Adding new research - what am I missing ?

I'm trying to add 2 new research buttons to TEC.

For the life of me, I cannot get these to appear.

I can get the new ones to replace existing ones by renaming the new files to an existing name.

I'm changing the position codes to empty spaces, as far as I'm aware, but nothing seems to work.

I've added them to playertech and changed the counter to 103 from 101.

What am I missing ?
7,937 views 12 replies
Reply #1 Top
What positions are you trying to add them to, and in which tree?
Reply #2 Top
TEC Civilian.

I've tried 4,2/5,2 ; 3,1/4,1 ; and 6,1/7,1.

Essentially trying to get them just below the shield generator, but in 2 adjacent empty spots.
Reply #3 Top
Well, [3,1] and [4,1] are the right ones for the 2 blanks right below, definitely. Did you set the block number to 1? And research type non-combat?
Reply #4 Top
Yes and yes.

What is "Tier" ?

Do the file names need to include "TECH" ?

Is there any significance about where in the list of research in playertech the new ones go ? I added them on the bottom.

Is it possible that 101 is the limit ?
Reply #5 Top
What is "Tier" ?

Number of labs needed -1, I think. (Not home so not sure.)

Is it possible that 101 is the limit ?

Other mods have added research techs.
Reply #6 Top
It has to be something incedably simple I'm missing.

As I said, if I paste the gate research code into the shield generator file names, it seems to work, but not when I add new research.

So something is missing that ties research to the display screen. Something beyond listing it in playertech.

Anyone ?
Reply #7 Top
Booting up in case someone can help who hasnt spotted the thread yet.
Reply #8 Top
It has to be something incedably simple I'm missing.As I said, if I paste the gate research code into the shield generator file names, it seems to work, but not when I add new research. So something is missing that ties research to the display screen. Something beyond listing it in playertech.Anyone ?


Apricotslice,
I'll see if I can help you here. Here is the short, short version of how to create a new research and have it appear in the research screen:

Copy an existing research, hopefully one that is like the one you are trying to make.
Give it a custom filename.
Then, put that name in the research area of the player file, and update the count number.
Then open up your new research.
Edit the string info, and add the new info, along with new in game name and description to the String file and update the count and save.
Then edit the research file to have it located in the right spot on the grid using the coordinate system, remembering it is an X,Y system, and 0,0 is the starting left top corner of the research field grid.
Once you have done all this, save, and test in the game. Your new tech should now appear for that race.

Please let me know if you need any more help.

DANMAN
Reply #9 Top
Edit the string info, and add the new info, along with new in game name and description to the String file and update the count and save.


Ok, that didnt quite make sense, and therefore is probably the bit I've missed.

What I'm trying to do is add the phase gate to the TEC. I've duplicated and renamed all the files and added the research to playertech.

What exactly is the "string info" and where do I find it ?

It could be quite as simple as the program wont allow 2 researches to have the same name.

Edit :

Existing game crashed during load.
New game ran until the moment I moused over the 2 new icons, and then crashed. However, the icons were there but did not have any picture.

So something is still wrong, but its a step forward.

Do the icon names need to match the file names by any chance ?

Reply #10 Top
How exactly did you try doing it? The easiest would be to just duplicate the Phase Gate research, rename it, and just change its position to fit where you want it. You shouldn't need to change strings or anything else because it's already the way it's supposed to be.
Reply #11 Top
Thats what I did initially. The research does not show up.

When I changed the strings names, the research shows up, but not correctly, just as a grey box, an mousing over it crashes the game.

Seems to indicate the strings also need to be unique, but there is a naming convention connecting the string and the icon.
Reply #12 Top
Update :

The stringID's needed to be unique to show up the icons on the research screen.

AND

The english.str file in the String directory had to have those new stringids added to a copied version of the string directory under the mod.

Having done that, the research shows up, it runs, the icons are available to build and it builds :)

All I need do now is stay alive long enough to actually get a node active and make a live jump. :(