nickie on 10/9/2008 at 16:36
I'm having some problems with a beta test. I have 4 copies of T2 in various states, ie with and without Dromed installed. And because I was finding bugs that other people didn't have (odd textures), I used a different copy of T2. But then the different copy of T2 gave different bugs. So I tried a third and that has different bugs again. It's probable that one bug is caused by screwed up strings folders but what's in the folders doesn't make sense of the bug at the moment. As far as I know, I haven't had any problems like this with any fms before, just this test.
I'd like to understand exactly what happens when you have played an fm and you reinstall the OM before closing Darkloader. Does it remove stuff and install OM stuff, or does it overwrite stuff? And which folders does it do whatever in. Thanks to theBlackman, I learnt quite early on to do this always. But it seems that Darkloader is leaving stuff all over the place. It may be feeling a bit past it's sell-by date of course.
I'm not asking for help as I can sort out what to do, just knowledge about the process.
potterr on 10/9/2008 at 17:57
From reading the code of DarkLoader a while ago, what its basically doing is extracting the FM zip files to set locations (i.e. the root of your T2 install, based upon your config in DarkLoader). It will then determine your language and if the FM has details for your language it will only extract that language (or shift its content can't remember which).
Before extracting it will backup any files that may get overwritten, and when restoring to OM or another FM it will restore the backup and repeat the process. Basically the same as what GarrettLoader does.
What also happens is that if there are MP3 and OGG files it will process them converting them to WAV files (not sure what it does with the original MP3 files here, GL leaves them as is and adds the converted WAVs to its manifest).
One thing here is that from what I can tell (and this may be just a tidy up process rather than the full removal method), DarkLoader simply clears down the thief 2 install folder removing set folder names (strings, snd, etc). Where as GL creates a manifest of extracted files and deletes them one by one, then goes through the folders in the manifest and sees if it can delete the folder afterwards (if there are no files left in it).
My Delphi is not great having never programmed in it so I can't be 100% certain of the actual process step by step (besides reading the code in notepad isn't the best way of reading it either).
What you may want to do if if you have GL installed is to go to TOOLS - GENERAL TOOLS - GAME DIAGNOSTIC TOOL (providing you have configured GL to know where your game installs are). Click the Thief 2 tab, in the REF FILE dropdown if you have a reference file already for a clean T2 install select it, if not select NONE. click the DIAGNOSE INSTALL button and GL will scan every file in your T2 install folder. Once done click EXPORT and it will save a file (name and path given to you, although in version 1.41 the file is actually put one folder up, sorry slight bug there fixed in the next version).
Now what that has given you is a reference file for your Thief 2 install detailing all the files in there.
Next install the FM via DarkLoader, play if you want, uninstall it by installing the OMs and then run the GAME DIAGNOSTIC tool again but use the previous reference file as the REF FILE (in version 1.41 you may need to move it to the garrettloader\references folder before its picked up). Click DIAGNOSE INSTALL and GL will compare the current T2 install state to the reference file (this is assuming that you did the reference file before installing any other FMs on a clean install). You will hopefully see highlighted files to indicate files that have changed, are missing, or are not expected. Its a little bit buggy, although the new version is more refined (although still needs a bit of work).
nickie on 10/9/2008 at 18:26
Thank you very much, potterr, for that extensive reply - explains it perfectly. Unfortunately, I never did get another copy of GL, one reason why I'm looking forward to the new one. It's a bit of a pain downloading stuff at the moment as I have to transport it on a memory stick to another building to my pc. But hopefully will have a new line installed soon so I can resume normal service.
For now, I think I'm just going to try the 'Clean Up Old Files' thing in each folder and see if that stops the quirks.
Thank you again, I appreciate it - and hope the new GL will be here soon.
Telliamed on 11/9/2008 at 05:57
Quote Posted by potterr
From reading the code of DarkLoader a while ago, ...
One thing here is that from what I can tell (and this may be just a tidy up process rather than the full removal method), DarkLoader simply clears down the thief 2 install folder removing set folder names (strings, snd, etc). Where as GL creates a manifest of extracted files and deletes them one by one, then goes through the folders in the manifest and sees if it can delete the folder afterwards (if there are no files left in it).
Give Björn (and me) some credit. The Darkloader.current file tracks installed (and generated by conversion) files so it only (tries to) removes what it messed with initially.
In the basic original-missions configuration, there should be no "special" folders: intrface,fam,obj,mesh,snd,bitmap,motions,books,strings
If you see any of those, even with Dromed, then you may have difficulty with FMs.
potterr on 11/9/2008 at 08:34
Quote Posted by Telliamed
Give Björn (and me) some credit. The Darkloader.current file tracks installed (and generated by conversion) files so it only (tries to) removes what it messed with initially.
In the basic original-missions configuration, there should be no "special" folders: intrface,fam,obj,mesh,snd,bitmap,motions,books,strings
If you see any of those, even with Dromed, then you may have difficulty with FMs.
Sorry about that, forgot all about the current file (I haven't played with DarkLoader for a while). Whats the bit in the code that's got the list of folders in (intrface,fam,obj,mesh,snd,bitmap,motions,books,strings) actually doing then?
nickie on 11/9/2008 at 12:07
Quote Posted by Telliamed
In the basic original-missions configuration, there should be no "special" folders: intrface,fam,obj,mesh,snd,bitmap,motions,books,strings
If you see any of those, even with Dromed, then you may have difficulty with FMs.
So, these folders would/should be removed on re-installing the OM? And if they aren't then they could cause problems. In one of my Dromed T2s I had at least 2 - 3 copies of some of those. :)
In the 'Clean Up Old' files section of the FAQ these folders are recommended for removal:
* Pal
* Bitmap
* Books
* Fam
* Intrface
* Mesh
* Obj
So just to confirm, snd, motions and strings should also go?
Nameless Voice on 11/9/2008 at 15:54
Any folder that matches the name of one of the .crf files in \Res.
But so long as they are empty, they shouldn't cause any problems to a mod ready-install.
Also, if you install any custom resources (for example, Vigil's bowsites), then obviously deleting the folder that they are in will remove them from your game, too.
nickie on 11/9/2008 at 15:59
Thanks NV - I'll go investigate!!
I've now looked at the folder and understand - thanks again.
nickie on 12/9/2008 at 14:02
Double posting for appreciation.
Thanks guys - I now have 4 out of 5 folders working properly with no oddities. Just the one stubborn little sucker which refuses to conform. Wonder where it gets it from.
