Trouble with Unit Graphics

[Atreides]

I've been working on graphics for a mod nation using GIMP and for some reason that I cannot figure out, some of the images I've modified and created cannot be loaded when I try to start a dominions game. No matter what I do, several of the files say they cannot be accessed. The file paths are all correct, identical to the files that are being found, every file is the right format. Is there some specific nuanced thing about creating unit graphics that I am missing? If anyone has any idea how to solve this problem, please let me know.
- Atreides

[Atreides]

Also, even stranger, as a test I renamed a standard dominions graphic to the unit name that cant be found (2003_watchman_1) and dominions says that unit file cannot be opened as well? Can anyone think of an explanation for this?

[Edi]

What's the number of the unit?

Modded unit numbers must start from 2100 and go upwards. Originally the range from 200 on up, but the base game units have crept up to 2083 and are probably set to go even further when the next patch rolls around.

The mod manual in the next patch will be updated to reflect the correct ranges.

[Atreides]

I thought I might have been in a wrong set before. I had originally started the units from 2100 going up, and the same file encountered the problem, when it was 2103 and now 2003. I'll try moving the files up to 2200s and see what happens.

[Atreides]

Still no luck. Could I have somehow saved my files from GIMP in a different .tga format?

[Endoperez]

I always save my Gimp TGAs in a folder, and then use IrfanView to open and resave them to the mod folder. I'm a bit hazy on the details, but I think Dominions had some trouble with the spesific type of tga files GIMP saved a year or two ago, when I started doing this.

[Atreides]

I'd actually already dug up an old post you made about that and tried it. While I have discovered that I like IrFanView more, unfortunately it still isn't getting the files to work.

[llamabeast]

I use GIMP with no problems. Sometimes (generally when I've been using layers), Dominions for some reason shows all the black and pink instead of making it transparent. When that happens I have to copy and paste the sprite into a new image, then it's fine. However, I've never had a problem like you describe. Maybe try posting one of your sprites, and we'll see if we can reproduce the issue.

[Amos]

Maybe the devs should jump over the modders numbers and start the new units at 3000. That way the mods dont become obsolete with every patch.

[Edi]

I've asked Johan to do this as part of the overall work related to the modding wishlist and manual issues. We'll see where it goes, but right now the biggest constraint with modding is that the originally fairly large ranges are being squeezed out by content being added to the game.

[Atreides]

Here is one of the unit graphics the game refuses to acknowledge, though there may be more. Every time I remove the trouble graphics from the mod, the game comes up with another file it's not cool with. In any case, as llamabeast suggested, I'm posting one of these unit graphics to see if anyone else can reproduce and solve this problem. Thanks ahead of time for all your help guys.

Update: Also added the download to the original post.

[Edi]

That suggests that you should resave all of the unit graphics with e.g. Irfanview and see if it works then.

[Atreides]

Already tried. No such luck. Next step, guess I'll cut and paste all of the graphics to new Irfanview files and save those. Can't imagine what dominions doesnt like about my graphics.

[Edratman]

I just substituted the 2009_lord commander into a mod and had no problems. Graphic was just as downloaded.

Attach your dm file. I suspect that is where your problem is.

[Gandalf Parker]

I havent played with this for awhile so Im trying to remember. But does dom3 say "cant be loaded" when it would have been clearer to say "cant find it"? It might be a paths problem. Or an upper-case/lower-case problem. Windows is willing to ignore many things which Dominions (which is actually a linux program ported to windows) is really REALLY picky about.

[Atreides]

Alright, yet another thread that ends with me talking about how much I hate windows vista. So vista in its infinite wisdom had saved a .dm file that was out of date in the completely random appdata/virtualstore dominions 3 folder, where I had forgotten to tag on the .tga on every units sprite location. I had fixed that oversight in the main dominions folder, but it was being overridden by the other file. Having deleted the old .dm file, the mod is now functioning perfectly and having no problem loading the graphics. Sorry for the trouble, thanks for all your help guys.