TRwest script files

[DaleR]

For those of you who are taking advantage of TRwest, I think I should mention something about the script files that it creates. As mentioned in the program's documentation, you can send a script file (*.TWS) and *.TOM file to someone who also uses TRwest and from them they can build your level.

It's also important to understand that the person to whom you send the script file to MUST also have the wad files that you've used to extract your objects from! For example, if I take the jeep from the jeepchas wad, the line "32:WAD:32:jeepchas" is added to the script file. If a recipient doesn't have the jeepchas wad then the TRwest program won't be able to create the necessary wad files.

[Colin Grigson]

The other thing that I've noticed is you must add all the objects you need in one go and make your script without saving and closing TRWest. The tendency when you are building is to add something here, then three weeks later add something else. That new script won't work as what you added 3 weeks ago now shows as part of the new WAD and the original WAD info has been overwritten. I keep a notepad file to hand and everytime I add something I make a note, then before I distribute the level I use this file to remind what I put in all those months ago, so I can take it all out so I'm back to the clean WAD, then add it all back in to then create my script. Sounds long winded but if you save inbetween you will not have an accurate script and we all know what that means....yes...that's right....Lara's Pants all over your level.

Col. :eek:

[DaleR]

Agreed! The best laid plans of mice and men... sort of thing. These new programs are really neat tools, but there always seems to be drawbacks. One thing I've learned to do is document absolutely everything you do. As things progress they become even more complicated, and it becomes much easier to lose track of what you've done to what. http://www.tombraiderforums.com/images/smilies/smile.gif

[KingSpyder]

Ummm...Ever considered saving to a new file rather than overwritting the originals? Like, mylevel.was or something? That way, nothing ever gets lost. That's the way I do it, anyway, and it works great. I believe it even says something on the site about it as well.

Just a thought...

KS

[DaleR]

I guess it's what each person prefers, however I agree with you that not overwriting files is wise. As you might imagine, my work solving issues left here on the forum sends me to the drawing board a lot. I don't ever put out info that I haven't tried. My file system consists of a trle_original folder that contains the Level Editor as installed initially, trle_updated folder which is the Level Editor files after adding new levels and updates, and then my trle folder that contains all my working files. I make it a habit of not overwriting original files. As an example of how I organize things, my wads folder contains over 50 wads (all tr4 levels including TRLR and Times) as well as a Original folder that contains all the Level Editor wad files untampered with. In this way I can overwrite any of my wads with something someone sends me or with something I'm experimenting with, and then, when done, just copy the "originals" back from the Original folder. I also have folders there containing a wad that's made of just the objects to have Lara (a basic starter wad) as well as other folders with wads that I've created containing such things as the "movable block", etc. Without this type of organization, creating and downloading new files on a daily basis would soon cause my whole system to self destruct!

If you're ever considering overwriting a file, make sure you have a backup first.

Lastly, always try and name your files with names that tell you something about them. In addition to that keep a written log that goes into greater detail. And of course, a quick word about versions... I'm constantly hearing from individuals who are desparate because they've worked for weeks on a new level only to find that their last changes have made the level unloadable. If they'd just keep a copy of their level where they were say a day ago, and then one prior to that, etc.. they'd only have to backup and recreate a small amount of lost data rather than the entire level. We've all learned to save often with word processors and other software, but for some reason "gamers" like living on the edge, and this lifestyle leads to heartbreak when weeks of work goes down the drain.

I'd like to hear comments from any of you who would like to add what they do to keep their systems organized and trouble free...

As always, have fun! :D

[Colin Grigson]

Kung Spyder you're right that overwriting is not generally a good idea, but if you rename the WAD you then have to send the files that TRWesy doesn't create, *.LAR,*.CD, & *.RAW, ok none of these are particularly huge, but it does confuse the install for some peeps. I keep a TWS file for all the WADS in the original stae so I can return to them, but re-installing trle isn't too much of a bind, apart from for me atm see my Help SYSTEM files post.

Col.

[KingSpyder]

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Colin Grigson:
King Spyder you're right that overwriting is not generally a good idea, but if you rename the WAD you then have to send the files that TRWesy doesn't create, *.LAR,*.CD, & *.RAW...

The level editor makes the *.cd file when you output the *.tom file. It has to so it can keep track of the CD sounds for your level. And, according to Mike, the *.lar file isn't needed. He said he even went so far as to delete it and everything still worked. He also said that the *.raw files aren't needed apart from the pcsky.raw file. The editor will use it if none other exists for the level. If you look closely, you'll even see one level included with the editor that doesn't have it's own *.raw file.

[QUOTE]Originally posted by DaleR:
I'd like to hear comments from any of you who would like to add what they do to keep their systems organized and trouble free...

Okay, everything I create myself (project files, texture files and wad files) I keep in a folder off the root trle folder called "kingspyder" and each project has it's own folder (if you've played my level, you can see that in the install procedures).

In the "graphics" folder there are now three folders. "wads", which contains the original wads. "createdwads", which contains wads such as your "block" wad and Michaels "house" wad. I also contains one I made and reference for my other levels. It was mainly used as a test of my CAD and StrPix3 abilities. I failed miserably, so it now houses a few objects I have edited textures on that I plan to use more than one. The last folder is "convertedwads". These are simply every TR:LR and Times level converted to wad format. I found it better this way as they're alot smaller than the *.tr4 files and space is limited right now.

I also have a "3rdparty" folder off the root trle folder. This contains such programs as Trwest, StrPix2 and 3, among others.

And, finally, there's the odd "temp" folder in my various project folders that have temporary texture files gathered from all over or created by myself.

That's about it, I think http://www.tombraiderforums.com/images/smilies/smile.gif.

KS

[DaleR]

Your system sounds close to what I do. The one thing that I do like to do is keeping my "trle\graphics\wads" folder as a scratch pad. That is, since this is were the program expects to find my wad files, I click and drag any old files here, overwriting anything that's there without concern of overwriting anything. In this folder are also the "sub folders" where I keep wads that are NOT to be written over. For example, there's a folder for a basic "Lara only" wad that has not objects... only Lara. I use it as a starter. There's the "block" wad, and other wads that I use for different tutorials, etc. I also have a folder named "Original" where I go and drag its contents into the wads folder anytime I want to get back to an original (with updates) status. It's like the spokes of a wheel where everything on the outside can be drug into the center which acts as a scratch pad.

I'm using Rhino to create objects that I then import into StrPix3. I used the hints from turbo_pascals site (where StrPix3 is) and then, with the help of the techs at Rhino, am now able to bring objects into StrPix3 without too many problems. http://www.tombraiderforums.com/images/smilies/smile.gif

[KingSpyder]

I've been trying to use AutoCad to edit meshes. I've had absolutly no experience with CAD editing, but I thought I understood the basics. I'm not sure if I'm at fault or what, but almost every imported mesh caused the editor to crash. I also tried MetasequoiaLE, but I could get that to work as Turbo said. I think I don't quite understand what he said. I just can't get the objects the correct size. It's a shame as I really liked editing in that program more that AutoCad. It was alot easier. Maybe some day I'll figure it out.

KS

[ 29 April 2001: Message edited by: KingSpyder ]