PowerSLICs problems

[Purple]

I just installed PowerSLICs 1.6 over the latest CD and Harlan mods and the first CTP patch. Everthing seems to work as described, except that the Ranking announcements are not picking up the bracketed values. For example, I get a screen with the following:

Globales Ranking ([nump.value] zivilisierte Gegner):
[popr.value] in population size
etc.
etc.

The announcement that I'm not in the top 5 has the same flaw.

Can someone tell me what I did wrong in the installation and how to fix it? Is the German text diagnostic? I'm positive I installed the English version.

Also, I occasionally get double notification of "The Build Queue for...is empty". Each one has its own, distinct icon (the regular hammer and another with a question mark). It is not consistent, though. I thought it occurred after building a wonder, but it came again for a newly conquered city.

Again, I assume it was an installation error, but how can it be corrected (other than starting over with a fresh installation)?

[Grand Master Fe Long]

Yeah I'm to having a problem with the installation - I have no clue at what I should and shouldn't be deleting to get all the benefits from the mod. If anyone is using CD's mod and power SLIC 1.6 could they send me a copy which takes advantage of all the benefits - Thanks!

[TP]

Purple,


1. First to the bracket issue: There are two things which could cause this:

a) You have installed PowerSLICs correctly but are playing with a game you started before you installed my MOD. In this case you can do nothing at all as Call To Power is designed in a way that modifications only are valid if you start a new game (i.e. saved games already contain all information so new code does not get in there). With a new game, everything should work.

b) You may have forgotten to change the file "userprofile.txt" in the folder \ctp_program\ctp. Please ensure that there is a line with "DebugSlic=Yes” in there.

2. On the double information on city queue is empty, this should happen only if you build a new settler. Reason for this is that a settler is not an improvement but an unit - Activision decided to set standards in a way that after completion of an unit, this unit is build again - with the exception of settlers (don't ask me why...). So that's the reason. But again, it happens only for new settlers being built. Finally, please ensure that the original code starting with "messagebox '37CityQueueIsEmpty'" is outcommented.

3. Finally what parts of the "SCRIPT.SLC" should you get rid of by deleting or outcommenting ? First search for the words "PLEASE ELIMINATE THE ORIGINAL" in the new "SCRIPT.SLC" file after inserting the new code. Then you will see in the code most times things like "messagebox 'XXXX'" or "alterbox 'YYYY'". Just search for the "XXXX" or "YYYY" in the file and you will be able to identify the original code which has to be outcommented.

Hope I was able to help you. By the way, there is a small little tiny neglible minor update of my PowerSLICs with two or three new features downloadable at http://www.civnation.com


TP

[Purple]

Thanks for your comprehensive reply, TP. I had neglected to change the Debug toggle to Yes.

I also hadn't outcommented the section messagebox '37CityQueueIsEmpty'.

Thanks for taking the time to help me out. As soon as I make sure 1.6 is working I'll check out the new changes.


[This message has been edited by Purple (edited August 21, 1999).]

[Alanus]

TP,

I had the same troubles than Purple, but it's OK now. The point is that I was trying to add my own mods on top of your PowerSLIC, but was still using the same saved test game. The fact that you cannot reuse a saved game to have all your (script) mods taken into account is quite stange, but I think that you should indicate that in the Installation chapter of your next PowerSLIC issue, because it is really troublesome.

Other than that, your PowerSLIC mod is great. A few things left in release 1.71 : in Messageicon.txt you have forgotten the '_SELECTED' at the end of the second 'TP_CITY_GROWTH', so it doesn't work properly (I was quite upset that it kept malfunctionning even after I fixed it, but it was before I read your tip about saved games). There are also a few german words forgotten in the english info_str.txt (GLOBALES RANKING, zivilisierte Gegner, zivilised (!)).

I made a few changes into the improvement message:
. The message icon is now depending on whether the city queue is empty or not, after the improvement's completion.
The change is the following :

messagebox 'DOM_M_Building_Built' {
IF (city.queue == 1) {
MessageType("TP_QUEUE_EMPTY");
} else {
MessageType("TP_IMPROVEMENT_BUILT");
}
...

. change hard-coded improve index into reference to improve.txt, using function BuildingType("IMPROVE_xxx"). Doesn't change anything from the user's perspective, but it is better programming style.

Does your PowerSLIC exists in French ? If not, I intent to translate it for my own purpose (the info_str.txt only), so I'll be pleased to send you one copy when it is ready.

Salut - Auf Wiedersehen.

[Alanus]

In addition to my previous post :

Improvement message by Dominique. It sounds like Dominique Toussaint is a French name. Is his original TinySLIC mod in French, in which case I'll be interested to get the corresponding part of info_str.txt (not that I couldn't translate it, but it will save my time...).

[TP]

Alanus,


Thanks a lot for this information - I digged into my files and made some changes:

I changed the little bug in messageicon.txt which causes a tiny graphical malfucntion on the icon-side, but still you get the full benefit of this feature without changing the file (i.e. city growth message for itself is not affected at all).

Also I have completed English translation. For those who can not guess it: ;-)
Globales Ranking = Global Ranking
zivilisierte Gegner = civilised enemies

As far as I know my MOD is not available in French (or at least I never got my hands on a French version), so feel free to send me your translation of the French version (based on version 1.70 or 1.71) to ctp_slics@yahoo.com. You'll get full credits of course.


Au revoir,
TP


P.S: If you have done it already, forget this request. If not, please do NOT rate my MOD on the download area. After all of those issues with misusage, I do not want my MOD to be rated anymore. That's the most secure solution for me personally.

[This message has been edited by TP (edited August 25, 1999).]

[Alanus]

TP,

OK, I'll send you a French translation as soon as I've finished.

I didn't rate your mod, nor anyone else by the way. I have a lot of other occupations than playing CTP, unfortunately (work for instance) :-( , so not much time to test everything. CTP is even longer to play than Civ 2, so I must manage my time, before I get divorced...

Auf Wiedersehen,

Alanus

[Purple]

TP, about rating your MOD, I think you are being too modest. Of course you will always find things to improve. It's like building a house. You'll never really get it perfect. It's a work-in-progress.

Thanks for staying with it!

[TP]

Purple,


Thanks a lot for your feedback. Of course I will be in the boat and work heavily on version 2.0 after the patch is out.

Reason why I am so reluctant on getting my MOD rated is that there has been some severe misusage of the rating system resulting in ratings which I have difficulties to believe in fully. And as I do not like having a rating which other people think may be too high (or vice versa), I think it's best to leave my rating as it is now. Important is that people like you dowloaded my MOD and have it still in their standard installation.

That's the best recognition in my point of view. I don't care about the ratings anymore.


TP