[EXPERIMENTAL] XModDiff (Mod Merger): 02/04/2011

[Cycrow]

This is currently an experiemental app for merging mod files so there are no guarnetees that'll it'll work correctly yet, but needs to be test.

Download: http://xpluginmanager.co.uk/beta/xmoddiff.rar

This includes 3 files:
spk.dll: The main dll file (newer version than the one included with the plugin manager)
xmoddiff.exe: Program to create a diff file from a mod
xmodpatch.exe: Patches a saved diff file into a mod

These are both console apps, so needs to be run via the command console, make sure spk.dll is in the same directory as the exe's or copy it over the current plugin manager one (should be in your system folder for windows)

Diff Usage: xmoddiff [-v] <modfile.cat> <diff file> [gamedirectory]

This will compare the <modfile> agsinst the [gamedirectory] and save all changes to the <diff file>

Using the -v flag will enable verbose and display each entry thats written.

Patch Usage: xmodpatch <modfile.cat> <diff file> [gamedirectory]

Once you have a diff file, you can apply it to another mod
the <modfile.cat> is the file you wish to write changes to, if it doesn't exist it'll be created, otherwise changes will be applied on top of it

the <diff file> is the file generated using the xmoddiff program
The game directory is the directory it uses to apply the mod too.

Please remember, this is highly experimental and is for testing purposes only. A gui app for merging mods using this will be available later.

Limitations:
* Currently only works for T types files, types/T*
* Doesn't yet adjust ids between files, ie cockpit entries in TShips, text entries, etc


Edit: fixed link. X2

[joelR]

Brilliant!

[Sam L.R. Griffiths]

Is this not along the same lines as my Changeling tool?

EDIT: Not that I am bothered by it, but it seems silly to duplicate effort towards the same ends.

EDIT #2: I already have logic in place to support maintaining some of the inter-dependencies.

[Cycrow]

Is this not along the same lines as my Changeling tool?

EDIT: Not that I am bothered by it, but it seems silly to duplicate effort towards the same ends.

EDIT #2: I already have logic in place to support maintaining some of the inter-dependencies.

i've not really checked it out

this is mainly from a mod merge tool i was working on last year.

althou this isn't really a tool for editing, just getting changes that a mod makes and applying them to another

[Anuke]

beautiful, i shall test it on complex cleaner and xtra ships mod.
however, if my ineptitude shall cause me to fail... would you pretty please merge them for me? the link to x3e2 worked for the download but my ISP probably has a block on whatever country that is. i even tried completly lowering my security but no reply. Either way, thank you cycrow.

[Sam L.R. Griffiths]

...

i've not really checked it out

this is mainly from a mod merge tool i was working on last year.

althou this isn't really a tool for editing, just getting changes that a mod makes and applying them to another

Changeling is still under development but the main purpose is to be able to import existing mods (regardless of distributed form), and provide facilities to automatically merge said mods, with a secondary ability to edit the result before exporting as a mod in it's own right. The idea of the editing facilities is for the user to be able to tweak the data in end-result terms rather than at the explicit datafile level there by hopefully de-skilling the mod merging process and allow the user to achieve the intended merged results regardless of the nature of mod conflicts.

[Anuke]

tried the version from 2 days ago. did as instructed. the resulting mod causes the game to not even load the load screen. (one with "start x3tc" option. if i move it to the mods folder the screen will load but if i select it for mod package the game will not start. removing the file completely fixes all problems except that i am now at square 1.

does the link lead to a new version now? any fixes?

[Anuke]

tried it again and it worked somewhat.
still created a Tfactories file in the directory(is this normal?)
after useing the programs and placing the modified Xtra ship mod in the directory at one number higher than the original Complex Cleaner mod (i hope this is right) i then loaded x3tc and...

my graphix card switched off and x3tc main menu music played behind a "no signal" screen. i blindly clicked the exit button and the screen remained blank. i then restarted my computer blindly and launched x3tc again and it worked fine.

after loading a game clean of complex cleaner and xtra ships, both mods loaded successfully. complex cleaner worked fine loading the smallest modular complex without fail(haven't tested the larger moduels).

either way, this did not work previously when i tried to do it before merging. cudos

the only issue now is that the Xtra stations have no cargo hold. is this due to the stated limitations in the op? or is something elso messing with those files?

someone mentioned that it might be due to a pck or xml inconsistancy. if so, will the final product be able to work these out?

[Anuke]

UPDATE: xmoddiff works perfectly. it was ware blueprint manager SPK that was messing up the storage space. i have not checked everything yet but all looks good so far. thankyou

[Cycrow]

This is now included in the latest beta for the plugin manager

also the creator has a GUI for using both the diff and patch

a full mod merge is also possible via the creator, which uses the diff/patch on all files and creates a new merged mod