[PC] Mod manager - 7thHeaven (v1.54)

[Kaldarasha]

The previous pic feature for the mod settings doesn't work anymore. I also could need a explanation of the Mod Generator Assistant.

 

[Iros]

The previous pic feature for the mod settings doesn't work anymore. I also could need a explanation of the Mod Generator Assistant.

Yes   because the new version expects preview images to live at an URL it doesn't work to load them in from an archive. I will correct this in the next version.

Mod Generator: First, see the catalog.xml I created as an example at http://pastebin.com/Rct9XwiQ

The mod generator screen just helps generate the XML for a mod so you can create a catalog file easily. The meaning of the fields is...

1) Mod fields:

ID: A unique GUID, the mod generator will create this for you.
Author: Author's name
Link: Link to a webpage about the mod
Name: Name of mod. Keep it short to fit on screen.
Description: Longer description of mod.
Tags: List of tags to help users search for mods. Haven't set any specific values that you can put in here yet...
LatestVersion: Details of current version available for download see below.

2) LatestVersion fields:

Version: Version number. When looking to see if a newer version is ready, the program looks to see if the number in the catalog file, is higher than the version number installed. So number must go up each time an update is released
ReleaseDate: Date version was released. Format should be like my example file...
CompatibleGameVersions: Original, Rerelease, Steam or All. My idea is for the program to work out what FF7 release you have installed so you know what mods will work with it ... but, the field is not used yet
PreviewImage: URL for a preview image (http/https) for this mod.
ReleaseNotes: Information about what has changed in this update. Not used yet
Link: Location of mod file. See below.
ExtractSubFolder: See below.
ExtractInto: See below.

3) File downloads.

Link for downloads (and for catalog files) can be in 3 different formats:

a) HTTP/HTTPS link. Format:

iros://Url/<link>

<link> is the http link, but with the "://" part replaced with "$". The pastebin catalog link I posted is an example

b) Google Drive link. Format like:

iros://GDrive/<fileID>

Most of the downloads in the sample catalog file are like this.

c) Mega shared folder link. Format:

iros://MegaSharedFolder/<folderID>,<fileID>,<fileName>

FolderID is the shared folder ID string. Then specify EITHER the fileID OR the fileName. I recommend just using fileName because finding out the FileID is difficult. The Mega catalog link I posted before is an good example

The program expects that the file that is downloaded will be either:

a) an IRO file. Simple, it is installed directly.
b) a ZIP/RAR/7Z file containing a SINGLE .iro file. The file is extracted and installed.
c) a ZIP/RAR/7Z file containing many other files (PNGs, TEXs, .....). So like a mod folder just zipped up. For this:
   - if "ExtractSubFolder" is set, it extracts only files from inside that particular folder inside the zip
   - if "ExtractInto" is set, it extracts the files into this particular subfolder inside the mod directory.

ExtractSubFolder is useful if your ZIP contains files that are not useful for the mod and you only need some of the files from the ZIP.

ExtractInto is useful if your ZIP has not got the right folder structure for 7thHeaven. Like if your avatar files are just inside the ZIP with no folder names, you need to extract them into a folder called "menu_us.lgp" for the wrapper to work.

Hope that explains it! Please say if any questions.

 

[Template]

All Qhimm activity stops while everyone learns 7thHeaven. :-D

 

[KnifeTheSky77]

Wow! This tool takes nearly all of the frustration out of modding ff7. I see all of these cool mods but have not been influenced enough to relearn to unpack lgps, deal with transferring files and all of the other headaches that modding this game brings.

A couple of things that I noticed while testing out v1.01
--URL links to mods do nothing when I click them
--I think it would be less confusing at first glance and require less clicking if all of the tags were checked by default in Library and Catalog
--After I enter a Subscription link in settings and choose to Check Subscriptions Now, I have to click somewhere inside the downloads window to initiate the update, I found that somewhat confusing
--The app crashes when I try to use the subscription link: iros://MegaSharedFolder/#F!DYQWTZ7B!FWil2nif2HQF_Dr7RxvOLA,,catalog.xml

 

[Iros]

A couple of things that I noticed while testing out v1.01
--URL links to mods do nothing when I click them
--I think it would be less confusing at first glance and require less clicking if all of the tags were checked by default in Library and Catalog
--After I enter a Subscription link in settings and choose to Check Subscriptions Now, I have to click somewhere inside the downloads window to initiate the update, I found that somewhat confusing
--The app crashes when I try to use the subscription link: iros://MegaSharedFolder/#F!DYQWTZ7B!FWil2nif2HQF_Dr7RxvOLA,,catalog.xml

Thanks for bug reports. I can't reproduce the crash using the Mega subscription link, does this happen to anyone else? Same with having to click in the downloads window, the subscription update runs fine for me without clicking into downloads :/

New version released, v1.021:  https://mega.co.nz/#!XVgHDTAK!JyzbrnXfvsDT3Gqh-QgPfktlWIIsU9Mr5zACoaKrs3A

-Import author/image from existing mods
-Fix download error with two mods sharing same image
-Fix .iro import (again)
-Update tags list after downloading new catalog
-Add select all option to tag list
-Fix crash on load if library folder missing
-Add command line parameters
-Add crash dialog so errors can be reported...

I still really like the idea of having a way to hit launch from a desktop icon without having to enter the GUI, once you have this all dialed in. I am having a blast testing this over coffee this morning... I bet it's getting late over there, though. I guess Auckland (just based on your host) and its 3:00AM lol

The command line parameters in the newversion should do this. If you create a shortcut to 7thHeaven.exe with a parameter of /LAUNCH it will run the game automatically. If you run it with /LAUNCH /QUIT it will launch the game then exit so the program is not still around.

(EDIT: Updated download again, image display problem :/ )

 

[Template]

I don't know if this is related to the mega subscription crash but I have issues with this host in firefox. The very first time I downloaded 7thwrapper it worked fine, every time after I get weird flashes on my screen as it downloads the file, then it wont let me have it because:

There is no icon to allow anything anymore...
Internet explorer grabs stuff from your host without problems, however.
Here's the crash report from the mega subscription:
Code: [Select]

System.DllNotFoundException: Unable to load DLL 'mega.dll': The specified module could not be found. (Exception from HRESULT: 0x8007007E)   at Iros.Mega.MegaIros.IrosInit(IntPtr callbacks, String email, String pass)   at Iros.Mega.MegaIros.ThreadSpin(Object o) in C:\Iros\IrosMega\MegaIros.cs:line 506   at System.Threading.ThreadHelper.ThreadStart_Context(Object state)   at System.Threading.ExecutionContext.RunInternal(ExecutionContext executionContext, ContextCallback callback, Object state, Boolean preserveSyncCtx)   at System.Threading.ExecutionContext.Run(ExecutionContext executionContext, ContextCallback callback, Object state, Boolean preserveSyncCtx)   at System.Threading.ExecutionContext.Run(ExecutionContext executionContext, ContextCallback callback, Object state)   at System.Threading.ThreadHelper.ThreadStart(Object obj)

Can't get back into the application at all after that. Copying new files over I still get same crash on instant.
It's a surprise when it has all the filepaths filled out for you already and it's pointing at my Steam install instead of my regular modded install But it's pretty unusual to have 2 versions of the game installed I suppose.

 

[Iros]

Ah, the Mega subscription thing I may have an idea about ... there was a DLL (cryptopp.dll) I included in the first v1.00 download but forgot to put into v1.01 / v1.02 So copying that over may help. Will try and remember to put it in the next version download.

Can't explain your Firefox problems, I'm afraid...

 

[Template]

there was a DLL (cryptopp.dll) I included in the first v1.00 download but forgot to put into v1.01 / v1.02 So copying that over may help.

This was already included with most recent version, I tried to overwrite from 1.00 but they were the same size and it didn't affect the outcome. I get the mega crash if I try to open 7thHeaven.

I think I am about done with Firefox. Maybe.

Sorry for constantly breaking your program, Iros. I'm clumsy like that in real life, too.

 

[Iros]

It was? Huh. Serves me right for not checking properly.

I am puzzled then  ???  It's complaining about mega.dll being missing - that is in the download already, so I thought maybe it was missing cryptopp.dll (which mega.dll needs to work), but I guess not.

To reset the settings for the program if you go into C:\Users\<YOURUSERNAME\AppData\Roaming\7thWorkshop then there will be a number of files ... deleting settings.xml will reset the configuration so you can start the progam again. (Path may be slightly different depending on Windows version I think.)

 

[Template]

Hehe, It's even in a hidden folder! ...and I was looking through the registry. So I guess it doesn't change or make any registry keys at all? I wonder if version swapping has been my issue and if I delete all those files in the 7thWorkshop and have the program make new ones it'll work? I'll just delete settings.xml and stop worrying about subscriptions for now.
Works fine but... delay got a bit longer. I think there's probably a big advantage to creating iro files out of our foldered mods huh, like the way motorball revamp is by default? Would turning the mods folder into an .iro file make it load faster? Is that a crazy idea?

Also: How do you set it up to run through the 2012 unconverted version?

 

[Iros]

Packing a folder into an .iro file will help speed up loading if the mods alters lots of files. The motorball mod isn't very many files, I think? so probably not so important.

How slow is it to load things, and which mods are you using?

Also: How do you set it up to run through the 2012 unconverted version?

Point the setting at FF7_Launcher.exe and run it   Obviously will only work with LGP type mods, since there is no Aali driver, PNGs etc. won't load.

 

[Template]

Packing a folder into an .iro file will help speed up loading if the mods alters lots of files. The motorball mod isn't very many files, I think? so probably not so important.

Surprising amount of data here. I noticed an increased delay adding this new mod to Kaldarasha's(which had very little at all) on your old layout.
Now the delay is quite a bit larger 3-5 seconds, and I am using the same mods as on the previous layout, when it was a fraction of a second. No biggie.

Point the setting at FF7_Launcher.exe and run it   Obviously will only work with LGP type mods, since there is no Aali driver, PNGs etc. won't load.

Darn, guess it doesn't work for STEAM. I don't have a 2012 install on my machine at the moment to test this. For STEAM it just opens the launcher and sits there.
Edit: Deactivating the imported from folder Motorball Revamp cut the delay at startup to nil.
Edit2: The second photo is as far as I've got with the generator, which I think has awesome written all over it, as far as a collector type person is concerned. I am interested in learning more about hosting a subscription and maintaining these xml files easily with the generator. I was looking for the utility to create .iro files. Is it tucked into the generator? I may have missed it.

 

[sithlord48]

Iros i really like this but unfortunately i have been unable to get it to function correctly via wine.  further explaining can be seen here

 

[Iros]

Were you able to get 7thWrapper to work? Because am I not sure whether the code injection will work under Wine - if that doesn't work, then there is not a good reason to fix anything else. No code injection means the program has no point...

If you did get 7thwrapper working, though, then I suppose the injection works, and it is just the 7thHeaven GUI that there are problems with. Might be able to tweak that.

 

[Template]

I really want to get a handle on packing the .iro files themselves. If I understood it and felt confident that was going to be the standard in the future, I would be busy packing mods into iros. I was almost anticipating a wizard of some sort for that, because everything about this is so slick and easy for the user, but a little more difficult for adapting new mods to .iro form as Kaldarasha did... Let's face it... we're not all on you guys' level.

 

[sithlord48]

i would think injection would work fine . do you have some kind of folder w/ a mod i can test so i don't have to dl one avatars would be good since its quite easy to spot. if you can provide me one i will test launching.

two quesions.
1. is it normal for the DL box to not close after downloading.
2. any chance of maybe opening up develpment? An open codebase  is a happy codebase.

 

[Iros]

I really want to get a handle on packing the .iro files themselves. If I understood it and felt confident that was going to be the standard in the future, I would be busy packing mods into iros. I was almost anticipating a wizard of some sort for that, because everything about this is so slick and easy for the user, but a little more difficult for adapting new mods to .iro form as Kaldarasha did... Let's face it... we're not all on you guys' level.

If you have a mod that runs fine out of a folder, then all you need to do is select that folder as the source in the pack window  ???  That's all that you need to pack a mod. Although it doesn't make any difference other than maybe speeding things up slightly (and I suppose a bit easier to distribute?).

Although I should put that window back into 7thHeaven...  :-[

i would think injection would work fine . do you have some kind of folder w/ a mod i can test so i don't have to dl one avatars would be good since its quite easy to spot. if you can provide me one i will test launching.

You can just download one manually, name the folder correctly and import it ... all the mods I put in the test catalog, I just picked some downloads from the big list of mods in the FAQ that were hosted on Google Drive, none of them were specially set up...

two quesions.
1. is it normal for the DL box to not close after downloading.
2. any chance of maybe opening up develpment? An open codebase  is a happy codebase.

1. Yes
2. Every time you anthropomorphize source code, a puppy dies

 

[KnifeTheSky77]

From my experience, Sith lords tend not to care much for puppies.

Flipping through the lengthy list of mods in my library, its probably around 25 now, will make the 7thHeaven UI slow down to the point where it becomes unresponsive and crash If I ignore that and just start the game however, then I have no issues

 

[Template]

Sorry, completely missed the post where you explain the generator in further detail. Everything definitely coming together for this, thanks for explaining how to do the /launch /exit thing, too, that really makes it sesmless to play from the desktop. I'm kicking myself for deleting all the versions of 7thWrapper I had because I can't test .iro packing at the moment.

I'm just announcing my plans to run a subscription service (qhimm.com approved mods only) off google drive if I can work it all out. I am planning to host mods in .iro format only, though. Anyone have any thoughts about packing mods into .iro files without permission? I know I brought this up before but no one really said much about it and it's a little sticky maybe because any readmes and things will pretty much get left behind.

 

[PitBrat]

Repackaging mods is a great idea.
Asking permission is usually best. Check with Team Avalanche and the individual mod authors. Stay within the copyright boundaries.