[REQ] a way to randomize loading and map splash screens?

[Able72]

Ok, I have a ton of splash screens (at least 100) different images.

The map screens and the initial loading splash screens.

I was wondering if there was a mod that would randomly load one as opposed to limiting us to the 'stock' (or whatever single image we've renamed).

In otherwords, I would like a mod that would pick an image at random from a folder containing all my loading splash screens, and use that as the loading splash screen.
I'd like it to do this everytime I load the game (I use SH3 commander if this helps), and every time I load into a patrol.

I read about the 'random' folder in SH3 Commander, but I couldn't get it to work, and with more than 100 images, that could be a lot of file making and renaming (although if somone could write a program that would build the necessary file structure and rename the image files that would be cool to.

[Sailor Steve]

I don't know why you couldn't get it to work. Mine randomizes all that and more.

[Able72]

Originally Posted by Sailor Steve

I don't know why you couldn't get it to work. Mine randomizes all that and more.

I don't suppose you'd care to zip up and upload somewhere your random folder would you? Perhaps seeing a finished example will help.

[HundertzehnGustav]

Hold on, THIS post will help you. it sirtanly helped me!
http://www.subsim.com/radioroom/showthread.php?t=133645

[Able72]

beutifull, absoluetly makes perfect sense and I now know where I went wrong.

Since SH3 Commander can take multiple Random folders and I have roughly 100 different splash screens, anyone willing to write me a program that will create the sequential folder structure and rename all the different splash screens appropiatly?

[HundertzehnGustav]

HUH?

what you have there in your commander is a variant of JSGME...
create once the folder structure, for 0, and copy the whole shebang athousand times or as much as needed.
rename them as 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,...1000
take your splashscreens and put them into each folder structure... and name every single one of them "whatever.bmp"

a little bit of work, hasnt harmed me either... i have 75 different dock music files.... :hmm:

[JScones]

Originally Posted by Able72

beutifull, absoluetly makes perfect sense and I now know where I went wrong.

Since SH3 Commander can take multiple Random folders and I have roughly 100 different splash screens, anyone willing to write me a program that will create the sequential folder structure and rename all the different splash screens appropiatly?

Two lines of code - done and 100 folders sent to SS (I saw his PM before this post).

I have thought of a different, perhaps better, way of handling random files. I mean, SH3Cmdr handles random events through a controlling file, so why can't it handle random files the same way? Well it can. This would mean that you could d/l 50000 loading screens into a folder under SH3 Commander\Random and provided that you add two lines to an SH3Cmdr controlling file (the locations of the source and destination folders) you're all set. You can then add another 1000 screens without needing to make any further changes, or remove likewise. For instance:

[0]
From=My Loading Screens
To=data\Menu\Loading\intro.tga
 
[1]
ApplyToPeriod=19390101|19421231
From=My Fanfares\Early War
To=data\Sound\Fanfara_01.wav
 
[2]
ApplyToPeriod=19430101|19451231
From=My Fanfares\Late War
To=data\Sound\Fanfara_01.wav

This would also get around a current limitation in that if you have two elements that you wish to randomise, say loading screens and fanfare files, you need to upscale to the largest number of random folders. That is, if you have 100 loading screens but 50 fanfare files, unless you double the number of fanfare files you'll only get a random one every 1 in 2 loads.

I guess the downside is that all files in the source folder would need to be uniquely named.

Anyway, there's a few other features that have been asked for (like a starting at sea option), so I might consider an R3.1. We'll see. In the meantime, SS can continue using the Random folders.