Question about menu

[74205]

Hi all. First, sorry for my bad english...

Now, i have several questions about were to find some files in the game.

Mostly what im trying to do is create a new "page" or add some buttons to the existent ones.
I have read the "Deconstructing the menu_1024_768.ini file items" tutorial by zAmboni to help me understand a bit more about the file itself and to try to see if i can come up with something.
But a far as i know this file only make the "objets" apear in the menu, it doesnt have any link to "what" that objet must do (besides the ItemID).

Taking this in mind i also read the "How to change buttons" tutorial by Engel in hopes of finding some insigigh as how the buttons work.
But once again, the file has its own "references" to what each command should do.

So im a bit lost here, all this tutorials are great, but how do you create new items, words, images or even a new menu to the game?

Maybe an example will clear things up so you understand what i want to do:

In the menu were you start a new carrer, you have a lot of options between renown, difficulty, start base, start year, etc...
So for example, i want to add a new button at the bottom of the screen to "link" to a new page that i will create. Is there any way to make this?

Or, another exaple, is there any way that when you select the dificulty level, a litle tooltip displays that says what "configuration" this dificulty mode has?

I know it should be best to have an "example image" than words, but im not at home now so i cant make one.

Yesterday i inspected a lot of files in the game, but i didnt find anything useful. I keep seen al around the "ItemID" or reference numbers (for example 0x31000000) that link to another "command file" but i cant find were all the configurations for this are.
Now... is it posible that all the Reference and items are configured in the main EXE?? because if this is the case, it should explain why i cant find any explanation on what this items are... and also it will make what i want to do imposible...

So anyone can help me? i have a lot of other questions (also because i dont find the files to modify) but i will keep them for another time...

[74205]

ok, maybe an example can clear things up...




Look at the "example tooltip" and the "new button here"... thats what i want to do, anyone has any ideas??

[BlightLightning]

I would be nice to find un-used plug-ins and activate them. There are alot if configurations from Sh3 that have not been removed for Sh4. I would like another Help page when F-1 is pressed. There are so many available Hot Keys, it's almost necessary to note them somewhere. I added this one for functions that can't be found anywhere else.

http://www.subsim.com/radioroom/showthread.php?t=115743

There are several files accessed when a option page is selected. Several here:
C:\Games\Silent Hunter\Data\Cfg

Commands.cfg assign key functions and messages ect...

One here
C:\Games\Silent Hunter\Data\Menu
menu_1024_768.ini sets mouse locations graphic textures and such.

And here...
C:\Games\Silent Hunter\Data\Menu
menu.txt

It wouldn't suprise me if an extra page was discovered. One idea on how to find out is to advance the date, then run the game. Just double-click the time at the lower right on the taskbar on most Windows based systems. Don't forget to reset to the correct date when you are finished!

This will give you a clue as to what files are being used. Then one must experiment with altering these files and seeing how the game responds. Remove a block of lines then see if a button or page dissappears. Remember to back up any files in folders of a different location that match so you can keep track of all the confusion. Add your own lines to match how the original lines are written and the game may just add something new!

In windows explorer, or my computer, if you right click the right pane and select view then details, this will show date modified. Then push on the top bar "date modified" and it sorts all the files by this date.

I don't know if this will help you get started but it is one idea.
Another is to write a letter to UbiSoft. You never know, they may write you back with easy step by step instructions on how to make your own custom menu selections. Combine these two and you could actually find something most of us have not discovered!

Happy Hunting

[74205]

thanks for the reply BlightLightning.

i have been looking at the files you have said for some weeks (since i got the idea), and everytime i end up with the same thought... that the ID references are the key to make this work, but nowere i can find them...

A lot of the files in "Data\Cfg" are old (unused as far as i known) Sh3 configuration files. Others, like the one you mention (Commands.cfg) are also linked to a ID numer. So here i suppose one can add a new command, but it will still be limited to the comands that has been writen for the game by the ID reference (making not posible, as an exaple, add a new "abandon ship" command).

"menu_1024_768.in" has been my main playground all this time. Not only sets were the graphics and text are, it also makes them selectable. So here is were i should be adding the new button, and even the tooltips.
Yesterday i was looking in the file and i got an idea that maybe work, but still i have to figure out about the ID code...

Finally, "menu.txt" is just text for the menu and tooltips. If i get something working, here is the place to add for all the text that i want...

i will try some things and see if i manage something.
Maybe an e-mail to ubisoft isnt a bad idea, but still i will wayt a few days.

Thanks again BlightLightning!

I wanted to add length and aspect ratio to recognition manual but I was stuck because I couldn't link the ID code with data in ship cfg file.

[74205]

well, mi idea did not ended very good...

i try to "recreate" one of the existing buttons to make it apear on the "new campaing menu". My first try didnt get me any result, the button did not even apear.
Then i changed the "parentID" of the button to the one of the new carrer menu, but it ended in a CTD...

Im still trying to find any "unused" ID, but im stuck if i dont know how to make a new "command id" to say to the game "if tha player press that button, it should go to XX place"...

yup. That was also my problem.