[TEC] SH5.exe patches to fix bugs and add functionality - Page 35

quink99 · 05-26-12, 05:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheDarkWraith

In laymen's terms I'm giving you the tools to add/expand/change a process. If you're not familiar with what a process is it's a Windows term - once again, in laymen's terms, think of it as the encapsulation of everything needed to run an application in windows.

DLL injection let's you write code in some editor (Visual Studio for instance), compile that code into a DLL, and then inject that into a process to either change it's functionality, override a functionality, and/or add new functionality. Now simply injecting a DLL isn't going to do much. Yes, the DLL is now part of the process but it's never being 'called'. You need to add hooks into the existing code so that your new code is called.

If you're really computer saavy you can replace an existing DLL with your own. That lets you do things the app never intended to do (DLL injection/code injection does also but this way is easier for some)

Injecting a file is just as it sounds - taking the contents of a file and placing it inside an active process. What does this do for you? I can think of many things! You all are familiar with my patches - you load up the patch file and then you enable the patches you want. Think of those patches as files being injected into the SH5 process (I actually write new data to existing files but it should help you understand the concept).

Now for those of you, like me, who love assembly (long live DOS!) injecting a file is the way to go. You can write your 'code' in an assembler, take the hex file generated and inject it into the process. Once I code in the ability to dump and replace process memory then you will have an easy way to add your hooks to call your new code.

I'm working on the ability to add watches currently. If your familiar with Visual Studio then you know what watches are already. If not I'll try to make it a little clear: say you have an application that displays a value on a screen and you'd really like to change that value and/or monitor it. We have no idea where this value resides so we have to do a little exploring inside the active process. We pick an area of memory and set a watch on it - the watch will monitor that area of memory for any changes. When it detects changes it can either suspend the process or just update the app with the new value. This allows you to see what that memory is doing in real time. By setting many different watches (and changing what they are monitoring) you will eventually find where the variable is located so you can manipulate it.

I made the app generic in nature so that it can be used on anything. It's not fixed to any particular app or process.

This app now let's you 'play' in my favorite playground...process memory. You are limited only by your imagination/skill level

A thing of beauty, TDW, You were able to explain it in such an elegant manner that even a complete computer retardo is beginning to grasp what your talking about..............Thanks so much, Quink

TheDarkWraith · 05-26-12, 11:53 PM

v1.0.34.0 released. See post #1

You can now add watches

Click the watches button to open the watches window. Use Watches-->Add to add watches. Should be pretty self-explanatory

Still working on the dumping/reloading of memory

Same thing still applies to the kernel32.dll as I haven't gotten around to coding that either.

Endroo · 05-27-12, 03:43 AM

Hey TDW! Where can I find the older patches, like the first one? They don't appear to be in the latest patch's files.

TheDarkWraith · 05-27-12, 08:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Endroo

Hey TDW! Where can I find the older patches, like the first one? They don't appear to be in the latest patch's files.

All the patches are included with each new version. When you unzip the package you'll find (currently) three s5p files. These s5p files are the patch files.

I'm assuming when you say older patches like the first one you are referring to the hydro fix and map color changes. Those can be found in the TDW_SH5_Patches.s5p file.

TheDarkWraith · 05-27-12, 11:34 AM

v1.0.35.0 released. See post #1

This version adds a new patch to the sh5.exe that fixes the broken resupply system while at sea

There's no way I could test for the full impact of this change so you all will have to let me know anything odd. All the change does is remove the check that determines the number of resupplies available (thus allowing you to resupply as long as a resupply point is shown on the map)

volodya61 · 05-27-12, 11:36 AM

It's great! Thanks TDW!

Endroo · 05-27-12, 05:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheDarkWraith

All the patches are included with each new version. When you unzip the package you'll find (currently) three s5p files. These s5p files are the patch files.

I'm assuming when you say older patches like the first one you are referring to the hydro fix and map color changes. Those can be found in the TDW_SH5_Patches.s5p file.

Why thank you! Good work, and I'm glad to see that someone is still taking care of this game to this day!

THE_MASK · 05-27-12, 09:45 PM

Could we have the patcher remember the path to the sh5.exe or is that not allowed . Set path to sh5.exe rather than select path to sh5.exe .

TheDarkWraith · 05-27-12, 10:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sober

Could we have the patcher remember the path to the sh5.exe or is that not allowed . Set path to sh5.exe rather than select path to sh5.exe .

I can do that. I can have it write the last path you selected for the file being patched to the patch file

Good idea

THE_MASK · 05-27-12, 10:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheDarkWraith

I can do that. I can have it write the last path you selected for the file being patched to the patch file

Good idea

Thankyou sir

TheDarkWraith · 06-02-12, 06:31 PM

Finally found the function that adds the kiddy factor to the player's ordered depth so they cannot actually put their sub on the ocean's bottom. I have removed the kiddy factor and now you can order your sub to the bottom (or greater) and it will go to the bottom

Currently the sub will not incur damage if you order depth > ocean bottom so I'm trying to fix that now

mouseno4 · 06-02-12, 07:14 PM

Generic Patcher crashes with a big error when opening the s5p files. "Error reading patch file" along with a whole lot of jargon and ends with ''The system cannot find the file specified."

TheDarkWraith · 06-02-12, 07:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mouseno4

Generic Patcher crashes with a big error when opening the s5p files. "Error reading patch file" along with a whole lot of jargon and ends with ''The system cannot find the file specified."

Sounds like you need to download the latest version at post #1 of this thread

Sub will now incur damage from the ocean bottom if you ram into it

New patch coming here very soon!

THE_MASK · 06-02-12, 07:26 PM

Its like chridtmas .

mouseno4 · 06-02-12, 07:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheDarkWraith

Sounds like you need to download the latest version at post #1 of this thread

Sub will now incur damage from the ocean bottom if you ram into it

New patch coming here very soon!

That is where i got the file from. I didnt know there were different download locations.

http://img198.imageshack.us/img198/9518/46384692.png

05-27-12, 11:36 AM	#516
volodya61 Ocean Warrior Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Rostov-on-Don, local time GMT+4 Posts: 3,300 Downloads: 374 Uploads: 0	It's great! Thanks TDW! __________________ . Where does human stupidity end? . *El sueño de la razón produce monstruos © - and for some people awakening will be cruel*

05-26-12, 11:53 PM	#512
TheDarkWraith Black Magic Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 11,962 Downloads: 147 Uploads: 5	v1.0.34.0 released. See post #1 You can now add watches Click the watches button to open the watches window. Use Watches-->Add to add watches. Should be pretty self-explanatory Still working on the dumping/reloading of memory Same thing still applies to the kernel32.dll as I haven't gotten around to coding that either.

05-27-12, 03:43 AM	#513
Endroo Nub Join Date: May 2009 Posts: 3 Downloads: 5 Uploads: 0	Hey TDW! Where can I find the older patches, like the first one? They don't appear to be in the latest patch's files.

05-27-12, 11:34 AM	#515
TheDarkWraith Black Magic Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 11,962 Downloads: 147 Uploads: 5	v1.0.35.0 released. See post #1 This version adds a new patch to the sh5.exe that fixes the broken resupply system while at sea There's no way I could test for the full impact of this change so you all will have to let me know anything odd. All the change does is remove the check that determines the number of resupplies available (thus allowing you to resupply as long as a resupply point is shown on the map)

05-27-12, 09:45 PM	#518
THE_MASK Ace of the deep . Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 9,226 Downloads: 901 Uploads: 73	Could we have the patcher remember the path to the sh5.exe or is that not allowed . Set path to sh5.exe rather than select path to sh5.exe .

06-02-12, 06:31 PM	#521
TheDarkWraith Black Magic Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 11,962 Downloads: 147 Uploads: 5	Finally found the function that adds the kiddy factor to the player's ordered depth so they cannot actually put their sub on the ocean's bottom. I have removed the kiddy factor and now you can order your sub to the bottom (or greater) and it will go to the bottom Currently the sub will not incur damage if you order depth > ocean bottom so I'm trying to fix that now

06-02-12, 07:14 PM	#522
mouseno4 Watch Join Date: Jun 2012 Posts: 23 Downloads: 43 Uploads: 0	Generic Patcher crashes with a big error when opening the s5p files. "Error reading patch file" along with a whole lot of jargon and ends with ''The system cannot find the file specified."

06-02-12, 07:26 PM	#524
THE_MASK Ace of the deep . Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 9,226 Downloads: 901 Uploads: 73	Its like chridtmas .