file/mod comparing

[Lemmy]

quote:

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Lemmy, your first post and this one are only 5 1/2 hours apart

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hehe, yeah i was a bit impatient, that's what happens if you don't have a life i guess

[Dubious]

Lemmy, if you really want to program something consider a program to allow the modders to produce a "difference" file with just their changes to the standard files. What we need is a program which would take that 'diff' file and allow the 'non-modder' player to merge the difference file with the existing file in the 'modpath' directory. This would allow several independent mods to be merged together.

While simple in theory, this is quite complex because many mods alter a number of files to different degrees and all the changes are needed for it to work together correctly the way the author intended. What's probably needed is a multi-pass approach to identify what (in general terms) gets modified and then whether the file or specific parameter has already been modified from that distributed with the game. Then an option to merge the changes wholesale or piecemeal. Whenever presented with a dilemma as to what to do, offer the user a choice.

Or you can take a look at some of the mod tools which are already in the modding archive and work on something which is missing. Zeno42 is the most active in this area as I recall.

[Lemmy]

i like that idea, but as you said it's is quite complex because you can't just merge two components.txt files, you have to merge all of the files, or at least all of the modded files. I will take a good look at the files and see if it is possible for me to program it in a acceptable time period (several weeks).
But before i start working it, i think i will first finish the comparing program.

[raynor]

Dunno if this info will be helpful...

The generic file difference program I often use is called WinMerge. The souce/binary are available here:
http://winmerge.sourceforge.net/

[Lemmy]

it seems like a good program, but it's not what i had in mind with my program.
Right now my program compares two component.txt files and lists all of the components that exist in the first file but not in the second file, at least not with the same values for mineral costs, tonnage space etc.
So it doesn't just compare the txt files, but the components itself.

This actually works now, but it only compares the "component part" of a component, so two AP beams which are exactly the same except for the damage, will still be seen equal, for now. There are still many features which i would like to add to it, but that will take time of course.

[chewy027]

Lemmy i for one will use your program sp bring it on. Now i can easily combine new techs from all the different mods thanks

[Lemmy]

i'll see if can post a beta Version of the program tonight, it pretty much works as i intended to, i only have to expand it so it also compares the weapons completely. That will be finished next week i think.

[This message has been edited by LemmyM (edited 25 May 2001).]