SimCity 4 Launcher - Updated (10/09/15) 1.5.4b - R12

[giltirn 0]

Hi,

 

This looks like a great tool but unfortunately it does not seem to work for me. I am running Simcity 4 Deluxe (Steam) on Windows 7 64-bit. When I click 'launch' I get the error 'Steam Error: Application load error 5:0000065434'. Any idea what might be causing this?

 

Thanks

[Logic_Bomb 86]

Hi,

 

This looks like a great tool but unfortunately it does not seem to work for me. I am running Simcity 4 Deluxe (Steam) on Windows 7 64-bit. When I click 'launch' I get the error 'Steam Error: Application load error 5:0000065434'. Any idea what might be causing this?

 

Thanks

Unfortunately, due to the nature of how steam operates, I do not see a quick and easy fix for this. This tool is mainly intended for the stand-alone version of the game, it has not been tested with steam, as I do not have a steam copy to hand. My apologies for this.

Regards,

Logic_

[Logic_Bomb 86]

Sorry for the double post.
 

SC4Launcher has now been update to R5, Check OP for updates & Download links.

 

Regards,

 

Logic_

[Mr_Maison 2,426]

It does not change anything.  Just makes it easier to set up your command line.  It is really for people who think of their machine as a home appliance and don't want to be bothered even slightly with the guts.

 

I hope you have -CPUcount:1  That's a colon not an equal sign.

 

Run DirectX (hardware mode) since OpenGL doesn't work.  If you are having graphics trouble look here for answers.

Thanks. I just checked my exe and I did put a colon there. Just typed it wrong in my post....sorry.

[rivit 3,404]

@logic_bomb

 

Nice work on this executable, for me it makes the fullscreen graphics tenable again. 

I'm running SC4 in a XPSP3, AMD HD 6670, Dell 4:3 Trinitron CRT environment, and while I had had already added the card to the drivers list, this has improved performance - its smoother. I do note that I didn't have scrolling problems before, but enabling the force fix does affect redraw negatively for me - wont refresh everything without scrolling.

 

a couple of notes :

1. Could you put a version number on the GUI and in the EXE please - this is good programming practice and surely helps keep track of versions.

2. Bug? In my setup it does not enumerate all of the display modes I can use manually - in particular I cannot select 1600x1200x32 which is the largest size I can play without blowing up the machine.

 

From my Catalyst I get the following list of available modes in 32bit; behind their ratio and after that whether launcher displays them.

 

640x480       4:3   missing but Logical its too small

800x600       4:3   OK

1024x768     4:3   OK

1152x864     4:3   OK

1200x720     5:3   missing

1280x768     5:3   missing

1280x800     8:5   OK

1280x960     4:3   missing

1280x1024   5:4   OK

1360x768    85:48 OK

1360x1024  85:64  missing

1366x768    16:9   OK

1440x900    16:10 OK

1600x900    16:9   OK

1600x1200    4:3   Missing

1680x1050  16:10 OK

1920x1080  16:9   OK

1920x1200  16:10 Missing

 

  I dont know if this is by design or some quirk of the operating system - all other methods I have, Catalyst, Control panel, DX Caps Viewer etc show all of these modes.

 

  regards Ron

 

 

 

[MorningLemon 0]

Great add for the SC4 community, thanks.

 

Just as TheSwede found this bugs:

 

Win 7 64bit version.

 

 

Error assigning the File Handle. #EC0

Line 0 Failed to write to file. Please report this bug. #EC1

Failed to close this file Handle. #EC2

Same errors, but works good. Using Win7 64bit also.

[Transporte 6]

Great add for the SC4 community, thanks.

 

Just as TheSwede found this bugs:

 

Win 7 64bit version.

 

 

Error assigning the File Handle. #EC0

Line 0 Failed to write to file. Please report this bug. #EC1

Failed to close this file Handle. #EC2

Same errors, but works good. Using Win7 64bit also.

 

It also gives me the same error but works

[rivit 3,404]

Logic_bomb :

 

at the risk of being a pest I have done some more experiments with this code. I have to say I'm less enthusastic than before. Nevertheless please see

these comments as an attempt to improve the product - there are a lot of people who have downloaded it

 

1. Ultimately it cannot stop the 32bit gfx mode being overridden in full screen - this seems to be entirely in the SC4.exe. This is a pity as the undithered 16bit look is terrible esp. at night. This is a known limitation at least for ATI cards afaik, and I have never seen a solution to this.

 

2. I believe the Graphics Rules.sgr file written to disk is faulty - I have compared it to the original on my installation and in the "Radeon" section

it has an #end line which completely unbalances the rule/end pairs thus affecting the logic. This means that running SC4 afterwards without the launcher may not work correctly for particularly non-radeon cards. And it has failed on my machine.

 

3. The Launcher clobbers any Graphics Rules.sgr changes made by a user (manually) without warning (it should perhaps save a previous version).

 

4. Could you please explain what actually happens to require the rewrite of the Graphics Rules.sgr file in order to get the effects you are aiming for.

 

I ask because the Launcher no longer results in the same config.txt result (a log in the Simcity 4/app directory) as I had before - in particular the "fast card" rules are no longer applied. The HD6670 is fast enough by 2003 standards to be fast. (let alone a 7970). This means a number of recommendations are not upped at runtime and some subsequent settings are different. If this is true for my card then there may be others many times more powerful for which this is true too.  Which settings are affected?  While SC4 is really not a heavy graphics beast by todays standards every bit of work that can be handed to the gfx card helps balance the machine.

 

5. The exe is almost 4 times larger than SC4 itself - this seems rather a lot given its essentially an exec call of SC4 with parameters. Its a heavy price for the return at this stage. Is it possible that unessential code is being included in the compile?

 

 I think the Launcher is a good idea with a lot of potential,

 cheers Ron

[Logic_Bomb 86]

@logic_bomb

 

Nice work on this executable, for me it makes the fullscreen graphics tenable again. 

I'm running SC4 in a XPSP3, AMD HD 6670, Dell 4:3 Trinitron CRT environment, and while I had had already added the card to the drivers list, this has improved performance - its smoother. I do note that I didn't have scrolling problems before, but enabling the force fix does affect redraw negatively for me - wont refresh everything without scrolling.

 

a couple of notes :

1. Could you put a version number on the GUI and in the EXE please - this is good programming practice and surely helps keep track of versions.

2. Bug? In my setup it does not enumerate all of the display modes I can use manually - in particular I cannot select 1600x1200x32 which is the largest size I can play without blowing up the machine.

 

From my Catalyst I get the following list of available modes in 32bit; behind their ratio and after that whether launcher displays them.

 

640x480       4:3   missing but Logical its too small

800x600       4:3   OK

1024x768     4:3   OK

1152x864     4:3   OK

1200x720     5:3   missing

1280x768     5:3   missing

1280x800     8:5   OK

1280x960     4:3   missing

1280x1024   5:4   OK

1360x768    85:48 OK

1360x1024  85:64  missing

1366x768    16:9   OK

1440x900    16:10 OK

1600x900    16:9   OK

1600x1200    4:3   Missing

1680x1050  16:10 OK

1920x1080  16:9   OK

1920x1200  16:10 Missing

 

  I dont know if this is by design or some quirk of the operating system - all other methods I have, Catalyst, Control panel, DX Caps Viewer etc show all of these modes.

 

  regards Ron

Hey Ron, Thanks for the feedback. The version info is a very good point, and you are completely correct, it is good practice and is usually something I would do, I will have this fixed in the next release. In regards to the screen resolutions; I implemented the most common resolutions according to the late 2012 statistics, But I will add the few you said were missing as there is no real reason for them not to be there.

 

Logic_bomb :

 

at the risk of being a pest I have done some more experiments with this code. I have to say I'm less enthusastic than before. Nevertheless please see

these comments as an attempt to improve the product - there are a lot of people who have downloaded it

 

1. Ultimately it cannot stop the 32bit gfx mode being overridden in full screen - this seems to be entirely in the SC4.exe. This is a pity as the undithered 16bit look is terrible esp. at night. This is a known limitation at least for ATI cards afaik, and I have never seen a solution to this.

 

2. I believe the Graphics Rules.sgr file written to disk is faulty - I have compared it to the original on my installation and in the "Radeon" section

it has an #end line which completely unbalances the rule/end pairs thus affecting the logic. This means that running SC4 afterwards without the launcher may not work correctly for particularly non-radeon cards. And it has failed on my machine.

 

3. The Launcher clobbers any Graphics Rules.sgr changes made by a user (manually) without warning (it should perhaps save a previous version).

 

4. Could you please explain what actually happens to require the rewrite of the Graphics Rules.sgr file in order to get the effects you are aiming for.

 

I ask because the Launcher no longer results in the same config.txt result (a log in the Simcity 4/app directory) as I had before - in particular the "fast card" rules are no longer applied. The HD6670 is fast enough by 2003 standards to be fast. (let alone a 7970). This means a number of recommendations are not upped at runtime and some subsequent settings are different. If this is true for my card then there may be others many times more powerful for which this is true too.  Which settings are affected?  While SC4 is really not a heavy graphics beast by todays standards every bit of work that can be handed to the gfx card helps balance the machine.

 

5. The exe is almost 4 times larger than SC4 itself - this seems rather a lot given its essentially an exec call of SC4 with parameters. Its a heavy price for the return at this stage. Is it possible that unessential code is being included in the compile?

 

 I think the Launcher is a good idea with a lot of potential,

 cheers Ron

Hmmm, I have never noticed anything with the Color Depth being over-ridden with my 7870... I will look into this further, but if it is a known issue, you may well be correct, but non-the-less, the main fix that this applies to is the graphical (re-draw) limit, in which SC4 limits the frames being drawn whilst scrolling, due to a bug in early ATI drivers, my launcher only edits 3 lines in the Graphics Rules.sgr file:

Line 581: property noPartialBackingStoreCopies true

Line 584: property dirtyRectMergeFrames 8

Line 589: option $Cursor $CursorBW

These are the only 3 lines that are changed by the Launcher, everything else is a default Graphics Rules file as Generated by SimCity 4 on installation. Removing these three lines results in the game correctly drawing frames when scrolling.

You are completely correct, the launcher does clobber any user changes within the Graphics Rules. I hope to resolve this within the next update.

I have explained above what happens.

The EXE is this size because it is written in FPC (ObjPascal) using Lazarus and the built in LCL (Widget-Set/Window Framework), as a result, it produces bigger a bigger executable than most other languages, but then, most other languages rely on an external framework to handle Form (Window) creation, Qt for some languages like C++ & C and the .Net framwork for Visual Basic & C#. Although producing a larger EXE seems silly, I see it as better than having to include masses of DLLs or relying on the User to install a specific framework (such as; Qt or .Net).

Thank you so much for your feedback and queries, I am looking into the issues you specified and I hope I have cleared some points up for you.

Thanks & Regards,

Logic_

[A Nonny Moose 8,262]

I wouldn't worry too much about the size of the executable if it is self-contained.  However, I've always believe that people who use Pascal get their Nicklaus Wirth.

[rivit 3,404]

Thanks Logic,

On the screen res - the 1600x1200 and 1920x1200 are probably the most important - there are many new 1920x1200 monitors.

 

Thanks for going a long way to explaining what it does. Those settings are all in the "Radeon" section of GraphicsRules - its the line after the cursor line 589 that has the commented end (#end) I mentioned before.

 

So I surmise you remove (or comment out) those lines (always?), write the file, submit the SC4.exe then replace the file - and then everything scrolls as planned, and the graphics file is back to standard. If this is what you do then the EC0,1, and 2 errors that people have logged under Win7,64 may be caused by asynchronous access to that Graphics file, before SC4 is finished with locking it. So it still works for the game, but it cant replace the file with the standard version. That is checkable by various means.

I retrospect I was heavy handed on the exe size - your point is quite valid - the other frameworks aren't lightweight either. They are usually already on the machine. Maybe java would be the lightest for this task available for all environments. I'm pleased you made the exe in the first case, as it brings into question all aspects of the Graphics Rules and Graphics Cards files which have remained untouched for years. We are now many new cards and OSs later.

 

thanks for now - I need to reflect on what effect that edit has on other settings. For instance the dirtyRectMergeFrames can profitably be as low as 2 on fast cards.

 

Ron

[jlouhill 0]

Love it. As others have mentioned I too get the same three error codes:

#ECO

#EC1

#EC2

 

I just click ok three times and it launches.

[Blade! 0]

Does this work with NAM - should I install this mod or NAM first, or does it matter?

[Metalpuritan 161]

The release of the Launcher was extremely fortuitous.  I JUST did a complete fresh re-install and added this application for it.  I installed it and it works absolutely flawlessly.  I thought for sure I would have to get a .dll file or two to go along with it because I am running Windows 7, but no, it works beautifully.

 

I gave you a 5/5 stars.  Perfect is perfect.  

 

I have been playing this game with two big fat ugly black bands on either side of my game window for so long that, looking at a full screen window at high resolution is like seeing the light at the end of the tunnel.  The game even runs more smooth than before too.

 

I definitely recommend EVERYONE who plays this game to get this(unless you are technically savvy enough to have already overcome the vista/win7/win8 incompatability issues yourself).

 

I just can't say enough good things about this application.

[Crashbanito 0]

This launcher is worth it for the auto-save features alone!  One thing that would be a great addition would be the ability for the launcher to remember if I've checked auto-save or not.  I'd love to be able to just load this up and play without ticking auto-save every time.

 

Also, this is a bit of a stretch, but it'd be nice to have a separate executable that just quick launches the game with all the options that were configured in this launcher previously.  As you can tell, I'm all about speed an efficiency. 

[skylerracer23 71]

hey nice work, I used it a couple of times until I found out you didnt have this tag as an option: -IgnoreMissingModelDataBugs (aka: removes brown boxes with) still a great program tho.

[buzzit 31]

this is really nice but unfortunately the version i have is the steam 1 so i quess i have to wait for a solution for that.

[A Nonny Moose 8,262]

Does this work with NAM - should I install this mod or NAM first, or does it matter?

The NAM is a mod.  This tool is an external program.  Generally speaking all mods consist of data and have nothing to do with the way you start your game.  The only danger with the NAM is that you might have another mod that is incompatible with it (very rare).

 

There is nothing magic about using parameters on the command line.  The only requirement is that they be 100% correct.  this program is an aid to that end.

 

Custom content like the NAM is only present after the game has been loaded.  These are two separate environments.

[dopetrailer 0]

Good little tool, liking especially the autosaving feature. 

I have the Steam version of SC4 Deluxe, and it the tool worked fine, before I swapped the install of the game to another drive with Steam. Installed this tool again and get the Steam error "application load error 5:0000065434".

[Horkster 1]

Love it. As others have mentioned I too get the same three error codes:

#ECO

#EC1

#EC2

 

I just click ok three times and it launches.

 

Same with mine (Win 7 Pro 64 bit) ... click off them prompts and it works.   Always get the UAC prompt when launching the launcher, though.

 

Good program, but I find the only feature that I'm really after is the auto-save, as I'm not intimidated with shortcut target mods.  As a CTD veteran, that auto-save's a mighty handy feature. 

 

However, if I just needed that function only, is there something that can be added to the shortcut target that would enable an auto save?  Or is there an auto-save mod somewhere out there. 

 

If not, I believe I read somewhere that there's a mod that has an advisor pop up every so often to remind you to save.  If so, I'd appreciate that link.  

 

Thanks!

[ShadowVFX 0]

I'm having a repeating issue. It happened with your initial release and I'm having the same issue with the latest version.

 

I have the stand alone SC4 Delux installed to "G:\SimCity\SimCity 4". Here's the settings I have selected (though I get the same errors universally):

 

 

Here's the errors I get:

[zspringer 0]

I downloaded through Steam, but I do not have to launch Steam to run the game.

 

I do not have the SimCity 4.exe file in the SC4 folder (I have deluxe).

 

The SC4 Launcher can't find that .exe because I don't have that .exe on my computer anywhere.

 

Any fix for this for me, or is it just a lost cause here?

 

Thanks. Looks like it would be incredibly helpful for those with whom it is compatible.

[Turjan 1,048]

I downloaded through Steam, but I do not have to launch Steam to run the game.

 

I do not have the SimCity 4.exe file in the SC4 folder (I have deluxe).

 

The SC4 Launcher can't find that .exe because I don't have that .exe on my computer anywhere.

 

For the Steam game, the exe is in your steam library. On my computer, that would be E:\SteamLibrary\SteamApps\common\SimCity 4 Deluxe\Apps\Simcity4.exe. Your path may differ, but should be the same from "SteamApps" on.

 

If you cannot use the launcher, just add the startup options to the link in your online Steam library.

[zzqzzq_zzq 0]

WRT to the

 

Error assigning the File Handle. #EC0

Line 0 Failed to write to file. Please report this bug. #EC1

Failed to close this file Handle. #EC2

 

I found removing the read-only attribute from "Graphics Rules.sgr" took care of them for me.

 

(Win7/64bit)

[zspringer 0]

I downloaded through Steam, but I do not have to launch Steam to run the game.

 

I do not have the SimCity 4.exe file in the SC4 folder (I have deluxe).

 

The SC4 Launcher can't find that .exe because I don't have that .exe on my computer anywhere.

 

For the Steam game, the exe is in your steam library. On my computer, that would be E:\SteamLibrary\SteamApps\common\SimCity 4 Deluxe\Apps\Simcity4.exe. Your path may differ, but should be the same from "SteamApps" on.

 

If you cannot use the launcher, just add the startup options to the link in your online Steam library.

 

Just checked in the SteamApps and common and SimCity 4 Deluxe folders and cannot find the .exe file.

 

I have the application in it but not the .exe. I tried routing the SC4 to that folder and it still could not find the .exe.

[Turjan 1,048]

 

I downloaded through Steam, but I do not have to launch Steam to run the game.

 

I do not have the SimCity 4.exe file in the SC4 folder (I have deluxe).

 

The SC4 Launcher can't find that .exe because I don't have that .exe on my computer anywhere.

 

For the Steam game, the exe is in your steam library. On my computer, that would be E:\SteamLibrary\SteamApps\common\SimCity 4 Deluxe\Apps\Simcity4.exe. Your path may differ, but should be the same from "SteamApps" on.

 

If you cannot use the launcher, just add the startup options to the link in your online Steam library.

 

Just checked in the SteamApps and common and SimCity 4 Deluxe folders and cannot find the .exe file.

 

I have the application in it but not the .exe. I tried routing the SC4 to that folder and it still could not find the .exe.

 

You didn't mention the "Apps" folder within the "Simcity 4 Deluxe" folder (see my full path in the last post). There are four files in there, one of them the exe. You have "show extensions" switched on in your Windows, I hope. Also, what do you mean with a distinction between the application and the exe?

[A Nonny Moose 8,262]

1.  Turn on view extensions.

2.  Use windows explorer and do a find for SimCity 4.exe.  It has to be there.

[omnimutant 2]

So then can I get a clarification, this does work with steam so long as it's pointed to the correct place? If so "excellent"! I've been waiting for something like this to come along. Maybe now I can dump my extremely long shortcut string back to default.

[zspringer 0]

 

 

I downloaded through Steam, but I do not have to launch Steam to run the game.

 

I do not have the SimCity 4.exe file in the SC4 folder (I have deluxe).

 

The SC4 Launcher can't find that .exe because I don't have that .exe on my computer anywhere.

 

For the Steam game, the exe is in your steam library. On my computer, that would be E:\SteamLibrary\SteamApps\common\SimCity 4 Deluxe\Apps\Simcity4.exe. Your path may differ, but should be the same from "SteamApps" on.

 

If you cannot use the launcher, just add the startup options to the link in your online Steam library.

 

Just checked in the SteamApps and common and SimCity 4 Deluxe folders and cannot find the .exe file.

 

I have the application in it but not the .exe. I tried routing the SC4 to that folder and it still could not find the .exe.

 

You didn't mention the "Apps" folder within the "Simcity 4 Deluxe" folder (see my full path in the last post). There are four files in there, one of them the exe. You have "show extensions" switched on in your Windows, I hope. Also, what do you mean with a distinction between the application and the exe?

 

Ok so I was being an idiot before. The .exe is right there. I think I was doubting it was there because I have installed SC4Launcher straight to that directory and it still does not launch. 

 

Once installed, a new folder appears inside my Apps folder within SimCity 4 Deluxe. The new folder, named SimCity 4, contains the SC4Launcher app and whatnot. So I know I am installing it correctly. 

 

Am I doing something wrong or does my computer just really not want to run this app?

[Turjan 1,048]

Once installed, a new folder appears inside my Apps folder within SimCity 4 Deluxe. The new folder, named SimCity 4, contains the SC4Launcher app and whatnot. So I know I am installing it correctly. 

 

Am I doing something wrong or does my computer just really not want to run this app?

 

You are doing something wrong, yes (The written word sometimes loses the joke, but I'm just having fun taking up your phrase from above ). The SC4Launcher.exe. and other files should be directly in the root Simcity 4 Deluxe folder. For me, it works.

 

The nicest aspect about it for me is, because I have an ATI card, the "Force Redraw" feature. No missing props while scrolling on a large map anymore .