[Tutorial] False Patches

EmperorJon · Post by **EmperorJon** » Fri, 4. Jun 10, 21:21

False Patches

As requested by LV.

What are they?

A false patch is a way of adding a Mod to a game, as opposed to using the 'Mods' folder.

What are the benefits?

You can have as many mods as you want false-patched in to the game.

What are the disadvantages?

When you get a new patch it will have a set number. This will overwrite a false-patch of that number if you have one. More on this later.

How do I do it?

False patching is not that hard.

1. Download the mod.
2. Check the Cat/Dat numbers in your Terran Conflict directory. Here you can see they are both 11, as my game is patched to 2.7.
3. Rename the Cat/Dat files of the mod so they are one more than that number... in my case, 12.
4. Now, play the game. The game thinks that it has had another patch installed with the changes given in the mod.
5. If, in my case, I wanted to add another false-patch in, I'd call it 13, then the next one 14, 15, and so on.

Remember

- The game knows it's not an official patch, and is therefore you game will still be *MODIFIED*.
- When you download a new patch it will automatically be called the next number after the previous official patch, so the next patch after 2.7 will be Cat/Dat 12. This would overwrite your false patch number 12, without asking you. For that reason, it is a good idea to keep in mind how many patches you have installed and what number the next official patch will be, so you can just rename them all one higher number and then download the official patch.
- Not all mods are compatible. For example, mods which change ships. If 2 of your mods at any point change the same object, then you'll have problems.
- You will need to remove the fake patch to return to vanilla.
- Fake patches overwrite the previous fake patches in terms of the files changed. The top number will always be prominent, unless you select a mod form the 'mods' folder, in which case that is the prominent one.
- If two fake patches change the same file (eg. TShips) they'll have to be merged so both work together. The process of merging can be difficult and varies from file to file.
- It is important to note that mods only changing graphic files and no 'T' files will not result in a modified whether installed on their own or as a fake patch, as long as the game is not already modified. Examples of this include low-poly asteroid and complex tube mods.

The Plugin Manager:
- The Plugin Manager automatically renames fake patches to the correct numbers that they should be.
- Any ships installed via the PM, ie XSP files, will merge all the required files together, TShips, TCockpits, Components, Dummies, etc. This will be added to any installed fake patches you might have and then used as the primary files for the game.

Post by **X2-Illuminatus** » Fri, 4. Jun 10, 21:34

EmperorJon wrote:As requested by LV.

Was the FAQ entry What is a False Patch? Information and usage not enough?

EmperorJon · Post by **EmperorJon** » Fri, 4. Jun 10, 21:40

Judging by his post...

Msg to forum minions

someone please create a new topic just on how to create a FP (dir pics of dats /cats etc would be nice)

and i'll add to tutorials

i'm off to play settlers 7 and then spend time with the wife after that (god dam birthdays)

if i don't have a tutorial by morning i'm going to ban every single one of you

no pressure

I'd say so.

jlehtone · Post by **jlehtone** » Fri, 4. Jun 10, 21:44

I'd boldly presume that the sticky-blindness covers the FAQ too.

Edit: Link to that FAQ added to tutorials for now. LV can decide upon this threads inclusion.

EmperorJon · Post by **EmperorJon** » Fri, 4. Jun 10, 21:49

'It's all LV's fault!'

*Darth Vader music*

'You have failed me for the last time, commander...'

*forcechoke*

'No.. plea-urgh'

Treelor · Post by **Treelor** » Fri, 4. Jun 10, 22:14

I must admit, I lol'd kinda hard at LV's post asking for a tutorial on this.

Nice tutorial, by the way. I've got a friend who plays X3TC that didn't even know what fake patching was, and this ought to help him out a lot.

apricotslice · Post by **apricotslice** » Sat, 5. Jun 10, 09:22

Add in a note about compatibility of mods, particularly ship mods.

Otherwise an endless stream of "why wont my false patches work" posts will be made by people trying to false patch all of the ship mods at once.

EmperorJon · Post by **EmperorJon** » Sat, 5. Jun 10, 09:38

Done.

LV · Post by LV » Sat, 5. Jun 10, 09:48

There was a FAQ entry

OH, well this will be more useful as more info can be added as apricot said above, then we can move onto users ignoring the FAQ and this tutorial and posting

"what's a false patch" topics

Cheers Ejon you have saved the day

I felt a great disturbance in the Forum, as if millions of voices suddenly cried out in terror and were about to be suddenly silenced. I fear something terrible nearly happened

EmperorJon · Post by **EmperorJon** » Sat, 5. Jun 10, 10:00

then we can move onto users ignoring the FAQ

They day passed a long time ago my lord.

I felt a great disturbance in the Forum, as if millions of voices suddenly cried out in terror and were about to be suddenly silenced.

Carlo the Curious · Post by **Carlo the Curious** » Sat, 5. Jun 10, 16:32

LV wrote:There was a FAQ entry

Tsk. Your powers are weak, old man!

ezra-r · Post by **ezra-r** » Sat, 5. Jun 10, 16:34

Carlo the Curious wrote:
LV wrote:There was a FAQ entry
Tsk. Your powers are weak, old man!

no wonder Luke beat him!

jlehtone · Post by **jlehtone** » Sun, 6. Jun 10, 11:28

LV wrote:OH, well this will be more useful as more info can be added as apricot said above

I assume that this is LV's way to tell EmperorJon to update, expand, and augment the tutorial, or face the Force.

And [url=http://forum.egosoft.com/viewtopic.php?t=216693]TC Tutorials[/url] has now a link to here.

* So explore what Plugin Manager Lite (PM) can do for fake patches.
* Describe thoroughly, when a merge is required.
* Mention that PM can automatically merge ship-mods, provided that they are in proper format.
* Consider effects of using fakes and mod in 'Mods' together.
* How playing vanilla requires uninstall of fake patches.
* ...

EmperorJon · Post by **EmperorJon** » Sun, 6. Jun 10, 11:42

* So explore what Plugin Manager Lite (PM) can do for fake patches.
* Describe thoroughly, when a merge is required.
* Mention that PM can automatically merge ship-mods, provided that they are in proper format.
* Consider effects of using fakes and mod in 'Mods' together.
* How playing vanilla requires uninstall of fake patches.
* ...

1. No idea.
2. No idea.
3. No idea.
4. No idea.
5. It does!?

Post by **Cycrow** » Sun, 6. Jun 10, 13:22

EmperorJon wrote:
* So explore what Plugin Manager Lite (PM) can do for fake patches.
* Describe thoroughly, when a merge is required.
* Mention that PM can automatically merge ship-mods, provided that they are in proper format.
* Consider effects of using fakes and mod in 'Mods' together.
* How playing vanilla requires uninstall of fake patches.
* ...
1. No idea.
2. No idea.
3. No idea.
4. No idea.
5. It does!?

seems u need some help

1. The PM can automatically rename all installed fake patches in sequence, so any can be installed together, without having to worry about renaming them.

2. Basically, when 2 fake patches modify the same files, those files will need to be merged into one, however the processing of merging can be difficult and varies from file to file.

3. Any ships installed via the PM, ie XSP files, will merge all the required files together, TShips, TCockpits, Componants, Dummies, etc. This will be added to any installed fake patches you might have and then used as the primary files for the game.

4. Any mod thats in the "mods" folder and selected to be used in game from the launcher will override any files found in fake patchs, so if a fake patch and the mod both include TShips, the only from the mod will be used, and the fake patch is ignored

5. Any files in fake patches are usually classed as modified files, and all fake patches are loaded into the game automatically. This means that it will force the game into modified mode, so cant be used in a vanilla game. There are some exceptions, mainly if the fake patch only contains graphics edits, ie, no types files