---------------------------------------------------------------------- Tools release notes: ---------------------------------------------------------------------- This is a collection of the tools which we used in the production of Tribes. We provide the tools to you as-is. We understand that the tools are not completely bug-free, though with some patience, and a little use, you should be able to use them for the purpose intended. Please read through all the documentation provided with this release. Many of the tools are somewhat tricky in their use -- the documentation touches on some of these issues. We will continue to update the tools, and the accompaning documentation, as we see fit. Any changes will be posted on 'www.tribesplayers.com'. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Files included in this release: ---------------------------------------------------------------------- cw3230.dll cw3230mt.dll cw3240mt.dll extract.exe makeskin.exe matilda2.exe MaxShapes.zip mfc42d.dll missionlighting.exe missionlighting.cs msvcrtd.dll picanew.exe textable.exe vmerge.exe vt.exe vtlist.exe zed.exe zedbuild.exe zedlight.exe zedshape.exe docs\AddingVoiceSets.txt docs\MakeSkin.txt docs\Matilda.txt docs\PicaNew.txt docs\MissionEditor\miseditor.htm docs\MissionEditor\Image72.gif docs\MissionEditor\Image73.gif docs\MissionEditor\Image74.gif docs\MissionEditor\Image75.gif docs\MissionEditor\Image76.gif docs\ZED\ZEDmanual.htm docs\ZED\Image(1-71).gif palettes\pal1MS.pal palettes\pal1PS.act palettes\pal2MS.pal palettes\pal2PS.act palettes\pal3MS.pal palettes\pal3PS.act samples\acommand.zed samples\BELfloatingPad.zed samples\bunker2.zed samples\COPLfloatingPad.zed samples\DSLfloatingPad.zed samples\SWLfloatingPad.zed ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Note: be sure to place the following files in your tribes executable directory: missionlighting.cs missionlighting.exe textable.exe ---------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Brief description of executables: ---------------------------------------------------------------------- zed.exe(1.96) ---------------------------------------------------------------------- This program is used to create the interiors used in the game. This includes any of the bases, towers, bunkers, etc. Please refer to the zed documentation on the use of this program. Zed has known stability issues running under Windows 95/98. We highly recommend that you run zed through Windows NT. If you are unable to run zed through Windows NT, it is advisable to avoid using the 'Texture View' and to save often! We are currently working on a Quake Level (.map file format) converter for Tribes. Once we are finished with it, it will be posted on our web site. This should allow you to use your favorite Quake editor to generate Tribes interior shapes. Our current focus is on finishing the Quake map converter - so changes to zed may not come quickly. Please be patient. zedbuild.exe(3.9) zedlight.exe(3.9) zedshape.exe(3.9) ---------------------------------------------------------------------- These tools process the exported '.zvl' file from Zed to produce a '.div' volume for use in the game. Zedshape and Zedlight are invoked from Zedbuild, so you will never need to run these programs directly. Example: zedbuild [-h] -h: to enable higher detail, at the expense of speed (be sure to use when finished with shape) vt.exe(3.0.1) ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Tool to add files to volumes. Run without arguments for a listing of commands and usage. vtlist.exe(1.00) ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Tool to list the files within volumes. Run without arguments for a listing of commands and usage. extract.exe(1.0) ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Tool used to get a file from a volume. Run without arguments for a listing of commands and usage. vmerge.exe(1.0) ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Used to merge two volumes together. Run without arguments for a listing of commands and usage. textable.exe(2.1) ---------------------------------------------------------------------- This program generates a material list and a terrain texture placement lookup table for use with the terrain engine. We will be posting information on how to add user generated terrains soon. missionlighting.exe (1.01) ---------------------------------------------------------------------- This program relights the mission to generate detailed shadows. It can be invoked in the mission editor by pressing the 'Relight' button. The program requires the console script 'missionlighting.cs' to be in the same directory as the executable. Be sure to place it in your executable directory (where tribes.exe is) along with the 'missionlighting.cs' file. You can also run the program from a command prompt. Example: missionlighting base\missions\raindance.mis Run without arguments for more information on commands and usage. makeskin.exe(1.0) ---------------------------------------------------------------------- This program remaps 8-bit Windows .BMP files in Phoenix bitmaps according to provided palette files for use in TRIBES. For detailed usage please read 'makeskin.txt'. picanew.exe(1.3) ---------------------------------------------------------------------- This utility is used to generate palette files for use in the game. For detailed usage please read 'picanew.txt'. matilda2.exe(3.21) ---------------------------------------------------------------------- This utility generates material lists for use in the game. A material list is essentially a list of bitmaps along with extra information for each material. For detailed usage please read 'matilda.txt' ---------------------------------------------------------------------- What's missing: ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Here is a list of some items we are currently addressing: * documentation, and tutorial, on adding user generated terrain sets * Quake map file converter * information on adding user defined worlds into the new mission wizard * more advanced editing documentation ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Have fun! Mitch Shaw