SC4Tool - Reference and Visual Editor for BATs and Lots

[aldara6166 109]

Originally posted by: brtim2 I'm encountering a problem with the texture editor, perhaps someone here could help me. I made a few base textures per the readme, and they show up fine, all 5 of them. Then I got smart and requested my own texture range through Barbyw and was given 0xd4d00000. I then made a base texture that looks like jeronij's sidewalks, and a set of three base textures that act as retaining walls (straight rock, half rock half grass, half grass half rock). However, when I place in game the sidewalk texture shows up for all three of the retaining walls. I thought maybe it was me, so I went into the LE and made sure the base textures are there, and they were. Then I went into SC4Tool to check my file that has all of the textures and they are all different. So SC4Tool sees them different, the Lot Editor sees them different, but SimCity itself thinks all four of the textures are the same texture. Any ideas?

The textures are id'd as follows:

Sidewalk

Group 0xD4D00000

Instance 0xD4D00004

Rock Wall Diagonal Bottom

Group 0xD4D00005

Instance 0xD4D00009

Rock Wall Diagonal Top

Group 0xD4D0000A

Instance 0xD4D0000E

Rock Wall Straight

Group 0xD4D00010

Instance 0xD4D00014

(The base textures are down in the 0xFF range and are not affected. I do plan on changing them at some point.)

These 4 base textures along with one overlay and 6 other base textures are all packaged together in one .dat file. The .sav file has been removed as I thought that was the cause of the problem. It wasn't. So I'm stuck at the moment. Thanks.quote>

 

If I'm reading what you are saying correctly, I think you may have misnumbered your textures...the numbering convention for the textures is as follows...

Take 0xD4D00010 for example...you MUST skip at a minimum 5 more numbers for the next texture...basically, each texture needs 5 different images (one for each zoom level)...the easiest way to create each different texture is to make a 128x128 texture, load it and then hit the camera button which automatically resizes the original image in to each zoom level...in doing this, each zoom level gets it's own number...therefore a texture of 0xD4D00010 has instances of 0xD4D00010, 0xD4D00011, 0xD4D00012, 0xD4D00013 and 0xD4D00014...

Many creators do a few major things to help with texture ID's...for example, some people use numbers in the thousands spot for base textures, and letters for overlay textures...for example, 0xD4D01000, 0xD4D02000, 0xD4D03000, etc for base textures...0xD4D0A000, 0xD4D0B000, 0xD4D0C000, etc. for overlays...also, if you notice the they jump in large numbers for each subsequent texture...also, if you haven't done so ask BarbyW in a PM how to get SC4Tool to assign texture numbers automatically for you and simply click "Next Free ID" in the tool...

Hope that helps...hopefully I wasn't totally off on what you were saying...Andreas Roth can also elaborate more and add to what I've said...

[Andreas Roth 607]

Sorry, I have read your posting, but I have next to no knowledge about textures. You should ask Geoffhaw or someone else with more knowledge in this field.

[MikeC 0]

Hi can anyone explain to me to find out how to see more data in "landmark effect". For example, if I look up the Convention Center in the Building Reference, it will have on the Landmark effect row 100 (magnitude), 32 (radius). Now this corrosponds to an old YIMBY/NIMBY table posted on simcitycentral which has a Commercial Desirability boost of 100 and a radius of 32.

However that chart also states that residential zones don't like it and it loweres desirability by 50 for a radius of 22. This information, if it is correct is not listed in the SC4Tool Reference. This data came from the prima strategy guide according to the chart.

So is there a way to get more data on how a building impacts desirability?

[Andreas Roth 607]

It is there, but it's just not displayed. The property you're looking for is called "Park Effect", which affects residential zones (the commercial effect is created by the "Landmark Effect" property). For some reason, Maxis has used two different IDs for the park effect. To fix this, open the "Groups.xml" file in the "System" subfolder with notepad, locate the lines that defines the park effect, and add one more declaration:

Please make sure that you don't mess up the tags of the other properties. Save the file, and then open SC4Tool again - the values you're looking for should show up now. If you're missing other properties, you can add them to the "Groups.xml" in the same way. You can look up the IDs with "Extras/Property Editor" in SC4Tool.

[silentman 0]

hello, I installed the SC4tool last version, but i didn't run it:

There is an error mesage (on check SC4Files.xml): "Error reading SC4Files.xsd,SC4Files.xml"

i have Microsoft .NET Framework v1.1.4322

i couldn't solve this problem. please help. thanks.

[Andreas Roth 607]

Did you install the full version or the update? And if you installed the update, did you have the previous version, and was that one running properly? If it doesn't work, I suggest to uninstall everything and do a clean install with the full version.

[silentman 0]

I installed the full version and i don't have any previous version. I uninstall SC4 tool and .NET Framework then reinstall. But nothing change.

[Andreas Roth 607]

Sorry, I don't have a clue what's wrong. Please check if the files you mentioned are present in the \System subfolder; they should have been installed by the installer. Also, make sure that they are not write-protected.

[ScottFTL 29]

EDIT:  Duh, I have version 2.2.7 - you probably need to know that!

I'm having a problem with the Analyzer/Importer, and I'm not sure if this is user error or a program bug.  Here's the scenario:

1.  I added a lot to the database on the Common Information tab.  No problem.

2.  I realized that I forgot to select the Author before saving - and I like my lots sorted by author - so I deleted the lot from the database.  The program asks for confirmation and appears to delete the entry.

3.  I open the lot from its file again, select the Author this time then save to database using the same name as before.  I receive the error "This building already exists!"

It's not a huge deal, but unless I am missing something here it does look like a bug.

To get around my immediate problem, is there a way that I can just clear the database and start over?  It was only my 2nd lot, so there's not much lost at this point.

Anyway, thanks to Andreas and SimRolle for the incredible SC4Tool.  I can't imagine life without it anyway - it's that useful.

[Andreas Roth 607]

Hmm, this is odd... I can't reproduce the error at the moment. But it should be easy to fix. Open the "DB.xml" in the \System subfolder with Notepad and scroll down to the end. Most of the entries contain the in-game Maxis buildings, they are marked with "<Buildings>" tags. All custom BATs are marked with "<BAT>". Just delete the entire entry and save the file. Be careful not to delete other tags, such as the "</SC4DB>" at the end of the file.

[ScottFTL 29]

Thanks, Andreas.  This was an even better solution because I was able to just add the Author information.

That is odd that you could not reproduce the error.  I tried deleting and recreating, then I deleted and exited the program.  No matter what I tried, the delete did not seem to work for some reason.

I'd be happy to zip and email my DB.xml file to you, if you think there is something peculiar here.  I suppose if no one else has reported the issue, it is probably not work Simrolle's time.  There are so many cool new features to work on!

Thanks again for your always excellent and timely assistance!

[Andreas Roth 607]

Well, I can only guess that it's probably because of some odd filename or whatever - anyway, I'm glad you found a workaround, this should do the trick.

[steak knife 0]

hello i downloaded sc4 tool last night and i tried running it after i installed it i have microsoft .NET framework v 1.1 and the hotfix for it but i get an error message telling me to debug the program

this is what i get

I have visual basic 2003

do you know what is wrong? i tried re installing it

Thanks!

SK

[Andreas Roth 607]

I have no idea what could cause the error. You should do as advised and select one of the debuggers, maybe you'll get an error message that gives us some hint.

[steak knife 0]

ok i started up the first debugger btw i have no idea how to program i just have visual basic for icon making and my uncle uses it for programming

https://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k220/steak_knife/problem2.jpg

i tried the debuging this was the next error

Additional information: Font 'Arial' doesn't support style 'Regular'.

[Andreas Roth 607]

Sounds very weird, but then again, I don't have any programming knowledge at all. You should try to contact simrolle via e-mail (see readme file), I don't know if he's currently reading this thread.

[steak knife 0]

would it have anything to do with visual basic being on my computer i could try uninstalling it

[steak knife 0]

i unistalled visual basic and i still have the problem i even upgraded my .NET framework to v. 2.0 and i still have the problem, also tried cleaning out my plugins folder still same thing... this is the picture of the error after the uninstall

https://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k220/steak_knife/problem3.jpg

btw i e-mailed simrolle

sorry for the double post =( it's been a while tho, feel free to delete the one above if you need to

Thanks!

SK

[villavicencio 20]

Pleases can you help me. I just discovered SC4 Tools and I love to make textures with, but Barbyw tells me (Have you asked for a range of texture IIDs from the Texture Index?) i undestand very bad english, there is not french tutorial and i don't know how contacte Barbyw, what i can doing, please help me for the texture IIDs and index, i have making some nice texture whith SC4Tools but if they make some problems all are going to trash can .

Sorry for my english, SC4Tools is wonderfull but i don't undestand all in this language,

[Andreas Roth 607]

You can request a texture ID range in this thread. BTW, BarbyW lives in France, so she should be able to help you in your native language.

[villavicencio 20]

Thanks you very much of your answer. I have just let him a message and I didn't know that she was French

[silentman 0]

Hello, before i have sent a message about an error running SC4Tool:

I installed the SC4tool last version, but i didn't run it:

There is an error mesage (on check SC4Files.xml): "Error reading SC4Files.xsd,SC4Files.xml"

i have Microsoft .NET Framework v1.1.4322 

I found cause of it:

If anyone has system set to use the Turkish locale; he will get this error.

I think there is an UpperCase problem. In turkish alfabeth, i and ? are two different character. 

LowerCase: i to UpperCase: ?

LowerCase: ? to UpperCase: I

so i not equal  I

SC4Files.xsd and SC4Files.xml include i character. If code or system use uppercase method, this file names will rename SC4FILES.

Solution: Only switch to the English (United States) locale in Regional and Language Options in Control Panel. Now you can run the SC4Tool.

[silentman 0]

In foregoing text. 
? = second i character. But it doesn't appear.
Because in turkish alfabeth it does not have point. like I character but little.

[RippleJet 36]

Hello Andreas!

I have been using SC4Tools for almost a year now.

A while ago I made a swedish translation of the language file (just for fun...)

And just like Zeddic (a long time ago) said about his finnish translation I didn't think I would be using it myself.

Nevertheless, I've noticed that I have been using it and even updated it with some corrections as I've seen needed.

Now I've come to the point where I prefer the swedish version over the english one...

So maybe it is good enough for distribution after all...

Btw, I think a japanese translation can be found here:

http://www.yuhisa.com/cgi/c-board/c-board.cgi?cmd=ntr;page=22;id=

[Andreas Roth 607]

@silentman: Wow, that's surely something we couldn't anticipate, thanks for the detailed research!

@RippleJet: Thanks for the Swedish translation, and also thanks for the link to the Japanese file. It's great to see people all over the world using our tool.

[simrolle 18]

@silentman: Thanks, that is great!

@RippleJet: Thanks as well. As Andreas said, it is amazing how the tool is used all over the world.

[RippleJet 36]

Vielen Dank Andreas und Simrolle!

I had to make another correction to my translation today.
I have constantly been annoyed at the english similarities between the properties "worth" and "bulding value". When modding I've always had to doublecheck I was changing the correct value...
I noticed your German translation has "Schadenswert" for "worth", which is better!

For my swedish translation I decided to adopt the following ones:

Worth = Försäkringsvärde (Insurance Value), the cost incurred if damaged by disaster
Building Value = Taxeringsvärde (Taxation Value), the one you want to increase for more revenues

Svenska.zip

[Andreas Roth 607]

Yep, those indifferences with the English words made me creating a better German translation as well - but "Insurance Value" ("Versicherungswert") is even better! Thanks for the great idea.

[waerth 1]

Originally posted by: Andreas Roth Yeah, that could be confusing, but I guess it's by design. Just type in a name, i. e. "my_textures.dat" and click "open". This will create a new file that is opened by SC4Tool. Once you add your images for the textures, the FSHs will be saved automatically to this file.quote>

It took me 4 hours just to find this out ............. arrrghhhh

Now if someone can point me to a crash course on creating transparent overlay textures for lots I would be very very very gratefull. I already made BMP's on which the supposed to be transparent area is left white. But how to make it work ?????

Waerth

[Subgrav 32]

Sorry for jumping in here rather suddenly, but is anyone having difficulty accessing the site as well? Is it just temporary, or did something happen at simszone.de?

BTW. The SC4Tool sounds excellent, and I am quite anxious to use it. Thanks for the work!