SUBSIM Radio Room Forums - [REL] Webster's Smaller Clear Message Box for Stock v1.4 and v1.5

Updated 9/28/09

Webster's Smaller Message Box for Stock v1.4 and v1.5
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This is an updated version of my transparent orders box mod and it still changes the orders box so it is always transparent but now it also makes the text area about 25% smaller without effecting the text font size.

this mod is done by editing the "menu_1024_768" file, so it is very likely to have conflicts with any large mod because the "menu_1024_768" is a very commonly modded file in any large mod.

NOTE - this mod was made from info from a mod originally created by "panthercules" but to my knowledge it was never put into a downloadable mod.

all creative credit for this mod goes to "panthercules" who figured out how things effected the message box.

below i will show you how to manually add this mod into any mod you want it in.

one issue with this mod is that it removes the background color and makes it so that the message box is always using a clear background and the shading slider has no use any more so keep this in mind when you are using the mod.

if you want the smaller size box but also want to keep the shaded background then follow the instructions below to undo the edit to the color code and restore the shading.

JSGME Install info:

As with all my mods, this mod is jsgme ready and it includes a read me file. Open the downloaded zip file and then open the mod folder.

Inside the read me will tell you about the mod and the folder next to it is the actual mod itself and that is the folder you need to put into jsgme.
choose the correct one for your game version.

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How to manually add this mod to any mod you wish to have it in:

Note - If you are manually changing the file yourself, THE GAME VERSION MATTERS so be sure to confirm you are editing the correct setion number because the section numbers are changed from v1.4 to v1.5.

This mod is done with a simple text edit to the "menu_1024_768" file found in "Data/ Menu" folder.

If the mod you are using has a non stock "menu_1024_768" file found in it then you will need to open the "menu_1024_768" file found in it using windows "notepad", then follow the editing instructions below.

look about one third of the way down the list to find the "G3F" section or use the "find" search tool under the "edit" section of the top tool bar to search for the section by its name.

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instructions if you are using game v1.5:

if you want to resize the shaded background box for the message display area:

just change the third and forth [G3F I248] "Zone" numbers from (350 and 94) to (260 and 75)

(example of stock menu_1024_768 file)

[G3F I248] <<<< (note the location number)
Name=Group messages 2
Type=1026;Menu group
ItemID=0x3F2A0000
ParentID=0x3F000000
Pos=256,-4,350,94
Zone= 256 764 350 94 0 1 0x3F000000 0.25 0 0x3F2A0000 0 0 0 -4

so after the changes it will read:

Zone= 256 764 260 75 0 1 0x3F000000 0.25 0 0x3F2A0000 0 0 0 -4

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

now if you want to resize the message display area inside the shaded box:

just change the third and forth [G3F I252] "Zone" numbers from (338 and 68) to (250 and 50)

(example of stock menu_1024_768 file)

[G3F I252] <<<< (note the location number)
Name=ListboxMessages2
Type=1047;Listbox with items
ItemID=0x3F320000
ParentID=0x3F2A0000
Pos=6,-22,338,68
Zone= 262 742 338 68 0 1 0x3F2A0000 0 0 0x3F320000 0 0 6 -22

so after the changes it will read:

Zone= 262 742 250 50 0 1 0x3F2A0000 0 0 0x3F320000 0 0 6 -22

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

now if you want to make the shaded background of the message box perminently clear:

just change the last two numbers of the "color" code to read "Color=0xFFFFFF00"

(example of stock menu_1024_768 file)

[G3F I260] <<<< (note the location number)
Name=Bkgr capture
Type=1031;Stat bmp array
ItemID=0x3F2A00FF
ParentID=0x3F2A0000
Pos=0,0,350,94
Zone= 256 764 350 94 0 1 0x3F2A0000 0.5 -1 0x3F2A00FF -0.5 1 0 0
Color=0xFFFFFF80

after changes it will read:

Color=0xFFFFFF00

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instructions if you are using game v1.4

if you want to resize the shaded background box for the message display area:

just change the third and forth [G3F I237] "Zone" numbers from (350 and 94) to (260 and 75)

(example of stock menu_1024_768 file)

[G3F I237] <<<< (note the location number)
Name=Group messages 2
Type=1026;Menu group
ItemID=0x3F2A0000
ParentID=0x3F000000
Pos=256,-4,350,94
Zone= 256 764 350 94 0 1 0x3F000000 0.25 0 0x3F2A0000 0 0 0 -4

so after the changes it will read:

Zone= 256 764 260 75 0 1 0x3F000000 0.25 0 0x3F2A0000 0 0 0 -4

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

now if you want to resize the message display area inside the shaded box:

just change the third and forth [G3F I241] "Zone" numbers from (338 and 68) to (250 and 50)

(example of stock menu_1024_768 file)

[G3F I241] <<<< (note the location number)
Name=ListboxMessages2
Type=1047;Listbox with items
ItemID=0x3F320000
ParentID=0x3F2A0000
Pos=6,-22,338,68
Zone= 262 742 338 68 0 1 0x3F2A0000 0 0 0x3F320000 0 0 6 -22

so after the changes it will read:

Zone= 262 742 250 50 0 1 0x3F2A0000 0 0 0x3F320000 0 0 6 -22

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

now if you want to make the shaded background of the message box perminently clear:

just change the last two numbers of the "color" code to read "Color=0xFFFFFF00"

(example of stock menu_1024_768 file)

[G3F I249] <<<< (note the location number)
Name=Bkgr capture
Type=1031;Stat bmp array
ItemID=0x3F2A00FF
ParentID=0x3F2A0000
Pos=0,0,350,94
Zone= 256 764 350 94 0 1 0x3F2A0000 0.5 -1 0x3F2A00FF -0.5 1 0 0
Color=0xFFFFFF80

after changes it will read:

Color=0xFFFFFF00

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when you finish, save the changes when you close the file, that is all you have to do.

enjoy!

webster

Download here: SUBSIM or Filefront