Convert Data - Revision history

Centaurianmudpig at 05:04, 1 October 2016

2016-10-01T05:04:25Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 05:04, 1 October 2016
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	== Create a BAT File ==		== Create a BAT File ==

	'''[[File:ConvertData BATnew.png\|right\|475px\|Save a new .bat file.]]Create''' a new text document on your desktop. Double click the '''file''' – it should be blank inside. Now, go to '''file'''>save as, and in the “Save As” window, input a name for your '''BAT file''' and then add a “.'''bat'''” on the end (without the quotes).		'''[[File:ConvertData BATnew.png\|right\|475px\|Save a new .bat file.\|link=http://wiki.sinsofasolarempire.com/images/0/0c/ConvertData_BATnew.png]]Create''' a new text document on your desktop. Double click the '''file''' – it should be blank inside. Now, go to '''file'''>save as, and in the “Save As” window, input a name for your '''BAT file''' and then add a “.'''bat'''” on the end (without the quotes).

	Once the .bat is created, double click to run. To view or modify, right-click --> Edit		Once the .bat is created, double click to run. To view or modify, right-click --> Edit
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	\| for %%a in (*.entity) do ConvertData_Rebellion entity %%a %%a		\| for %%a in (*.entity) do ConvertData_Rebellion entity %%a %%a
	\|-		\|-
	\| Mesh\*.[[~~:Category:Modeling~~\|mesh]] to Text		\| Mesh\*.[[Mesh\|mesh]] to Text
	\| for %%a in (*.mesh) do ConvertData_Rebellion mesh %%a %%a txt		\| for %%a in (*.mesh) do ConvertData_Rebellion mesh %%a %%a txt
	\|-		\|-
	\| Mesh\*.[[~~:Category:Modeling~~\|mesh]] to Bin		\| Mesh\*.[[Mesh\|mesh]] to Bin
	\| for %%a in (*.mesh) do ConvertData_Rebellion mesh %%a %%a		\| for %%a in (*.mesh) do ConvertData_Rebellion mesh %%a %%a
	\|-		\|-

Centaurianmudpig at 18:48, 29 September 2016

2016-09-29T18:48:16Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 18:48, 29 September 2016
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	Starting to mod SoaSE first requires converting files from BIN format to TXT format. Once converted, the files can be edited with any text editor like notepad, I recommend Notepad++ (free). Using TXT files is fine, BIN file are used to help the game load faster and save a lot of space, basically a form of compression the game can read.<br/> <br/> '''Note:''' ''The ConvertData files are version specific. The old ConvertData files included with Forge Tools 3 will not work with current files or the current ConvertData files will not convert older mod files.''<br/> <br/> Converting files will keep the same extension (e.g. *.entity). To open the converted files you will need to first specify a program to do so (e.g. notepad). The very first line upon opening the file will either read TXT or BIN.		Starting to mod SoaSE first requires converting files from BIN format to TXT format. Once converted, the files can be edited with any text editor like notepad, I recommend Notepad++ (free). Using TXT files is fine, BIN file are used to help the game load faster and save a lot of space, basically a form of compression the game can read.<br/> <br/> '''Note:''' ''The ConvertData files are version specific. The old ConvertData files included with Forge Tools 3 will not work with current files or the current ConvertData files will not convert older mod files.''<br/> <br/> Converting files will keep the same extension (e.g. *.entity). To open the converted files you will need to first specify a program to do so (e.g. notepad). The very first line upon opening the file will either read TXT or BIN.

	~~ ~~


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	\| for %%a in (*.brushes) do ConvertData_Rebellion brushes %%a %%a		\| for %%a in (*.brushes) do ConvertData_Rebellion brushes %%a %%a
	\|-		\|-
	\| ~~ ~~		\| colspan="2" \| [[File:Download.png\|center\|[modDB] Download .bat collection\|link=http://www.moddb.com/mods/sacrifice-of-angels-2/downloads/convertdata-folders-for-rebellion-modders]]
	\| [[File:Download.png\|[modDB] Download .bat collection\|link=http://www.moddb.com/mods/sacrifice-of-angels-2/downloads/convertdata-folders-for-rebellion-modders]]
	\|}		\|}

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	==   ==



	== Run a BAT File ==		== Run a BAT File ==

Centaurianmudpig at 18:19, 29 September 2016

2016-09-29T18:19:35Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 18:19, 29 September 2016
Line 14:		Line 14:
	== Create a BAT File ==		== Create a BAT File ==

	'''[[File:ConvertData BATnew.png\|right\|~~300px~~\|~~ConvertData BATnew~~.~~png\|link=ConvertData BATnew~~.~~png~~]]Create''' a new text document on your desktop. Double click the '''file''' – it should be blank inside. Now, go to '''file'''>save as, and in the “Save As” window, input a name for your '''BAT file''' and then add a “.'''bat'''” on the end (without the quotes).		'''[[File:ConvertData BATnew.png\|right\|475px\|Save a new .bat file.]]Create''' a new text document on your desktop. Double click the '''file''' – it should be blank inside. Now, go to '''file'''>save as, and in the “Save As” window, input a name for your '''BAT file''' and then add a “.'''bat'''” on the end (without the quotes).

	Once the .bat is created, double click to run. To view or modify, right-click --> Edit		Once the .bat is created, double click to run. To view or modify, right-click --> Edit
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	\|+ Convert File Types		\|+ Convert File Types
	\|-		\|-
	\| GameInfo\*.entity to Text		\| GameInfo\*.[[Entity\|entity]] to Text
	\| for %%a in (*.entity) do ConvertData_Rebellion entity %%a %%a txt		\| for %%a in (*.entity) do ConvertData_Rebellion entity %%a %%a txt
	\|-		\|-
	\| GameInfo\*.entity to Bin		\| GameInfo\*.[[Entity\|entity]] to Bin
	\| for %%a in (*.entity) do ConvertData_Rebellion entity %%a %%a		\| for %%a in (*.entity) do ConvertData_Rebellion entity %%a %%a
	\|-		\|-
	\| [[:Category:Modeling\|~~Mesh~~]]~~\*.mesh~~ to Text		\| Mesh\*.[[:Category:Modeling\|mesh]] to Text
	\| for %%a in (*.mesh) do ConvertData_Rebellion mesh %%a %%a txt		\| for %%a in (*.mesh) do ConvertData_Rebellion mesh %%a %%a txt
	\|-		\|-
	\| [[:Category:Modeling\|~~Mesh~~]]~~\*.mesh~~ to Bin		\| Mesh\*.[[:Category:Modeling\|mesh]] to Bin
	\| for %%a in (*.mesh) do ConvertData_Rebellion mesh %%a %%a		\| for %%a in (*.mesh) do ConvertData_Rebellion mesh %%a %%a
	\|-		\|-
	\| [[Particle_Forge\|~~Particle~~]]~~\*.particle~~ to Text		\| Particle\*.[[Particle_Forge\|particle]] to Text
	\| for %%a in (*.particle) do ConvertData_Rebellion particle %%a %%a txt		\| for %%a in (*.particle) do ConvertData_Rebellion particle %%a %%a txt
	\|-		\|-
	\| [[Particle_Forge\|~~Particle~~]]~~\*.particle~~ to Bin		\| Particle\*.[[Particle_Forge\|particle]] to Bin
	\| for %%a in (*.particle) do ConvertData_Rebellion particle %%a %%a		\| for %%a in (*.particle) do ConvertData_Rebellion particle %%a %%a
	\|-		\|-
	\| Window\*.brushes to Text		\| Window\*.[[Brushes\|brushes]] to Text
	\| for %%a in (*.brushes) do ConvertData_Rebellion brushes %%a %%a txt		\| for %%a in (*.brushes) do ConvertData_Rebellion brushes %%a %%a txt
	\|-		\|-
	\| Window\*.brushes to Bin		\| Window\*.[[Brushes\|brushes]] to Bin
	\| for %%a in (*.brushes) do ConvertData_Rebellion brushes %%a %%a		\| for %%a in (*.brushes) do ConvertData_Rebellion brushes %%a %%a
			\|-
			\|
			\| [[File:Download.png\|[modDB] Download .bat collection\|link=http://www.moddb.com/mods/sacrifice-of-angels-2/downloads/convertdata-folders-for-rebellion-modders]]
	\|}		\|}

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			==   ==

	== Run a BAT File ==		== Run a BAT File ==

Centaurianmudpig at 17:39, 29 September 2016

2016-09-29T17:39:26Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 17:39, 29 September 2016
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	\| for %%a in (*.entity) do ConvertData_Rebellion entity %%a %%a		\| for %%a in (*.entity) do ConvertData_Rebellion entity %%a %%a
	\|-		\|-
	\| [[Modeling\|Mesh]]\*.mesh to Text		\| [[:Category:Modeling\|Mesh]]\*.mesh to Text
	\| for %%a in (*.mesh) do ConvertData_Rebellion mesh %%a %%a txt		\| for %%a in (*.mesh) do ConvertData_Rebellion mesh %%a %%a txt
	\|-		\|-
	\| Mesh\*.mesh to Bin		\| [[:Category:Modeling\|Mesh]]\*.mesh to Bin
	\| for %%a in (*.mesh) do ConvertData_Rebellion mesh %%a %%a		\| for %%a in (*.mesh) do ConvertData_Rebellion mesh %%a %%a
	\|-		\|-

Centaurianmudpig at 17:21, 29 September 2016

2016-09-29T17:21:14Z

Show changes

Centaurianmudpig at 12:32, 29 September 2016

2016-09-29T12:32:22Z

← Older revision	Revision as of 12:32, 29 September 2016
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		[[Category:Modeling]][[Category:Modding]]

Centaurianmudpig: created

2016-09-29T12:29:13Z

created

New page

= Introduction =

Starting to mod SoaSE first requires converting files from BIN format to TXT format. Once converted, the files can be edited with any text editor like notepad, I recommend Notepad++ (free). Using TXT files is fine, BIN file are used to help the game load faster and save a lot of space, basically a form of compression the game can read. '''Note:''' ''The ConvertData files are version specific. The old ConvertData files included with Forge Tools 3 will not work with current files or the current ConvertData files will not convert older mod files.'' Converting files will keep the same extension (e.g. *.entity). To open the converted files you will need to first specify a program to do so (e.g. notepad). The very first line upon opening the file will either read TXT or BIN.

 

 

= Required Files =

To keep all the modding files together, create a Developer folder in the C drive (e.g. C:\Developer). Inside the new folder, create a folder called ConvertData. Navigate to where SoaSE is installed  (e.g. C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\Sins of a Solar Empire Rebellion)  and Copy [Ctrl + C] ConvertData_Rebellion.exe Paste [Ctrl + V] the files in the ConvertData folder (e.g. C:\Developer\ConvertData). Note the short address location. This address will need to be typed at the DOS prompt so keep it short to avoid spelling errors. You can also use paste at the DOS prompt.

 

 

= BIN to TXT =

Navigate to the folder containing the BIN files, where SoaSE is installed or the mod folder e.g. C:\Program Files (x86)\Stardock Games\Sins of a Solar Empire - Trinity\GameInfo and COPY [Ctrl + C] the files which you choose to mod and paste them to the ConvertData folder. The 3 ConvertData exes are DOS programs and will need the Command Prompt window to use them. XP Navigate to Start --> Programs --> Accessories --> Command Prompt or type cmd [Enter]in the Start --> Run box. Vista and Win 7 Navigate to Start --> All Programs --> Accessories --> Command Prompt or type cmd [Enter] in the Start --> Start Search box. Navigate to the ConvertData folder in DOS using the cd "Change Directory" command and address, this is not case sensitive. e.g. CD C:\Developer\ConvertData

[[File:CMD CD.png|center|CMD CD.png]]

There are 4 different types of files to convert.

*brushes
*entity
*mesh
*particle

 To do each file separately from the selected expansion, use...  

'''Rebellion'''

ConvertData_Rebellion '''''type''''' FileName.'''''type''''' FileName.'''''type''''' txt [Enter]  

'''Trinity Versions'''

ConvertData_OriginalSins '''''type''''' FileName.'''''type''''' FileName.'''''type''''' txt [Enter] ConvertData_Entrenchment '''''type''''' FileName.'''''type''''' FileName.'''''type''''' txt [Enter] ConvertData_Diplomacy '''''type''''' FileName.'''''type''''' FileName.'''''type''''' txt [Enter] Here is an example using AbilityEMPBlast.entity from the GameInfo directory. '''ConvertData_Rebellion entity AbilityEMPBlast.entity AbilityEMPBlast.entity txt'''

 

If there was no error the file will be converted to TXT and the DOS prompt will return to the convert directory.

 

 

= TXT to BIN =

Once the mod is tested and everything is good you may want to help the game load quicker by converting the TXT files back to BIN format. This is the same as the process above accept for the TXT switch at the end of the command line. By default, the ConvertData exes will convert to BIN so the bin switch at the end is not required. The next 2 examples are identical. ConvertData_Rebellion '''''type''''' FileName.'''''type''''' FileName.'''''type''''' bin [Enter] ConvertData_Rebellion '''''type''''' FileName.'''''type''''' FileName.'''''type''''' [Enter]

 

 

= See also: =

[http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=227131778 Convert Data Guide] on Steam

[http://www.moddb.com/mods/sacrifice-of-angels-2/downloads/convertdata-folders-for-rebellion-modders Rebellion CovertData] folders with .bat files