On Thu, 7 Jun 2001 19:32:24, "SeventhSaint" wrote:
I read the data tha describes what does what but there is no real description about what needs to be done. For instance i downloaded a mod anaxis (spelling) made and it had several documents with dats and etc..

Do i just make one dat or what. I know if i want diffferent ships i have to make them on a graphics program. But really where do i start.

Since you want to play local first, start with the SCN file.

All dats reside in your dat directory off your frontier one. They use three extensions...

DAT <--- This is the level used to SERVE your senario.
SCN <--- This is the one used when you play local.
SEC <--- These are section files.

Start with the SCN file and when it works right, copy it to DAT.

Study the #include statements. While you can do one giant DAT file, the game designers do the includes so that it is easier to make equivalent weapons the same like the current plasma/stingers/destructors.

Study the defines as well. For example....

#INCLUDE sf_design_missiles.sec([race]=Arcean, [nr]=0, [name1]=Blaster, [name2]=Stinger, smart, bomb, heat, ram, grenade, dart, flame, cannon, ImplodeMine, DOCUMENT, SHOW)

The the []'s can be considered as variable values. this line is for the race, Arcean. Name1 is the blaster weapon. The words, smart, bomb, heat, etc.... These are Defines. Saying smart will enable sections of the SEC files that describe smart weapons. Removing the word smart, will turn OFF that section of the sec.file. The last two are debug type things that show up in your log file.

LOG FILES, look for them when you are having trouble. They can tell you what is wrong with your dat file. If you know C or C++, you are ahead of everyone else as they use C style syntax.

The rest, most of use learned them the hard way. I don't do graphics but do move planets around. Some are just about self explaintory.

When creating your own SEC files, use fairly long descriptive file names so that there is no chance yours will get overridden.

-- David Eckard
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