Implanting Files Into Maps

I am new to spell editing, but I have picked up how to do it very quickly, thanks to you guys on this forum. But...I can't seem to get the maps to work without making changes my war3patch.mpq directly. I am just testing in single player mode. I am using TechMpq (WinMPQ doesn't run on my PC), and I can archive (the ...slk, ...func.txt, and the ...strings.txt) into the maps and MPQs without any problems. But when it comes time to play the map, it won't work. I have seen some posts say to use MPQ2K. Do I have to use that app to import files into the map (Or can I stick with what I know), and if so can someone tell me the exact process.

thanks guys.

Hmmm, if it's something complicated, I can't help (though likely somebody else can). But make sure your the file you've implanted is in the same directory as the original was. Also, double check your spellings. I'm not 100% sure WC3 is case-sensitive about these files (jass sometimes seems to be) but it wouldn't hurt to double check that as well.

Checked and double checked already. They ARE under the "Units\" directory.

Do you use patch v1.04?

Yes, I am using 1.04.

Has anyone else used TechMPQ with success?

I think you and I have the same problem. If your situation is like mine...

You have all the abilitydata.slk, func.txt and strings.txt implanted in the right directory. When you load up, you get the spell but not the tooltip or graphic.

If you then end that game, and immediately load your map again without restarting War3...then the .txt files load and you CAN see the tooltips and graphics! But only on the second load.

I know all my spells/graphics/tooltips are working because I can test them on the second load. It's that first one I'm concerned about.

I've been messing with the pre-load trigger for hours and that doesn't seem to help at all. No idea how to get it to work on the first load...

I messed with the pre-load files too....but nothing.

Can someone please tell us what we're missing!

I would advise that you get winmpq working. Other than the extra VB runtimes, it is actually easier to get working, and works much better than TechMPQ. The only significant differences are than WinMPQ has more features, a better interface, compresses files better. TechMPQ runs off of an old version of the SFMPQAPI, while winmpq uses the newest version. If you can't find the runetimes, ShadowFlare has them on her site, http://shadowflare.ancillaediting.net/

knightking:

I'm using WinMPQ and I have the same problem as breakscience. I don't believe that's the problem. Both of us can use our custom spells, but only on the second load.

Im now using what a lot of people suggested to implant files, MPQ2k. Everything seems to do the same thing as when I was using TechMPQ.

(keeping this thread alive until someone can help us)


Are we dead in the water or does someone know a way around this?

Did you make sure that none of your custom files you want in the units\ folder of the .w3m are in your war3 base directory or a units sub-folder? Did you remove the files you changed from the war3.mpq and war3patch.mpq?

I have been reading these posts that say "AbilityData.slk doesn't work, but the text files can be added"

This is not the case. I have edited data from an existing spell (Mana cost on Holy Light), saved the slk and pack it with the map. Opened up WC3 and it worked the first time!

The problem is with the text files. I edited the target art of an existing spell in the HumanAbilityFunc.txt file. I saved the text file and packed it into the map. When I played the map, it didn't work the first time, but the second it was perfect.


Is this "runs only on the second time" bug a known issue? If so, what is the cause/solution?


thank you for your time.

Yes, the files have been removed for main and "Units" sub. And yes, the files changed are not in the MPQs.

When I put them just in the patchMPQ they work fine....first try. But putting them just in the map doesn't .

From what I have heard, the "runs only on 2nd time" thing is a known bug for some people.

There is no explanation of why this is, it is just an odd quirk with using customized maps.

There is one explaination...
Blizz screwed up, and has it checking if the file is in the map after the file is loaded from the patch mpq. In this case, the file is not loaded from the map until the second time it is run, when the game remembers it is in the map.

While I hope they didn't do something like this, they have done similar things before.