Freelancer MOD installer!

Tue Mar 11, 2003 4:14 am by IGx89

Since it's so hard to apply other people's custom Freelancer mod's, I decided to make an installer for them

I just completed an alpha version of it tonight! Right now it's very rough and ugly, and only works with one installer script (a test one that installs Wanderer's battleship mod). I tried it out, and I can buy the ship, but for some reason it doesn't show in space. Could you guys test it out for me, and tell me what to fix? I don't have enough time right now to find out what's wrong.

DISCLAIMER: This is ALPHA software, and could very well trash your Freelancer installation. Use at your own risk!

I also added a restore feature, so if it does mess something up, there's a good chance it can easily be fixed.

Please give me your feedback! I'm custom-making this for YOU, the Freelancer mod-makers

http://igx89.no-ip.com/flinstaller.zip

Edited by - IGx89 on 11-03-2003 04:16:37

Tue Mar 11, 2003 4:25 am by akito927

my battleship works.

Admin For Macross Saga Server.

Tue Mar 11, 2003 4:28 am by beltic

ok..

Perhaps first "bug" or "problem"

I have already decompresses quite a few ini's. Your program doesnt like that - failed to install the mod because, apparently, the ini's were already decompressed?

Tue Mar 11, 2003 4:39 am by IGx89

akito: when you say that, does that mean my program installed it correctly, or does that mean that you don't need to run my installer

beltic: could you give me the error messages, if there were any?

Tue Mar 11, 2003 4:46 am by anttch360

I tried it and it gave me an error saying problem uncompressing file "or_dreadnaught.ini.fibak"
I tried restoreing and it said couldn't restore file "shiparch.ini" "goods.ini" "engine_equip.ini" "weapon_good.ini" "weapon_equip.ini" "market_ships.ini"
In the game there is an open space for a ship but when I select it the game crashes.

Tue Mar 11, 2003 4:47 am by beltic

Keep in mind, I use Ultraedit, so it automatically creates a .bak file - Ill clean those and try..

Nope - that didnt work, so, here are the errors, in order..
(Game installed to d:\games\freelancer)
First error:
"Possible problem uncompressing file: d:\games\freelancer\data\ships\shiparch.ini.fibak"

More errors on :
goods.ini.fibak
engine_equip.ini.fibak
weapon_good.ini.fibak
weapon_equip.ini.fibak
or_dreadnaught.ini.fibak
market_ships.ini.fibak

Finally - "Unable to find dest list in file!"

1. Whats this "fibak"?? I removed all the .bak files, leaving only *.ini and *.ini.original

2. I extracted both files in the zip to the same location. Is there a specific locale required?

Tue Mar 11, 2003 4:56 am by anttch360

Well tried reinstalling FL ran your program again and still the same problem.

edit
I had that same first error message as beltic
opps correction your restore does work you need to add a little window that says success or something I got that error because I click on it a second time after not seeing it do anything =)
Edited by - anttch360 on 11-03-2003 04:57:51

Edited by - anttch360 on 11-03-2003 05:04:49

Edited by - anttch360 on 11-03-2003 05:05:59

Tue Mar 11, 2003 5:03 am by SuPaFrEaK

Hey guys, I dont want to be a flamer here, but this idea doesnt seem like its going to fly. I think you should read ThresholdRPG's post "=>STANDARD=> MOD Distribution". That idea seems a LOT more organized... plus with his way, all you need to do is write one tiny little script (I would do it if I had the knowledge of programming). Anyway, its a good try at making life for us modders easier, but I think Thresh's idea is much better.

Tue Mar 11, 2003 5:14 am by beltic

Superfreak - I suggested, in the Standard Mod thread, that these two work together - I think the installer *IS* a viable idea, and a timesaver. I also think that between these two, with a standard format, and a program to make sure of it, were one step closer..

Tue Mar 11, 2003 5:21 am by anttch360

I agree with beltic, an installer would make life easier.

Tue Mar 11, 2003 5:26 am by SuPaFrEaK

Beltic-
sorry dude, i must have missed that somehow. Yeah, now that I think about, these two could work very well together.

Tue Mar 11, 2003 4:10 pm by IGx89

Supafreak, my app uses a script

Use a text editor and look at "installer.dat".

This entire program is about 3 hours of work, so bugs are to be expected

I'll iron out some more bugs tonight. If you want this installer to look "more organized", I could make a powerpoint presentation on the details of the installer script I've made

Tue Mar 11, 2003 4:16 pm by IGx89

Also, some more details on error messages for you guys:
-The "possible problem uncompressing" is nothing to be worried about; it just means that the file was already uncompressed.
-The "couldn't find dest list" error means that you have already edited something about Planet Manhattan.
-The program first copies the existing files to *.fibak, and then tries to uncompress the *.fibak files, and puts the result into the original file.

If the first "error" was the only one you got, the mod still should work. Could you try it? To fix the second error, I'll modify the search/replace algorithm to be more "forgiving".

Thanks for the feedback, guys; I'll be needing your help a lot more in the future

Tue Mar 11, 2003 4:23 pm by IGx89

Oh, and if anyone wants to be lazy, here's a direct link to the installer script: http://igx89.no-ip.com/installer.dat.txt

Tue Mar 11, 2003 5:33 pm by beltic

I tried the installer again, ignoring the errors..

Seems the dreadnaught mod needs a little ... fine tuning.. but anyways -

as far as the installer goes, it worked.

You probably should add a dialog that the process is completed - Perhaps even add some error checking routines that detect if the ini is already uncompressed, and the supress thoese messages?

Also, I have looked at your installer script .. could be a problem if you want to "replace" a mod, but.. all things come, eventually..

Keep up the good work!

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