Graphic problems

Posted by Christiaan on 10/26/01 - 16:03:45

Alright guys, i need your help:)

I modified some graphics of the Lands\Details directory. Then I run FFCREATE and start dinkedit. Then I see that the ENTIRE Details secrion is GONE! Does anyone know how to fix this?? Help is REALLY appreciated

Thanx in advance :D

Dink.ini helper by Nexis

Posted by mimifish on 10/29/01 - 11:53:13

Since you did not tell me the detailed steps you did about the graphics files, I still cannot give you more clues. However, as those veteran Dinkers (such as Nexis, redink1, and SimonK; and I believe Paul would have said the same) suggested, Dink.ini is not that hard to learn. I am quite new here (started to learn dmoding only 2 to 3 months ago), but I found it not to hard, especially if you find the right tutorial. Click on the link below and you will find almost everything you need to know about Dink.ini file.

Hope you can solve your problem.

Re: Graphic problems

Posted by Nexis on 10/28/01 - 17:24:52

I really don't see the point in even trying to use the .ff files. All it will do is slow the dmod down if anything. The .ff file is basically all the files in the directory (including the ffcreate.exe if it's in that directory) appended one after another with a table of locations at the beginning.

And if you're trying to protect the graphics this format is simple to crack compared to the .d files (which is still pretty easy).

You'll also end up with lots of problems as the dink engine doesn't treat these files very well (possibly due to non-dink pallete graphics and saving them in photoshop which sets the size of the graphic to 0). Dink basically has two different methods of loading graphics, one for normal .bmp's and one for .bmp's in the .ff files. The one for .bmp's in the .ff file is very buggy.

I even disabled the ffcreate in WDE because the code in dinkedit is so messed up that I couldn't create compatible .ff files.

I think ffcreate also doesn't work very well or at all in windows 2000, it just created infinitely large files in there. Haven't tried in windows xp though.

: Alright guys, i need your help:)

: I modified some graphics of the Lands\Details directory. Then I run FFCREATE and start dinkedit. Then I see that the ENTIRE Details secrion is GONE! Does anyone know how to fix this?? Help is REALLY appreciated

: Thanx in advance :D

Re: Graphic problems

Posted by mimifish on 10/28/01 - 12:28:43

: I modified some graphics of the Lands\Details directory. Then I run FFCREATE and start dinkedit. Then I see that the ENTIRE Details secrion is GONE! Does anyone know how to fix this?? Help is REALLY appreciated

I like to help, but first you need to describe it more clearly, and probably step-by-step. It sounds like you have messed the graphics a lot. Did you do any damage to your original Dink files? Sometimes that is the problem...

As redink1 said, it is better that you learn a little bit more about dink.ini especially you want to create a dmod better than POA and SOB. ;) Of course, you can do a lot of things in Dinkedit, but most of time editing Dink.ini file is much EASIER than doing it in Dinkedit.

Re: Graphic problems

Posted by Christiaan on 10/28/01 - 14:47:27

: : I modified some graphics of the Lands\Details directory. Then I run FFCREATE and start dinkedit. Then I see that the ENTIRE Details secrion is GONE! Does anyone know how to fix this?? Help is REALLY appreciated

: I like to help, but first you need to describe it more clearly, and probably step-by-step. It sounds like you have messed the graphics a lot. Did you do any damage to your original Dink files? Sometimes that is the problem...

: As redink1 said, it is better that you learn a little bit more about dink.ini especially you want to create a dmod better than POA and SOB. ;) Of course, you can do a lot of things in Dinkedit, but most of time editing Dink.ini file is much EASIER than doing it in Dinkedit.

I know, but i think i'll NEVER learn how to edit in dink.ini! sorry but i think i'm just too stupid i guess :(

Re: Graphic problems

Posted by SimonK on 10/26/01 - 21:33:09

: Alright guys, i need your help:)

: I modified some graphics of the Lands\Details directory. Then I run FFCREATE and start dinkedit. Then I see that the ENTIRE Details secrion is GONE! Does anyone know how to fix this?? Help is REALLY appreciated

: Thanx in advance :D

I take it you have recreated/duplicated all the contents of the original Dink Land/Details folder. Then gone and modified some of those graphics, then ff'd them. Is that right?

You don't have to ff the graphics - for starters.

If you haven't copied all the original graphics from Land/Details into your new graphics folder then those that you haven't copied will have disappeared. Your DMOD's graphics directories are where the game engine looks first. If it finds a directory there, that corresponds to a graphics line in dink.ini it won't look for the graphics in the dink original game folders.

I hope I'm not getting too confusing here. :)

Re: Graphic problems

Posted by Christiaan on 10/27/01 - 04:09:56

: : Alright guys, i need your help:)

: : I modified some graphics of the Lands\Details directory. Then I run FFCREATE and start dinkedit. Then I see that the ENTIRE Details secrion is GONE! Does anyone know how to fix this?? Help is REALLY appreciated

: : Thanx in advance :D

: I take it you have recreated/duplicated all the contents of the original Dink Land/Details folder. Then gone and modified some of those graphics, then ff'd them. Is that right?

: You don't have to ff the graphics - for starters.

: If you haven't copied all the original graphics from Land/Details into your new graphics folder then those that you haven't copied will have disappeared. Your DMOD's graphics directories are where the game engine looks first. If it finds a directory there, that corresponds to a graphics line in dink.ini it won't look for the graphics in the dink original game folders.

: I hope I'm not getting too confusing here. :)

Well, it's not really confusing, but if I don't FF the files the modified graphics won't show up in dinkedit(just the un-modified graphics) and when I DO FF them, all the Land\Detail graphics are gone. BTW yes I copied ALL the Land\Details graphics. I still don't what to do!!

Thanks Simon, I'm sure your explenation was good, but I think i'm just stupid.

Can anyone help me?? PLEAZZZE?

Re: Graphic problems

Posted by redink1 on 10/27/01 - 08:59:02

: : : Alright guys, i need your help:)

: : : I modified some graphics of the Lands\Details directory. Then I run FFCREATE and start dinkedit. Then I see that the ENTIRE Details secrion is GONE! Does anyone know how to fix this?? Help is REALLY appreciated

: : : Thanx in advance :D

: : I take it you have recreated/duplicated all the contents of the original Dink Land/Details folder. Then gone and modified some of those graphics, then ff'd them. Is that right?

: : You don't have to ff the graphics - for starters.

: : If you haven't copied all the original graphics from Land/Details into your new graphics folder then those that you haven't copied will have disappeared. Your DMOD's graphics directories are where the game engine looks first. If it finds a directory there, that corresponds to a graphics line in dink.ini it won't look for the graphics in the dink original game folders.

: : I hope I'm not getting too confusing here. :)

: Well, it's not really confusing, but if I don't FF the files the modified graphics won't show up in dinkedit(just the un-modified graphics) and when I DO FF them, all the Land\Detail graphics are gone. BTW yes I copied ALL the Land\Details graphics. I still don't what to do!!

: Thanks Simon, I'm sure your explenation was good, but I think i'm just stupid.

: Can anyone help me?? PLEAZZZE?

Try putting them into another folder, and loading them in another sequence to see if they show up then. If they don't, then you know something's odd.

Re: Graphic problems

Posted by Christiaan on 10/27/01 - 09:32:41

: : : : Alright guys, i need your help:)

: : : : I modified some graphics of the Lands\Details directory. Then I run FFCREATE and start dinkedit. Then I see that the ENTIRE Details secrion is GONE! Does anyone know how to fix this?? Help is REALLY appreciated

: : : : Thanx in advance :D

: : : I take it you have recreated/duplicated all the contents of the original Dink Land/Details folder. Then gone and modified some of those graphics, then ff'd them. Is that right?

: : : You don't have to ff the graphics - for starters.

: : : If you haven't copied all the original graphics from Land/Details into your new graphics folder then those that you haven't copied will have disappeared. Your DMOD's graphics directories are where the game engine looks first. If it finds a directory there, that corresponds to a graphics line in dink.ini it won't look for the graphics in the dink original game folders.

: : : I hope I'm not getting too confusing here. :)

: : Well, it's not really confusing, but if I don't FF the files the modified graphics won't show up in dinkedit(just the un-modified graphics) and when I DO FF them, all the Land\Detail graphics are gone. BTW yes I copied ALL the Land\Details graphics. I still don't what to do!!

: : Thanks Simon, I'm sure your explenation was good, but I think i'm just stupid.

: : Can anyone help me?? PLEAZZZE?

: Try putting them into another folder, and loading them in another sequence to see if they show up then. If they don't, then you know something's odd.

In another sequence? you mean messing in dink.ini? No way man, i don't know how to do stuff in dink.ini. I just modified a bone into a leaf, and everytime i start dinkedit, all the graphics in that folder are gone. I tried to do move the file in another folder, but the same problem occures. And I'm not very good with dink.ini! HEEELP

Re: Graphic problems

Posted by Christiaan on 10/27/01 - 09:46:05

: : : : : Alright guys, i need your help:)

: : : : : I modified some graphics of the Lands\Details directory. Then I run FFCREATE and start dinkedit. Then I see that the ENTIRE Details secrion is GONE! Does anyone know how to fix this?? Help is REALLY appreciated

: : : : : Thanx in advance :D

: : : : I take it you have recreated/duplicated all the contents of the original Dink Land/Details folder. Then gone and modified some of those graphics, then ff'd them. Is that right?

: : : : You don't have to ff the graphics - for starters.

: : : : If you haven't copied all the original graphics from Land/Details into your new graphics folder then those that you haven't copied will have disappeared. Your DMOD's graphics directories are where the game engine looks first. If it finds a directory there, that corresponds to a graphics line in dink.ini it won't look for the graphics in the dink original game folders.

: : : : I hope I'm not getting too confusing here. :)

: : : Well, it's not really confusing, but if I don't FF the files the modified graphics won't show up in dinkedit(just the un-modified graphics) and when I DO FF them, all the Land\Detail graphics are gone. BTW yes I copied ALL the Land\Details graphics. I still don't what to do!!

: : : Thanks Simon, I'm sure your explenation was good, but I think i'm just stupid.

: : : Can anyone help me?? PLEAZZZE?

: : Try putting them into another folder, and loading them in another sequence to see if they show up then. If they don't, then you know something's odd.

: In another sequence? you mean messing in dink.ini? No way man, i don't know how to do stuff in dink.ini. I just modified a bone into a leaf, and everytime i start dinkedit, all the graphics in that folder are gone. I tried to do move the file in another folder, but the same problem occures. And I'm not very good with dink.ini! HEEELP

Maybe it could be of any help when you know that he FF file is over 60MB (!) yeah pretty big eh?

Re: Graphic problems

Posted by redink1 on 10/27/01 - 10:18:35

: : : : : : Alright guys, i need your help:)

: : : : : : I modified some graphics of the Lands\Details directory. Then I run FFCREATE and start dinkedit. Then I see that the ENTIRE Details secrion is GONE! Does anyone know how to fix this?? Help is REALLY appreciated

: : : : : : Thanx in advance :D

: : : : : I take it you have recreated/duplicated all the contents of the original Dink Land/Details folder. Then gone and modified some of those graphics, then ff'd them. Is that right?

: : : : : You don't have to ff the graphics - for starters.

: : : : : If you haven't copied all the original graphics from Land/Details into your new graphics folder then those that you haven't copied will have disappeared. Your DMOD's graphics directories are where the game engine looks first. If it finds a directory there, that corresponds to a graphics line in dink.ini it won't look for the graphics in the dink original game folders.

: : : : : I hope I'm not getting too confusing here. :)

: : : : Well, it's not really confusing, but if I don't FF the files the modified graphics won't show up in dinkedit(just the un-modified graphics) and when I DO FF them, all the Land\Detail graphics are gone. BTW yes I copied ALL the Land\Details graphics. I still don't what to do!!

: : : : Thanks Simon, I'm sure your explenation was good, but I think i'm just stupid.

: : : : Can anyone help me?? PLEAZZZE?

: : : Try putting them into another folder, and loading them in another sequence to see if they show up then. If they don't, then you know something's odd.

: : In another sequence? you mean messing in dink.ini? No way man, i don't know how to do stuff in dink.ini. I just modified a bone into a leaf, and everytime i start dinkedit, all the graphics in that folder are gone. I tried to do move the file in another folder, but the same problem occures. And I'm not very good with dink.ini! HEEELP

: Maybe it could be of any help when you know that he FF file is over 60MB (!) yeah pretty big eh?

If you're going to make any D-Mod with new graphics any good, you're going to have to modify the dink.ini, unless you want it to be a crapsterpiece with funky depth dots and horrible hit boxes.

If you don't know how to modify stuff in the dink.ini, start learning. There is plenty of information in the tutorials section. Just don't follow that Basic Graphics Tutorial, which I just deleted because it doesn't do a good job at all explaining anything.

60 MB... odd. Make sure that all of the graphics in the folder have the Dink pallete. If your bone is in 24-bit color, you better convert it. Also make sure there isn't any extra graphics in the directory, like temporary ones, because those will get sucked up by the ffcreate.exe as well. In fact, I think Gary Hertel learned that ffcreate.exe even includes itself in the dir.ff file. On the same note, make sure that you delete the dir.ff file before creating a new one... perhaps its continually adding the dir.ff file inside of the new dir.ff file.

Re: Graphic problems

Posted by Christiaan on 10/27/01 - 10:43:58

: : : : : : : Alright guys, i need your help:)

: : : : : : : I modified some graphics of the Lands\Details directory. Then I run FFCREATE and start dinkedit. Then I see that the ENTIRE Details secrion is GONE! Does anyone know how to fix this?? Help is REALLY appreciated

: : : : : : : Thanx in advance :D

: : : : : : I take it you have recreated/duplicated all the contents of the original Dink Land/Details folder. Then gone and modified some of those graphics, then ff'd them. Is that right?

: : : : : : You don't have to ff the graphics - for starters.

: : : : : : If you haven't copied all the original graphics from Land/Details into your new graphics folder then those that you haven't copied will have disappeared. Your DMOD's graphics directories are where the game engine looks first. If it finds a directory there, that corresponds to a graphics line in dink.ini it won't look for the graphics in the dink original game folders.

: : : : : : I hope I'm not getting too confusing here. :)

: : : : : Well, it's not really confusing, but if I don't FF the files the modified graphics won't show up in dinkedit(just the un-modified graphics) and when I DO FF them, all the Land\Detail graphics are gone. BTW yes I copied ALL the Land\Details graphics. I still don't what to do!!

: : : : : Thanks Simon, I'm sure your explenation was good, but I think i'm just stupid.

: : : : : Can anyone help me?? PLEAZZZE?

: : : : Try putting them into another folder, and loading them in another sequence to see if they show up then. If they don't, then you know something's odd.

: : : In another sequence? you mean messing in dink.ini? No way man, i don't know how to do stuff in dink.ini. I just modified a bone into a leaf, and everytime i start dinkedit, all the graphics in that folder are gone. I tried to do move the file in another folder, but the same problem occures. And I'm not very good with dink.ini! HEEELP

: : Maybe it could be of any help when you know that he FF file is over 60MB (!) yeah pretty big eh?

: If you're going to make any D-Mod with new graphics any good, you're going to have to modify the dink.ini, unless you want it to be a crapsterpiece with funky depth dots and horrible hit boxes.

: If you don't know how to modify stuff in the dink.ini, start learning. There is plenty of information in the tutorials section. Just don't follow that Basic Graphics Tutorial, which I just deleted because it doesn't do a good job at all explaining anything.

: 60 MB... odd. Make sure that all of the graphics in the folder have the Dink pallete. If your bone is in 24-bit color, you better convert it. Also make sure there isn't any extra graphics in the directory, like temporary ones, because those will get sucked up by the ffcreate.exe as well. In fact, I think Gary Hertel learned that ffcreate.exe even includes itself in the dir.ff file. On the same note, make sure that you delete the dir.ff file before creating a new one... perhaps its continually adding the dir.ff file inside of the new dir.ff file.

Yes i did all that but it still won't help! :(

Time to learn dink.ini

Posted by SimonK on 10/28/01 - 14:56:03

It isn't that hard, and creating a new sequence to put your new graphics in isn't hard. Just remember it is best to have no more than 50 sprites per sequence.

Have a look at the dink.ini of DMODs with new graphics. That'll help

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