Devs, opensource DataZip.exe?

from Elemental Forums

Hey devs,

I have previously complained about the issues that arise from putting our mods in the /mods/ folder instead of overwriting stuff in the installation directory of the game: https://forums.elementalgame.com/434780

It occurs to me that DataZip.exe is the process responsible for putting together all the XML the game reads. And reading XML is a huge part of the problems. So why not release the source code for the DataZip.exe process? That way, the modders can have a shot at fixing the problems that you haven't.

I'm sure there are all kinds of considerations to take into account which I am not aware of, but give it a thought.

4,883 views 8 replies
Reply #1 from Elemental Forums Top

I do not know system tradeoffs.  But I do know I dislike people's mods who change the 'vanilla game'  making "check use mods" near irrelevant and uninstall is more like fixing the game back to vanilla.  I also would prefer to have some way outside of copying in/erasing a mod directory to check/uncheck which mods to load.  For example, say you want to play latest version of HF's Stormworld and Gibbon Goetia one day and the next just one or the other.  (No reason I'm picking on Heaven here, other than I like his mods ) 

So what if I wanted to download new mod x and play it with already installed mod y ? 

 

Another thing I am seeing in mod forums is new mods that copy over game files.  I can tell you I am not liking this trend.  Something goes wrong, you could end up re-installing the game all over again. 

Sorry if this is different from what HF just asked. 

Reply #2 from Elemental Forums Top

It actually is a bit different. What you want is a mod manager in the game, right? Easy to select what mods you want. What I'm talking about here, what DataZip.exe does, it's the backend to the XML - how it gets put together, interpreted. Although a fixed-up DataZip.exe could potentially enable us to put all mods in /mods/, it wouldn't make it easier to manage the mods the way you speak of.

But they go hand in hand, this would just have to come before. There's no point in a mod manager as long as people are modifying the installation directory. I'm doing it too, because I have to, because of the bugs in the linked topic. I also have huge parts of the Background Unitstat mod disabled because I can't do it without putting it in the installation directory.

Sins of a Solar Empire II
Reply #3 from Elemental Forums Top

Has there been any word from Stardock on fixing the issue of modifying main files yet? I'm a bit leery of really jumping into using the mods until this gets fixed. I, like Supreme Shogun, am really concerned about possibly having to reinstall constantly. So far I've only been using the LargeUI mod, which has worked beautifully, but I'd really love to give Stormworld or Master's Affliction a whirl!

Reply #4 from Elemental Forums Top

For Stormworld, you only really need to replace 1 file in the installation directory - and I include the backup for it. The rest goes into /mods/. Or you can just play without the Rivermod and put everything else in /mods/.

Reply #5 from Elemental Forums Top

Quoting Heavenfall, reply 5
For Stormworld, you only really need to replace 1 file in the installation directory - and I include the backup for it. The rest goes into /mods/. Or you can just play without the Rivermod and put everything else in /mods/.
End of Heavenfall's quote

So playing Stormworld and a game of Vanilla back to back is only a matter of renaming 2 files then; switching modded to a backup, and the original backup back to regular filename?

Reply #6 from Elemental Forums Top

And turning mods off/on. In fact you won't even have to replace that 1 file if you turn off mods because it's not noticeable in the game.

 

Reply #7 from Elemental Forums Top

Quoting Heavenfall, reply 7
And turning mods off/on. In fact you won't even have to replace that 1 file if you turn off mods because it's not noticeable in the game.

 
End of Heavenfall's quote

Great! Thanks for the info! Think I'll give it a go. Still can't wait for a nicer system, but hey, it's not that hard having some patience.

Reply #8 from Elemental Forums Top

Yes, please, this would be a big step for the modders.   There are some coders that wouldn't mind helping out by looking at it (myself included).