Component modding tool. Get it here.

[DavidG]

Originally posted by Gandalph:
Excellent tool DavidG!!

I do have a request, however. I would like to see the ability to delete a component/facility/etc or family of components/facilities/etc.

Also noticed that to get to "next available" weapon family number, I have to reopen the files. (ie - I give a weapon a new family number with the "next available" button, then move on to another weapon and when I push the "next available" button, it comes up with the same number as the Last one I did, unless I reload the mod. Hope this makes sense.)

Thanks. I will add the Delete option to the list of things to add. I know what you mean about the 'next available" button. Will fix that.

[DavidG]

If anyone is using this mod program I noticed a a bug (one I thought I had fixed. Grrrrr) where it puts and extra blank line in front of a new component.

[Gandalph]

Thanks for the heads up. I am currently using your tool to create a new mod and so far have found it to be invaluable. It takes far less time to do what is necessary, create a new tech tree and all corresponding components and facilities all in one program without 27 files open at the same time! Keep up the good work! I know you will get this perfected.

[DavidG]

To Timstone: I think the anwere to your question about SE4Modder in the other thread is here:

Originally posted by Baron Munchausen:

quote:

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Originally posted by geoschmo:
An ability to reorder components without making any other changes would be usefull. Gimboids modder has that. Although I am not sure how you would do that with your modder being a tree display.

Component family is used when displaying components during the game in the ship design window. When you check the "display only latest" the game will only show the most advanced component in any component family. It also uses this when you hit the upgrade design button. I don't think the AI uses the component family directly, although I may be wrong about that.

Weapon family is used by the AI when deciding which weapons to use on ships designs.

Not sure why the need for two families. There probably is a logical explanation, I just can't think what it might be offhand.

Geoschmo

The 'need' is just what you described: To allow weapon types and component families to be independent of each other. It's not used much right now but it's an important extension of the AI design specifications. There are only five picks possible for primary and secondary weapon. Granted, few people use them all right now but if component family was identical to weapon family the flexibility of the AI would be even less than it is. Or the AI files would be even bulkier. Imagine 10 lines for each weapon in a design definition.

I think the AM/Quantum Torpedo and the Acid Globule and Electric Discharge/Lightning Ray are the only weapon families that cross component family boundaries right now. Oops, checking up it's only the organic weapons that have different families. The torpedos are one component family.

Anyway, using a seperate weapon family gives a second 'dimension' to work with. You could setup completely seperate research areas yielding very different weapons with the same family and the AI would then 'evolve' through one use of that family, perhaps researching the first Version early in the game and then the 'next generation' at a later stage of the game. Yet, the first might still be useful. You might want the first family to be displayed seperately so you can choose to use it yourself instead of the 'later' generation of the same weapon family.

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[orev_saara]

This program is great! I had started my mod before I got it, but now the difference... it's like trying to dig a hole in the ground... and then somebody hands you a shovel. Thanks for the shovel, Dave!

Unfortunately, I turned up a bug. The weapon sounds are kind of unstable, after you've opened several weapons, it starts to play the same sound for each one. I can work around that easily enough, but after opening a few more weapons there's a divide overflow. Not sure how that's possible, actually, but there you have it. If you could include a toggle for the sounds that's help a lot.

Oh, yeah, and if you ever get around to including AI support I'll send your name to the pope for sainthood. Thanks again.

[Timstone]

Sainthood, heh? Wel, that's quite an accomplishment. Not that's very helpfull in real live. Ah hack, things will turn out for the best when you're a saint, maybe it's not thta bad being a saint... all those groupies. Trying to get it from you... hehe...

DavidG: Great! Thanks for the answers. I'll let you know what I hit a wall again.

[DavidG]

Hehe You think the Pope plays SE4?

BTW this is an old thread I bumbed because it had the answer to Timstones question. Here is the latest SE4 Modder thread: SE4 Modder ver 1.61