LarryG on 4/9/2014 at 07:05
Wiser heads than mine may have a better explanation for the different config files. I believe it is for the logical segregation of classes of configuration options. Sure it could be done in one file, but for unknown (to me) historical reasons it wasn't. There are configuration parameters in cam.cfg which "INCLUDE" the other .cfg files.
Code:
; general configs
include_user_cfg user.cfg
editor_include_dromed_cfg dromed.cfg
; game specific paths/configs
dark_include_install_cfg darkinst.cfg
shock_include_install_cfg install.cfg
So I suppose you could eliminate that and put everything into cam.cfg and dark.cfg. But I wouldn't recommend that. Among other things, when you get into trouble and ask for help, the people trying to help you will assume a standard setup.
You should just bite the bullet and learn what each .cfg (and setting within each .cfg) does and why you want that to happen. Once you have it set to your satisfaction you can pretty much ignore it. There is a LOT of flexibility built into this to try and enable game play and mission development on just about any Windows (or Windows emulated) platform.
To the best of my knowledge, NewDark 1.22 does not mess with its own configuration files. You should NOT be using any version of Thief or Dromed prior to 1.18, and you really should only use 1.22 unless you have a jolly good reason. 1.22 is the most stable and capable version to date.
AntiMatter_16 on 4/9/2014 at 08:02
Quote Posted by margotbean
It took me an entire Sunday to realize that "portalizing" and "optimizing" an FM I was looking at in Dromed 1.03 had changed my thief 2 install config files... and completely broke the installation of the game and the editor! That should not be possible. Ugh!!
I don't see how that is possible, honestly. Portalizing builds the level geometry from the Operation Primitives to create the 3D terrain. Optimizing is the same process, only it takes longer because it reduces poly and cell counts. It doesn't have anything to do with the game installation paths.
Did you install an FM using DarkLoader? It extracts the FM to the root directory, and overrides the original game, so only that FM will play until you uninstall it with Darkloader, or delete it manually.
Newdark comes with it's own FM Selector, which can be enabled in fm.ini, and it runs an instance of DromEd or Thief with it's own temporary paths setup to point to the FM, which is typically installed in .\Thief\FMs
There are plenty of people here that are glad to help if you have questions. It's always good to see another taffer try his or her hand at editing. =)
Yandros on 4/9/2014 at 11:52
To second AM_16's words, it should be impossible for portalizing or optimizing a mission in Dromed to do anything to any of your .cfg files. Also, we're delighted to have a new Dromeder in the ranks and will help you out however you need it. As to why LGS spread the configuration throughout multiple files, I've always wondered that too but we'd have to ask some of the old devs why they did it that way.
I'm also a programmer, I used to work in C/C++ years ago but have moved to web development in recent years. These days I spend most of my time with Javascript/jQuery, HTML and CSS, and have dabbled in Ruby/Rails and Backbone as well.
john9818a on 5/9/2014 at 14:00
Dromed 1.18 is the only official update from LGS so a Google search for newer updates would probably result in nothing found. The only place I have found a link to NewDark was in a threeas in the Thief Fan Mission forum.
margotbean on 6/9/2014 at 19:02
AntiMatter_16: I use FMSel... I think that comes with the NewDark patch, but cannot remember anymore. You probably know better than I do. The .zip files are extracted into their own folder, and I agree, it should not be possible. I wouldn't swear in a court of law that that's exactly what happened, but that's the way I remember it. Something about running DromEd changed one of the .cfg files, and I reinstalled everything before I figured out the problem... :P
Yandros: Salute to my fellow programmer! Thank you for the kind words, and kudos for having programmed professionally in C++. I always wanted to, but was stuck working in Delphi. :(
john9818a: Yep, the only place to find any good info about DromEd is through the ttlg forums search... but I didn't know to search for "NewDark", I searched for "DromEd"... I wasn't aware that NewDark updated DromEd... I think the only place to find that out is inside the NewDark documentation! ...Or, as you said, these forums. If you're having a lucky day. And it's the first day of the 4th month with a new moon and a horseshoe over your door....
Thanks all! I really appreciate the advice! Hugs to you!
