Global Changes Help, somewhat advanced question

Hi all,

I have finally created and tested a map with the fuctionality/balance/playability I want. Most of the changes are simple, like upgrades for Heros, adding in unused units, tweaking hit points of buildings etc. Now that I have everything balanced the way I want it, I hit my dilema:

How do I take the changes and make them global? Thus, make the changes effetive on any and all maps.

I understand the file structure more or less. I know that my changes would have to reside in the SLK files, as well as the TXT files in war3patch.mpq, however how do I export the changes in the maps (w3m) into the war3patch.mpq?

From the map, I have been able to export the script.j, strings.wts, and the unitdata.w3u. The War3patch.mpq is comprised of TXT and SLK files, none of which are in the map w3m files. I can open both the SLK and TXT files, but is there somewhere that gives a detailed description of these files??? I.E. Mod1 actually refers to?? effect1 ratd actually means????

I am hoping to avoid having to figure out how to modify the SLK and TXT files manually, as I just want to make the changes in my one map globally available. I do understand I could copy the unitdata.w3u etc. to all the maps one by one, but that not only would be a pain in the butt, it would mean anyone wanting to play with my changes would have to use my w3u file etc on their map. I would rather let them create a map and then the war3patch.mpq holds the changes to units etc.

I hope I am being clear as to where I would like to go with this. Any and all help would be appreciated.
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Spare the rod and spoil the rm -r I always say.


Daytranno

The problem to have your SLKs and TXT stored on war3patch.mpq is that it wold be just you with those changes instead of everyone playing your map. I suggest you to design your own package and then insert the package on every map you release.

There is no converter from .w3s, w3u , .j from within the maps to SLKs/ TXTs. This is just impossible. They are not the same thing. Again, I suggest you to design your TXT/SLK package and inject on your maps. The best thing is to make the changes direcltly to the SLKs instead of using the unit editor from WE. I know it seems to be harder, but can save you some time when designing new maps.

I thought that might be the case. I do have a way to auto distribute my own war3patch.mpq to my friends, so this isn't a problem. We will all be on the same "patch" when we play.

I will just edit the TXT and SLKs in that file and be done with it. It means starting from ground 0 however. Do you happen to know anywhere where there is clear description of what each SLK and TXT file do and what fields are what within those files???

Will changing things around damage the AI irrepairably? i.e. Adding an unsed unit??? Changing a build order etc???

Thanks so much for the answer, even if it wasn't the one I wanted...

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Spare the rod and spoil the rm -r I always say.

Daytranno