gnartsch

Thanks! 2 new minor issues: Lockner Manor needs an update, which was updated on august 3 to version 1.6. http://forums.thedar...post__p__351503 For 'Special Delivery' someone must have added l10N files not too long ago. But they are binary identical to the actual mission and serve no purpose except for producing additional downloads and supersede any potential future updates to the mission itself that might happen. I wonder what was the reason to add them in the first place... best would be to delete them entirely from the mirrors. Hmmm.... or replace them with entirely empty pk4's. Like that it would be guaranteed that they could not do any harm in the future in case players had that l10n on their disk already and a update to the mission comes in, because the blank pk4 would then overwrite the outdated l10n. Just a thought.

The easiest way to clean up that file - in case required - would be to copy it to another directory, like c:\tmp. There you can edit it and copy it back to c:\windows\system32\drivers\etc\ and Windows UAC will actually ask you for permission. An alternative method to make it clear to the Windows UAC that you are really trying to do an admin task, would be to right-click on your favority editor and click 'Launch as Administrator'. Note that any Antivirus program may prohibit that action nonetheless. E.g. I am using Avira Antivirus and in order to get that file copied back - or edited - I have to temporarily disable the protection of the Windows hosts file under 'General'/'Security'. That file should acually be virtually blank and shouldn't read much more then

Happy Birthday, Bikerdude ! Sometimes other things or more important than that, ... just remember to not turn it into a bad habbit to forget about it.

It is me - the genuine player - who has to say 'Thanks!'. Hmmm... for Thomas Porter - Lich Queens Demise, now there is a link in the 'Localization Pack' section, which did not exist this morning. Actually it is just the updated version of the mission (without any changes or additions), and therefor just an additional download. It should be removed, since it provides nothing which isn't included in the mission itself anyway.

Seems like St. Albans Cathedral was updated recently, but 2 links are dead : 'http://www.fidcal.com/darkuser/missions/TDM2testmissions/cathedral.pk4' 'http://www.southquarter.com/tdm/fms/TDM2testmissions/cathedral.pk4' The correct links (june 9, 2014) would be these: 'http://www.fidcal.com/darkuser/missions/cathedral.pk4' 'http://www.southquarter.com/tdm/fms/cathedral.pk4' Unfortunately the issues listed below are also still to be seen in the mission database, ranging from 'dead link' to 'link to outdated version'.

Hmmm... probably not. At least not correctly. On top of naming the folder matching the internal name, it also renames the pk4 during download. So, you have to rename the pk4 to internalName.pk4 as well. Edit: uh... better forget the manual editing altogether! There are yet another few flags in tdm_missions.info, which tell the downloader whether the file was downloaded via the internal downloader and which version it was. If you drop something manually, then the downloader will ignore it altogether - and won't offer any updates either. So, best would be to just dump all manual files and allow the downloader to do it's job. However, you can move in your savegames into the 'official' folder afterwards if you want, I guess.

Make sure to to stick to the version of the file that is named like the 'internalName', as listed here: http://missions.thedarkmod.com/get_available_missions.php Otherwise any future update on one of those missions will pop up again beside the outdated one instead of replacing it. The reason for those missions popping up beside each other, is because TDM uses different approaches to determine the name of the folder depending on how these missions were added to the fms folder. When dropping in a plain .pk4, it will simply create a folder with the same name (excluding the .pk4 exttension). Whereas when using the internal downloader, it takes the internal name which is different for those missions.

Totally off-topic: is that that very Wesp from the 'Vampire Bloodlines - The Masquerade' Patches ? Awesome to see you here !

It is not necessary to run the updater on the system where you want to play. Simply place the tdm_updater for example on an USB stick, start it and let it download the whole bunch. That's it. In case the operating system is different (eg. Linux vs Windows), you would need to download via a torrent, though. Edit: Oh, now I get you question right, I guess: you can't download an 'update', though. But you could move/copy your already existing TDM folder to the stick, let the updater run from there and then copy the whole bunch back again.

No need to hurry. I have fate that you will get to it eventually

At least a comment in the corresponding installer panel should indicate when and why you should use another path than the default one. And to be honest: games should not require Admin permissions. I don't whish to grant the permission to delete my entire hard disk (eventually) just because that is the easiest way to make the game run.

This is a very nice video tutorial series! If I would ever get to start mapping on my own, I would probably start here, because you explain both the basics as well as a few advanced topics. Actually this thread should be stickied on the 'The Dark Mod - General Discussion' Forum, in order to catch the interest of everybody. I am sure there are people out there that would be interested, but who will never touch DarkRadiant because they believe it would be wayyy toooo complicated. This tutorial may help to get some new mappers into it.

That's why Lux calls it a 'Workaround' ... and not a 'Fix'.

Bump... Some missions in the database in need for a passionate admin to look into.

There are also a bunch of outdated versions lingering around. Some of them occupying the regular fms/missions folder, some residing in the TDM2testmissions folder. Just to be clear about these: the mission DB for these missions does not need any corrections, since the DB is pointing to the latest versions already (except for the few I stated in my previous post). But in order to avoid future confusion, the old versions should be scrapped or moved. For clarity I am listing the OUTDATED versions along with the UPTODATE versions residing on the same server. UPTODATE - 'http://www.fidcal.com/darkuser/missions/TDM2testmissions/antr.pk4' Size: 31.5 MB (33057589) Last update: Fri Aug 09 22:58:36 CEST 2013 OUTDATED - 'http://www.fidcal.com/darkuser/missions/antr.pk4' Size: 31.5 MB (33066893) Last update: Mon Oct 31 06:21:07 CET 2011 UPTODATE - 'http://www.southquarter.com/tdm/fms/TDM2testmissions/antr.pk4' Size: 31.5 MB (33057589) Last update: Fri Oct 04 23:35:46 CEST 2013 OUTDATED - 'http://www.southquarter.com/tdm/fms/antr.pk4' Size: 31.5 MB (33066893) Last update: Fri May 31 17:05:55 CEST 2013 ============================================= UPTODATE - 'http://www.fidcal.com/darkuser/missions/TDM2testmissions/score_to_settle.pk4' Size: 134.1 MB (140593310) Last update: Tue Oct 01 02:23:55 CEST 2013 OUTDATED - 'http://www.fidcal.com/darkuser/missions/score_to_settle.pk4' Size: 135.1 MB (141684242) Last update: Sat Jul 02 09:07:12 CEST 2011 UPTODATE - 'http://www.southquarter.com/tdm/fms/TDM2testmissions/score_to_settle.pk4' Size: 134.1 MB (140593310) Last update: Fri Oct 04 23:47:23 CEST 2013 OUTDATED - 'http://www.southquarter.com/tdm/fms/score_to_settle.pk4' Size: 135.1 MB (141684242) Last update: Fri May 31 20:15:08 CEST 2013 ============================================= UPTODATE - 'http://www.fidcal.com/darkuser/missions/TDM2testmissions/storm.pk4' Size: 3.9 MB (4078923) Last update: Tue Oct 01 02:31:53 CEST 2013 OUTDATED - 'http://www.fidcal.com/darkuser/missions/storm.pk4' Size: 4.1 MB (4312673) Last update: Sat May 22 17:09:22 CEST 2010 UPTODATE - 'http://www.southquarter.com/tdm/fms/TDM2testmissions/storm.pk4' Size: 3.9 MB (4078923) Last update: Fri Oct 04 23:42:01 CEST 2013 OUTDATED - 'http://www.southquarter.com/tdm/fms/storm.pk4' Size: 4.1 MB (4312673) Last update: Fri May 31 20:30:17 CEST 2013 ============================================= UPTODATE - 'http://www.fidcal.com/darkuser/missions/TDM2testmissions/closemouthed_shadows.pk4' Size: 2.3 MB (2437171) Last update: Fri Oct 04 17:54:24 CEST 2013 OUTDATED - 'http://www.fidcal.com/darkuser/missions/closemouthed_shadows.pk4' Size: 2.2 MB (2334786) Last update: Fri Jan 27 09:42:11 CET 2012 UPTODATE - 'http://www.southquarter.com/tdm/fms/TDM2testmissions/closemouthed_shadows.pk4' Size: 2.3 MB (2437171) Last update: Fri Oct 04 23:36:21 CEST 2013 OUTDATED - 'http://www.southquarter.com/tdm/fms/closemouthed_shadows.pk4' Size: 2.2 MB (2334786) Last update: Fri May 31 17:35:18 CEST 2013 ============================================= UPTODATE - 'http://www.fidcal.com/darkuser/missions/TDM2testmissions/samhain.pk4' Size: 7.2 MB (7568173) Last update: Tue Nov 12 01:58:05 CET 2013 OUTDATED - 'http://www.fidcal.com/darkuser/missions/samhain.pk4' Size: 9.9 MB (10427780) Last update: Mon Oct 10 21:05:08 CEST 2011 ============================================= UPTODATE - 'http://www.fidcal.com/darkuser/missions/TDM2testmissions/flakebridge.pk4' Size: 16.9 MB (17678585) Last update: Fri Aug 09 23:05:28 CEST 2013 OUTDATED - 'http://www.fidcal.com/darkuser/missions/flakebridge.pk4' Size: 16.4 MB (17197666) Last update: Sun Dec 05 10:53:35 CET 2010 UPTODATE - 'http://www.southquarter.com/tdm/fms/TDM2testmissions/flakebridge.pk4' Size: 16.9 MB (17678585) Last update: Fri Oct 04 23:37:38 CEST 2013 OUTDATED - 'http://www.southquarter.com/tdm/fms/flakebridge.pk4' Size: 16.4 MB (17197666) Last update: Fri May 31 17:53:40 CEST 2013 ============================================= UPTODATE - 'http://www.fidcal.com/darkuser/missions/TDM2testmissions/siegeshop.pk4' Size: 20.5 MB (21503054) Last update: Tue Nov 12 01:58:24 CET 2013 OUTDATED - 'http://www.fidcal.com/darkuser/missions/siegeshop.pk4' Size: 14.9 MB (15572280) Last update: Mon Sep 26 08:16:30 CEST 2011 ============================================= UPTODATE - 'http://www.fidcal.com/darkuser/missions/TDM2testmissions/returntothecityv3.pk4' Size: 35.8 MB (37557302) Last update: Sun Sep 08 18:03:42 CEST 2013 OUTDATED - 'http://www.fidcal.com/darkuser/missions/returntothecityv3.pk4' Size: 34.3 MB (36011311) Last update: Wed Nov 14 08:55:38 CET 2012 UPTODATE - 'http://www.southquarter.com/tdm/fms/TDM2testmissions/returntothecityv3.pk4' Size: 35.8 MB (37557302) Last update: Fri Oct 04 23:41:24 CEST 2013 OUTDATED - 'http://www.southquarter.com/tdm/fms/returntothecityv3.pk4' Size: 2.7 MB (2813876) Last update: Fri May 31 19:48:45 CEST 2013 ============================================= UPTODATE - 'http://www.fidcal.com/darkuser/missions/TDM2testmissions/thecreeps.pk4' Size: 59.3 MB (62206649) Last update: Sat Aug 10 03:45:44 CEST 2013 OUTDATED - 'http://www.fidcal.com/darkuser/missions/thecreeps.pk4' Size: 59.3 MB (62176364) Last update: Tue Jul 17 00:03:24 CEST 2012 UPTODATE - 'http://www.southquarter.com/tdm/fms/TDM2testmissions/thecreeps.pk4' Size: 59.3 MB (62206649) Last update: Fri Oct 04 23:44:36 CEST 2013 OUTDATED - 'http://www.southquarter.com/tdm/fms/thecreeps.pk4' Size: 59.3 MB (62176364) Last update: Fri May 31 20:39:49 CEST 2013 ============================================= UPTODATE - 'http://www.fidcal.com/darkuser/missions/TDM2testmissions/rift.pk4' Size: 9.8 MB (10264261) Last update: Fri Aug 09 23:33:15 CEST 2013 OUTDATED - 'http://www.fidcal.com/darkuser/missions/rift.pk4' Size: 10.2 MB (10646742) Last update: Mon Aug 16 20:41:16 CEST 2010 UPTODATE - 'http://www.southquarter.com/tdm/fms/TDM2testmissions/rift.pk4' Size: 9.8 MB (10264261) Last update: Fri Oct 04 23:41:50 CEST 2013 OUTDATED - 'http://www.southquarter.com/tdm/fms/rift.pk4' Size: 10.2 MB (10646742) Last update: Fri May 31 19:50:15 CEST 2013 ============================================= OUTDATED - 'http://www.fidcal.com/darkuser/missions/TDM2testmissions/thiefsden.pk4' Size: 3.3 MB (3464134) Last update: Fri Oct 04 23:22:43 CEST 2013 UPTODATE - 'http://www.fidcal.com/darkuser/missions/thiefsden.pk4' Size: 3.3 MB (3459871) Last update: Sun Apr 13 00:22:47 CEST 2014 OUTDATED - 'http://www.southquarter.com/tdm/fms/TDM2testmissions/thiefsden.pk4' Size: 3.3 MB (3464134) Last update: Fri Oct 04 23:44:45 CEST 2013 UPTODATE - 'http://www.southquarter.com/tdm/fms/thiefsden.pk4' Size: 3.3 MB (3459871) Last update: Sun Apr 13 00:23:16 CEST 2014 ============================================= OUTDATED - 'http://www.fidcal.com/darkuser/missions/TDM2testmissions/alchemist.pk4' Size: 24.0 MB (25185332) Last update: Sun Oct 06 23:50:57 CEST 2013 UPTODATE - 'http://www.fidcal.com/darkuser/missions/alchemist.pk4' Size: 25.5 MB (26688810) Last update: Sat Apr 12 13:52:02 CEST 2014 OUTDATED - 'http://www.southquarter.com/tdm/fms/TDM2testmissions/alchemist.pk4' Size: 24.0 MB (25185332) Last update: Sun Oct 06 23:51:34 CEST 2013 UPTODATE - 'http://www.southquarter.com/tdm/fms/alchemist.pk4' Size: 25.5 MB (26688810) Last update: Sat Apr 12 13:53:04 CEST 2014 ============================================= OUTDATED - 'http://www.fidcal.com/darkuser/missions/TDM2testmissions/mandrasola.pk4' Size: 7.7 MB (8068421) Last update: Fri Oct 04 17:46:28 CEST 2013 UPTODATE - 'http://www.fidcal.com/darkuser/missions/mandrasola.pk4' Size: 7.4 MB (7721704) Last update: Fri Apr 04 13:53:25 CEST 2014 OUTDATED - 'http://www.southquarter.com/tdm/fms/TDM2testmissions/mandrasola.pk4' Size: 7.7 MB (8068421) Last update: Fri Oct 04 23:37:59 CEST 2013 UPTODATE - 'http://www.southquarter.com/tdm/fms/mandrasola.pk4' Size: 7.4 MB (7721704) Last update: Fri Apr 04 14:00:51 CEST 2014 ============================================= OUTDATED - 'http://www.fidcal.com/darkuser/missions/TDM2testmissions/lich_queens_demise.pk4' Size: 98.1 MB (102916372) Last update: Fri Oct 04 18:55:11 CEST 2013 UPTODATE - 'http://www.fidcal.com/darkuser/missions/lich_queens_demise.pk4' Size: 97.9 MB (102706073) Last update: Fri Apr 04 13:57:42 CEST 2014 OUTDATED - 'http://www.southquarter.com/tdm/fms/TDM2testmissions/lich_queens_demise.pk4' Size: 98.1 MB (102916372) Last update: Fri Oct 04 23:41:35 CEST 2013 UPTODATE - 'http://www.southquarter.com/tdm/fms/lich_queens_demise.pk4' Size: 97.9 MB (102706073) Last update: Fri Apr 04 14:02:01 CEST 2014 ============================================= UPTODATE - 'http://www.fidcal.com/darkuser/missions/TDM2testmissions/vfat1.pk4' Size: 19.5 MB (20413339) Last update: Sun Aug 11 03:04:55 CEST 2013 OUTDATED - 'http://www.fidcal.com/darkuser/missions/vfat1.pk4' Size: 20.9 MB (21916556) Last update: Fri Sep 07 08:25:11 CEST 2012 UPTODATE - 'http://www.southquarter.com/tdm/fms/TDM2testmissions/vfat1.pk4' Size: 19.5 MB (20413339) Last update: Fri Oct 04 23:45:36 CEST 2013 OUTDATED - 'http://www.southquarter.com/tdm/fms/vfat1.pk4' Size: 20.9 MB (21916556) Last update: Fri May 31 20:47:55 CEST 2013

These are the outdated links for Thief's Den: 'http://www.fidcal.com/darkuser/missions/TDM2testmissions/thiefsden.pk4' 'http://www.southquarter.com/tdm/fms/TDM2testmissions/thiefsden.pk4' The updated files (April 2014) are here: 'http://www.fidcal.com/darkuser/missions/thiefsden.pk4' 'http://www.southquarter.com/tdm/fms/thiefsden.pk4' I think it would be best to update the mission DB to point to the updated files ... and scrap the ones in the TDM2testmissions directory. I don't see why that directory should be used anymore - except for testing maybe. EDIT: The same issue with the Alchemist. Both links in the mission DB refer to the old version : 'www.southquarter.com/tdm/fms/TDM2testmissions/alchemist.pk4' 'www.fidcal.com/darkuser/missions/TDM2testmissions/alchemist.pk4' The updated files (April 2014) are actually here: 'http://www.southquarter.com/tdm/fms/alchemist.pk4' 'http://www.fidcal.com/darkuser/missions/alchemist.pk4'

For the problem of the internal downloader barely ever noticing that a mission has been updated, a fairly simple fix should be possible. Let me recall the current problems first: - the VERSION field is a simple Integer, which barely ever gets updated, since missions most of the time receive only updates to the minor version (e.g. 1.0 -> 1.0.1 and then 1.1, etc) Because of that the mission-database still reads nothing else but the major version, and the downloader is clueless abouzt any updates, - to make it more complicated, there is no consent about how the version schema should look like. Some author insist on having arbitrary conventions, such as 1.1 --> 1.1b or 1 --> 1.01 --> 1.1 Figuring out how to detect which version would be newer would actually become a mess. - Because of these limitations, the version number doesn't get updated in the database and players are asked to manually delete the previous version from their harddrive Current MissionInfo in the XML: <mission id="14" title="Business as Usual" releaseDate="2010-01-14" size="16" version="3" internalName="business3" type="single" author="Bikerdude"> Now, the solution I propose for these problems would be quite easy, and at the same time would allow authors to use whatever custom versioning schema they want. - The Integer VERSION should be changed to an INTERNAL_VERSION number, which doesn't require to be visible to any user. It will in fact be nothing else but a counter which gets updated with each new version. - A new String DISPLAY_VERSION will be added, which can hold whatever the author wants it to read like. This field will be displayed whereever the user can SEE a version number. With that you have the flexibility to make sure you get the updates to the players without giving away anything. And another bonus is, that the actual Update-Check in the Internal Downloader does not need to be touched at all, because the logic to detect a higher version number on the server is already there. Only the few places where users can actually see the VERSION info need to be updated. New MissionInfo schema: <mission id="14" title="Business as Usual" releaseDate="2010-01-14" size="16" internal_version="3" display_version="3.0" internalName="business" type="single" author="Bikerdude"> After next Update: <mission id="14" title="Business as Usual" releaseDate="2010-01-14" size="16" internal_version="4" display_version="3.1" internalName="business" type="single" author="Bikerdude"> After yet another Update: <mission id="14" title="Business as Usual" releaseDate="2010-01-14" size="16" internal_version="5" display_version="3.1.1" internalName="business" type="single" author="Bikerdude"> <mission id="14" title="Business as Usual" releaseDate="2010-01-14" size="16" internal_version="6" display_version="4.0" internalName="business" type="single" author="Bikerdude">

The reason for you getting an old version most of the time can be found in these traces, generated just a few minutes ago by me. Only one of the mirrors has the new file. The other two still have the old one. It appears to me, that the new file has been uploaded to all 3 servers, but not to the URLs that have been registered for the ingame downloader to use.

There are a few inconsistencies in the mission database: Checking mission # 86 : In A Time of Need 2: Breaking out the Fence 'https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/17706561/breakingout.pk4' This mirror has a different filesize and the content is slightly older than the other mirrors and therefor should be removed. Checking mission # 83 : Inn Business 'http://www.southquarter.com/tdm/fms/TDM2testmissions/innbiz.pk4' This link is actually dead. The correct link would be this one (same hash-value as all the other links): 'http://www.southquarter.com/tdm/fms/innbiz.pk4' Checking mission # 40 : Thomas Porter 0: Mandrasola Outdated mirrors (dating 2011): 'http://www.fidcal.com/darkuser/missions/TDM2testmissions/mandrasola.pk4' 'http://www.southquarter.com/tdm/fms/TDM2testmissions/mandrasola.pk4' Updated mirrors (April 2014): 'http://www.fidcal.com/darkuser/missions/mandrasola.pk4' 'http://www.southquarter.com/tdm/fms/mandrasola.pk4' Checking mission # 69 : Thomas Porter 6: Lich Queen's Demise Outdated mirrors (2013): 'http://www.fidcal.com/darkuser/missions/TDM2testmissions/lich_queens_demise.pk4' 'http://www.southquarter.com/tdm/fms/TDM2testmissions/lich_queens_demise.pk4' Updated mirrors (April 2014): 'http://www.fidcal.com/darkuser/missions/lich_queens_demise.pk4' 'http://www.southquarter.com/tdm/fms/lich_queens_demise.pk4'

I looove that mission already!

I would not like that idea. I prefer to see upfront if some difficulty would require ghosting or something I one might want to avoid (such as killing someone). The idea I had in mind was to 'simply' trigger a simulated mission start with default difficulty (e.g. Normal). From my experience re-starting a mission on another difficulty does not cause the entire map to be calculated from scratch all over again and is way faster then the first startup. So, that first simulated startup would do the donkey work and would basicly be disposed off, and a real start would follow afteron with the real difficulty settings.

One thing is bothering me... (or my slow system, actually) Whenever you start a new mission, you first get the Intro with typically quite a bunch of text to read, followed by the selection of the difficulty. The next to happen is that you get a couple of minutes that I use for having my first coffee-break, because the first loading of a mission typically takes quite a long time. I wonder if it would be possible to trigger a 'simulated mission start' while you are reading the Intro stuff. Because once the first loading of a map is complete and all the map info has been processed, any following load up of the mission is much faster. I understand this might be hard to implement, but I would apreciate it very much.

Damn. That looks awesomely creepy... and cosy... at the same time. I would like to see that map being released.

Me too! Against better knowledge I decided Nice mission! Just in case you are planning on an update: there was at least one truncated readable:

That was a fine mission! Actually I was looking for a quick little mission that would last for an hour or two - and ended up spending like 4 hours or so. I liked those nasty little surprises, like Not sure if I obtained the mystical item in the intended way. And came across a few little bugs.