Skin Installation Tool

[griffar]

I've coded a small tool today for easier handling of skin installation. After the skins are installed its possible to play online using them.
For further information of usage and setup see the included readme.
After Skin installation just run coh and play online whatever.
There may be serveral bugs in this first release. If you finde some or have some problems feel free to contact me.
If there are intrests in a fully automatic version for skinpacks iam looking to build such one.

Download Link Version 0.9 *dead*

Skin Installer 0.9 alternate Mediafire link mirror up'd Lethal Dosage.

[BlackLabel]

Aboslute great idea !!!


*edit*

Testing it now...

[tankkiller167]

good job!

[BlackLabel]

Works very well. Dident encounter bugs.

[Lord_Dante]

Hey Great idea. Thanks and yes a fully automatic version would be great.
Thanks

[DoctorLee]

Wow, this is incredible! Thanks!

[Halftrack]

Grand day out!

[STEAL]

Halftrack one question, does everyone playing have to have the skins to play together just like the same mod or can you play with your skins with someone who doesnt have them. I realize they wont be able to see the skins you are using unless they have them also but can you still play without problem.

[Halftrack]

thats what this tool was coded for.

[BlackLabel]

that tool rocks...iam mixing skins. And it works perfectly online...

[alphamale]

Harrumph!

I unpacked halftracks' skins to $cohdir\skins\... , dropped BlackLabel's skins in the correct place, ran the skin tool using $cohdir (D:\games\company of heroes\) as coh location and said $cohdir\skins\ for skins location...

I end up with a WW2Art.sga whose size is 349 682kb and lovely blue-and-pink scenery (HQ, buildings, etc.). Skins display correctly though.

Sounds to me like I have something in the wrong place, any idea what?

EDIT: never mind, looks like I fubar'd something... let me try that again.

EDIT2: I got it working, I must've done something exceedingly stupid the first time around. Big thanks to everyone for their hard work! I'm loving the skins.

[codog239]

wait so your teamate or opponent cant see your skins
?

[evilempire]

not unless your teammate or opponent has those skins installed, I don't think. That is how it works in any game unless it forces content consistency.

[STEAL]

when you enter the skins it is part of the mod so it might not work online unless your opponent has exact same skins, can anyone confirm this since the skins are not server side. If he has different skins it wont work.

[Ecthelion]

Exactly how long is the installation supposed to take? It gave me an error at the beginning when I was trying to install Blacklabel's Ranger and Allied skins, I just ignored it. Now it's been at it for almost 10 minutes...

I checked my CPU usage and it says practically none. Also the program itself is not using a whole lot of RAM, I'm hesitant to cancel now because I am deathly afraid of what that might do to my CoH art pack that I didn't backup LOL

[Ecthelion]

Okay so this is how I'm using it:

C:\Program Files\THQ\Company of Heroes

C:\Program Files\THQ\Company of Heroes\RealINF\Data

click install skins...

And I get an error that says it can't find a file. Here is the exact error message:

See the end of this message for details on invoking
just-in-time (JIT) debugging instead of this dialog box.

************** Exception Text **************
System.ComponentModel.Win32Exception: The system cannot find the file specified
at System.Diagnostics.Process.StartWithCreateProcess(ProcessStartInfo startInfo)
at System.Diagnostics.Process.Start()
at System.Diagnostics.Process.Start(ProcessStartInfo startInfo)
at SkinInstaller.MainForm.Install_buttonClick(Object sender, EventArgs e)
at System.Windows.Forms.Control.OnClick(EventArgs e)
at System.Windows.Forms.Button.OnClick(EventArgs e)
at System.Windows.Forms.Button.OnMouseUp(MouseEventArgs mevent)
at System.Windows.Forms.Control.WmMouseUp(Message& m, MouseButtons button, Int32 clicks)
at System.Windows.Forms.Control.WndProc(Message& m)
at System.Windows.Forms.ButtonBase.WndProc(Message& m)
at System.Windows.Forms.Button.WndProc(Message& m)
at System.Windows.Forms.Control.ControlNativeWindow.OnMessage(Message& m)
at System.Windows.Forms.Control.ControlNativeWindow.WndProc(Message& m)
at System.Windows.Forms.NativeWindow.Callback(IntPtr hWnd, Int32 msg, IntPtr wparam, IntPtr lparam)


************** Loaded Assemblies **************
mscorlib
Assembly Version: 2.0.0.0
Win32 Version: 2.0.50727.42 (RTM.050727-4200)
CodeBase: file:///C:/WINDOWS/Microsoft.NET/Framework/v2.0.50727/mscorlib.dll
----------------------------------------
SkinInstaller
Assembly Version: 1.0.2523.5771
Win32 Version: 1.0.2523.5771
CodeBase: file:///C:/Program%20Files/THQ/Company%20of%20Heroes/SkinInstaller.exe
----------------------------------------
System.Windows.Forms
Assembly Version: 2.0.0.0
Win32 Version: 2.0.50727.42 (RTM.050727-4200)
CodeBase: file:///C:/WINDOWS/assembly/GAC_MSIL/System.Windows.Forms/2.0.0.0__b77a5c561934e089/System.Windows.Forms.dll
----------------------------------------
System
Assembly Version: 2.0.0.0
Win32 Version: 2.0.50727.42 (RTM.050727-4200)
CodeBase: file:///C:/WINDOWS/assembly/GAC_MSIL/System/2.0.0.0__b77a5c561934e089/System.dll
----------------------------------------
System.Drawing
Assembly Version: 2.0.0.0
Win32 Version: 2.0.50727.42 (RTM.050727-4200)
CodeBase: file:///C:/WINDOWS/assembly/GAC_MSIL/System.Drawing/2.0.0.0__b03f5f7f11d50a3a/System.Drawing.dll
----------------------------------------

************** JIT Debugging **************
To enable just-in-time (JIT) debugging, the .config file for this
application or computer (machine.config) must have the
jitDebugging value set in the system.windows.forms section.
The application must also be compiled with debugging
enabled.

For example:

<configuration>
<system.windows.forms jitDebugging="true" />
</configuration>

When JIT debugging is enabled, any unhandled exception
will be sent to the JIT debugger registered on the computer
rather than be handled by this dialog box.

[griffar]

when you enter the skins it is part of the mod so it might not work online unless your opponent has exact same skins, can anyone confirm this since the skins are not server side. If he has different skins it wont work.

Skins installed with Skininstaller works online. It doesent matter if your opponent has original skins, your skins or other skins.

@Ecthelion

u have pm

@all

to prevent problems like Ecthelion has please extract the whole skininstaller .zip archive first befor u try to use ist.

[Xzuzz]

Can I use another skinpack then my mod uses without any conflicts?

[griffar]

hi,

sure u can but not this way because a mod uses sometimes different named skins than the original ones...

the only thing you can try is

- install your mod
- delete the "art" directory of your mod in ...\company of heroes\mod_dir\data
- use skininstaller to setup your wanted skins

just run your mod like normal

if it works be happy if it dont you have to change something in the mod

maybe you can try to create a new directory called "archives" in your mod directory and copy the ww2art.sga file into it (can be found in \coh\ww2\archives\)

[Practiti0ner]

Question. if i want to use a different skin pack will i have to manuely delete the old skin pack in order to get the new one to work? if so how do i go about that exactly

[BlackLabel]

You can install a skinpack AND install other skins later. It just overwrites the old files. No problem.

[Ecthelion]

Is anyone else getting a weird looking Tiger Ace as a result of using the skin installer? I used it once, then I reloaded up my UNmodified vanilla art file and my Tiger skin was not there (obviously) but the wierd things stuck to the front and back of the tank were still there. It almost seems as if the tool is changing files other than the Art file...

[Halftrack]

no, the installer doesnt alter the skin.
dont know if its a bug in original game too, but that
definetly happens with only other skins installed.

The TA uses the same skin like Blitzkrieg Tiger,
and there no problem accures.

[BlackLabel]

The tiger-ace model bug is known, and not caused by custom skins. I hoped they fix that one with 1.5...they dident. Soemeone fixed it pretty quick with using the tiger ace model from 1.2 if i remember correctly.

[Ecthelion]

Yeah, but then you can't play the game online any more right? I mean the skin installer tool only works for textures not models right?

[BlackLabel]

Thats the ( funny ) Point....it uses ALL files that are located in the data/arts folder. Since the camera.lua is there...it gets installed... ( i found out that you can use the camera.lua and zoom out farther more than in vanilla CoH ) You can play online flawlessly. But if the patch-time is comming you have to reinstall and patch it all the way due to the modified files. For me i have the US CoH version with german speech files, custom skins ( halftrack and my own in a mix ) and the "zoom more".

[Halftrack]

? The camera.lua is in the data-folder, not in data/arts/
and that does really work?

[BlackLabel]

ah my bad...sure in the data folder and YES it works.

[Mr JeburtO]

this doesnt work for me it just says application failed to initialize =/

any ideas?

[HERO]

Same here :P

[sandzibar]

does this work with 1.5?

[BlackLabel]

from the .txt

You will also need an installed .Net Runtime enviorment

Download

should help.

Works flawless since release.

[KamikazeZero]

Tried your tool out, works wonders.
Though I do have some questions/comments.

I do wish it remembers where your CoH directory is so you don't have to specify it every time when installing a new skin/skinpack.

Is there a skin viewer that I could use in tandem to this? How do I restore to default skins once I install custom ones?

[BlackLabel]

As far as "restoring" the old files go , i whould suggest you make a copy of the ww2art-sga file for later.

mhhh...skin viewer is a nice idea. but how to make one ?

[TheLockDown]

just finished using this, works good, took some playing to get it all down pat even after reading the read me, but i gues i could just be alile slow :P

[Uncle Jimbo]

Hi, I just tried this tool and for whatever reason it won't let me pick any location for the skins. Help?

[BlackLabel]

The first entry must be the "CoH location" means *for example* f:\COH

The second one is the "data" folder you need to create including all the artfiles *skins* in the right subdirectorys. So that whould be *for example* F:\data

Hope that helps.

[Compact Flash]

Does this work with 2.103?

EDIT: It does.

[lordkosc]

awesome

now what skin pack to use... ?

[Lethal Dosage]

Halftracks!

[Bohewulf]

"Hi, I just tried this tool and for whatever reason it won't let me pick any location for the skins. Help?"

I have the same prob here. I can select the path for the CoH location but cannot do the same for the path to the art folder. It remains blank for whatever reason.

Any tips somebody?

[Sanctum]

When you're browsing for the folder in the second directory path, don't select the art folder, but do select the data folder just before it.

[Bohewulf]

Although I was sure that I did it exactly that way yesterday it now works! Many thanks.

[FLEXTER]

CAN YOU MAKE ANOTHER SKIN INSTALLER FOR THE MOST RECENT PATCH BECAUSE THE CURRENT ONE DOES NOT SEEM TO WORK.

THANKS

[Kaas]

It does work, it just takes a while to install the skins. Also stop typing in all caps.

[red devil]

does this work with coh of

[Lethal Dosage]

It did for me back in v2.100, it probably will work for v2.3 as well.

[red devil]

oh well then i have a problem i extracted all the files and then i tried to use it on an axis skin mod did what the readme says but then it says:See the end of this message for details on invoking
just-in-time (JIT) debugging instead of this dialog box.

************** Exception Text **************
System.ComponentModel.Win32Exception: The system cannot find the file specified
at System.Diagnostics.Process.StartWithCreateProcess(ProcessStartInfo startInfo)
at System.Diagnostics.Process.Start()
at System.Diagnostics.Process.Start(ProcessStartInfo startInfo)
at SkinInstaller.MainForm.Install_buttonClick(Object sender, EventArgs e)
at System.Windows.Forms.Control.OnClick(EventArgs e)
at System.Windows.Forms.Button.OnClick(EventArgs e)
at System.Windows.Forms.Button.OnMouseUp(MouseEventArgs mevent)
at System.Windows.Forms.Control.WmMouseUp(Message& m, MouseButtons button, Int32 clicks)
at System.Windows.Forms.Control.WndProc(Message& m)
at System.Windows.Forms.ButtonBase.WndProc(Message& m)
at System.Windows.Forms.Button.WndProc(Message& m)
at System.Windows.Forms.Control.ControlNativeWindow.OnMessage(Message& m)
at System.Windows.Forms.Control.ControlNativeWindow.WndProc(Message& m)
at System.Windows.Forms.NativeWindow.Callback(IntPtr hWnd, Int32 msg, IntPtr wparam, IntPtr lparam)


************** Loaded Assemblies **************
mscorlib
Assembly Version: 2.0.0.0
Win32 Version: 2.0.50727.1433 (REDBITS.050727-1400)
CodeBase: file:///c:/WINDOWS/Microsoft.NET/Framework/v2.0.50727/mscorlib.dll
----------------------------------------
SkinInstaller
Assembly Version: 1.0.2523.5771
Win32 Version: 1.0.2523.5771
CodeBase: file:///C:/Documents%20and%20Settings/Steve/Desktop/SkinInstaller.exe
----------------------------------------
System.Windows.Forms
Assembly Version: 2.0.0.0
Win32 Version: 2.0.50727.1433 (REDBITS.050727-1400)
CodeBase: file:///C:/WINDOWS/assembly/GAC_MSIL/System.Windows.Forms/2.0.0.0__b77a5c561934e089/System.Windows.Forms.dll
----------------------------------------
System
Assembly Version: 2.0.0.0
Win32 Version: 2.0.50727.1433 (REDBITS.050727-1400)
CodeBase: file:///C:/WINDOWS/assembly/GAC_MSIL/System/2.0.0.0__b77a5c561934e089/System.dll
----------------------------------------
System.Drawing
Assembly Version: 2.0.0.0
Win32 Version: 2.0.50727.1433 (REDBITS.050727-1400)
CodeBase: file:///C:/WINDOWS/assembly/GAC_MSIL/System.Drawing/2.0.0.0__b03f5f7f11d50a3a/System.Drawing.dll
----------------------------------------

************** JIT Debugging **************
To enable just-in-time (JIT) debugging, the .config file for this
application or computer (machine.config) must have the
jitDebugging value set in the system.windows.forms section.
The application must also be compiled with debugging
enabled.

For example:

<configuration>
<system.windows.forms jitDebugging="true" />
</configuration>

When JIT debugging is enabled, any unhandled exception
will be sent to the JIT debugger registered on the computer
rather than be handled by this dialog box.

i dotn know what that means but it makes it not work, will it make any differnce that the extracted mod file is in my documents ?

[Celution]

wtf I can't figure out how to set a "location of skins".
I downloaded Widowmaker's skins, and when it was done downloading WinRAR opened it, I see the map "art". Then how to use the skin installer, the art.rar file is in my local settings but the skin installer can't find it...

Edit: I solved the problem. But it just takes AGES!!!!

[Skyline Pete]

Seeing as the new patch is nearly upon us, can anyone confirm for me what needs to be done with custom skins when a new official patch is released?

Do I need to revert to vanilla skins or can I just install patch over the top of existing installation and then re-install skins again?