Modmanager 5.1 Aka Loman in development

[Skypat]

Hello

 

check your six,

 

Modmanager 5.1 (Aka loman) is actually in development

I'am actually fixes some bugs about FC CDDS index files

 

a 6.0 version will be also available when Blackshark will be available.

If you have any idea or features you wish to see, post it here.

 

Best regards

Skypat

[some1]

Compressing textures to a new cdds file during mod installation and adding it as a new texture collection in graphics.cfg would be useful. Especially when installing new models with their own skins in high resolution.

[TekaTeka]

This is very good news! Thanks for the support, Skypat.

 

I have some requests.

 

1) A bug fix. ModMan 5.0 can not run on Japanese Windows. This can be solved if 'English' is selected in the Control Panel's 'Regional and Language Options'. But it's very annoying. I hope this will be fixed in the new version. (LoMan 2.1 can run without the setting.)

 

2) New cdds index system.

I'am actually fixes some bugs about FC CDDS index files

You might already know this problem. The current index is made by cdds files' alphabetical order, but it should be made by the cdds entry order in graphics.cfg. This will prevent mod textures will be inserted in wrong cdds files.

 

3) A cdds entry feature. The official tools recently released by ED gave us an ability to create new cdds files. New cdds files are enabled only when the entries are added in graphics.cfg. Walmis made a command which enables the editing in MomMan's installation process.

http://forum.lockon.ru/showthread.php?t=19072

But, I hope this fuction will be implemented in ModMan. (This might be possible in the current LUA/cfg management, but I don't know how to use it. No instruction available.)

 

4) Meinit.xml handlings. This must be very difficult and might be impossible. There are many mods which alter Meinit.xml. The current method they use is replace the file, but it blocks two or more mods used together. I hope only the altered portions will be inserted or replaced in the existing meinit.xml.

[Skypat]

hello

 

1/ hum... do you mean the installer or modman.exe itself ?

 

2/ yes, will fix it

 

3/ yes, will implement it don't worry ;)

 

4/ will look at it, but not for 5.1 version

 

thanks for your idea and advice

 

This is very good news! Thanks for the support, Skypat.

 

I have some requests.

 

1) A bug fix. ModMan 5.0 can not run on Japanese Windows. This can be solved if 'English' is selected in the Control Panel's 'Regional and Language Options'. But it's very annoying. I hope this will be fixed in the new version. (LoMan 2.1 can run without the setting.)

 

2) New cdds index system.

 

You might already know this problem. The current index is made by cdds files' alphabetical order, but it should be made by the cdds entry order in graphics.cfg. This will prevent mod textures will be inserted in wrong cdds files.

 

3) A cdds entry feature. The official tools recently released by ED gave us an ability to create new cdds files. New cdds files are enabled only when the entries are added in graphics.cfg. Walmis made a command which enables the editing in MomMan's installation process.

http://forum.lockon.ru/showthread.php?t=19072

But, I hope this fuction will be implemented in ModMan. (This might be possible in the current LUA/cfg management, but I don't know how to use it. No instruction available.)

 

4) Meinit.xml handlings. This must be very difficult and might be impossible. There are many mods which alter Meinit.xml. The current method they use is replace the file, but it blocks two or more mods used together. I hope only the altered portions will be inserted or replaced in the existing meinit.xml.

[Skypat]

hello

 

on my to do list for 6.x version (not for 5.1)

 

thx

 

Compressing textures to a new cdds file during mod installation and adding it as a new texture collection in graphics.cfg would be useful. Especially when installing new models with their own skins in high resolution.

[TekaTeka]

Thank you for the quick response.

 

1/ hum... do you mean the installer or modman.exe itself ?

 

Modman.exe. I can see the process running in the task manager but nothing shows up.

 

2/ yes, will fix it

 

3/ yes, will implement it don't worry ;)

 

4/ will look at it, but not for 5.1 version

 

thanks for your idea and advice

 

Very nice!! :thumbup:

[Oscar]

Hear Hear on Teka's #4. This would an extremely welcome capability and long over due. There just has to be a way to acomplish this..........

[Skypat]

Dev update 5.1

OK In addon maker window, in new CFG management window you will be able to

- add/change/remove keys in a section or sub-section

in example for adding a key for a new CDDS file in graphics.cfg files

 

you may decide to do it

- before install

- after install

- before uninstall

- after uninstal

 

during mod installation

it's totally automatic but users can see what it will be modified

 

work is actually done about 80%

 

++

Skypat

[Skypat]

Chinese bug fixed

upcoming Modman 5.1 should work fine on Chinese Windows OS

[TekaTeka]

Chinese bug fixed

upcoming Modman 5.1 should work fine on Chinese Windows OS

 

Great! Thank you, Skypat. You mean Japanese, too. Right?:D

 

 

I post two more requests to you.

 

1) New dds conversion. Is it possible to implement NVIDIA dds tools for the dds conversion? I say this because the current conversion does not have a very good quality. See these comparisons.

 

Alpha channel conversion (DXT5):

You can see some defects and grainy gradations.

 

Mipmap generation (DXT1):

The images are enlarged 400%.

You can see strange colors on smaller mipmaps.

 

(Original images are taken from the winter terrain bmps.)

 

Link to NVIDIA Texture Tools

 

 

2) Desktop shortcut creation on install. It will be a convenient option to install executable command files in LockOn folder.

 

 

I hope you will look into these, too.

[Skypat]

hello

 

1/i actually use DirectX compression tool from Microsoft

 

Nvidia tool is not 'better', in fact there are several compression mode (best quality, production, poor quality)

the default mode use a better quality than DirectX tool

But even in default mode Nvidia tool is far slower than directx tool.

 

Anyway, it's easy to switch between both engine compression, i can implement it in a future 6.x version

BTW it seem that Nvidia tool don't have DXT2 compression option.

 

 

2/ will do

 

 

3/ actually i'am working to replace CDDS export and import engine because the actual engine inherited from CDDSBROWSER don't support DXT2 texture.

it will be for a 5.x release (but not 5.1)

 

Already in 5.1.0.2 beta:

------------------------

- Fixed CDDS catalog index management

Now CDDS index management is generated and sorted like specified in config\graphics.cfg file from ED

it means that NOW latest textures from latest patch will go to the GOOD PLACE ! (ie: F-15 texture bug)

now you can check always CDDS checkbox in ADDON MANAGER, it will work fine.

 

- Fixed an obvious bug about texture

Some FC textures were not installed correctly in temptextures folder (lockon series)

 

- Added a 'CFG' flag in ADDON MANAGER WINDOW

White mean: no CFG/LUA modifications included in ZIP file

Green mean: CFG/LUA modifications installed

Red mean: CFG/LUA modifications not installed

Yellow mean: CFG/LUA modifications not installed entirely

 

- Added in ADDON MAKER, a CFG/LUA management windows, ENJOY !

it allow to ADD/REPLACE/DELETE KEY from SECTION/SUBSECTION in .cfg or .lua files

useful when you need to add a new CDDS entry in \config\graphics.cfg

During Mod installation with ADDON MANAGER, these key will be

automatically "ADDED/REPLACED/DELETED" "after/before" "install/uninstall"

 

- Fixed Chinese(simplified or not) support for Windows OS

 

- Fixed Japanese support for Windows OS

 

best regards

Skypat

 

ps: check your PM

[GGTharos]

4) Meinit.xml handlings. This must be very difficult and might be impossible. There are many mods which alter Meinit.xml. The current method they use is replace the file, but it blocks two or more mods used together. I hope only the altered portions will be inserted or replaced in the existing meinit.xml.

 

It is not impossible.

 

As a matter of fact, it should be very easy: Skypat ... look for a unix tool called 'diff' and 'patch'. Both should have windows ports.

[Hawkeye]

Two little things:

 

Can you readd the nice looking Loman Desktop Icon and maybe rechange the name to Loman for peoples who install it only for Lomac.

 

And yes maybe some preview Pictures in the Graphictool of the changes in Lockon like LOCFG it has... plz

 

But sounds really good i really like Loman (Modman) best LockOn tool ever

[TekaTeka]

Thank you for everything, Skypat.

I'm looking forward to the release.