should leave your ODF alone because thats calling upon the units model (XXXX.msh) which in turn calls upon the units skin (XXXX.tga)

That's the thing! I don't want to use the origional MSH file, because that will change the default trooper throughout the game's base levels as well. That's why I copied the MSH file and pasted it over to my own side folder, then replaced the tga refrences with the new skin. Theoretically, it would still do everything the other file would have done (including load the model), and be completely seprate from the base game, but it doesn't seem to be cooperating - it still can't find the MSH file that I pasted and re - named.

MercuryNoodles wrote:Also be sure you have the req files set up, and that the proper files are referenced by the shell.req/xxxshell.req files.

Where, praytell, are these? This must be it - why does the program load every MSH file refrenced in the new side folder, but not this one?

NegativeSmiley · Post by **NegativeSmiley** » Tue May 02, 2006 4:36 pm

jangoisbaddest wrote: That's the thing! I don't want to use the origional MSH file, because that will change the default trooper throughout the game's base levels as well. That's why I copied the MSH file and pasted it over to my own side folder, then replaced the tga refrences with the new skin. Theoretically, it would still do everything the other file would have done (including load the model), and be completely seprate from the base game, but it doesn't seem to be cooperating - it still can't find the MSH file that I pasted and re - named.

I've never heard of this happening. If you Xfire me this will be alot more easier to work out. its NegativeSmiley.

jangoisbaddest · Post by **jangoisbaddest** » Tue May 02, 2006 8:40 pm

Hmmm.... I must not be thinking of the same directory. Exactly where is the msh file that you edit?

NegativeSmiley · Post by **NegativeSmiley** » Tue May 02, 2006 9:00 pm

Lets say your map name is STM and your side name is 10L (this is mine) you will find the msh is here:
C:\BF2_ModTools\data_STM\Sides\10L\msh

jangoisbaddest · Post by **jangoisbaddest** » Tue May 02, 2006 9:19 pm

Okay. That's where I've been working this whole time. I put my msh file in there, and it doesn't find it. And if I leave the name the same (rep_inf_ep3trooper), it doesn't do the changes - it gives me a plain - old default blue clonetrooper. I think it's not looking in this folder for some reason, and instead looking at some default side file somewhere.

NegativeSmiley · Post by **NegativeSmiley** » Tue May 02, 2006 10:00 pm

Can i see the ep3troopers ODF file?

jangoisbaddest · Post by **jangoisbaddest** » Tue May 02, 2006 11:13 pm

MercuryNoodles wrote:Also be sure you have the req files set up, and that the proper files are referenced by the shell.req/xxxshell.req files.

I made an xxxshell.req file and put it in the right place (inside the side's folder), but where does the regualr shell file go? I'm pretty sure that this is the problem.

Post by **Teancum** » Wed May 03, 2006 6:57 am

Eh? The shell has nothing to do with new sides. Whoever told you that is wrong.

Post by **Penguin** » Wed May 03, 2006 7:32 am

all you need to do is has the msh, sides req, odf, req for the odf. and load if in your lua

CarbineImpulse · Post by **CarbineImpulse** » Wed May 03, 2006 8:05 am

Someone will un doubtably point you in the direction of BF2 Jedi Creation.doc that comes with the tools set up you custom side, this will in no way effect standard sides in any other part of the game. If you're having problems then start off simple. Don't rename anything just change the .tga (the image not the name). Once sorted and working you can ammend (if you want) the req,odf and msh names. The msh points at the tga and to change this you'll need to hex edit the name that the msh points at or looks for. I think it has to remain the same number of characters as the original tga reference. If you do decide to edit the msh file then you can rename the tga. Personally I find it a hassle and just don't edit the msh or tga name. If your new to it then just stick to the simple method initially.

jangoisbaddest · Post by **jangoisbaddest** » Wed May 03, 2006 6:27 pm

Penguin wrote:all you need to do is has the msh, sides req, odf, req for the odf. and load if in your lua

Right. Except that it doesn't work.

I'm not exactly a newb - I know what has to be refrenced for a new entity in a custom side. But it's not working for this one.
I would also like to point out that I have read the Jedi Creation document, and there's nothing about editing/adding new msh files at all, and that I have a HEX editor and have edited the tga that it is supposed to refrence. But that isn't the problem - the problem is the program not using the new msh file that I put in the msh folder - renamed or not, I might add.
I would also like to point out that I have created at least 16 new entities for my new side, and they've all worked fine. It is only this one, because i'm trying to give this class a msh that doesn't exist in the base game.
That's why I looked in the assets folder for anything that might be missing for actual new msh files. I found it in the shell req for the republic side, and did the same for mine; and, since it was one of the two files that MercuryNoodles mentioned, I figured there was one more file that needed a refrence (especially since the BFront log kept telling me that the crashes were due to the inablility to find that very file, which just happens to be resting in my msh folder where it's supposed to be, including the new TGA it's refrencing and everything). So if anyone knows why it still can't find that Diet Dr. Pepper new msh file in its proper folder, or if there's any better way to get a new skin into a new unit, that's all I need. Thanks.

MercuryNoodles · Post by **MercuryNoodles** » Thu May 04, 2006 5:00 pm

Gah! Wrong information...sorry. (I don't know how I ended up mangling the names that badly.) I meant xxx.req and xxxshell.req files. They both go under "data_xxx/Sides/xxx/", and you'd need to add the names of the appropriate files for the new unit to both. If you're just replacing a unit, this shouldn't be necessary.

So, you should have a new msh, tga, odf, and req file, then add the info to those two files I listed above, and you should be set.