MVP Mod Installer (MVPMI) Update with MVP Mod repack

[Woof1701]

Hi everyone,

After Iambecomelive released his excellent Late War Edition (V1.1)and AddOn skin pack for Sergbuto's Add On Merchants, I decided to make an update of my Mod Installer (MVPMI). In order to make installing and switching skin packs easier. I took The Avon Lady's idea and made a repack with both mods and the addon.

You do not NEED Sergbuto's AddOn Merchants for the installer to work, but it is highly recommended.

New feature:
When installing the MVP skins, you get an option to chose the time period of your career.

1. 1939-1940 Early War skins only
2. 1941-1942 Mid War Mix (camouflage and pre-war skins mixed for use near U.S. coast)
3. 1941-1945 Late War camouflage skins only

********************
EDIT AUG 09,2005
********************

Sorry. It seems I incorporated a little bug in the last upload ... again ... It's only a glitch in the batch file itself, making every command that's carried out visible. Although that's good to find errors, it's pretty annoying when trying to use the file the normal way. The good news is that you don't have to download everything again, but only update the mvpmi.bat file. For all others who haven't downloaded yet, I provide a corrected version, of course.

Download corrected MVPMI.bat file here:
http://rapidshare.de/files/3816727/MVPMI.bat.html

Download complete package here:
http://rapidshare.de/files/3816933/MVPMI_incl_MVP_V1.0_V1.1___AddOn.7z.html

[R48]

Thanks!

[iambecomelife]

:up:

[martes86]

How should I exactly insert this in the mod list? Tool? Graphics add-on?

:ping:

[Woof1701]

How should I exactly insert this in the mod list? Tool? Graphics add-on?

:ping:

Why not put it in both? :-j

[The Avon Lady]

How should I exactly insert this in the mod list? Tool? Graphics add-on?

Why not put it in both? :j
This is the entire line of MVP skins, repackaged with your batch file, right? If so, it belongs under skins/graphics, etc. - not under utilities.

[Woof1701]

How should I exactly insert this in the mod list? Tool? Graphics add-on?

Why not put it in both? :j
This is the entire line of MVP skins, repackaged with your batch file, right? If so, it belongs under skins/graphics, etc. - not under utilities.

Agreed. Seems to be the most sensible place for it.

[rulle34]

Woof! Thanks for your work, but I am a little bit confused about the installation!
In your read me you say like this:

There are two alternative methods to installing the MVP Mod and the MVPMI - one in conjunction with using the JSGME (recommended) and the other without using the JSGME.

No matter which installation method you have chosen, you should see the following folders and files prior to initially running the MVPMI batch file:

\SilentHunterIII\MVPMI.bat
\SilentHunterIII\documentation\MerchantVarietyPack _Readme.txt
\SilentHunterIII\documentation\MVP_Promo_Pic.jpg
\SilentHunterIII\documentation\MVPMI.bat_Readme.tx t
\SilentHunterIII\MVP\*.tga (multiple TGA files)

But in the folder I DL there is also a MVPMLW folder!! What should I do with this folder??

I use JSGME and under the install notes, this MVPMLW folder is not mensioned there either.

How should I do with this folder? That folder should be mensioned in the read me or have I totaly missed something?

Don't wish to make some remark here, just confused how I shall proceed.

Hope for help

/Rulle

[iambecomelife]

Woof! Thanks for your work, but I am a little bit confused about the installation!
In your read me you say like this:

There are two alternative methods to installing the MVP Mod and the MVPMI - one in conjunction with using the JSGME (recommended) and the other without using the JSGME.

No matter which installation method you have chosen, you should see the following folders and files prior to initially running the MVPMI batch file:

\SilentHunterIII\MVPMI.bat
\SilentHunterIII\documentation\MerchantVarietyPack _Readme.txt
\SilentHunterIII\documentation\MVP_Promo_Pic.jpg
\SilentHunterIII\documentation\MVPMI.bat_Readme.tx t
\SilentHunterIII\MVP\*.tga (multiple TGA files)

But in the folder I DL there is also a MVPMLW folder!! What should I do with this folder??

I use JSGME and under the install notes, this MVPMLW folder is not mensioned there either.

How should I do with this folder? That folder should be mensioned in the read me or have I totaly missed something?

Don't wish to make some remark here, just confused how I shall proceed.

Hope for help

/Rulle

I think you're talking about the Merchant Variety Pack's camoflage skin folder. This belongs in the root directory of SH3 or (if you're using JSME) wherever the folder "MVP" is. In other words, you should have MVP and MVPMLW in the same directory.

[rulle34]

Thanks for quick answer!
The thing is that it doesn't say anything about this MVPMLW folder. And in the MVPMLW folder is a batchfile namned MVPMLW. Am I suppose to do something with that batchfile?

So if I understand you right i shall put the MVP folder + MVPMLW + the MVPMI batch file in the same folder. Then use JSGME for install, then run the MVPMI batch file and then I have the possibility to choose what kind of skins I want to have installed? Like option 1-3?

Have I understood this right then? :yep:

[rulle34]

BUMP :roll:

[iambecomelife]

Thanks for quick answer!
The thing is that it doesn't say anything about this MVPMLW folder. And in the MVPMLW folder is a batchfile namned MVPMLW. Am I suppose to do something with that batchfile?

So if I understand you right i shall put the MVP folder + MVPMLW + the MVPMI batch file in the same folder. Then use JSGME for install, then run the MVPMI batch file and then I have the possibility to choose what kind of skins I want to have installed? Like option 1-3?

Have I understood this right then? :yep:

That sounds about right, although to be honest I don't use the JSGME in any of my own installations.

[nattydread]

where is Sergbuto's add-on? i'd lik eto try em all. Will it work with the generic mod enabler?

[iambecomelife]

where is Sergbuto's add-on? i'd lik eto try em all. Will it work with the generic mod enabler?

http://web.telia.com/~u18230645/

[nattydread]

Ok, I got it all. now there are two slightly differnet ways to install the MVPearly and MVP mid-late it seems. Do they both go under the same folder in the /MODS folder. ex: .../MODS/MVPv1

Do i only backup original files using the .bat program or do i just backup when using the MVPmid-late mod?

I currently have all the files going to the same folder, though the 2 versions are there in their own sub-folders. i a bit nervous when it comes to mods so i havent ran them yet...I wanna make sure I didnt mess anything up :)

[iambecomelife]

It's apparently intended to back up the original tga's. It's highly unlikely that the tga's I made will cause a crash or soething, but you should probably run the backup utility just in case you end up preferring the originals

[Wolf52]

Having some issues here, when i try to back up the .tga's there are a number of "subfolders already created" and 6 files that cannot be found. I installed it by putting the mvp, documentation, and mvpmlw folders plus the .bat file in their own folder in the MODS directory. Installed with jsgme and ran the .bat from the sh3 root folder. Also it says something about '1.1' not being a valid command or something like that in the title in the main screen.

[iambecomelife]

Having some issues here, when i try to back up the .tga's there are a number of "subfolders already created" and 6 files that cannot be found. I installed it by putting the mvp, documentation, and mvpmlw folders plus the .bat file in their own folder in the MODS directory. Installed with jsgme and ran the .bat from the sh3 root folder. Also it says something about '1.1' not being a valid command or something like that in the title in the main screen.

Hmm... if you want I could e-mail you a batch file that does not require you to make the backup tga's, since that seems to be a source of trouble. Of course, with this version you'd have to back up the tga's manually. I don't know if you've done this before, but open the batch file with msword or another text editor to make sure that the paths match your sh3 directory.

[Wolf52]

Weird, six of the files it wants belong in two empty folders, NPTR and NKGN. Still dont understand why there is an mvp and a mvpmlw folder, with their own .bat, plus the .bat the the root sh3 folder.

[iambecomelife]

Weird, six of the files it wants belong in two empty folders, NPTR and NKGN. Still dont understand why there is an mvp and a mvpmlw folder, with their own .bat, plus the .bat the the root sh3 folder.

The missing folders are for Sergbuto's two new merchant ships; click the link above to get them. The two folders are early war uncamoflaged skins (mvp) and late war camo skins (mvpmlw). For a career in 1939, for instance, you should use the mvp batch file; for 1941 onwards use the mvpmlw batch file.

[Wolf52]

But then what about the .bat in the sh3 root folder? Should i not use it? Oh and those two ships from sergbuto, are they included in convoy generation?

[Wolf52]

Everything went ok this time. Great work!

[iambecomelife]

Everything went ok this time. Great work!

That's good to hear. You won't see these two ships in convoy unless you have the most recent RUB version or have generic cargo ship or transport slots in your convoys' composition. If you don't have either, go to the mission editor, load up the random layer, and place them in whichever convoys you want.

[nattydread]

Hmmm, I didnt notice there were two .bat files. So do we need to have the early and mid/late versions of MVP as seperate JSGME mods(thus having seperate folders under /MODS)...or will the .bat files pick and use the appropriate files if the early and mid/late folders are all placed under the same JSGME mod folder?

Man im confused.

[rulle34]

Hmmm, I didnt notice there were two .bat files. So do we need to have the early and mid/late versions of MVP as seperate JSGME mods(thus having seperate folders under /MODS)...or will the .bat files pick and use the appropriate files if the early and mid/late folders are all placed under the same JSGME mod folder?

Man im confused.

I agree!
The read me could be more clear!

I did like this:

1. I created a folder named "Merchant vareity pack" In that folder I put "documentation", "MVP", MVPMLW" and the batch "MVPMI".

2. Put all this in JSGME MODS folder. It should be like MODS\Merchant vareity pack\documenation, MVP, MVPMLW, batch MVPMI

3. Enable using JSGME

4. Run batch file, choose make backup, then choose beteween the 1.-3. options.

:)

[iambecomelife]

Hmmm, I didnt notice there were two .bat files. So do we need to have the early and mid/late versions of MVP as seperate JSGME mods(thus having seperate folders under /MODS)...or will the .bat files pick and use the appropriate files if the early and mid/late folders are all placed under the same JSGME mod folder?

Man im confused.

Woof said that the batch file should automatically pick the correct skins if they are in the same directory (ie a JSGME mod folder). In practice, however, I had trouble with the batch file he created. CRULL implied earlier that this might have occured because of WindowsXP's problems with switching to the appropriate paths when a batch file is run. Regardless of the cause I suggest that you try the batch file I included in my recent commerce raider/large cargo mod if you continue to have trouble. That batch file is a "bare bones" file without a menu, backup function, etc. It's designed to prevent these transition problems, as well as the issue where you can't install the MVP without creating backup tga's. Even though it's included with the mod for sergbuto's merchants it will work without them; you'll just get a number of "file not found errors" as it scans for the missing ships. As always, if you still have trouble you cna use the last resort method where you rename the tga's and place them in the data\sea\[unit] folders. See the MVP's readme for detailed instructions.

[nattydread]

Ok, so the .bat file provided in the MVP all inclusive is the one for the raider/large cargo....and it doesnt require any backing up(though you suggest we do)? Now is that the .bat that is by itself, or are all 3 of the .bat files in the all inclusive the same? Im sorry if i seem like a clutz...i just wanna make sure, though i dying to try this mod.

[Woof1701]

Hmm ... :hmm: I tested the batch file on three different systems with three different OS configurations (WinXP SP2, Win 2000 SP?, and Win XP no SP) and the batchfile always found the files in the appropriate folders. The only command I know of that WinXP has proplems with is the "IF- THEN" command. Here I had to switch to the appropriate folder with the "CD" command in order to make it work.
Unfortunately I cannot reproduce the effect you described :( Sorry

[Wolf52]

Just had to reinstall my whole system after a virus and am having problems with this again. I copied the mvpmlw folder into the sh3 root directory, then ran the mvpmlw.bat file (im not using jsgme), which seemed to work fine. Now i am a bit confused as to what i need to do next. The readme needs to be updated on how to do a manual install. I have tried all the other .bat files in the folder where i first downloaded them to, but i cant backup anything.

[iambecomelife]

Just had to reinstall my whole system after a virus and am having problems with this again. I copied the mvpmlw folder into the sh3 root directory, then ran the mvpmlw.bat file (im not using jsgme), which seemed to work fine. Now i am a bit confused as to what i need to do next. The readme needs to be updated on how to do a manual install. I have tried all the other .bat files in the folder where i first downloaded them to, but i cant backup anything.

Did you get the scrolling notification of files copying? If so, you should be able to go ingame and see the new skins; there isn't really anything else to do next. If it turns out that it didn't work you should rename the tga's according to ship type - All the A's are skins for NKGN, B's are for the C-2 (NKLS__Txx.tga), etc. Here's a quote from the MVP readme but it holds true for the MVPMLW:


**************************************


2. Rename the individual skins and place them in the data\sea\[unit] folders. Here are the designations for the different ship types:
A:Commerce Raider merchant
B:C-2
C:Coastal Merchant
D:T-2
E:T-3
F:Small Tanker
G:Victory Ship
H:Small Merchant
J:Passenger Liner
K:Troopship

For instance, the skin designated E1.tga should be renamed NOTMS__T01.tga and placed in the data\sea\NOTMs_ folder to overwrite the default tga.
With this method, you don't need the batch file or its icon. You will not see semi-random changes to the merchant shipping, and will probably encounter the same merchantmen on each patrol unless you manually alter the tga files' numbers.

[Wolf52]

So re-running mvpmlw.bat should randomize skins each time? I had this working before, but now i cant figure out what the other .bat or two is for.

[iambecomelife]

So re-running mvpmlw.bat should randomize skins each time? I had this working before, but now i cant figure out what the other .bat or two is for.

Yes; it should generate a random group of skins whenever it's run. What are the names of the other batch files that you noticed in the folder?

[Wolf52]

Well i dropped everything in a folder to start with, so there is a file called mvpmi.bat in this root folder, then mvpmlw.bat in the mvpmlw folder, and then mvpmi.bat in the mvp folder.

[iambecomelife]

Well i dropped everything in a folder to start with, so there is a file called mvpmi.bat in this root folder, then mvpmlw.bat in the mvpmlw folder, and then mvpmi.bat in the mvp folder.

To run the camo skin pack use mvpmlw.bat in the MVPMLW. To run the civilian skin program use the batch file in the MVP folder. If you have the version with the command-prompt menus that Woof1701 created there's a chance that the program won't run properly; if this happens I can try and send you an old version of the batch file that's more likely to work. BTW, did you check the batch file to make sure that the command lines point to the right directories?

EDIT: based on the fact that you couldn't back up the files you must be using the non-menu version that I released myself. If you want to back up the original files you need to manually copy the tga's in the data\sea\[unit] folders.

[Wolf52]

Well, i copied the mvp folder over to the sh3 root directory and tried to back up. Found 2 files but the rest it couldnt find. I moved all of the unit folders over to both of the backup folders within the mvp folder, tried to run the randomizer mvpmi.bat, but then it cant find any of the files it needs. How can i check to see what is inside the .bat?

[iambecomelife]

Well, i copied the mvp folder over to the sh3 root directory and tried to back up. Found 2 files but the rest it couldnt find. I moved all of the unit folders over to both of the backup folders within the mvp folder, tried to run the randomizer mvpmi.bat, but then it cant find any of the files it needs. How can i check to see what is inside the .bat?

Right-click on the batch file and select "edit" from the men that pops up. You can also fire up wordpad, notepad, or some other word-processing program and then edit it from there. If it turns out that the path in the batch file is incompatible with your install directory, hit ctrl-h in most wp programs for the find/replace function. It's a lot faster than editing it by hand.

[Wolf52]

Alright, i really dont care about backing up, but actually i have in a roundabout way, so could you send me a randomizer that just randomizes?

[iambecomelife]

Alright, i really dont care about backing up, but actually i have in a roundabout way, so could you send me a randomizer that just randomizes?

OK; I'll send you a version of the "bare bones" randomizer I use on my own overly-sensitive machine :damn: . It's a shame, since Woof and Avon Lady did such a nice job repackaging it. Anyway, what's your installation path?

[Wolf52]

Thanks! The path i used was the default one that the installer uses. Thats why i was a bit confused as to why it wasnt working right.

[iambecomelife]

Thanks! The path i used was the default one that the installer uses. Thats why i was a bit confused as to why it wasnt working right.

Is it working now or do you still need me to email you the files? If so, I'll have to do it tomorrow afternoon.

[Wolf52]

Yeah i think youll have to email it to me, but theres no rush since i havent been playing sh3 too often recently.

[Wolf52]

Hey, im back, took a bit of a break from the game. I suppose i will still need that installer, because i never fixed that problem. Of course, now i cant really remember how close i got to fixing it... :roll: So anyways, send me a pm and i'll give you my email that way.

[WhiteW0lf]

Thanks for this.

[The Avon Lady]

FYI, the entire MVP pack is available as part of SH3 Commander. So if you already have SH3 Commander, you don't need to separately download and install the MVP mod. Just download SH3 Commander's separate ship skins file and follow the install instructions.

[iambecomelife]

The pack needs to be updated badly. The current version has issues with neatness and historical accuracy (especially for civilian-painted ships) and the BAT-based file exchange is just too tempermental. Unless we manage to unravel the skin selection mystery I'll probably just make the MVPII compatible with date-based SH3 utilities, as Beery & others have done.

[JonZ]

The pack needs to be updated badly. The current version has issues with neatness and historical accuracy (especially for civilian-painted ships) and the BAT-based file exchange is just too tempermental. Unless we manage to unravel the skin selection mystery I'll probably just make the MVPII compatible with date-based SH3 utilities, as Beery & others have done.

Yeah, a SH3Commander insertion would be great. I use this mod but it just sometime been overwriten by the SHCommander dated skins.