[TOOL] Changeling - X3:TC Editor and Change Manager [v2.8.1 - Sa-07-May-2011]

[Osiris454]

OK, I must not be doing something right, but how do you use the MARS portion?

1. I imported the game data.
2. Imported a MARS 7047 file.
3. Exported a MARS 7047 file.
Result: A 1kb MARS file with nothing in it.

[Sam L.R. Griffiths]

Status Update
Bug fix release v2.3.1

Fixed issue with export of empty MARS configuration.

[Sam L.R. Griffiths]

MARS 4.95 does not detect CMOD anymore due to the script overhaul. This is not a bad thing. Renaming the 7049-L0**.xml file to 7047 does not break MARS in any way whatsoever. All the weapons function and act as intended.

My intention is that the user will be able to generate MARS configuration file(s) from their current game data and I plan to support the editing of global MARS settings via Changeling (perhaps in v2.4).

It is worth noting however that MARS 4.98 will break when forced to use a renamed 7049 or etc. file. I don't know why this is, but the weapons seem to default to their firing values in vanilla rather than use the updated Tlasers file. To verify the incorrect values, just let MARS use a PSP and you'll see that you can take out 2 Xenon K's with 1 Tyr. IE, they fire very fast and do insane amounts of damage.

IMO the auto-detection malarky is more trouble than it is worth in the long run. I have had to hold off on implementing MARS support in my AWRM mod because of lack of definitive information regarding the config files. In the meantime, I had decided to implement support for generation of MARS config files from my Changeling tool (which means when mods are merged the MARS and EES config files can be generated with relative ease).

The merging facilities are still quite a way off but I will be endeavouring to release a first beta of the facilities as soon as I have had time to develop the change package concept further.

[Sam L.R. Griffiths]

Status Update
Notification of pending v2.4 release.

Main new features of v2.4 will be:-

• Preliminary support for Exporting Game Data (single CAT/DAT pair generation from current session)
• Implemented un-implemented functions which would previously cause issues when editing EES/MARS data.

[Sam L.R. Griffiths]

Status Update
Formal v2.4 release.

Main new changes for v2.4 are:-

• Addition of preliminary support for Exporting Game Data (single CAT/DAT pair generation from current session)
• Implemented un-implemented functions which would previously cause issues when editing EES/MARS data.
• Added price calculation for Missiles, Wares, and Lasers.

[Treelor]

Every time I want to import game data, I point Changeling to the X3 Terran Conflict folder in my steam folder, and this nasty guy pops up:

http://filesmelt.com/dl/screencap-changelingerror.JPG...

Well first off, your chosen website is blocked by my Internet Security, could you please either (a) upload to a site with higher repute such as FileFront or (b) summarise the error text here. (EDIT #2: Updated FAQs with error reporting instructions)

BTW you can capture just the error window by pressing Ctrl-Alt-Prt Scr.

I am running on 64-bit Vista and have just verified the "Import Game Data" on both my Steam and non-Steam installations and not got any errors back (regardless of running with/with-out Administrator rights).

There are a couple of simple questions that may point at the cause:-

• What operating system are you running?
• Do you have all Microsoft updates installed for your OS?
• Are you running Changeling with or without Administrator permissions?

EDIT: You need to have Microsoft .NET Framework v4 installed, if it is not then Changeling will probably not run correctly. (EDIT #2: OP updated to reflect this requirement)

EDIT #3: I have had a look at the screen shot you uploaded, and it looks like you have not extracted the ZIP file before trying to run the application.

Windows is up to date, the .zip file is indeed extracted (specifically, to C:\File Keep\Tools\X3\Changeling), and I am running as an administrator on Windows XP Home Edition. Framework is installed. I'll the try the most up to date version and see if it makes a difference.

[Sam L.R. Griffiths]

...

Windows is up to date, the .zip file is indeed extracted (specifically, to C:\File Keep\Tools\X3\Changeling), and I am running as an administrator on Windows XP Home Edition. Framework is installed. I'll the try the most up to date version and see if it makes a difference.

Ok, assuming that you are running it from a short-cut you probably need to ensure that the current directory of the short-cut is the installation folder and nowhere else.

EDIT: Ok, I think I may know what the problem is... there is a DLL that is required by x2fd.dll that is not included in the distribution but Vista is automatically finding for me (without warning me - unusual given Vista's penchant for asking you things twice ). Will patch the ZIP file and re-upload it.

[Sam L.R. Griffiths]

Status Update
Uploaded an updated v2.4 distributable (Changeling v2.4.0.zip) to fix an issue with a missing DLL that causes an issue on some systems if not present in the installation directory.

[Anuke]

i have done as instructed but Import mod options are greyed out. also, i can import game data and a list of objects come up but i cannot do anything with them other than select them. i extracted the zip to a folder and to run the program i just click on the CHANGLING ICON. is there more to setting this up? run files first? move to different locations? i have .net framework v4 installed but do i need to update it more? and where do i go for that if so?

please keep up the good work, im sure either you or cycrow will have a working product soon. BTW it is a race...123 go!

PS i am trying to merge COMPLEX CLEANER with Xtra ships/stations so let me know when the program is ready for that.

[Sam L.R. Griffiths]

please keep up the good work, im sure either you or cycrow will have a working product soon. BTW it is a race...123 go!

The development of tools should not be a race... doing so just encourages sloppy coding practices, poor design decisions, and ill-thought out user interfaces. The tool will be ready when it's ready and no amount of cajouling will change that. The only thing that may speed up development is external coding assistance, but even then it depends on the nature of the assistance (some help can be worse than no help at all).

PS i am trying to merge COMPLEX CLEANER with Xtra ships/stations so let me know when the program is ready for that.

To be quite frank, it will probably not be ready on a time scale that you will find entirely beneficial (at least from a conflict resolution perspective). Your time would be probably better spent trying to identify where the conflicts are and how to resolve them. It is possible to do so, it can just be time consuming and a pain in the rear (one of the primary reasons I am developing this tool).

[Mad_CatMk2]

Hi Roger, EES is interesting and seems to work, but I have just a SLIGHT problem/issue with it?

Every time I load or continue a game (a new game too, that is...)

It sends me two error messages:

Laser characteristics for laser 42 are undefined
Missile characteristics for missile 35 are undefined

And I am using the latest CMOD atm...

Any ideas?

Thanks!

[Sam L.R. Griffiths]

Hi Roger, EES is interesting and seems to work, but I have just a SLIGHT problem/issue with it?

Every time I load or continue a game (a new game too, that is...)

It sends me two error messages:

Laser characteristics for laser 42 are undefined
Missile characteristics for missile 35 are undefined

And I am using the latest CMOD atm...

Any ideas?

Thanks!

Ok, that should be easy to resolve. The simplest option is to download Changeling, import your game data (assuming CMOD is installed as a fake-patch), import your EES configuration and then re-export your EES configuration. The two error messages should then go away.

[Mad_CatMk2]

Hi Roger, EES is interesting and seems to work, but I have just a SLIGHT problem/issue with it?

Every time I load or continue a game (a new game too, that is...)

It sends me two error messages:

Laser characteristics for laser 42 are undefined
Missile characteristics for missile 35 are undefined

And I am using the latest CMOD atm...

Any ideas?

Thanks!

Ok, that should be easy to resolve. The simplest option is to download Changeling, import your game data (assuming CMOD is installed as a fake-patch), import your EES configuration and then re-export your EES configuration. The two error messages should then go away.

Cool, thanks, I'll try it out!

EDIT: It worked, thanks!

[fallenwizard]

Tried the new EES version, used CMOD4.8 and the EES script complained about missing missile and laser IDs.

I tried to import my game data in Changeling and I always get an error about a missing DLL. (x3vfs.dll). I even tried to put the DLL file in C:\Windows\System32\ and the program is still unable to find the DLL.

Any clues why?
http://ompldr.org/vODY5eg/changeling.jpg

I don't use UAC and the .NET Framework version is the most actual one.

[Sam L.R. Griffiths]

Tried the new EES version, used CMOD4.8 and the EES script complained about missing missile and laser IDs.

I tried to import my game data in Changeling and I always get an error about a missing DLL. (x3vfs.dll). I even tried to put the DLL file in C:\Windows\System32\ and the program is still unable to find the DLL.

Any clues why?
http://ompldr.org/vODY5eg/changeling.jpg

I don't use UAC and the .NET Framework version is the most actual one.

It is probably due to a missing/corrupt Microsoft DLL (Msvcr71.dll), try downloading and installing the Microsoft Visual C++ 2008 Redistributable Package (x86)

EDIT: Scratch that the DLL in question will be included in the forthcoming release (it is included in my 64-bit Vista WOW folder, but apparently is missing from Windows 7 installations (damn Micro$oft for making life hard for everyone).

[fallenwizard]

That fixed it. Thanks.

[Sam L.R. Griffiths]

Status Update
Formal v2.5 release.

Main changes are:-

• Bug fix for loss of custom global settings during Import/Export MARS v4.95 Configuration
• Retention of imported Global MARS settings in the session file
• Recoding to improve maintainability of source code.
• Addition of MSVCR71.DLL to distributable

[joelR]

Roger,

I have a couple questions:

You write:

The probable cause for the message is an out of date EES configuration but the "quick fix" resolution is simple.

Download and install Changeling (if not already done so)
In the Changeling tool, Import your game data
Import your EES Configuration
Export your EES Configuration
Reload the game, and the message should be gone.

What EES config do I import? the one In my game directory or the one in the EES 2.1 zip or the one in the changeling directory?(or does this matter)



Also there is a 8037-L044 in my t folder. Should this be deleted?

[Sam L.R. Griffiths]

What EES config do I import? the one In my game directory or the one in the EES 2.1 zip or the one in the changeling directory?(or does this matter)

Errm... the one in the game directory as that is the one the game is loading and reporting the error with.

Also there is a 8037-L044 in my t folder. Should this be deleted?

Yes, and in fact doing so may even resolve the initial problem (the removal of the unnecessary -L044 extension was deliberate to avoid issues with non-english users)

[joelR]

What EES config do I import? the one In my game directory or the one in the EES 2.1 zip or the one in the changeling directory?(or does this matter)

Errm... the one in the game directory as that is the one the game is loading and reporting the error with.

Also there is a 8037-L044 in my t folder. Should this be deleted?

Yes, and in fact doing so may even resolve the initial problem (the removal of the unnecessary -L044 extension was deliberate to avoid issues with non-english users)

Thanks. Thats what I get for not RTFM