Guide to editing SUB CFG and UPC

[skirich]

I think I have found a solution to my issues with crew and compartments. But to fuly understand what I am doing I need to understand the relationships between compartments and their associated sections.


Is there a guide that describes some of this stuff? I hate changing things and then going into the game to test for each and every change. Especially since I dont know whats going where.

[KaleunMarco]

Originally Posted by skirich

I think I have found a solution to my issues with crew and compartments. But to fuly understand what I am doing I need to understand the relationships between compartments and their associated sections.


Is there a guide that describes some of this stuff? I hate changing things and then going into the game to test for each and every change. Especially since I dont know whats going where.

i've never seen a guide or mapping of the UPC or CFG file format. there are some mods that explain in detail what they changed and from that you can work out the context of the file format...especially the CFG file. keep in mind that speed is in knots, mileage is in nautical miles, and length is in meters. some of the values are vestiges from SH3 and are not necessarily used in SH4.

the ActiveUserPlayerUnit.UPC is actually a construct of several files and code. There is a Boat.UPC, Equipment.UPC, Upgrades.upc, Crewmember.upc, and probably a few more which i cannot remember at this time. at certain times, mostly at career start and then in port between missions, SH4 makes changes to your equipment or equipment availability and/or crew availability. sometimes, it effs up, like when it gives you a new weapon and eliminates the crew. you cannot prevent that stuff from happening but you can react to it and change it now that you know how.

there is a lot that goes into building a sub.upc file and probably no one knows everything. we refer to that unknown stuff as "the fog". good luck.

[propbeanie]

To detail what KaleunMarco said: You know where to find the main part of the submarines and some of their associated files. Their conning towers are in the Objects folder. Their guns (and sensors) are in the Library folder, and the USSubParts folder in that. The UPCData / UPCCrewData holds the crew upc files and the UPCUnitsData holds the individual sub's UnitParts and global files for weapons etc. One little extra space, comma or overlooked semi-colon (for comments), and the file can trash what you have. Save often, and save duplicated. The dat, sim, zon, val, cam, & dsd files require either hex-editing or the use of Silent 3Ditor for editing. Most of the others are text-based.

Using a search engine with "site:subsim.com/radioroom Subject Detail" can find threads on the site that may help. There are some modders that have left a lot of info on this site. I usually end up chasing rabbits, but it is still fun to search. Perhaps you'll figure-out enough to do a write-up on the subject and share?... I always seem to get lost and create CTDs whenever I try to edit in those folders...