Archive Documentation & Homeworld2.big.list

[Thought]

Thank Relic for providing these :)

IC Archive Tool Documentation (http://hw2.tproc.org/utilities/archive/IC_Archive_Tool_Documentation.doc), not Homeworld 2 specific, but it still applies.
Homeworld2 List (http://hw2.tproc.org/utilities/archive/Homeworld2.big.list), for rebuilding Homeworld2.big.

This should help everyone in understanding how to use Archive.exe to create .big files :)

Also, jpaugh78 has created a very useful tutorial (http://forums.relicnews.com/showthread.php?threadid=20336).

[jpaugh78]

Here is a tutorial for how to make your own .Big file:

Okay, before you do this tutorial, make sure you have the archive.exe tool in your homeworld 2 directory:

c:\program files\sierra\homeworld2\tools\bin

*Note: You will also need the Msvcp70.dll file in this folder as well which is located at:

c:\program files\sierra\homeworld2\bin\release\

It tells you to put the stuff from the RDN tools into your homeworld 2 directory after you install it

Thanks goes to FinalCat for actually figuring this out...but I helped him....kinda...


*P.S. Somebody dock this.... :)
here it is:

----------------------------------------------------------------
****************************
Step 1
****************************
Create a text file with this in it:

Archive name="Shadow Beam 0.1"
TOCStart name="ShadowBeamData" alias="Data" relativeroot=""
FileSettingsStart defcompression="1"
Override wildcard="*.*" minsize="-1" maxsize="100" ct="0"
Override wildcard="*.mp3" minsize="-1" maxsize="-1" ct="0"
Override wildcard="*.wav" minsize="-1" maxsize="-1" ct="0"
Override wildcard="*.jpg" minsize="-1" maxsize="-1" ct="0"
Override wildcard="*.fda" minsize="-1" maxsize="-1" ct="0"
Override wildcard="*.lua" minsize="-1" maxsize="-1" ct="2"
Override wildcard="*.txt" minsize="-1" maxsize="-1" ct="2"
Override wildcard="*.ship" minsize="-1" maxsize="-1" ct="2"
Override wildcard="*.resource" minsize="-1" maxsize="-1" ct="2"
Override wildcard="*.pebble" minsize="-1" maxsize="-1" ct="2"
Override wildcard="*.level" minsize="-1" maxsize="-1" ct="2"
Override wildcard="*.wepn" minsize="-1" maxsize="-1" ct="2"
Override wildcard="*.subs" minsize="-1" maxsize="-1" ct="2"
Override wildcard="*.miss" minsize="-1" maxsize="-1" ct="2"
Override wildcard="*.events" minsize="-1" maxsize="-1" ct="2"
Override wildcard="*.madstate" minsize="-1" maxsize="-1" ct="2"
Override wildcard="*.script" minsize="-1" maxsize="-1" ct="2"
Override wildcard="*.ti" minsize="-1" maxsize="-1" ct="2"
Override wildcard="*.st" minsize="-1" maxsize="-1" ct="2"
Override wildcard="*.vp" minsize="-1" maxsize="-1" ct="2"
Override wildcard="*.wf" minsize="-1" maxsize="-1" ct="2"
SkipFile wildcard="*emptyfile.txt" minsize="-1" maxsize="-1"
SkipFile wildcard="*.avi" minsize="-1" maxsize="-1"
SkipFile wildcard="keeper.txt" minsize="-1" maxsize="-1"
SkipFile wildcard="*.big" minsize="-1" maxsize="-1"
SkipFile wildcard="*.sfap0" minsize="-1" maxsize="-1"
SkipFile wildcard="C:\Games\Sierra\Homeworld2\Data\Locale\English\*" minsize="-1" maxsize="-1"
SkipFile wildcard="C:\Games\Sierra\Homeworld2\Data\Sound\Speech\*" minsize="-1" maxsize="-1"
SkipFile wildcard="C:\Games\Sierra\Homeworld2\Data\Sound\Music\*" minsize="-1" maxsize="-1"
FileSettingsEnd

Rename that txt file to compile.list and place it in your homeworld2 main directory:

c:\program files\sierra\homeworld2\compile.list

*Note: You can change the Archive name and TOCStart Name to whatever you want...but keep it the same if you want this tutorial to work

****************************
Step 2
****************************

Make a folder called Moddata in your homeworld 2 directory:

c:\program files\sierra\homeworld2\moddata


****************************
Step 3
****************************

Put all the files that you want to be in your .big file into the moddata folder


****************************
Step 4
****************************

Open up your Command Prompt and goto the directory where you installed homeworld 2:

*Note*
The Command Prompt apparently doesn't like spaces, so if you installed the game into C:\program files\sierra\homeworld2\ you'll have to type in program files as progra~1

cd C:\progra~1\sierra\homeworld2\moddata

Now, your command prompt line should look like this:

c:\progra~1\sirra\homeworld2\moddata>



Now type in this:

dir /s /b > files.txt


this should create a text file called files.txt in your moddata folder with a listing of all the files you have

****************************
Step 5
****************************
This red part is optional....it will at least cut down on the file size


Open that files.txt file and take out all of the lines that are just directories:

c:\program files\sierra\homeworld2\moddata\scripts
c:\program files\sierra\homeworld2\moddata\ship
c:\program files\sierra\homeworld2\moddata\subsystem


Take out the line that refers to files.txt :

c:\program files\sierra\homeworld2\moddata\files.txt



****************************
Step 6
****************************

Copy everything in the file.txt file and paste it into the compile.list file you made in step 1 and put it at the bottum under where it says
FileSettingsEnd

After everything you just pasted add this line:

TOCEnd


Here is what my compile.list looked like afterwards:

Archive name="Shadow Beam 0.1"
TOCStart name="ShadowBeamData" alias="Data" relativeroot=""
FileSettingsStart defcompression="1"
Override wildcard="*.*" minsize="-1" maxsize="100" ct="0"
Override wildcard="*.mp3" minsize="-1" maxsize="-1" ct="0"
Override wildcard="*.wav" minsize="-1" maxsize="-1" ct="0"
Override wildcard="*.jpg" minsize="-1" maxsize="-1" ct="0"
Override wildcard="*.fda" minsize="-1" maxsize="-1" ct="0"
Override wildcard="*.lua" minsize="-1" maxsize="-1" ct="2"
Override wildcard="*.txt" minsize="-1" maxsize="-1" ct="2"
Override wildcard="*.ship" minsize="-1" maxsize="-1" ct="2"
Override wildcard="*.resource" minsize="-1" maxsize="-1" ct="2"
Override wildcard="*.pebble" minsize="-1" maxsize="-1" ct="2"
Override wildcard="*.level" minsize="-1" maxsize="-1" ct="2"
Override wildcard="*.wepn" minsize="-1" maxsize="-1" ct="2"
Override wildcard="*.subs" minsize="-1" maxsize="-1" ct="2"
Override wildcard="*.miss" minsize="-1" maxsize="-1" ct="2"
Override wildcard="*.events" minsize="-1" maxsize="-1" ct="2"
Override wildcard="*.madstate" minsize="-1" maxsize="-1" ct="2"
Override wildcard="*.script" minsize="-1" maxsize="-1" ct="2"
Override wildcard="*.ti" minsize="-1" maxsize="-1" ct="2"
Override wildcard="*.st" minsize="-1" maxsize="-1" ct="2"
Override wildcard="*.vp" minsize="-1" maxsize="-1" ct="2"
Override wildcard="*.wf" minsize="-1" maxsize="-1" ct="2"
SkipFile wildcard="*emptyfile.txt" minsize="-1" maxsize="-1"
SkipFile wildcard="*.avi" minsize="-1" maxsize="-1"
SkipFile wildcard="keeper.txt" minsize="-1" maxsize="-1"
SkipFile wildcard="*.big" minsize="-1" maxsize="-1"
SkipFile wildcard="*.sfap0" minsize="-1" maxsize="-1"
SkipFile wildcard="C:\Games\Sierra\Homeworld2\Data\Locale\English\*" minsize="-1" maxsize="-1"
SkipFile wildcard="C:\Games\Sierra\Homeworld2\Data\Sound\Speech\*" minsize="-1" maxsize="-1"
SkipFile wildcard="C:\Games\Sierra\Homeworld2\Data\Sound\Music\*" minsize="-1" maxsize="-1"
FileSettingsEnd
C:\Games\Sierra\Homeworld2\moddata\scripts\tuning.lua
C:\Games\Sierra\Homeworld2\moddata\scripts\building and research\Hiigaran\build.lua
C:\Games\Sierra\Homeworld2\moddata\scripts\building and research\Hiigaran\research.lua
C:\Games\Sierra\Homeworld2\moddata\ship\hgn_assaultcorvette1\hgn_assaultcorvette1.events
C:\Games\Sierra\Homeworld2\moddata\ship\hgn_assaultcorvette1\hgn_assaultcorvette1.ship
C:\Games\Sierra\Homeworld2\moddata\ship\hgn_battlecruiser\hgn_battlecruiser.events
C:\Games\Sierra\Homeworld2\moddata\ship\hgn_battlecruiser\hgn_battlecruiser.ship
C:\Games\Sierra\Homeworld2\moddata\ship\hgn_carrier\hgn_carrier.events
C:\Games\Sierra\Homeworld2\moddata\ship\hgn_carrier\hgn_carrier.ship
C:\Games\Sierra\Homeworld2\moddata\ship\hgn_carrier1\hgn_carrier1.events
C:\Games\Sierra\Homeworld2\moddata\ship\hgn_carrier1\hgn_carrier1.ship
C:\Games\Sierra\Homeworld2\moddata\ship\hgn_cruse\hgn_cruse.events
C:\Games\Sierra\Homeworld2\moddata\ship\hgn_cruse\hgn_cruse.ship
C:\Games\Sierra\Homeworld2\moddata\ship\hgn_destroyerleader\hgn_destroyerleader.events
C:\Games\Sierra\Homeworld2\moddata\ship\hgn_destroyerleader\hgn_destroyerleader.ship
C:\Games\Sierra\Homeworld2\moddata\ship\hgn_escortdestroyer\hgn_escortdestroyer.events
C:\Games\Sierra\Homeworld2\moddata\ship\hgn_escortdestroyer\hgn_escortdestroyer.ship
C:\Games\Sierra\Homeworld2\moddata\ship\hgn_flakplatform\hgn_flakplatform.events
C:\Games\Sierra\Homeworld2\moddata\ship\hgn_flakplatform\hgn_flakplatform.ship
C:\Games\Sierra\Homeworld2\moddata\ship\hgn_gunturret1\hgn_gunturret1.events
C:\Games\Sierra\Homeworld2\moddata\ship\hgn_gunturret1\hgn_gunturret1.ship
C:\Games\Sierra\Homeworld2\moddata\ship\hgn_interceptor1\hgn_interceptor1.events
C:\Games\Sierra\Homeworld2\moddata\ship\hgn_interceptor1\hgn_interceptor1.ship
C:\Games\Sierra\Homeworld2\moddata\ship\hgn_mothership\hgn_mothership.events
C:\Games\Sierra\Homeworld2\moddata\ship\hgn_mothership\hgn_mothership.ship
C:\Games\Sierra\Homeworld2\moddata\ship\hgn_Rammingfrigate\hgn_rammingfrigate.events
C:\Games\Sierra\Homeworld2\moddata\ship\hgn_Rammingfrigate\hgn_rammingfrigate.ship
C:\Games\Sierra\Homeworld2\moddata\ship\hgn_torpedofrigate1\hgn_torpedofrigate1.events
C:\Games\Sierra\Homeworld2\moddata\ship\hgn_torpedofrigate1\hgn_torpedofrigate1.ship
C:\Games\Sierra\Homeworld2\moddata\ship\icons\shipicons.lua
C:\Games\Sierra\Homeworld2\moddata\ship\icons\texture.lua
C:\Games\Sierra\Homeworld2\moddata\subsystem\hgn_c_module_advancedengineering\hgn_c_module_advancedengineering.events
C:\Games\Sierra\Homeworld2\moddata\subsystem\hgn_c_module_advancedengineering\hgn_c_module_advancedengineering.hod
C:\Games\Sierra\Homeworld2\moddata\subsystem\hgn_c_module_advancedengineering\hgn_c_module_advancedengineering.subs
C:\Games\Sierra\Homeworld2\moddata\subsystem\hgn_c_module_engineering\hgn_c_module_engineering.events
C:\Games\Sierra\Homeworld2\moddata\subsystem\hgn_c_module_engineering\hgn_c_module_engineering.hod
C:\Games\Sierra\Homeworld2\moddata\subsystem\hgn_c_module_engineering\hgn_c_module_engineering.subs
C:\Games\Sierra\Homeworld2\moddata\subsystem\hgn_c_production_armor\hgn_c_production_armor.events
C:\Games\Sierra\Homeworld2\moddata\subsystem\hgn_c_production_armor\hgn_c_production_armor.hod
C:\Games\Sierra\Homeworld2\moddata\subsystem\hgn_c_production_armor\hgn_c_production_armor.subs
C:\Games\Sierra\Homeworld2\moddata\subsystem\hgn_c_production_hanger\hgn_c_production_hanger.events
C:\Games\Sierra\Homeworld2\moddata\subsystem\hgn_c_production_hanger\hgn_c_production_hanger.hod
C:\Games\Sierra\Homeworld2\moddata\subsystem\hgn_c_production_hanger\hgn_c_production_hanger.subs
C:\Games\Sierra\Homeworld2\moddata\subsystem\hgn_c_production_weapons\hgn_c_production_weapons.events
C:\Games\Sierra\Homeworld2\moddata\subsystem\hgn_c_production_weapons\hgn_c_production_weapons.hod
C:\Games\Sierra\Homeworld2\moddata\subsystem\hgn_c_production_weapons\hgn_c_production_weapons.subs
C:\Games\Sierra\Homeworld2\moddata\subsystem\hgn_ms_module_advancedengineering\hgn_ms_module_advancedengineering.events
C:\Games\Sierra\Homeworld2\moddata\subsystem\hgn_ms_module_advancedengineering\hgn_ms_module_advancedengineering.hod
C:\Games\Sierra\Homeworld2\moddata\subsystem\hgn_ms_module_advancedengineering\hgn_ms_module_advancedengineering.subs
C:\Games\Sierra\Homeworld2\moddata\subsystem\hgn_ms_module_engineering\hgn_ms_module_engineering.events
C:\Games\Sierra\Homeworld2\moddata\subsystem\hgn_ms_module_engineering\hgn_ms_module_engineering.hod
C:\Games\Sierra\Homeworld2\moddata\subsystem\hgn_ms_module_engineering\hgn_ms_module_engineering.subs
C:\Games\Sierra\Homeworld2\moddata\subsystem\hgn_ms_production_armor\hgn_ms_production_armor.events
C:\Games\Sierra\Homeworld2\moddata\subsystem\hgn_ms_production_armor\hgn_ms_production_armor.hod
C:\Games\Sierra\Homeworld2\moddata\subsystem\hgn_ms_production_armor\hgn_ms_production_armor.subs
C:\Games\Sierra\Homeworld2\moddata\subsystem\hgn_ms_production_hanger\hgn_ms_production_hanger.events
C:\Games\Sierra\Homeworld2\moddata\subsystem\hgn_ms_production_hanger\hgn_ms_production_hanger.hod
C:\Games\Sierra\Homeworld2\moddata\subsystem\hgn_ms_production_hanger\hgn_ms_production_hanger.subs
C:\Games\Sierra\Homeworld2\moddata\subsystem\hgn_ms_production_weapons\hgn_ms_production_weapons.events
C:\Games\Sierra\Homeworld2\moddata\subsystem\hgn_ms_production_weapons\hgn_ms_production_weapons.hod
C:\Games\Sierra\Homeworld2\moddata\subsystem\hgn_ms_production_weapons\hgn_ms_production_weapons.subs
C:\Games\Sierra\Homeworld2\moddata\weapon\hgn_ramming\hgn_ramming.wepn
TOCEnd

****************************
Step 7
****************************

If your command prompt is still open just type in:

cd..

otherwise point it to where you installed homeworld2:

cd c:\progra~1\sierra\homeworld2



now type in the following:

C:\Progra~1\Sierra\Homeworld2\tools\Bin\archive -a ShadowBeam.big -c compile.list -r C:\Progra~1\Sierra\Homeworld2\moddata\

If everything works out okay you should end up with a file called ShadowBeam.big in your data folder
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Let me know if it doesn't work

[Thought]

This is documentation, not a tutorial :)

Fear not, your tutorial is still useful.

[Thought]

Done :)

[Thought]

I considered docking it, but look at the amount of already docked threads :meh:

[jpaugh78]

With some help from other people in the Relic Community, I have put together a small batch file that makes creating a .big file a much easier process.

Step 1

In your homeworld 2 directory make a new text file and name it BigFile1.txt. In that text file put the following:

Archive name="Extra Ships 1.0"
TOCStart name="ExtraShipsData" alias="Data" relativeroot=""
FileSettingsStart defcompression="1"
Override wildcard="*.*" minsize="-1" maxsize="100" ct="0"
Override wildcard="*.mp3" minsize="-1" maxsize="-1" ct="0"
Override wildcard="*.wav" minsize="-1" maxsize="-1" ct="0"
Override wildcard="*.jpg" minsize="-1" maxsize="-1" ct="0"
Override wildcard="*.fda" minsize="-1" maxsize="-1" ct="0"
Override wildcard="*.lua" minsize="-1" maxsize="-1" ct="2"
Override wildcard="*.txt" minsize="-1" maxsize="-1" ct="2"
Override wildcard="*.ship" minsize="-1" maxsize="-1" ct="2"
Override wildcard="*.resource" minsize="-1" maxsize="-1" ct="2"
Override wildcard="*.pebble" minsize="-1" maxsize="-1" ct="2"
Override wildcard="*.level" minsize="-1" maxsize="-1" ct="2"
Override wildcard="*.wepn" minsize="-1" maxsize="-1" ct="2"
Override wildcard="*.subs" minsize="-1" maxsize="-1" ct="2"
Override wildcard="*.miss" minsize="-1" maxsize="-1" ct="2"
Override wildcard="*.events" minsize="-1" maxsize="-1" ct="2"
Override wildcard="*.madstate" minsize="-1" maxsize="-1" ct="2"
Override wildcard="*.script" minsize="-1" maxsize="-1" ct="2"
Override wildcard="*.ti" minsize="-1" maxsize="-1" ct="2"
Override wildcard="*.st" minsize="-1" maxsize="-1" ct="2"
Override wildcard="*.vp" minsize="-1" maxsize="-1" ct="2"
Override wildcard="*.wf" minsize="-1" maxsize="-1" ct="2"
SkipFile wildcard="*emptyfile.txt" minsize="-1" maxsize="-1"
SkipFile wildcard="*.avi" minsize="-1" maxsize="-1"
SkipFile wildcard="keeper.txt" minsize="-1" maxsize="-1"
SkipFile wildcard="*.big" minsize="-1" maxsize="-1"
SkipFile wildcard="*.sfap0" minsize="-1" maxsize="-1"
SkipFile wildcard="C:\Games\Sierra\Homeworld2\Data\Locale\English\*" minsize="-1" maxsize="-1"
SkipFile wildcard="C:\Games\Sierra\Homeworld2\Data\Sound\Speech\*" minsize="-1" maxsize="-1"
SkipFile wildcard="C:\Games\Sierra\Homeworld2\Data\Sound\Music\*" minsize="-1" maxsize="-1"
FileSettingsEnd

Step 2

Make another text file and name it BigFile3.txt and simply put this in it:

TOCEnd


Step 3

Make another text file and put it anywhere on your computer you'd like, just remember where it is. Put the following in this text file:

@echo off
cd c:\games\sierra\homeworld2\moddata\
dir /s /b > c:\games\sierra\homeworld2\BigFile2.txt
cd..
type BigFile1.txt > test.txt
type BigFile2.txt >> test.txt
type BigFile3.txt >> test.txt
copy test.txt compile.list
set /p bigname="Enter .big name please :> "
tools\Bin\archive -a %bigname%.big -c compile.list -r
c:\Games\Sierra\Homeworld2\moddata\

When you goto save this file, click Save As and make it a batch file by simply naming it:

"Whatever you want here".bat

*Note: You will have to change this according to where you installed homeworld2. I installed mine to c:\games\sierra\homeworld2. If you installed it to c:\program files\sierra\homeworld2 you'll have to be carefull with program files because DOS doesn't like spaces.






Step 4

Create a folder in your homeworld 2 folder called Moddata. This folder is where you will be putting your modded folders.

Step 5 (Final Step)

After your mod is finished, place all of those folders into the homeworld2\moddata folder that you created in the last step. Simply run the batch file from step 3 and your .big file will be created. It will ask you what you want to call your .big file when you run that batch file.



Everytime you need to make a .big file, simply delete whatever is in the homeworld2\moddata folder and place your new mod here....then run that batch file.

[Mikali]

jpaugh78's tutorial has been added to the wiki.

http://hw2.tproc.org/wiki/TutorialBigFileCreator

You might want to double-check it.

-Mikail

[Delphy]

Moving to supply cache