How to make a Lua dat?

[Propfam 2,311]

Hello,

I've seen tons of dats with Lua file. How do I properly make such thing in the first place? I didn't find any viable option on Reader. I did find an Insert File menu. But, it doesn't support Lua files. I wish I can find more tools on the internet. Unfortunately, the down of Devotion makes everything lost and no, Evermore doesn't have more modding tools at the time of this writing.

Thanks.

[matias93 7,535]

I'm guessing that @Cyclone Boom might know some of it, as I remember you both with Cori did some Lua mods back when she was active here.

[Propfam 2,311]

18 minutes ago, matias93 said:

I'm guessing that @Cyclone Boom might know some of it, as I remember you both with Cori did some Lua mods back when she was active here.

Yes, indeed. I was there with Cori in 2020 till her and my hiatus in 2022. Since then, there's noone that focuses on Lua anymore. That's why I hope she will return, one day. Fingers crossed.

[nos.17 5,265]

Reader 1.5.4 has the best support for writing LUA files.

Here's the process:

In reader 1.5.4, choose Insert File and pick some text file with lua code (it can just be a placeholder file with some hello world code, for example). Select undefined as the file type. To correctly identify as a LUA subfile, you'll need to change the TGI. Tools → Editor → TGI, and give your new subfile a type of 0xca63e2a3 and group of 0x4a5e8ef6. Assign a random instance number. The entry type will not show as changed at this point, but if you close and reopen the file in reader you should be fine.

Alternatively, you could always copy a LUA subfile from a different file into a new file.

[Propfam 2,311]

11 hours ago, nos.17 said:

Reader 1.5.4 has the best support for writing LUA files.

Here's the process:

In reader 1.5.4, choose Insert File and pick some text file with lua code (it can just be a placeholder file with some hello world code, for example). Select undefined as the file type. To correctly identify as a LUA subfile, you'll need to change the TGI. Tools → Editor → TGI, and give your new subfile a type of 0xca63e2a3 and group of 0x4a5e8ef6. Assign a random instance number. The entry type will not show as changed at this point, but if you close and reopen the file in reader you should be fine.

Alternatively, you could always copy a LUA subfile from a different file into a new file.

I'm trying it. Wish me luck. However, I can't make the dir file. Is it okay? How do I properly make it? It seems like my Reader (also 1.5.4 and 0.9.3) is buggy.

Update: It doesn't work at all. Only BSC Funding which my script based on is working. I even double checked my Ltext and Lua file and all references are mostly valid. One screenshot says it all:

I haven't applied for a family range. That'd mean I may have to rework all of my mods, for consistency, including Cap Lifter, which could lead to possible aftermaths. Do scripts and Ltexts need a family range?

Also, how do I open a query (or even, any) UI (including Census Repository) thru news message? I've a feeling that it can be done. It's just, I don't know how to do it.

[nos.17 5,265]

11 hours ago, elfrjz said:

I'm trying it. Wish me luck. However, I can't make the dir file. Is it okay?

Yes. DIR subfiles are directories of all the compressed subfiles in a dat. You have no compressed subfiles, so no DIR is created. See the wiki for more info.

11 hours ago, elfrjz said:

Update: It doesn't work at all. Only BSC Funding which my script based on is working. I even double checked my Ltext and Lua file and all references are mostly valid. One screenshot says it all:

I unfortunately cannot help with your scripts, sorry. LUA is one of the things I've been meaning to dig into for awhile but have not head the opportunity to yet.

11 hours ago, elfrjz said:

I haven't applied for a family range. That'd mean I may have to rework all of my mods, for consistency, including Cap Lifter, which could lead to possible aftermaths. Do scripts and Ltexts need a family range?

I'm not sure what you mean by this. Are you talking about prop/building families?

Scripts and LTEXTS do not have "families". If you're talking about the Instance from the TGI, then it's best practice to just generate a random Instance ID. The chances of conflicts are incredibly improbable.

11 hours ago, elfrjz said:

Also, how do I open a query (or even, any) UI (including Census Repository) thru news message? I've a feeling that it can be done. It's just, I don't know how to do it.

Your best bet is to find a mod that does this already, and examine how it is done.