Added to Tutorials

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Hi all,
Even though the Mac X3 community is small, I thought I'd print a noobs guide to installing mods and scripts onto Mac. It was such a brainache at first that I thought It would be a shame not to share what I've learnt with the X3 community. All of the credit goes to Cycrow, who patiently walked me through it with a few PM's. Anyway, we shall begin...
To get the bonus pack, follow the really useful guide that Bubba posted on the VP forums board. (Reproduced here for your convenience)...
To get the bonus pack installed, I followed the hints here:
http://forum.egosoft.com/viewtopic.php?t=181641
basically, it goes:
1) download the bonus pack from egosoft (http://www.egosoft.com/download/x3/bonus_en.php)
2) download crossover (http://www.codeweavers.com/products/cxmac/) - a Mac app that runs small windows apps - pretty cool!
3) have crossover open the bonus pack exe and run the installer - when it asks for the location to extract files, use the following:
X3 The Reunion.app/Contents/Resources/X3 Reunion Online.app/Contents/Resources/transgaming/c_drive/x3/
4) all done!
BTW: Make sure you have your Mac installer disks handy as Crossover might ask you to run disk 1 to complete the Installation process. (Don't worry, you won't have to reinstall the OS on your Mac).
I've only investigated adding XML files into the game. It is possible to add mods that contain cat/dat files, but I haven't got into that as it's really messy. All of the mods I've added so far have been XML (fortunately)!
First off, download a script. Here, we'll focus on Improved Khaak
To add the script, download Cycrow's SPKutil_mac onto your desktop
http://cycrow.thexuniverse.us/mac/SPKUtil_mac.zip
Open up the folder and put SPK_tool onto the desktop (I haven't had to use SPK_convert yet so we'll ignore that one).
Open up SPK_tool - this will open the command list.
On the program taskbar (top of the screen), the program will be called 'Terminal' click on FILE > New Shell
Then drag the SPK_tool icon into the terminal window you opened. You should see this:
Last login: Tue Jun 10 23:48:18 on ttyp1
Welcome to Darwin!
ryan-lights-computer:~ Torch$ /Users/Torch/Desktop/SPKTool_mac
Now look in the command list on the other SPK_tool window. We need to view the spk file before we can convert it to mac friendly data. Therefore the command we need is -v (to view).
Go back to your other terminal window; insert a space, type -v and then insert another space. You should now see the following:
Last login: Tue Jun 10 23:48:18 on ttyp1
Welcome to Darwin!
ryan-lights-computer:~ Torch$ /Users/Torch/Desktop/SPKTool_mac -v
Now open up the script folder you (previously) downloaded. Drag the file 'Improved Khaak 1.0.spk' into the Terminal window. Now you should see this:
Last login: Tue Jun 10 23:48:18 on ttyp1
Welcome to Darwin!
ryan-lights-computer:~ Torch$ /Users/Torch/Desktop/SPKTool_mac -v /Users/Torch/Desktop/Improved\ Kha\'ak\ 1/Improved\ Kha\'ak\ 1.0.spk
Hit <enter> The following will be displayed:
Last login: Tue Jun 10 23:48:18 on ttyp1
Welcome to Darwin!
ryan-lights-computer:~ Torch$ /Users/Torch/Desktop/SPKTool_mac -v /Users/Torch/Desktop/Improved\ Kha\'ak\ 1/Improved\ Kha\'ak\ 1.0.spk
SPKTool V1.00 (SPK File Version 4.00) 12/06/2007 Created by Cycrow
* Opening SPK File, /Users/Torch/Desktop/Improved Kha'ak 1/Improved Kha'ak 1.0.spk...
File Format Version: 4.00
Script Name: Improved Kha'ak
Script Author: Fallen
Script Version: 1.0
Creation Date: 09/05/2008
Description: Makes the Kha'ak act as a swarm, use their gateless jumpdrives, and even take over sectors. For more details see the forum post at http://forum.egosoft.com/viewtopic.php?t=204448
Script Type: AL Plugin
Web Site Address: http://forum.egosoft.com/viewtopic.php?t=204448
Listing files in package:
Scripts/al.plugin.ik.xml (Script) Size: 549B
Scripts/plugin.ik.takeover.uninstall.xml (Script) Size: 1.21KB
Scripts/plugin.ik.takeover.xml (Script) Size: 2.39KB
Scripts/plugin.ik.victory.xml (Script) Size: 2.25KB
Scripts/plugin.ik.add.SOI.check.xml (Script) Size: 1.07KB
Scripts/plugin.ik.add.SOI.xml (Script) Size: 1.29KB
Scripts/plugin.ik.al.handler.core.xml (Script) Size: 2.49KB
Scripts/plugin.ik.al.handler.difficulty.xml (Script) Size: 747B
Scripts/plugin.ik.al.handler.invasion.xml (Script) Size: 3.97KB
Scripts/plugin.ik.al.handler.missiles.xml (Script) Size: 744B
Scripts/plugin.ik.al.handler.p2p.range.xml (Script) Size: 751B
Scripts/plugin.ik.al.handler.revenge.xml (Script) Size: 744B
Scripts/plugin.ik.al.handler.suicidal.xml (Script) Size: 752B
Scripts/plugin.ik.al.handler.takeover.xml (Script) Size: 2.49KB
Scripts/plugin.ik.al.handler.upgrades.xml (Script) Size: 747B
Scripts/plugin.ik.bbs.xml (Script) Size: 3.73KB
Scripts/plugin.ik.defeat.xml (Script) Size: 2.13KB
Scripts/plugin.ik.disable.xml (Script) Size: 1.24KB
Scripts/plugin.ik.job.fight.swarm.xml (Script) Size: 3.30KB
Scripts/plugin.ik.job.reset.xml (Script) Size: 707B
Scripts/plugin.ik.job.station.materials.xml (Script) Size: 2.04KB
Scripts/plugin.ik.job.suicide.xml (Script) Size: 3.40KB
Scripts/plugin.ik.jtp.if.allowed.xml (Script) Size: 1.94KB
Scripts/plugin.ik.jtp.spherical.xml (Script) Size: 1.75KB
Scripts/plugin.ik.proactive.xml (Script) Size: 2.33KB
Scripts/plugin.ik.signal.attacked.xml (Script) Size: 916B
Scripts/plugin.ik.signal.killed.xml (Script) Size: 1.01KB
Scripts/plugin.ik.swarm.gather.xml (Script) Size: 3.04KB
Scripts/plugin.ik.swarm.local.response.xml (Script) Size: 4.41KB
Scripts/plugin.ik.swarm.manager.xml (Script) Size: 2.90KB
Scripts/plugin.ik.swarm.remote.response.xml (Script) Size: 2.31KB
Scripts/plugin.ik.swarm.target.xml (Script) Size: 2.34KB
Scripts/plugin.ik.swarm.thinker.big.xml (Script) Size: 2.09KB
Scripts/plugin.ik.swarm.thinker.little.xml (Script) Size: 1.87KB
Scripts/plugin.ik.takeover.make.station.xml (Script) Size: 2.17KB
Scripts/plugin.ik.takeover.prevent.theft.xml (Script) Size: 1.17KB
Scripts/plugin.ik.takeover.summon.xml (Script) Size: 1.87KB
Scripts/setup.plugin.ik.xml (Script) Size: 473B
Uninstall/uninstall.plugin.ik.xml (Uninstall) Size: 545B
T/448972.xml (Text) Size: 2.82KB
Scripts/plugin.ap.lib.al.rotating.toggle.xml (Script) Size: 1.59KB
Scripts/plugin.ap.lib.sector.array.xml (Script) Size: 2.51KB
Scripts/plugin.ap.lib.timed.destruction.xml (Script) Size: 1.09KB
Scripts/plugin.ap.lib.al.complex.toggle.xml (Script) Size: 2.11KB
Scripts/plugin.ap.lib.al.globals.xml (Script) Size: 1.32KB
Scripts/plugin.ap.lib.al.handler.toggler.xml (Script) Size: 1.52KB
ryan-lights-computer:~ Torch$
The upshot of all this is that the file is good to use. If you see a different message to this then simply run the SPK_convert utility in a similar fashion (following the command list) to convert old style SPK (bad) files into new (good) SPK files.
Anyway, with Improved Khaak, it shouldn't need converting.
Now we have determined the file is good to use, repeat the process, but instead of inserting ' -v ' in the middle, insert ' -e '. You will see the following:
Last login: Wed Jun 11 00:05:17 on ttyp2
Welcome to Darwin!
ryan-lights-computer:~ Torch$ /Users/Torch/Desktop/SPKTool_mac -v /Users/Torch/Desktop/Improved\ Kha\'ak\ 1/Improved\ Kha\'ak\ 1.0.spk
SPKTool V1.00 (SPK File Version 4.00) 12/06/2007 Created by Cycrow
* Opening SPK File, /Users/Torch/Desktop/Improved Kha'ak 1/Improved Kha'ak 1.0.spk...
File Format Version: 4.00
Script Name: Improved Kha'ak
Script Author: Fallen
Script Version: 1.0
Creation Date: 09/05/2008
Description: Makes the Kha'ak act as a swarm, use their gateless jumpdrives, and even take over sectors. For more details see the forum post at http://forum.egosoft.com/viewtopic.php?t=204448
Script Type: AL Plugin
Web Site Address: http://forum.egosoft.com/viewtopic.php?t=204448
Listing files in package:
Scripts/al.plugin.ik.xml (Script) Size: 549B
Scripts/plugin.ik.takeover.uninstall.xml (Script) Size: 1.21KB
Scripts/plugin.ik.takeover.xml (Script) Size: 2.39KB
Scripts/plugin.ik.victory.xml (Script) Size: 2.25KB
Scripts/plugin.ik.add.SOI.check.xml (Script) Size: 1.07KB
Scripts/plugin.ik.add.SOI.xml (Script) Size: 1.29KB
Scripts/plugin.ik.al.handler.core.xml (Script) Size: 2.49KB
Scripts/plugin.ik.al.handler.difficulty.xml (Script) Size: 747B
Scripts/plugin.ik.al.handler.invasion.xml (Script) Size: 3.97KB
Scripts/plugin.ik.al.handler.missiles.xml (Script) Size: 744B
Scripts/plugin.ik.al.handler.p2p.range.xml (Script) Size: 751B
Scripts/plugin.ik.al.handler.revenge.xml (Script) Size: 744B
Scripts/plugin.ik.al.handler.suicidal.xml (Script) Size: 752B
Scripts/plugin.ik.al.handler.takeover.xml (Script) Size: 2.49KB
Scripts/plugin.ik.al.handler.upgrades.xml (Script) Size: 747B
Scripts/plugin.ik.bbs.xml (Script) Size: 3.73KB
Scripts/plugin.ik.defeat.xml (Script) Size: 2.13KB
Scripts/plugin.ik.disable.xml (Script) Size: 1.24KB
Scripts/plugin.ik.job.fight.swarm.xml (Script) Size: 3.30KB
Scripts/plugin.ik.job.reset.xml (Script) Size: 707B
Scripts/plugin.ik.job.station.materials.xml (Script) Size: 2.04KB
Scripts/plugin.ik.job.suicide.xml (Script) Size: 3.40KB
Scripts/plugin.ik.jtp.if.allowed.xml (Script) Size: 1.94KB
Scripts/plugin.ik.jtp.spherical.xml (Script) Size: 1.75KB
Scripts/plugin.ik.proactive.xml (Script) Size: 2.33KB
Scripts/plugin.ik.signal.attacked.xml (Script) Size: 916B
Scripts/plugin.ik.signal.killed.xml (Script) Size: 1.01KB
Scripts/plugin.ik.swarm.gather.xml (Script) Size: 3.04KB
Scripts/plugin.ik.swarm.local.response.xml (Script) Size: 4.41KB
Scripts/plugin.ik.swarm.manager.xml (Script) Size: 2.90KB
Scripts/plugin.ik.swarm.remote.response.xml (Script) Size: 2.31KB
Scripts/plugin.ik.swarm.target.xml (Script) Size: 2.34KB
Scripts/plugin.ik.swarm.thinker.big.xml (Script) Size: 2.09KB
Scripts/plugin.ik.swarm.thinker.little.xml (Script) Size: 1.87KB
Scripts/plugin.ik.takeover.make.station.xml (Script) Size: 2.17KB
Scripts/plugin.ik.takeover.prevent.theft.xml (Script) Size: 1.17KB
Scripts/plugin.ik.takeover.summon.xml (Script) Size: 1.87KB
Scripts/setup.plugin.ik.xml (Script) Size: 473B
Uninstall/uninstall.plugin.ik.xml (Uninstall) Size: 545B
T/448972.xml (Text) Size: 2.82KB
Scripts/plugin.ap.lib.al.rotating.toggle.xml (Script) Size: 1.59KB
Scripts/plugin.ap.lib.sector.array.xml (Script) Size: 2.51KB
Scripts/plugin.ap.lib.timed.destruction.xml (Script) Size: 1.09KB
Scripts/plugin.ap.lib.al.complex.toggle.xml (Script) Size: 2.11KB
Scripts/plugin.ap.lib.al.globals.xml (Script) Size: 1.32KB
Scripts/plugin.ap.lib.al.handler.toggler.xml (Script) Size: 1.52KB
ryan-lights-computer:~ Torch$
Now the files are in mac friendly code.
Where, I hear you ask, are these converted files?
As you can see from the last line of the code, the last word is "Torch". This is where they've all been sent. Pretty obvious to some of you, but it took me an hour and a couple of PM's to Cycrow to figure that one out!
There's two folders we're looking for. The first is called 'Scripts' and the second 'T'
Open up your X3 folder from the hard drive and single click the 'X3 The Reunion' folder. Now go to the gear icon at the top of the window and select 'show package contents'. The path to follow is as follows:
Contents>Resources>X3 Reunion(show package contents again)>Contents>Resources>Transgaming>c_drive
Now you will see lots of folders. Put the contents of the 'scripts' you converted into the 'scripts' folder. Note that with Improved Khaak, the files you're adding are XML files, and the default files in 'scripts' are .pck files. (This will make it easier to locate them should you want to uninstall).
Do the same with the 'T' folder and Bob's your uncle - you've successfully installed a PC mod onto your Mac!
I also downloaded a mod called MARS which was even easier as there was no SPK file, just the XML's to paste into the corresponding 'script' and 't' file.
I thought I'd share this with you all as the mods are really professional and I can't stress how much they add to the game. I was really bored before as there literally was nothing left to do in my game, but these have opened up a whole new challenge.
Personally, I'd recommend the Improved Khaak/Xenon, MARS mod, race response fleets, and sector takeover. To be honest, they're the only one's I've downloaded so far and they all work great.
A BIG Thanks goes to Cycrow, who not only wrote half of these wonderful mods available on the forums, and the SPK Tools Utility, but also very patiently took a bit of time out to help me learn what I'm doing (and not wipe my hard drive in the process)

Right, after typing up that essay, I'm off to 'pacify' the universe...