The Bears Pit: JA2 Technical Department » how to open *.npc-files?

Messages:3199
Registered:December 2008
Location: B

guess i won't understand what i get anyway, but how could i look into that kind of stuff?

Captain

Re: how to open *.npc-files?[message #218165]

Thu, 28 May 2009 08:08

Messages:1817
Registered:August 2003
Location: Pleasantville, NJ

Look on Kermi's site. There are several editors. Batman's desktop editor seems easy to understand but the one I use is NPC Edit.

Good luck. This is perhaps the least understood yet potentially most interesting part of modding.

Sergeant Major

Re: how to open *.npc-files?[message #218167]

Thu, 28 May 2009 08:51

Messages:3199
Registered:December 2008
Location: B

thx, but that's not what i need - i'd like to change the 'internal link' from no 063 (postie) to no 071, cause if i put postie into 1.13 i can see him, i can hire him but he has the wrong face and doesn't talk (oc the necessary data is where it should be). to have him there i 'renamend' 063.npc (from uc) to 071.npc - the idea is of course to get a third car by overwriting the eldorado (with postie being such a miser, his bus is somewhat infected and thus rockbottoms mercs' morale - postie's is going down 'cause someone tried to clean that bus). so what i need is to crack into the file and rename that 'internal link' to 071 - well, if i'm lucky enough to find it (i'm not a coder, i simply look at it from a logistix pov) if i can compare those files i can test them (with brute force methods) that means starting to look for things that could be that link by search and change. scorpio must have done that and i don't see no reason why a maccie should't be able to do that as well.

edith: would be fun if pg-lady3 delivers her 'hell ovalut to make me puke'-line when sitting in that bus

[Updated on: Thu, 28 May 2009 08:59] by Moderator

Captain

Re: how to open *.npc-files?[message #218174]

Thu, 28 May 2009 10:57

Messages:1012
Registered:September 2006
Location: Far far away.

You need to rename the face files, the npc data, the mercedt, the battlesnds, the speech inc gap files if there are any and the npc speech. He needs to be numbered 071 in prof.dat, watch for face co-ords coz they differ in UC sometimes. Then start new game... this internal link thing you seek does not exist you just have to do some work

Sergeant Major

Re: how to open *.npc-files?[message #218212]

Thu, 28 May 2009 13:36

Messages:3199
Registered:December 2008
Location: B

nice answer - strictly along the british army manual

Logisteric

... oc (that means oh, [a] CAWS for you, will) the necessary data is where it should be ...

any other idea - if you have a good one you're gettin' off with just one mag of that CAWS

Captain

Re: how to open *.npc-files?[message #218216]

Thu, 28 May 2009 13:43

Messages:997
Registered:January 2009

Hi Logisteric,

I've had to do that a few times for various characters in Mods, it's a real pain, make a good strong coffee and prepare an ice pack for your wrist...

Maybe this is stating the obvious, but i copy the number i am replacing with, makes it a bit quicker every time you open a file to rename the start of it...

First Sergeant

Re: how to open *.npc-files?[message #218219]

Thu, 28 May 2009 13:46

Messages:1012
Registered:September 2006
Location: Far far away.

Nice I answer & get shot for the pleasure... it's a pain but once done etc. Takes approx an hour to renumber all the files for one character.

Sergeant Major

Re: how to open *.npc-files?[message #218222]

Thu, 28 May 2009 13:52

Messages:3199
Registered:December 2008
Location: B

it takes 'bulk rename utility' and 20 seconds - but you should be cautious with that tool

edith:

just to be nice

1. create a folder called 'postie'
2. copy anything you need into 'postie' (and for the god of your choice's sake do it with the path)
3. start bru and tell it to rename '063_' to '071_' wherever its found in 'postie'
4. rename the pics [color:#CC33CC]and the npc-file[/color] manually
5. copy the contents of 'postie' to 'data'

[Updated on: Thu, 28 May 2009 18:03] by Moderator

Captain

Re: how to open *.npc-files?[message #218225]

Thu, 28 May 2009 14:03

Messages:997
Registered:January 2009

:roulette:

First Sergeant

Re: how to open *.npc-files?[message #218230]

Thu, 28 May 2009 14:05

Messages:3199
Registered:December 2008
Location: B

do you want to have it?

edith: before you make your decision: it's british

[Updated on: Thu, 28 May 2009 14:14] by Moderator

Captain

Re: how to open *.npc-files?[message #218234]

Thu, 28 May 2009 14:14

Messages:997
Registered:January 2009

Yes please, there are a few things i had in mind, if this works i'd be a little less lazy.

First Sergeant

Re: how to open *.npc-files?[message #218235]

Thu, 28 May 2009 14:15

Messages:3199
Registered:December 2008
Location: B

Off_Topic

Yes please, there are a few things i had in mind, if this works i'd be a little less lazy.

you're about to get mail

edith: you got mail

[Updated on: Thu, 28 May 2009 14:19] by Moderator

Captain

Re: how to open *.npc-files?[message #218236]

Thu, 28 May 2009 14:15

Messages:997
Registered:January 2009

Cool, thanks man.

First Sergeant

Re: how to open *.npc-files?[message #218237]

Thu, 28 May 2009 14:27

Messages:3199
Registered:December 2008
Location: B

your account does not accept it - is an .exe - should i zip it?

edith: sent it anyway

[Updated on: Thu, 28 May 2009 14:29] by Moderator

Captain

Re: how to open *.npc-files?[message #218315]

Thu, 28 May 2009 21:44

Messages:3199
Registered:December 2008
Location: B

okay i had another look

if i have a new civilian in the map-editor and give him no 63 his name changes to hamous and he looks like hamous, if i give him no 71 his name changes to rpc 71 and he has this 'wrong-colour'-looks. in game he looks like postie behaves like postie but doesn't talk and has the wrong face. as i said above all files are where they ought to be. what i'am f*cking up?

any suggestions?

Logisteric

Captain

Re: how to open *.npc-files?[message #218321]

Thu, 28 May 2009 23:06

Messages:3199
Registered:December 2008
Location: B

update:

when i hire him his face changes and he can talk as rpc, of course the cords are wrong

Captain

Re: how to open *.npc-files?[message #218343]

Fri, 29 May 2009 04:02

Kaerar

Messages:2021
Registered:January 2003
Location: Australia :D

If anyone has Photoshop CS2 or higher they should have Adobe Bridge too. That has a macro and auto rename function that can keep a specific nomenclature for the files. Makes re-naming files a breeze Smile

Hell I renamed all the STI files to follow a coherent naming structure because it was driving me up the wall with all the different caps and non-caps syntax's. And then I found out SVN is syntax reliant Sad

Lieutenant

Re: how to open *.npc-files?[message #218354]

Fri, 29 May 2009 11:14

Messages:1012
Registered:September 2006
Location: Far far away.

"as i said above all files are where they ought to be"

well obviously not. if you'd used UBMFE instead it would have given you the opportunity to name slot 071 as postie. For the co-ords to work as NPC & RPC means adjusting the RPC ones in the sti by hand. take a screenie when he's yakking and then move stuff to suit.

If you ever got MFM look at how I did the slot 071 in there (baggins) if not I can't tell from here what step or steps you may have missed.

Sergeant Major

Re: how to open *.npc-files?[message #218357]

Fri, 29 May 2009 11:24

Messages:3199
Registered:December 2008
Location: B

what is ubmfe? pro-edit tells me slot 71's name is postie, and when i see him he has postie written above his head, the npc-sound-files are in 'npc-speech' the cords are a minor problem i've already enslaved kaerar to do that :taskmaster:

about to unpack mfm 07

btw your down to one mag of that caws

edith: my files are exactly where yours are / if i search for 'ubfme' i'll get your and my posts and nothing else

judith: 2 bursts = 6 rounds/buckshot

[Updated on: Fri, 29 May 2009 11:56] by Moderator

Captain

Re: how to open *.npc-files?[message #218360]

Fri, 29 May 2009 12:12

Messages:1012
Registered:September 2006
Location: Far far away.

UBMFE was/is the method for placing things in UB maps prior to conversion into regular JA2 maps.

what about the Speech files & Battlesnds... they must also be renumbered to your desired 071.

Sergeant Major

Re: how to open *.npc-files?[message #218363]

Fri, 29 May 2009 12:20

Messages:3199
Registered:December 2008
Location: B

they are, will, they are - and they do work, what is not working is the npc-behaviour (wrong pic, no speech, no subtitels - and again anything is where it belongs) that's why i had this 'internal-link' - idea. i tried to hire him after you said it doesn't exist and then i saw him working as rpc

npc 071: fucked up
rpc 071: no problem, kaerar couldn't solve

where do i get ubmfe, and is there a manual

@ slave (=kaerar)
when you do that could you also write some noob/maccie's manual how you do it - when i understand it, probably anyone will (worked with matryoshka on the map editor)

Captain

Re: how to open *.npc-files?[message #218368]

Fri, 29 May 2009 12:47

Messages:1012
Registered:September 2006
Location: Far far away.

npc data 2 files, mercedt 1 file... if those are done then I'm stumped. The only time I've had a silent Postie was when I tried to use Madlab's Robot slot for him. No interaction at all.

Sergeant Major

Re: how to open *.npc-files?[message #218370]

Fri, 29 May 2009 12:52

Messages:3199
Registered:December 2008
Location: B

with 1.13 there's just one file in npc/data - but i'll try them both later, afaik there's only one in uc, too what should that second file be - a copy of the etd?

edith: if you'd have a look i'll zip and sent it to you later on (if yes: do you also need the map)

[Updated on: Fri, 29 May 2009 12:59] by Moderator

Captain

Re: how to open *.npc-files?[message #218381]

Fri, 29 May 2009 13:40

Kaerar

Messages:2021
Registered:January 2003
Location: Australia :D

You say the pics missing in NPC interactions? Check the npc pic is there for a start (its different to all the others).

If you have edited the npc data files and mercedt then I'm stumped too.

Will have to have a look into it again at some point, been ages since I farted about with moving mercs about!

Lieutenant

Re: how to open *.npc-files?[message #218384]

Fri, 29 May 2009 13:54

Messages:3199
Registered:December 2008
Location: B

there are afaik for pics - one directly in faces the other three in their folders

Captain

Re: how to open *.npc-files?[message #218490]

Sat, 30 May 2009 20:27

Messages:1817
Registered:August 2003
Location: Pleasantville, NJ

There are faces numbered b71 etc, in all of the faces folders and subfolders (bigfaces, 65face, 33face) they are at the end of the list. In other words you will get the regular numbers then the numbers that have a b in front of them. Make sure these are changed but then you will have to adjust the xy coordinates because they will look screwy using the wrong character's xy coords.

And try not to be belligerent when asking for tips. It may give you better results.

Sergeant Major

Re: how to open *.npc-files?[message #218493]

Sat, 30 May 2009 20:50

Messages:3199
Registered:December 2008
Location: B

thanks,

i didn't know about those b-faces in the pix-folder - that fixed it, what i still don't understand is why i don't get NPC-soudfiles or edts - any advice?

Captain

Re: how to open *.npc-files?[message #218498]

Sat, 30 May 2009 21:08

Messages:1817
Registered:August 2003
Location: Pleasantville, NJ

The only way I have done it is to renumber them to the character slot you are using. Some of their voices are in speech, some are in battlesnds. These folders should be present in your Data1.13 folder. If renumbering the files you want to use to the character number you want using them doesn't work (i.e. 071_115.wav) I really don't know what to tell you. I do remember having some problem with this last year when I tried to change the queen specific dialouge to fit my mod but I am assuming this method is again working since people like Will Gates have done extensive reworking of .npcs.

Good luck. It is good to see people actually working on something story related.

Sergeant Major

Re: how to open *.npc-files?[message #218500]

Sat, 30 May 2009 21:22

Messages:3199
Registered:December 2008
Location: B

it's a test - my mini-mod will take some time. i renamed all of them which are to be found in folders 'speech', 'npc-speech' and 'battlesounds' - rpc-related files do work, it's just that i get neither sound nor subtitels of postie before i hire him - on the other hand the game doesn't crash, what it should do if there were nothing ('missing sound file'-error message). btw i never was belligerent - that stuff about the caws was a joke and will reacted accordingly.

in the map-editor postie is still called rpc_071 and has a wrong-colour outfit, but i

Captain

Re: how to open *.npc-files?[message #218593]

Mon, 01 June 2009 11:12

Messages:1012
Registered:September 2006
Location: Far far away.

there is a smaller edt file in npc-data where the subtitles as npc live (think of them like the B-Face files). The other file in there I'm assuming you already named as 071.

Sergeant Major

Re: how to open *.npc-files?[message #218726]

Tue, 02 June 2009 11:37

Messages:3199
Registered:December 2008
Location: B

there are, but they are named after sectors - in which sector was postie to be found? one of the san mona sectors iirc - how is it to be renamed? btw where are the fixed uc-maps? you are noe down to just one burst over your head Wink

Captain

Re: how to open *.npc-files?[message #218727]

Tue, 02 June 2009 11:45

Messages:1012
Registered:September 2006
Location: Far far away.

Jeepin Lizard don't touch the sector ones! They are what civs say in that sector.

The NPC ones should be numbered like NPC numbers that's all.

[Updated on: Tue, 02 June 2009 11:54] by Moderator

Sergeant Major

Re: how to open *.npc-files?[message #218732]

Tue, 02 June 2009 12:00

Messages:3199
Registered:December 2008
Location: B

there are none called b ### in the uc-folder

edith: found it - he's talking now, problem was i looked for anything that biggins had - but he of course lost anything required as an npc due to being listed as m*e*r*c-employee :wb: .

judith: does that mean i can write a line into sector-etds, that there is a new postman, who scares any customer :pitchfork: - or does that cause trouble with quests (harrows-wise)?

[Updated on: Tue, 02 June 2009 12:15] by Moderator

Captain

Re: how to open *.npc-files?[message #218747]

Tue, 02 June 2009 13:19

Messages:1012
Registered:September 2006
Location: Far far away.

You happy now? I not shot??

Sergeant Major

Re: how to open *.npc-files?[message #218801]

Tue, 02 June 2009 20:08

Messages:1817
Registered:August 2003
Location: Pleasantville, NJ

You can write completely new sector EDTs. I did it for my mod and it caused no problems. I am not sure if you can create a new one to a sector that does not normally have them but this would be a cool experiment for someone.

In short, make the non interactive civilians say whatever you want with the sector edts. It's actually pretty cool to see it in game.

Sergeant Major

Re: how to open *.npc-files?[message #218804]

Tue, 02 June 2009 20:13

Gorro der Grüne

Messages:1448
Registered:March 2009
Location: Broadwurschd-City

I think it is time for a free shot of Yours now.

Sergeant Major

Re: how to open *.npc-files?[message #218839]

Wed, 03 June 2009 07:03

Messages:1817
Registered:August 2003
Location: Pleasantville, NJ

Sergeant Major

Re: how to open *.npc-files?[message #218871]

Wed, 03 June 2009 13:32

Messages:1012
Registered:September 2006
Location: Far far away.

& the numbered (non sector) civ files contain faction lines and even the three grades of enemy lines... I forget which is which but pretty sure the game only ever uses the regular army lines. It's how I got my version of the queen's army to be more insulting. You can write what you like in there so long as it's fairly short.