A Bid To Stop Addons Been Released As WAD Files

My cars.wad file had been changed all over the place with the addons I downloaded. Now I want to use Vipers 2001 carset update which comes as cars.wad for "easy installation". The only problem is that when I overwrite my old cars.wad I will loose all my changes, and I'll have to go back and add all my other downloads to the file. I did think of extracting both and comparing the file dates, but WAD files do not hold file dates so when they are extracted all the files have the same date.

I would like to see all addons really made available as TEX files to make things easy in the long run for people like me.

I think we could do with a program though (hint hint ) which compares all the files in 2 WADS pixel by pixel so you know which files have been changed.

Wadda ya think?

ok,

tell me the requirements of this program (btw where the hints to me? :P) and ill start delphi

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oh, btw, i think ure right, all carsets should be in tex format and the tex editor availible (hint James, yes you :P) should be able to load it be double clicking the tex file (want code?, im in a good mood...)


register the C4C files:

Reg := TRegistry.Create;
Reg.RootKey := HKey_Classes_Root;
Reg.OpenKey('\.C4C\', True);
Reg.WriteString('', 'C4C';
Reg.CloseKey;
Reg.OpenKey('\C4C\', True);
Reg.WriteString('', 'Carset Creator 4 Carset';
Reg.CloseKey;
Reg.OpenKey('\C4C\DefaultIcon', True);
Reg.WriteString('', Application.ExeName + ' ,1';
Reg.CloseKey;
Reg.OpenKey('\C4C\Shell\open\command', True);
Reg.WriteString('', Application.ExeName + ' %1';
Reg.CloseKey;
Reg.Free;

load CSC4, and load carset:

for i:=1 to ParamCount do
if FileExists(ParamStr(i)) then
Begin
Timer2.Enabled := False;

WadDecompiled := True;

if not FileExists(GP4Path + '\cars.wad' then
if not InputQuery(Lang.TranslateUserMessage('DialogGP4Folder', Lang.TranslateUserMessage('GP4Folder', GP4Path) then
Application.Terminate;

GP4Dir.Text := GP4Path;

.
.
<
>
<
>
.
.

LoadCarset(ZipMaster1, ParamStr(i));
Exit;
end;



even tho he doesnt come to this forum, but, oh well :P (btw, no ure not getting any more csc4 code :P)

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You really want the requirments for my program idea? If your serious I'll happily give you them

send now, send send sned :P

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Hello Neil, why so complicated?
Simply rename the cars. wad file to "my_best_cars.wad" or something. Then copy the new downloaded cars.wad file into your GP4 folder. If you want to change back, remame the new downloaded file to "download_Viper20001.wad´" (or whatever) and rename your old file to cars.wad again.



--------------------------------------
Staff of grandprixgames.org 2000 - 2003

but i think he wants lots of carsets put into one

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I found it much easier to have a wad file...much easier to install!

I think you mis understood me

What I'd like is a program that takes 2 WAD files: 1 that is in your game and the 1 that you downloaded.

First it extracts them to temp directories. Then it opens up each TEX file from each WAD in order and compares them pixel colour by pixel colour. If the pixels match is both files the WAD you downloaded doesnt contain an update from the one your playing with. If the pixels dont match the TEX file from the WAD in your game is replaced with the TEX file from the WAD you downloaded.

Sounds kinda complicated I know, but the idea then is so when addons are supplied as WADS you can just extract the files that have changed from the WAD file that you are currently using.

Erm, now comming to think of it, that probably makes no sense at all

ok, 339 (or is it 399?) texes in the cars.wad file, each is about 256*256,

1 pixel will take about 1 millisecond (1000 = 1 second)

*getting a calculator*

1 tex file at 256*256 size will take 65.536 seconds

* 339 tex files at 256*256 (i know, it a bit off coz some of them are smaller)

/60 seconds in a min = 370 minits,

/4 for when i stuff in the optimized code:

92 minits,

it will be less because not all the files are 256*256,

take a guess at the reall time:

46 mins



but...


the anim.wad has about 1411 tex files (you do the math)

ill try it, if it takes more then 4 mins then sorry, but you need to think of another way

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Hmm, I didnt realise it would take so long to do that. But what you have to remember is that if a pixel doesnt match the rest of the pixels dont need to be scanned because the file has changed so it will always be a bit less.

ok, ill make a version tonight

ill make it as optimized as poss

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Jon just sent me preview pic of the program, looking good :D






Racing Is Life. Anything that happens before or after is just waiting
Jesus may be able to heal the sick and bring the dead back to life, but he can't do shît for low fps

Hmm, you can maybe also only check create or modify date of tex files inside the wad if they are saved when they are wadded...

but if i d/l a file, doesnt the creation date state when i downloaded it, not when the orgional was made by the author?




Racing Is Life. Anything that happens before or after is just waiting
Jesus may be able to heal the sick and bring the dead back to life, but he can't do shît for low fps

Sadly the WAD files dont contain the date when they created

nore do the tex files, because when thery decompiled the util creates a new file

btw, try this

[carsetcreator.grandprix-x.com]

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That prog is excellent, a lot better than I ever thought it would be!

Do you think it would be possible to make it list the files along with the directory they are in? Might make things a lot easier. Also, a tex viewer would be nice so when you click a file that has changed it shows you a preview of it?

I think you have really done an excellent job. It seemed to be whipping through files like nobodys business when I gave it ago!

Thanks

hi,
ok, it takes about 3-4 mins on my pc (thats when every file is the same)

you see that big blank erea? thats for the viewer, but it wasnt working properly so i disabled it.

seariously, is this good? and does it do what you want?

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Seems to work Jon