Ship Names

posted on February 11th, 2012, 7:44 pm

Hey guys, was wondering how easy it would be to take a name from one specific class to another?

To be exact, There is a warp in Excelsior called the USS Bajor, i wish to take that name away from that class and give it to Excelsior II class?

Is this hard?

Thanks

posted on February 11th, 2012, 8:01 pm

Names are added by opening the odf file then typing "Shipname" after possiblecraftnames, removing names is just deleting them from the odf.

Rather simple, though you'd have to use the FPQEdit file to extract the odfs from their archive 'ODF.FPQ' first.

posted on February 11th, 2012, 8:02 pm

Hey guys, was wondering how easy it would be to take a name from one specific class to another?

Actually there is nothing easier than that.

If you go into your Fleet-Operations-directory and open the data-folder, you should find the FPQ-editor. Open it and find the entries for the Excelsior II. Open them and find the ship names, add: "USS Bajor". That's it.
No need to take the name away from the normal Excelsior, but if you really feel like it you just need to delete the name from the ship names of the Excelsior's odf-entries.

This might help you:
Directory Organization and Introduction - The Hitchhiker's Guide to Fleet Operations

[Drewlew]

posted on February 11th, 2012, 8:16 pm

Last edited by Drewlew on February 11th, 2012, 8:19 pm, edited 1 time in total.

i've found the entries for the excelsior II in the FPQEdit but when i click any of the ODF it says cannot open search online for a program to open this?

will i have to change all the excelsior II odfs?

Edit: found out how to open this, how will i know which ODF contains the ship names?

thanks

posted on February 11th, 2012, 8:21 pm

will i have to change all the excelsior II odfs?

You should do this because it might cause problems with replaceweapons (like the self-guided quantum torpedoes). Luckily it's not as if this would be hard to do for just one name, it just takes a minute or two.

i've found the entries for the excelsior II in the FPQEdit but when i click any of the ODF it says cannot open search online for a program to open this?

FPQEdit is the archive, to open the odf itself you just need the standard MS-editor or wordpad for that matter. Just select one of those to open it and voila 

posted on February 11th, 2012, 8:25 pm

Cool, right would you mind sort of walking me through this? i dont want to mess the game up?

I have found several ODFs that have the PossibleCraftNames with the USS Bajor in for the warp in excelsior! and the other excelsiors. and its as simple as taking the Bajor out of the Normal and adding it to the others? is that correct?

posted on February 11th, 2012, 8:33 pm

Cool, right would you mind sort of walking me through this? i dont want to mess the game up?

I have found several ODFs that have the PossibleCraftNames with the USS Bajor in for the warp in excelsior! and the other excelsiors. and its as simple as taking the Bajor out of the Normal and adding it to the others? is that correct?

That's correct, although there is no need to remove any names.

And keep in mind that this change will make your game-version incompatible with those of other players online, so you won't be able to play via Tunngle unless you make a backup copy of the Fleet-Ops defaults.

posted on February 11th, 2012, 8:45 pm

thanks alot, im playing around with bits and bobs now! liking this even more!

When you hover over a yard, how do you change what it says the yard constructs?

thanks

posted on February 11th, 2012, 8:56 pm

When you hover over a yard, how do you change what it says the yard constructs?

This is done by editing tooltips.
Tooltips are found in the dynamic_localized_strings-file; each one has an ID. This ID is found in the ODF's entries for the corresponding ingame-object. Each .odf has two tooltip-ID's, one for the ingame-name of a unit (for example 'Galaxy class') and the advanced tooltip for the description, like your desired information about a yards build-options.

Look at the yard's .odf, look out for the advanced tooltip and find that one in the dynamic_localized_strings (open it with editor or wordpad or notepad, whatever you prefer). Edit the tooltip as you wish.

posted on February 11th, 2012, 9:00 pm

ok so how would i go about adding the Mckinley to the Mediteranean?

I tried adding it to the build list, this didn't work?

would you mind if you have the time talking me through this in layman terms?

thanks

posted on February 11th, 2012, 9:22 pm

adding it to the buildlist and getting it buildable in game won't make it appear in the tooltip, tooltips can say anything you like regardless of what is actually built. you have to edit the tooltip yourself.

add the mckinley yard to all the 4 fed constructors build list, not just one.

posted on February 11th, 2012, 9:28 pm

awesome will try this now.

posted on February 11th, 2012, 9:31 pm

ok so how would i go about adding the Mckinley to the Mediteranean?

I tried adding it to the build list, this didn't work?

would you mind if you have the time talking me through this in layman terms?

thanks

Adding a build-option to a yard or constructor needs (a little bit) more work.
I'm not sure but if I remember correctly, the McKinley doesn't have a buildbutton.
Layman or not, if you want to go through learning how to modify a game, this can become complicated and even very difficult (luckily that's not the case for Armada 2 and FO).

to make a new build-option work there are three important entries to make:

You want to add a station to the Mediterranean:

builditem12 = "fed_mckinley_yard.odf"
(Important: There are several .odf's for the Mediterranean, one for Mayson's and one for Risner's, hence the Y  and the  Z so you can either add it to all or to one specific avatar)

In the tech1.tt (techtree-folder):

check if there's the entry fed_mckinley_yard.odf 0, if there's none, create it.

for the build-button: the McKinley doesn't have one; you can either create one if you have the tools (I never did that and cannot help) or you take an existing one. I recommend the button for warpins (simple SF insignia) so I'll take it for the example:

go to the sprites-folder, open gui_global.spr with editor or whatever.

Code: Select all

b_fed_mckinley_yard   all_interface_buttons03   312   208   96   96      #   4   3

If you're fine with using the existing warpin-button for now, just copy and paste this line between the other b_fed_whatever lines. It should work. Save the file and close.


If you complete this checklist, start the game and test it.

posted on February 11th, 2012, 9:54 pm

omg your amazing!! It worked a treat, and wasnt that hard!!!

The tool tip thing? how do i stop the mckinley station saying it builds the ships that i have removed?


thanks

posted on February 11th, 2012, 9:56 pm

[quote="Myles"]
adding it to the buildlist and getting it buildable in game won't make it appear in the tooltip, tooltips can say anything you like regardless of what is actually built. you have to edit the tooltip yourself.

How do i edit the tool tips??

thanks