Tool to fix -mod command (v1.03)

Today I present you with a tool, that is inevitably going to make your modding lives much easier

As you know, for some strange reason, when you use the -mod command to make your modifications to BFME, changes in gamedata.ini don't get read. Now, unfortunately that's just the file that contains all the unit data such as health and stuff. There are two things you can do:
1. Change all options directly in the appropriate files. In the end this will result in an unmanagable gibberish.
2. Move the macros (#define BLABLA) somewhere else. Unfortunately, you can't give them the same name, so you have to rename them. However, then you have to update all the references in all the ini files to your new macros, which you had to do by hand...



But not anymore!



This tool I made does that for you



Here's how it works:
- Download the rar file and extract it in 'X:\somefolder'
- Put a copy of your INI files in 'X:\somefolder\old' (so you will have, for example, 'X:\somefolder\old\commandbutton.ini' and 'X:\somefolder\old\object\goodfaction\units\men\aragorn.ini')
- Make a new .bat file, with these codes (save it in 'X:\somefolder')

java -jar MacroRenamer_1.4.jar M_ old new
pause

- Run the bat file by double clicking
- Let it run (this will take a long while, but it will report what it's doing)

What it will do:
- Load all macros in gamedata.ini
- Rename them all, by putting a prefix before them (which, in the .bat file above, is 'M_'. change it if you want something else*).
- Update all files to reference the new macros, and store them in a new folder

* = the prefix can only contain numbers, letters and the underscore. IT MUST NOT begin with a number

Now, when it's done, all you have to do is:
- move all the macros in 'gamedata.ini' to 'default\water.ini'
- move the GameData block in 'gamedata.ini' to a new file 'object\gamedata.ini'
- and of course put the new INI files at the appropriate place in your mod

Notes:
- I've programmed this tool not to alter the original files. However, bugs can of course always be present, so have a backup!
- You need the Java Runtime Environment for this to work. I've programmed it on version 6 (or 1.6, if you like), but maybe it will work on 5 as well (but get 6 anyway)
- If there are files that you are 100% sure, don't contain any references to a macro, delete them before starting, because the program will go trough them anyway

Using the -mod command is now definitely THE only way for modding.
Have fun






Preconverted INI folders

BFME 1 - 1.03
BFME 2 - 1.06
ROTWK - 1.00

If you have another useful converted INI folder (e.g. ROTWK originals) please send them to me.






Changelog

Version 1.4
Apparently there was still a bug in 1.3, it didn't read macros in files that are simple included by gamedata.ini. That is fixed now
Also:
- Progress bar changed from dots to stars
- The tool logs everything in macrorenamer_log.txt, in it's working directory

Version 1.3
Because there are some macros in experiencelevels.ini with the same name as some hero KindOfs (e.g. ARAGORN and GANDALF) some serious crashes occured when trying to launch the converted BFME 2 1.06 INI. This version only reads macros from gamedata.ini, which is more a workaround than a solution, but will do for now.

Version 1.2
There was a serious bug in 1.1, making it unusable. This one has fixed that. Also:
- It reports the time it takes to do one file, and all the files
- It will not process a file if it is already present in the target directory (useful when the program crashes)
- Improved layout

Version 1.1
After trying to convert a BFME 2 INI directory, which was still at the beginning after an hour, I made a version that performs a lot better.

Version 1.0
First version

Did ya get bored? Good work

bored? no. i learned a lot about using regular expressions and files/directories with Java today

edit: heh, i hit the Submit button and when the page is done loading, there's a reply below my post

Nice work with it. Im sure that it will be handy tool.

good job 2play, definatly handy tool

i'm currently converting an original bfme 2 1.06 ini, which i will upload when it's done

edit: it took so long, i made a better performing version

just found out the new version doesn't quite work ok. use the old one for now

edit: yes, it's fixed (for the techies under you: i forgot to close the output stream ). i'm running some tests now, and if all is fine i will upload version 1.2 ASAP. other changes
- it reports the time
- better report layout
- if a file is already in the target dir, it will be skipped (very useful if it crashes or something)

after ten hours of converting (!), i have uploaded a completely converted BFME 2 1.06 ini

Perfect

It's even too easy now

Because there are some macros in experiencelevels.ini with the same name as some hero KindOfs (e.g. ARAGORN and GANDALF) some serious crashes occured when trying to launch the converted BFME 2 1.06 INI. This version only reads macros from gamedata.ini, which is more a workaround than a solution, but will do for now.

I'm now reconverting the BFME 2 1.06 INI, but it will take a while. I calculated why:
- There are a grand total of 5000 (!) macros in gamedata.ini
- The total size of the ini folder is about 20MB
- It reads trough each file looking for each macro. That means 5000 * 20 MB = 100 GB of text processing!

the new ini is up, and this time i've actually tested it (and it works)

enjoy

Apparently there was still a bug in 1.3, it didn't read macros in files that are simple included by gamedata.ini. That is fixed now
Also:
- Progress bar changed from dots to stars
- The tool logs everything in macrorenamer_log.txt, in it's working directory

Running the program for BFME 1 ini now
Done in approximately 2 - 2,5 hours

Solinx

BFME 2 INI is now up

Running the program for BFME 1 ini now
Done in approximately 2 - 2,5 hours

Solinx

Lucky you are! Bfme2 Rotwk takes me around 13 hours , and I have to export it again *I should be more concentrated sometimes*

thanks TDP for the ROTWK ini, which is now up

thanks to Solinx, the BFME 1 1.03 INI is also online

You're welcome

Solinx

Hi 2Play

Sorry to bring this up here in case it's unappropriate? Please move this post if so
We have a strange bug in SEE, and rumour says it might be related to the -mod command?
Could that be true? And if so, is there a way to solve it?

"Settings Reset bug"

I never understood the need for this program. Seems like using a nuke to kill a fly. All you have to do is take the changes you want from the gamedata.ini and simply place it in it's own tiny little file in the objects folder named "anythingyouwant"


The gamedata.ini changes are read correctly and function perfectly with the -mod command.

What the heck do you need a fancy program to do that for?