FDF Files

Like this problem was discussed a lot of times, I am still attempting to insert a new race into the menus of warcraft, modify the UI and the whole shit. Unfortunately (or fortunately? ), this can be done only by editing FDF files (from my knowledge, correct me if I'm wrong).

Now, the thing is that everytime I attempted to modify a FDF file and insert it back into war3x.mpq or war3.mpq nothing happened, while inserting it into war3xlocal.mpq caused crash when loading the game. I suspect that actually the game takes its info from the local file, but if it causes a crash, it doesn't help me very much. I am wondering if it is the fact that I modified the files in an appropriate manner or is it because that's how warcraft behaves when modifying such an important files?

I also heard there is a solution, by loading the MPQ ulteriorily (I didn't really get it, so I may be wrong) so I'm curious if anyone heard about this method or has any idea how to modify these files in a functional way. I heard TToR modified the game in such a manner (after all, how did they get the new races name?). Any help is appreciated and if you care, the person who comes with a fiable and functional method will be credited into my project most of you already know: RotHE (Revival of the High Elves). Thank you!

~Daelin

If you screw with an FDF in the wrong way, it'll crash anyway. I once tried ripping out loads of menu buttons, but to no avail. So the crash is nothing to do with where you imported it; it's to do with your rubbish coding.

And yeah, best way to load it is a self-executing MPQ. The tool for making 'em is on wc3sear.ch somewhere.

I did not find that "self-executing" MPQ tool on wc3sear.ch. It may have a different description or name, cuz I can't find it.
And is rubbish code that I actually made an experiment by renaming Night Elves into High Elves? I had to leave an extra space so that the "-2" following are one under another (thing that Blizzard did anyway so I don't think that's the problem). Nevertheless, it crashed!

~Daelin

The slightest things can eat FDFs, be very careful.

MPQDraft, I think it's called?

Great... But problem is that I don't get how to patch. I mean, what exactly am I supposed to add in the MPQ that will be turned into an executable? The files I want to modify or the whole archive (sounds pretty stupid, I know, but I've got no idea how these things work)? And if the first variant is correct, should I use the same path (I suspect that yes)?

For the SEMPQ file I gave the path (including name) of the executable.

With all the stuff I suspected, it gave me the following error when trying to launch (put only the file I wanted to modify into the MPQ archive): "Unable to locate the target to patch". Hmmm...

~Daelin

In the MPQ in you shall only have your custom files (the files you want to 'override' in the blizz mpqs. It works in this way: Map -> SEMPQ -> War3patch.mpq -> war3x.mpq - > war3.mpq, meaning that if a file is in several archives, it will load from the one first in this list. Some files won't load correctly from maps, though).

And you should use the same path, think of this as overriding files in the mpqs from the import manager.

When you have created the exe with MPQDraft, click on it to start Wc3 where it also loads from the MPQ attached to the exe (it is the same thing that WEU does, btw).

This is all I know about it. If something here is wrong, feel free to correct me.

For did you rename the string NIGHT_ELF in globalstrings or did you rename it in PlayerSlot? In PlayerSlot, I think it's just referencing the value in globalstrings. That might have been the cause of the crash, but since I'm not sure what you renamed I'm not sure.

Thanky thanky guys! For now, this is what I succeeded (instead of modifying, I added a new race):



The only problem now is the fact that when I click on it, the multiple choice box obviously closes (this is normal) but in the box it displays Random. So practically it does not "validate" the choice. I'll have to mess up with the menu I guess.

~Daelin

You're welcome. I guess the tricky part now is finding out how to get the additional box to register; I was messing around with it and couldn't figure out a way. My guess is that it's not something you can find in the fdf files.

You are correct... I discussed this issue with PitzerMike and apparently the only person who can help me is xttocs. We need some custom loader to make the game recognise it. Hmm... we'll see.

~Daelin