SC4Tool - Reference and Visual Editor for BATs and Lots

[simrolle 18]

THX; smoncrie, i didn't know that 'till now.Perhaps i will add a warning message for the user if he TE's more than 2x2 tiles diagonal.

 

simrolle

[MasterPlanMan 1]

Thanks very much for this outstanding program! Transit enabling lots is a snap and takes only minutes to do even the most complex network. It is a must download for all those who make their own lots. This is one of the best programs ever made for SC4!

Thanks again!

~MPM

[Shadow Assassin 336]

This is great, but uh, it seems that I can't download it, because I get a 404. Anything going on?

 

Also, I'd like to request a download mirror be put up as an alternate link [maybe SourceForge or Filefront?]

[Andreas Roth 629]

It seems that the harddisk of the fileserver crashed last night. It should be replaced right now, and after installing the OS and the files, it should work again. If it doesn't work tomorrow, send me your e-mail address in a PM or write me to andreas@simszone.de , and I'll send you the file.

[RebaLynnTS 276]

I am trying to make overlay textures, however when I use the tool, it has a problem, and does not create the texture properly. Can someone offer some advide?

[Andreas Roth 629]

Did you select the image files for the texture and the alpha map as well, and copied it to the other sizes by clicking the camera button right next to the preview boxes?

[Andreas Roth 629]

SC4Tool v2.1.0 released!

simrolle released an updated version of SC4Tool, which fixes the issues that were reported so far, some minor enhancements to several tools were made as well (i. e. editing LTEXT files that are included in lots). Just download the patch file (640 kB) and extract the ZIP into your SC4Tool installation folder.

 

Get the patch on the official site .

[dhoppeii 12]

Thank you to all of those who work on this project. Your continued commitment to SC4Tool is greatly appreciated...

[DudeMiester 0]

My problem post about this software from another thread:

I'm having difficulty getting it to load my database of files in the importer. It says the building database is corrupt somehow, but I've only added one building . Having to go through my 1.2GB plugins and add each to the database is crazy! I need a way to add an entire folder at once, as in the dependancy scanner.

Maybe it has to do with the fact I loaded a file located in a drive G: and isn't in any SC4 plugin folder, then saved it to the database.

[Andreas Roth 629]

The database saves merely the paths to the files, so it shouldn't matter from where you scan them (but I think moving them to a different folder afterwards could break the link, maybe causing the error message). If you can't get it to work, try uninstalling and reinstalling afterwards, starting again with the untouched database. There is a small known bug in the analyser (in the HTML export, to be precise); I will post another update later, once I get the file from simrolle (this one will also include various enhancements with the handling of LTEXT files). I don't think it's related to your problem, but who knows...

[Pepelalo 0]

Warning!!

I Found a Trojan on the Uninstall!!!

I found the Trojan whit Tauscan Free Trial.

The name is Nishica 1.0 virus.

Good Luck!

[Andreas Roth 629]

Which antivirus program do you use, and what trojan does it report? I read in the Clickteam forums that some scanners detect a malicious code, but this is a false alarm.

EDIT: To avoid another double posting...

 

EDIT2: If anyone downloaded SC4Tool v2.1.1 that I just posted: I found another LTEXT bug, so please don't use that feature at the moment. Sorry for the inconvenience.

[slincoln 2]

I get an error when using the exemplar editor. I am trying to edit the capacity satisfied and the occupantgroups in a lot, and after doing so i try to save and i get Error! Data not saved!
It has done this with the exemplar editor for another file as well. I can edit the capacity satisfied in the Comparer tool and it saves fine, just having issues with the Exemplar Editor. Thanks for any help people might have.

[Andreas Roth 629]

Try editing the desired property, then click on another property entry in the tree view on the left side, and then save the file. We changed this behavior in the next version, so it saves the file right away, but unfortunately, we are still battling with the LTEXT saving functions at the moment.

[Andreas Roth 629]

SC4Tool v2.1.2 released!

Yesterday, I was about to release another update, but I found a serious LTEXT bug in the last minute. simrolle sent me another three versions today, and hopefully, we finally managed to get everything working. This version includes full LTEXT support and fixes a couple of small bugs. Just download the patch file (646 kB) and extract the ZIP into your SC4Tool installation folder.

Get the patch on the official site .

 

EDIT: Corrected version number. v2.1.1 (filename) is identical to v2.1.2.

[lakeyboy 12]

Hey Andreas, i've gotten an error when opening up the exe to patch it. Look at the pic:
https://www.simtropolis.com/idealbb/files//sc4tool%20error.jpg align=baseline>
I'm not sure if it's me or you but if it is me, i'll just download the full 2.1 version.

[simrolle 18]

@slincoln: This is fixed with the new version.

@lakeyboy: To install the patch, unzip the downloaded files to your

sc4tool main folder and overwrite the existing files.

 

[lakeyboy 12]

Ok thanks for that, it works now. Next time, I've got to read the readme more closely!

[Andreas Roth 629]

Yeah, sorry, I should have been more clear - the full version is not intended to patch an installed version; and I also haven't updated the EXE installer to the new version (it was almost 2:00 AM here...). I also noticed that the new version is 2.1.2 already. *wanders off to fix it*

[Tolomar 5]

ok...little confused....(big surprise there uh)

 

 

ok...I have the 1.0 version of the Sc4Tool program....do I just down load the new version and install it overtop of the other one.

 

or do Uninstall 1.0 version and start fresh  with 2.1.2 ?

[simrolle 18]

If you didn't put anything into the database i suggest to remove 1.0 and install the latest version complete.

Otherwise please use the update.

 

[Andreas Roth 629]

SC4Tool v2.1.4 released!

Yet another patch that removes two bugs in the HTML export function of the Analyser/Importer and the Texture Creator. Please download the patch from the  official site and unzip the files to your SC4Tool installation folder, overwriting the old ones.

[NicolaiS 8]

Thank you for the continuing bettering of an already great tool. How have we ever been able to do without it?

[Equinox 1,218]

Well...this program kicks a$$, that's all I can say. Great!! The comparison between files is the most useful thing ever.

EDIT: Would it be possible to make an exemplar editor where you can edit more than one property on the screen at once? I don't really like the whole clicking tree view items to get individual properties thing...still, a great program. Having a bit of difficulty getting everything within a folder added to the DB at once (don't know if it's possible yet?) but I'm sure I'll get that figured out...

EDIT 2: I am looking at a custom lot and I'm seeing a construction time of -96 ... is the data value type for this property incorrect? Also, why aren't the BSC OccupantGroups listed in the Add OccupantGroup dialog?...I'm guessing the BSC wants to be a bit more subtle with these?

A final request. Is it possible to be able to use default Maxis buildings in the comparing section of the program? I want to go through the NDEX lots and check them against default RCIs of their size but it seems to me I can only go up against other BATs.

Oh...one last thought. This probably isn't gonna happen, but this'd make this program the ultimate...if you merged the database viewer and the exemplar editor, so when I'm looking at my building's properties, I can edit them right there.

Sorry for the lengthy requests list...great program, though!

Edit 3: LOL, I thought of something else. I'm working on an NDEX template for the HTML output and I thought of a neat feature that the readmes created with this tool so far seem to be lacking: defining a URL link for plugin packs so when the readme file is created and it comes upon [dependancies] it can link the viewer to each particular file!

[simrolle 18]

Hi,

a lot of stuff. So let's start to answer:

 

Date: 12/24/2005 1:36:19 AM Author: Equinox 

EDIT: Would it be possible to make an exemplar editor where you can edit more than one property on the screen at once? I don't really like the whole 'clicking tree view items to get individual properties' thing...still, a great program.

quote>

 

Sorry, that isn't possible, because  there are a lot of different rules for each property.

Choosing one of several, choosing several, choosing one means choosing an other automaticly and so

on. Therefore, you have to define an output mask for each type of property (defined in the

new_properties.xml). Displaying a list of all properties like the Reader does will take the program

away of contolling whether the input is correct or not. 

If someone uses the Reader it is recommended that he knows what he is doing; messing around with wrong values or wrong amount of values could cause the game to crash. The target of the

ExemplarEditor is to avoid this. 

 

Date: 12/24/2005 1:36:19 AM Author: Equinox 

EDIT 2: I am looking at a custom lot and I'm seeing a construction time of '-96' ... is the data value type for this property incorrect?

quote>

 

This is an UInt8 value; not one of the most common types. The possible Range is 0 to 255; but

all values between 0 and 127 are positive and values between 128 and 255 are negative. Don't know

why Maxis used this. Maybe they change negative values internal during game time, i don't know.

 

Date: 12/24/2005 1:36:19 AM Author: Equinox 

Also, why aren't the BSC OccupantGroups listed in the 'Add OccupantGroup' dialog?...I'm guessing the BSC wants to be a bit more subtle with these?

quote>

 

I will answer to this later on. There's still a discussion in the BSC how to display our own OG in the

tool. Please appreciate to this.

 

Date: 12/24/2005 1:36:19 AM Author: Equinox 

A final request. Is it possible to be able to use default Maxis buildings in the comparing section of the program? I want to go through the NDEX lots and check them against default RCIs of their size but it seems to me I can only go up against other BATs.

quote>

 

This is one of the new features of the next version.

 

Date: 12/24/2005 1:36:19 AM Author: Equinox 

Oh...one last thought. This probably isn't gonna happen, but this'd make this program the ultimate...if you merged the database viewer and the exemplar editor, so when I'm looking at my building's properties, I can edit them right there.

quote> 

 

Several people asked me for that. I think i will add it to the next version as well.

 

Date: 12/24/2005 1:36:19 AM Author: Equinox 

Edit 3: LOL, I thought of something else. I'm working on an NDEX template for the HTML output and I thought of a neat feature that the readmes created with this tool so far seem to be lacking: defining a URL link for plugin packs so when the readme file is created and it comes upon '[dependancies]' it can link the viewer to each particular file!

quote>

 

Also under construction. There will be a database of Texture- and Prop-Files and the according link to the downloads. But we are still thinking about the way how to keep this database up to date.

Maybe be a cooperation between BSC,SFBT,NDEX and ST will help us here.

 

THX for your ideas. They are always welcome because this helps me to keep the tool alive.

 

Merry Christmas to all,

simrolle

 

[aldara6166 109]

This program is one of the best things to hit SimTropolis since...well, you fill in the blank. 

 

Anyway, it is a great program...and it looks like you're going to have a lot more stuff added to it.  This tool is so great already, I can't imagine what it will be like with all of the additions you outlined here.  What are some of the other additions you are working on?

 

Great work... keep em coming...

[Equinox 1,218]

Thank you!! I love this program and appreciate being able to provide feedback

I have one more issue...I was making my own HTML template and get errors on trying to save the file. I put the template I've made on my webserver...perhaps if you get some free time you could look and tell me what I have done wrong? I have installed the patch from your site, as well. The URL is:

http://ndex.simvision.net/ndex_template.htm

Cheers!

P.S. Is there a way to control the HTML output of values like Crane Hints (it's the first one that comes to mind) so instead of the program outputting 0x01 it prints Outer Than Inner Crane or whatever the description of that value is set to be?

[simrolle 18]

Hi,

i took a quick look to your template; and i've made two changes:

1. Make sure that every line which contains a replacement statement (like[dependencies]) is closed

by a valid HTML-Tag, like </P>. Because the tool replaces the [] enclosed things with several real values perhaps over several lines this is necessary. I've done this to the attached file.

 

2. I've putted Crane Hints under Lot Dimensions and it is working for me, even if a building haven't got

this property. If you still get the wrong 0x01 result, could you please tell me to which Bat this happens?

 

Your template is working fine for me. There could be two reason for your error:

 

1. Your Template is currently opened by an other application (e.g. Editor)

2. The filename, to what you will save your HTML, currently exists and/or it is opened by another application.

 

Hope this helps.

 

Again a Merry Christmas

 

simrolle

[simrolle 18]

@aldara6166: I'm actually working on 3 new addons:

1. UIEditor which allows you to create your own UI-Files

2. Tool for creating ploppable Buildings from growables

3. PropBrowser similar to the TextureBrowser

 

and one other big tool, but it's too early to say something about it, because i'm

not sure if i can realize it.

 

Because i've got a lot of response from the community, i try to improve the existing tools

as well.

 

simrolle

[aldara6166 109]

Date: 12/25/2005 10:41:27 AM Author: simrolle

@aldara6166: I'm actually working on 3 new addons:

1. 'UIEditor' which allows you to create your own UI-Files

2. Tool for creating ploppable Buildings from growables

3. PropBrowser similar to the TextureBrowser

and one other big tool, but it's too early to say something about it, because i'm

not sure if i can realize it.

Because i've got a lot of response from the community, i try to improve the existing tools

as well.

simrolle

quote>

 

First off, you tease us you know that...telling us there is something big coming and you don't tell us what!! 

 

As for the tool listed in #2...you mean make a ploppable and turn it in to growable?  or both growable <----> ploppable?

 

The custom UI will be awesom...it will make things much easier.  Maybe you can make some way to create a template for a particular style (I.e. all RJM Designs BATs have a similar format  UI...can be used for NDEX, BSC, etc.)  Just don't forget a way to insert a custom sound file with the custom UI as well.

 

The prop browser sounds cool also...I love this program... keep em coming...