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Hiya Apolyton.
This is a little set of Batch files I put together to swap files around. I have it currently set up for Smax, but is very generalized. IE, you could use it for any application that you want two versions of, if those differences are only in their files or file structures.
{Edit: I'd like to point out the best feature I think: The ability to have two launchers for the same application. Each one checks to see if it's version is installed and if not, does fileswapping and launches. If it is the current app, it just launches the app. Maybe trivial, but handy }
I hope it is extremely easy to use. That's the idea. Just dump in the files you want to have swapped into the 'modswaps' folder, install, and then you can run either the vanilla version or the mod.
It is somewhat robust. IE, it keeps track of all the changes it makes and has a little bit of error checking. It's written in DOS, so is easy to follow, if you'd like to see the code. And yes, I do know about CivSwap, Fileswapper, and Modswapper. But all these things are for specifics (I haven't actually checked out Modswapper b/c it wouldn't install for me).
I'd like to know if/how it works on various Windows versions. I did try to keep the DOS commands universal. We shall see. Right now I know it works in Win ME. And yes, I know ME is stinky.
Here's the readme from this release:
I'll upload a version with Aldebaran to the Aldebaran release thread shortly. It's all ready to go!
-S
Took down the uploads while I fix something...
This is a little set of Batch files I put together to swap files around. I have it currently set up for Smax, but is very generalized. IE, you could use it for any application that you want two versions of, if those differences are only in their files or file structures.
{Edit: I'd like to point out the best feature I think: The ability to have two launchers for the same application. Each one checks to see if it's version is installed and if not, does fileswapping and launches. If it is the current app, it just launches the app. Maybe trivial, but handy }
I hope it is extremely easy to use. That's the idea. Just dump in the files you want to have swapped into the 'modswaps' folder, install, and then you can run either the vanilla version or the mod.
It is somewhat robust. IE, it keeps track of all the changes it makes and has a little bit of error checking. It's written in DOS, so is easy to follow, if you'd like to see the code. And yes, I do know about CivSwap, Fileswapper, and Modswapper. But all these things are for specifics (I haven't actually checked out Modswapper b/c it wouldn't install for me).
I'd like to know if/how it works on various Windows versions. I did try to keep the DOS commands universal. We shall see. Right now I know it works in Win ME. And yes, I know ME is stinky.
Here's the readme from this release:
Fileswatter 1.0
by smacksim who can be found on apolyton.net
Fileswatter is for swapping files on your machine. This is handy for 'mod' versions of any application. It is written in DOS for Windows machines. It is Free.
Fileswatter can:
- Remember which version of a file list is in place in an application folder.
- Auto swap files and launch any application with one click.
- Swap local files between directories safely and automatically.
- Preserve original files on installation, for clean uninstallation.
- Generate and Maintain lists of original files and modified files.
- Work with any application that is configurable based on files.
- Uninstall and restore the original configuration, if asked.
Fileswatter is for swapping files locally between folders at the click of a button and then launching an application. This is handy if you use two configurations of an application but don't want two separate installations. Fileswatter will keep track of the original files, and preserve them, and keeps track of all the files it adds to the original directory so it can remove them. Specifically, this program was designed for swapping files associated with Sid Meier's Alpha Centauri: Alien Crossfire, but is easily changed to work with other applications.
Installation of Aldebaran:
1. Run Installmod.bat if you haven't yet (you can tell by peeking in the data folder)
2. Done. Use the Shortcuts provided to run Aldebaran or the Original version. Fileswatter will keep track of the details. You can put the shortcuts anywhere of course.
Installation for your own mods (for Smax or Smac):
1. If you're reading this, you've unzipped and run the installer. This should have prompted you for the proper Smax directory. If you've put Fileswatter somewhere else, goto 'Running from another directory, and other Editing'
2. If you've downloaded this with a mod, such as Aldebaran, you are ready to go. Refer the Aldebaran section.
3. Put files to always swap in the Modswaps directory. These don't have to exist in the main application folder as well. Rather, these will always be swapped in and out of the application folder depending on if you are running the original version or the modified version.
4. Put files that can always exist peacefully in the application folder into the Modinstalls folder. This includes things like alternate-named faction graphics. If you are not sure about a file, put it in the Modswaps directory. This will insure it is not present when running the Original application.
5. Run Installmod.bat
6. Your mod is ready: Use launchmod.bat to launch it, launchorig.bat to launch the original, and uninstallmod.bat to completely uninstall it. Fileswatter will know when to swap the files.
Installation for your own mods for other applications:
This should generally be easy to figure out from reading the above install notes. You'll need to change the target of the 'Apptarget' shortcut. Currently the installer checks for terranx.exe. Feel free to remove that line from the installer, or change it to check for your application of choice. Look for a more generalized Fileswatter eventually. If you can't use the program from inside the applications directory, for some reason, read the following Editing section.
Running from another directory, and other Editing
Currently, the Fileswatter folder should exist inside the application folder. In the case of Smax, this means it should be a folder on the same level as 'Saves' and 'Maps', etc..
I originally used lots of environment variables in the batch files, which would have allowed directory structure the greatest flexibility. It could even pick up the directory structure from a configuration file. However, I ran into DOS's apparent limitations on the # of variables it can use without complaining. The long and short of it is that if you want to run Fileswatter with a different directory structure, you'll need to do a find and replace on '../' to change the application directory. Sorry about that. Perhaps I could at least keep that as a variable without DOS memory problems. Maybe in a later version I'll go back to that model.
More notes:
A. It's convenient to use a shortcut to 'launchmod.bat' and 'launchorig.bat' and place these on the desktop, or wherever. Rename them as you like.
B. Fileswatter is 'naked'. IE, you can see and edit any of its files. Be careful about that. For instance, deleting the Data folder or keepme.txt can cause problems. So long as you only run the programs 'Installmod', 'Launchmod', 'Launchorig', or 'Uninstallmod', you should be fine.
C. Editing the files, for custom configuration:
Because it is written in DOS, all the files are editable in a text editor. Be sure you save .bat files as .bat files and for heavens sake, don't use something like Microsoft Word to edit the files, unless you are sure to save as plain text
D. Eventually I might make it more user friendly, but this is a working beta after all. I guess I'm going to call this shareware, in the off chance I decide to pretty it up and release it on a larger scale. This would mean bundling it with an OSX macintosh version, which I'm not likely to write anytime soon, as I don't have access to an OSX machine at the moment. So the terms are: Distribute and Use freely, but keep this readme.
E. I purposely don't use the 'choice' command in DOS because it's not natively used in all versions of DOS.
Eesh, I hardly know if anyone will ever use this program, so I'll quit the readme now.
-Smack (known as smacksim at apolyton.net)
by smacksim who can be found on apolyton.net
Fileswatter is for swapping files on your machine. This is handy for 'mod' versions of any application. It is written in DOS for Windows machines. It is Free.
Fileswatter can:
- Remember which version of a file list is in place in an application folder.
- Auto swap files and launch any application with one click.
- Swap local files between directories safely and automatically.
- Preserve original files on installation, for clean uninstallation.
- Generate and Maintain lists of original files and modified files.
- Work with any application that is configurable based on files.
- Uninstall and restore the original configuration, if asked.
Fileswatter is for swapping files locally between folders at the click of a button and then launching an application. This is handy if you use two configurations of an application but don't want two separate installations. Fileswatter will keep track of the original files, and preserve them, and keeps track of all the files it adds to the original directory so it can remove them. Specifically, this program was designed for swapping files associated with Sid Meier's Alpha Centauri: Alien Crossfire, but is easily changed to work with other applications.
Installation of Aldebaran:
1. Run Installmod.bat if you haven't yet (you can tell by peeking in the data folder)
2. Done. Use the Shortcuts provided to run Aldebaran or the Original version. Fileswatter will keep track of the details. You can put the shortcuts anywhere of course.
Installation for your own mods (for Smax or Smac):
1. If you're reading this, you've unzipped and run the installer. This should have prompted you for the proper Smax directory. If you've put Fileswatter somewhere else, goto 'Running from another directory, and other Editing'
2. If you've downloaded this with a mod, such as Aldebaran, you are ready to go. Refer the Aldebaran section.
3. Put files to always swap in the Modswaps directory. These don't have to exist in the main application folder as well. Rather, these will always be swapped in and out of the application folder depending on if you are running the original version or the modified version.
4. Put files that can always exist peacefully in the application folder into the Modinstalls folder. This includes things like alternate-named faction graphics. If you are not sure about a file, put it in the Modswaps directory. This will insure it is not present when running the Original application.
5. Run Installmod.bat
6. Your mod is ready: Use launchmod.bat to launch it, launchorig.bat to launch the original, and uninstallmod.bat to completely uninstall it. Fileswatter will know when to swap the files.
Installation for your own mods for other applications:
This should generally be easy to figure out from reading the above install notes. You'll need to change the target of the 'Apptarget' shortcut. Currently the installer checks for terranx.exe. Feel free to remove that line from the installer, or change it to check for your application of choice. Look for a more generalized Fileswatter eventually. If you can't use the program from inside the applications directory, for some reason, read the following Editing section.
Running from another directory, and other Editing
Currently, the Fileswatter folder should exist inside the application folder. In the case of Smax, this means it should be a folder on the same level as 'Saves' and 'Maps', etc..
I originally used lots of environment variables in the batch files, which would have allowed directory structure the greatest flexibility. It could even pick up the directory structure from a configuration file. However, I ran into DOS's apparent limitations on the # of variables it can use without complaining. The long and short of it is that if you want to run Fileswatter with a different directory structure, you'll need to do a find and replace on '../' to change the application directory. Sorry about that. Perhaps I could at least keep that as a variable without DOS memory problems. Maybe in a later version I'll go back to that model.
More notes:
A. It's convenient to use a shortcut to 'launchmod.bat' and 'launchorig.bat' and place these on the desktop, or wherever. Rename them as you like.
B. Fileswatter is 'naked'. IE, you can see and edit any of its files. Be careful about that. For instance, deleting the Data folder or keepme.txt can cause problems. So long as you only run the programs 'Installmod', 'Launchmod', 'Launchorig', or 'Uninstallmod', you should be fine.
C. Editing the files, for custom configuration:
Because it is written in DOS, all the files are editable in a text editor. Be sure you save .bat files as .bat files and for heavens sake, don't use something like Microsoft Word to edit the files, unless you are sure to save as plain text
D. Eventually I might make it more user friendly, but this is a working beta after all. I guess I'm going to call this shareware, in the off chance I decide to pretty it up and release it on a larger scale. This would mean bundling it with an OSX macintosh version, which I'm not likely to write anytime soon, as I don't have access to an OSX machine at the moment. So the terms are: Distribute and Use freely, but keep this readme.
E. I purposely don't use the 'choice' command in DOS because it's not natively used in all versions of DOS.
Eesh, I hardly know if anyone will ever use this program, so I'll quit the readme now.
-Smack (known as smacksim at apolyton.net)
-S
Took down the uploads while I fix something...
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