******************** Modifier ******************** * A Mod Configuration Tool for S.T.A.L.K.E.R. SOC * Copyright © 2007-2010 Metacognix * All Worldwide Rights Reserved * * Change History: * NatVac, 2010/10/07 - V1.1 - Added modcfg\ dir support * NatVac, 2010/09/17 - Updated text info for ZRP 1.07 * NatVac, 2009/09/12 - Added SMM warning text * NatVac, 2009/01/25 - V1.1alphaR3 - Added Field alias support * NatVac, 2008/11/01 - V1.1alphaR2 - Added FileChoice warning * NatVac, 2008/02/15 - V1.1alpha - Checkbox support added * NatVac, 2007/11/08 - v1.0 - Initial release ************************************************** Please see the warning about mod compatibility below before using this program. Also note that some changes may require starting a new game. ================================================== Installation: This program must be placed in the gamedata\ directory of the mod you wish to configure. While its configuration and help files can also be placed there, it is better to keep them in a modcfg\ subdirectory under gamedata\. If modcfg\ exists, config files elsewhere will be ignored. A shortcut can be placed on your desktop by right-click-dragging the Modifier.exe icon from the Windows Explorer pane to the desktop, then selecting "Create shortcuts here". You will need write permission for that STALKER gamedata directory and subdirectories to run this program, as it needs to modify the mod's configuration and script files. While the easiest way to do this is to run the program with administrator rights or at least sufficient privilege to allow this modification, it is recommended that you simply change the directory access permission. To find out how to do this, consult the help support for your version of Windows. In Windows XP: Open Explorer and select Help > Help and Support Center. Select "System Administration", then select "Access Control". Select "Set, view, change, or remove file and folder permissions". **** IMPORTANT NOTE FOR FOLKS WITH VISTA/WINDOWS 7 **** It is possible that the game may not see your changes to the STALKER gamedata directory unless you have ownership of the STALKER gamedata subdirectory. This often happens when you use installers -- those can take ownership for themselves. This means that your changes go to a shadow copy of the STALKER gamedata subdirectory. It is like the desktop, where you see several icons. Some belong to the All Users subdirectory, and some to the directory with your login name. When you examine the gamedata files in Windows, it seems like the changes are there, but when you launch the game, it will use the original (but now hidden) files put there by the installer. One possible workaround is to rename the gamedata directory before you make any changes, then copy the renamed directory to the STALKER installation directory and rename the copy as "gamedata". When this is done in Windows Explorer, the copy should belong to you. You would still need write permission; see above. Alternatively, you could take ownership of the directory yourself. Search the web for info on how to do that. ================================================== Running the program: Choose the configuration set from those in the list in the drop-down combobox in the upper left corner. The configurable items will appear in the listbox on the left. IMPORTANT TIP #1: It is strongly recommended that you view the Config Notes for each configuration before making any changes to that configuration; just click the "Config Notes" button to display them in your default text editor (probably Notepad). Select an item in the listbox by clicking on it. This will show the possible choices for that item in the panel on the right. IMPORTANT TIP #2: Hover the mouse pointer over the radio button groupbox or the various edit boxes or checkboxes to see useful pop-up hints about the items. Edit boxes will usually have a default value shown to the right as well as the current setting for the parameter if any. Checkbox defaults are shown below the checkboxes. Select a radio button, check/uncheck checkboxes or change the contents of the edit boxes to suit your desires for each entry. Then click the Apply button to apply any changes to the entry's panel contents. You will see error messages if the configuration is invalid, or if the expected files are missing. The situation needs to be corrected before the program can be used to change the associated settings. The configuration files can be edited with a text editor; see the ModifierNotes.txt file for details. Instructions are included to help you make your own custom configuration files if you wish. ******************************************************************* Mod Compatibility Warning: Some mods have their own custom screens and configuration files. You should take care not to replace the custom mod's files with ones from the ZRP. There are different kinds of entries, FileChoice, Field and LineToggle. Only one of these types can cause conflicts with mods: FileChoice. As of version 1.1 alpha r3, the potentially-dangerous file copy entries are indicated by a red warning above the FileChoice radio-button group. It is recommended to make FileChoice changes before installing other mods. This should be done outside of Smart Mod Manager, if you use it. To do this, extract the ZRP directory from the archive, the run the Modifier program in the gamedata directory there to make your changes. Then install the modified ZRP with SMM and follow with the other mods. It is okay to modify entries afterward if they do not have the warning text on the entry's page. The SMM program changes files when it merges them, and this might cause the Modifier program to complain. Follow the advice in the previous paragraph if necessary, or don't use SMM. You can merge these optional files with other mods beforehand. View the *.cfg file in a text editor to see what files are copied. Then compare the related files with the corresponding files in other mods. ******************************************************************* ================================================== The APPLY button: When done with the panel changes, click the Apply button. Changes are NOT applied until you do so! Currently, if you select a new item in the listbox without clicking Apply, any changes will be abandoned -- even if you select the same item. The REVERT button: When the Apply button is first clicked for a setting, the original files if they exist are copied to "filenames.ext.orig_bkup", so that you can revert to the original file if you want by clicking on the Revert button. NOTE: This original file is never overwritten, so reverting will always copy the original unmodified file back. The revert process will show a status pop-up of what was copied or not copied. The DEFAULT button: Currently, this button only appears on panels with fields (edit boxes) and checkboxes. It allows you to restore the vanilla values as shown to the right of the edit boxes, or the default shown for checkboxes. You will need to click the Apply button to accept the changes. The HELP button will show this file, while the ABOUT button will show info about the program.