[TOOL] XRMM - Mod Manager [updated 02-12]

[Azhwkd]

Hello!

I've created a small mod manager application which I'd like to share with you.
Please read through all of this, as there are some things to keep in mind.
Download link at the bottom, this application needs .NET Framework 4.0 CP.

Change log at the bottom. The program will auto-update.

Features:

• - List Mods, Versions etc
  - Remove
  Remove the mod's folder from your hard drive, touches nothing else.
  - Dangerous Remove
  Does the same thing as the Remove option, but also tries to remove the mod's line from your save games. Use this option with caution, it will create backups of your saves prior to messing with them, but the mod may add content which may corrupt your save if you start the game without the mod. Don't blame me if something fishy happens to your saves!
  - Add Mod
  Install a mod from an Archive File (Zip, 7z, RAR supported)
  - Drag/Drop Mod Install
  Install a mod by dragging and dropping either an archive file or a folder onto the mod list.

Planned Features:

• - In depth mod scanning to show you possible incompatibilities
  - Safeguard the "Dangerous Remove"-option to scan for problems if the mod is removed
  - Maybe hooking it up to an online repository for mods

Feature requests are welcome, just post them here or via PM.
In the rare event that the app crashes on you, please provide me with as much detail as you can and I will do my best to fix it.

You will most likely get warnings from windows when you install the application ("Windows protected your PC"), this is due to the app being self signed.

Download Me!
Virus Scan

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Changelog
Version 0.2.9.28 (02-12-2013)

• - Fixed loading of certain different XML layouts.

Version 0.2.8.26 (29-11-2013)

• - New support for multiple steam folders. The program will now find your game even if you seperated your library folder from your steam install.

Version 0.2.6.23 (25-11-2013)

• - Added a message to inform the user if a mod failed to load on app startup

Version 0.2.5.22 (24-11-2013)

• - Added success messages on add and remove
  - Added check on mod overwrite / update
  - Improved zip and 7z extraction

Version 0.2.4.21 (24-11-2013)

• - Renamed Safe Remove to Remove, Remove to Dangerous Remove and added a warning
  - Program should tell you now when it could not install a mod
  - Support for deeply nested mods
  - Support for mod zip files where the mod is the parent directory

[/url]

[Deleted User]

hey nice! a nexus release mayne?
did you write this all by yourself?

[Azhwkd]

hey nice! a nexus release mayne?
did you write this all by yourself?

What do you mean by "a nexus release"?
Yes I wrote this all by myself, except from a few 3rd party libraries of course...

[Anachronous]

hey nice! a nexus release mayne?
did you write this all by yourself?

What do you mean by "a nexus release"?
Yes I wrote this all by myself, except from a few 3rd party libraries of course...

People assume that everyone knows everything about everything

http://xrebirth.nexusmods.com

[dez505]

Hello!

I've created a small mod manager application which I'd like to share with you.
Please read through all this, as there are some gotchas.
Download link at the bottom, this application needs .NET Framework 4.0 CP.

Features:

• - List Mods, Versions etc
  - Safe Remove
  Remove the mod's folder from your hard drive, touches nothing else.
  - Remove
  Does the same thing as the Safe Remove option, but also tries to remove the mod's line from your save games. Use this option with caution, it will create backups of your saves prior to messing with them, but the mod may add content which may corrupt your save if you start the game without the mod. Don't blame me if something fishy happens to your saves!
  - Add Mod
  Install a mod from an Archive File (Zip, 7z, RAR supported)
  - Drag/Drop Mod Install
  Install a mod by dragging and dropping either an archive file or a folder onto the mod list.

Planned Features:

• - In depth mod scanning to show you possible incompatibilities
  - Safeguard the "Remove"-option to scan for problems if the mod is removed
  - Maybe hooking it up to an online repository for mods

Feature requests are welcome, just post them here or via PM.
In the rare event that the app crashes on you, please provide me with as much detail as you can and I will do my best to fix it.

You will most likely get warnings from windows when you install the application ("Windows protected your PC"), this is due to the app being self signed.

Download Me!

PLZ! don't make this a maybe, as fast as mods are changing we need an auto update mod feature for this I'd Donate $$ or ££.

Also maybe a Donate to author Beside each mod listed in the repository if the mod owner so wish's it.

I like to support good mods anyway i can so they get nice updates.

[Staberind]

I like to support good mods anyway i can so they get nice updates.

+1 to this, I don't have much money, but I'd donate what I can to keep skilled people interested in modding.

[Azhwkd]

PLZ! don't make this a maybe, as fast as mods are changing we need an auto update mod feature for this I'd Donate $$ or ££.

Also maybe a Donate to author Beside each mod listed in the repository if the mod owner so wish's it.

I like to support good mods anyway i can so they get nice updates.

Hello, thank you for your feedback.
The problem with the online repository is that at the moment there is only one as far as I can see, nexus mods.
Which is bad for me as nexus doesn't look very open and I think they wouldn't be happy if I hijack their site.
The logical step would be to create another repository but that was turned down by the community in another thread.

People assume that everyone knows everything about everything Razz

http://xrebirth.nexusmods.com

Thank you for clarifying this, but sadly I would loose the auto-update function of my program when I publish it on nexus.

- az

[dez505]

Having a single repository is silly if that go's down then 0 mods for anyone lol.

I think there is need for a second, in fact I maybe grab a domain and setup one myself I'll'll get back to you on that.

But dude fantastic work! now we just need a trade docking AI that finished drivers ED.

[Gazz]

Does the same thing as the Safe Remove option, but also tries to remove the mod's line from your save games. Use this option with caution

That's pretty dangerous.

At this time, a lot of mods probably are mis-labeled as "save",
meaning that they write themselves iinto the savegame although there is no need to because there is no lasting effect on the savegame.

The mechanic of a mod being recorded in the savegame was meant for mods that cannot be removed from a savegame due to the content they add to the game.
If you allow the user to load the savegame without the mod files to support it, it will be unstable... to say the least.

[Azhwkd]

That's pretty dangerous.

At this time, a lot of mods probably are mis-labeled as "save",
meaning that they write themselves iinto the savegame although there is no need to because there is no lasting effect on the savegame.

The mechanic of a mod being recorded in the savegame was meant for mods that cannot be removed from a savegame due to the content they add to the game.
If you allow the user to load the savegame without the mod files to support it, it will be unstable... to say the least.

Indeed it is, that's why I labeled it as "use with caution".
However, if it is used keeping that in mind, it's a nice convenience feature.
I will however add another warning in the next version.

[chill0r]

What language is it written in?
Maybe you're thinking about publishing the source on github too so others can look at it / help you.

Edit:
By the way for the online rep. you could just make a new one where the devs list their mods with links to the hosting sites (deeplinks).

Pro:
You can decide what your api should look like (xml/csv/plain text)
Con:
You have to write the tool for it and host it somewhere (not a real problem)

[Azhwkd]

What language is it written in?
Maybe you're thinking about publishing the source on github too so others can look at it / help you.

It's written in C#.
I indeed planned on open sourcing it as soon as it's a bit more mature and I got around to comment the code

[chill0r]

As I've learned from other projects (not c# because I don't know that):

Publish it as soon as possible.
The reason is simple:
If you got major bugs in it (and there will be some - that's normal) it's easier to fix them in the beginning where it's not that much code.
If you release the source too late and theres way more code in it it's harder to fix those.

And with the source released other guys can see the bugs / solutions too.

[Azhwkd]

As I've learned from other projects (not c# because I don't know that):

Publish it as soon as possible.
The reason is simple:
If you got major bugs in it (and there will be some - that's normal) it's easier to fix them in the beginning where it's not that much code.
If you release the source too late and theres way more code in it it's harder to fix those.

And with the source released other guys can see the bugs / solutions too.

You are right. I will release it as soon as possible.

[chill0r]

An additional idea for your tool:

You could search through the content.xml of the installed mods and check them for duplicate id's and change them to any random value so if some guys used the same id (and they did...) you can fix that.

[nonnex]

Cant install because an error is showing up on setup:
Win8 + .NET 4.5

Code: Select all

System.ComponentModel.Composition.CompositionException: Bei der Komposition ist ein Kompositionsfehler aufgetreten. Die Ursache wird unten angegeben. Die CompositionException.Errors-Eigenschaft liefert genauere Informationen.

1) Unerwartetes Token 'description'. Erwartet wird ein Leerzeichen. Zeile 3, Position 38.

Ergebnis: Ausnahme beim Erstellen einer Instanz vom Typ "XRMM.ViewModels.ModViewModel".

Ergebnis: Teil "XRMM.ViewModels.ModViewModel" kann nicht aktiviert werden.
Element: XRMM.ViewModels.ModViewModel -->  XRMM.ViewModels.ModViewModel -->  AssemblyCatalog (Assembly="XRMM, Version=0.2.5.22, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=null")

Ergebnis: Export "XRMM.ViewModels.ModViewModel (ContractName="XRMM.ViewModels.ModViewModel")" kann nicht aus dem Teil "XRMM.ViewModels.ModViewModel" abgerufen werden.
Element: XRMM.ViewModels.ModViewModel (ContractName="XRMM.ViewModels.ModViewModel") -->  XRMM.ViewModels.ModViewModel -->  AssemblyCatalog (Assembly="XRMM, Version=0.2.5.22, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=null")

   bei System.ComponentModel.Composition.Hosting.CompositionServices.GetExportedValueFromComposedPart(ImportEngine engine, ComposablePart part, ExportDefinition definition)
   bei System.ComponentModel.Composition.Hosting.CatalogExportProvider.GetExportedValue(CatalogPart part, ExportDefinition export, Boolean isSharedPart)
   bei System.ComponentModel.Composition.ExportServices.GetCastedExportedValue[T](Export export)
   bei System.ComponentModel.Composition.Hosting.ExportProvider.GetExportedValuesCore[T](String contractName)
   bei XRMM.AppBootstrapper.GetInstance(Type serviceType, String key)
   bei Caliburn.Micro.ViewModelLocator.<.cctor>b__9(Type viewType)
   bei Caliburn.Micro.ViewModelLocator.<.cctor>b__a(Object view)
   bei XRMM.Services.CaliburnContentLoader.LoadContent(Uri uri)
   bei System.Threading.Tasks.Task`1.InnerInvoke()
   bei System.Threading.Tasks.Task.Execute()

[Azhwkd]

Cant install because an error is showing up on setup:
Win8 + .NET 4.5

Hello and thank you for your report.
Do you already have mods installed, if so, which?

[nonnex]

Cant install because an error is showing up on setup:
Win8 + .NET 4.5

Code: Select all

System.ComponentModel.Composition.CompositionException: Bei der Komposition ist ein Kompositionsfehler aufgetreten. Die Ursache wird unten angegeben. Die CompositionException.Errors-Eigenschaft liefert genauere Informationen.

1) Unerwartetes Token 'description'. Erwartet wird ein Leerzeichen. Zeile 3, Position 38.

Ergebnis: Ausnahme beim Erstellen einer Instanz vom Typ "XRMM.ViewModels.ModViewModel".

Ergebnis: Teil "XRMM.ViewModels.ModViewModel" kann nicht aktiviert werden.
Element: XRMM.ViewModels.ModViewModel -->  XRMM.ViewModels.ModViewModel -->  AssemblyCatalog (Assembly="XRMM, Version=0.2.5.22, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=null")

Ergebnis: Export "XRMM.ViewModels.ModViewModel (ContractName="XRMM.ViewModels.ModViewModel")" kann nicht aus dem Teil "XRMM.ViewModels.ModViewModel" abgerufen werden.
Element: XRMM.ViewModels.ModViewModel (ContractName="XRMM.ViewModels.ModViewModel") -->  XRMM.ViewModels.ModViewModel -->  AssemblyCatalog (Assembly="XRMM, Version=0.2.5.22, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=null")

   bei System.ComponentModel.Composition.Hosting.CompositionServices.GetExportedValueFromComposedPart(ImportEngine engine, ComposablePart part, ExportDefinition definition)
   bei System.ComponentModel.Composition.Hosting.CatalogExportProvider.GetExportedValue(CatalogPart part, ExportDefinition export, Boolean isSharedPart)
   bei System.ComponentModel.Composition.ExportServices.GetCastedExportedValue[T](Export export)
   bei System.ComponentModel.Composition.Hosting.ExportProvider.GetExportedValuesCore[T](String contractName)
   bei XRMM.AppBootstrapper.GetInstance(Type serviceType, String key)
   bei Caliburn.Micro.ViewModelLocator.<.cctor>b__9(Type viewType)
   bei Caliburn.Micro.ViewModelLocator.<.cctor>b__a(Object view)
   bei XRMM.Services.CaliburnContentLoader.LoadContent(Uri uri)
   bei System.Threading.Tasks.Task`1.InnerInvoke()
   bei System.Threading.Tasks.Task.Execute()

Hello and thank you for your report.
Do you already have mods installed, if so, which?

Code: Select all

25.11.2013  20:17    <DIR>          .
25.11.2013  20:17    <DIR>          ..
20.11.2013  21:45    <DIR>          BetterCockpit - 16.9
20.11.2013  21:45    <DIR>          better_highway_alphas
20.11.2013  21:45    <DIR>          ButterRanges
20.11.2013  21:45    <DIR>          Ignore JumpDrive Fuel
20.11.2013  21:45    <DIR>          ManualCommandExtension
20.11.2013  21:45    <DIR>          MoreReducedMasstraffic_V0.2
20.11.2013  21:45    <DIR>          NESA
20.11.2013  21:45    <DIR>          NoDraftNoTrafficDoubleSpeedHighways
20.11.2013  21:45    <DIR>          NoSteeringModeNotification
20.11.2013  21:45    <DIR>          RemoveBoardingCutscene
20.11.2013  21:45    <DIR>          RemoveDetailmonitorAnimation
20.11.2013  21:45    <DIR>          RS_Stars
20.11.2013  21:46    <DIR>          Shut_UP
20.11.2013  21:46    <DIR>          upclose_detailed_monitor
               0 Datei(en),              0 Bytes
              16 Verzeichnis(se), 780.272.619.520 Bytes frei

EDIT: Removed all Mods, installed the manager, added mods throu tool. now it works.

[Azhwkd]

EDIT: Removed all Mods, installed the manager, added mods throu tool. now it works.

Thank you for posting back.
I was guessing that a mod might be the issue, maybe because of a missformatted content.xml file.
The error you were getting wasn't during install but during application startup... The installer automatically starts the application after it completes.

I will publish an update today to add some safeguards to the mod loading.
It should then tell you if it fails to load a mod descriptor.

[KRM398]

I see I tried doing this last night and got an error too. So we need to delete all our extensions first then retry? Maybe try again later.