Problems with Race .xml files - modified stock races aren't "useable" ingame anymore

Good morning fellow Generals of the Galaxy,

I recently built a new machine - and simply copied my custom race .xml files from my old comupter 'my documents folder/etc' to the new install on a different machine.

Now, for whatever reason: I can't get my custom .xml races to load - I forget what the error message is, but when I try to double click them (to load them/etc), I get an error message that keeps me from being able to do so.

They're the same .xml files that the game originally kicks out (to that specific mydocuments folder) the first time you choose that race for a game.... all I did to them was open them in notepad and change some values. Let me further clarify - these are the 'stock' races - I had simply changed some of their parameters in their .xml files... so when I say, "custom", I simply mean, 'modified' race via the .xml file for that race.

I used said custom race .xml files to great success on my previous computer - I have no idea why they're not working on this one..

Any ideas guys? I'm stuck playing Vanilla GalCivII atm, which isn't entirely a "bad" thing : ), but I would like to have my custom race files working again.

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Thks for any help,

Chr*s

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C'mon guys

I need assistance pleeeeease.

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kryo

Join Date 05/2003

+458

Are you running the same game versions on both machines?

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yes sir

1.5 on both

It really doesn't make sense, because the same .xml files on my old comp have zero issues when I try to load them up when 'making a game/picking the races that are gonna be in the game'.

On my old comp: I screwed up my vanilla 'stock race .xmls' because when I opened say: the drengin.xml - all I did was change parameters and then save as drengin.xml... which was pretty dumb because I essentially erased the 'stock' .xml file by overwriting it w/different parameters. I hope that made sense.

So, on my old comp: I can't even play against stock races because I accidentally saved over the stock .xmls.

So, on my new comp - on the new install, the first thing I did was start a game and use every race - actually took two games to get all the races loaded up = getting those .xml files kicked out to that mydocumentsDAfolder...

THEN, (while on my flash drive, I changed those old .xml files from drengin.xml (for example) to drenginx.xml.... THEN I copied them onto my new comp.

They should work right?

Am I missing something here?

(on the new comp w/new install)

See, I even went an extra step - after copying my old customized .xml files - and seeing that they didn't work - I deleted them...

And then simply modified one of the stock .xmls by changing a couple parameters - and then resaving to a different name... drenginx.xml for example.

AND that didn't work either... so now it looks like I can't modify my .xml files if I want them to be 'loadable'...

I've gotta be missing something here, but I'm not doing anything differently than I did on my old comp.

please help, this is really pissin me off,

Thks,

Chr*s

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And then simply modified one of the stock .xmls by changing a couple parameters - and then resaving to a different name... drenginx.xml for example.AND that didn't work either...

The stock race files need to be the stock race names. So what you need to do is rename all the stock .xml files first or just copy them to a different folder called "Stock races" or whatever so you can copy them back later.

Then you can copy the ones from your old machine over to the install but leave them named drengin.xml, thalan.xml etc. It sounds like you are trying to get it work with them named dreginx.xml, that won't do it.

If I misunderstood what you are doing my apologies.

You may also want to verify that the files you copied over didn't get their properties changed. Just right click on them, select properties, and make sure they aren't read only or set to hidden.

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I appreciate you piping in, GGtheMad.

This situation is really weird.

I have 'one' of my custom races from my old computer that works just fine (for whatever reason).

They are called 'Yor Collective Hive'.

If I simply try to open up ANY of the other races by opening the .xml in notepad/etc.... change a couple parameters, and rename the file to ANYTHING, it doesn't matter... when I try to pick that modified .xml race in the game, the Avatar/Pic doesn't show up and the message I get is, "custom race can't be loaded".

But my Yor Collective Hive.xml file works just fine.... I have absolutely no idea what in the world is going on here.

Someone please help me here, this is kinda rediculous.

Thks a lot,

Chr*s

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UTF8 and typos don't get along even if created within Notepad.

My guess is that the xmls you are saving aren't properly structured and thus, the game can't recognize the heap_stack calls they cause, indirectly that is.
You could try a number of things;

0- Install Edit-Plus (shareware, from the web somewhere), load the file(s) in it with "hidden tags ON". And see if the code-tabs haven't being accidently written over by even just a single ASCii ghost-character somewhere. Even just a backslash at the wrong spot can mess the whole file.
1- Load the thingy in a browser such as Mozilla which would auto-detect flaws, if there is. Then edit the guilty backward in_compatible lines, so to speak.
2- Mimic the ONLY working copy for all and editing just the entry level names, to see if they'd work as is. And, using the good'ol process of elimination (i know, it IS a very tedious process) by resetting everything from scratch for each files.
3- Repeat as often as needed.

Otherwise, get yourself a genuine source-code copy of GC and wreck havoc all you'd like in it to fix the issue... and only then, re-compile the exe properly. My point here is that, most of us are getting good results by sticking with default values and stock races as they are installed. And while it may seem weird to many that what you're trying is necessary, i understand the idea and what advantages you gain from the process.

A final thought; XML is an extremely fragile language but uses a very efficient interface, highly portable, codewise. Its output must be saved and loaded with great care.

- Zyxpsilon.

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Ok.... wow!!

So 'that's what's going on.... I really can't thank you enough for spending the time to explain that in depth for me. That's gotta be what's going on.

My 'Yor Collective Hive.xml' race which works fine must have saved ok originally.

I will definitely attempt to utilize what you've told me to do and I'll return w/feedback.

"My point here is that, most of us are getting good results by sticking with default values and stock races as they are installed. And while it may seem weird to many that what you're trying is necessary, i understand the idea and what advantages you gain from the process."

Vanilla GalCivII DA is one of the most exciting, challenging, and creative games I've ever played in my life. I have a feeling it'll be a classic for my lifetime just like SC1... just like WC3.

But once a man has dabbled w/various parameters, he can make the game pretty much a 'new' one. All I'm trying to do is basically speed the game up by making everyone more powerful, have WAY bigger fights (by increasing Logistics BIGTIME), and generally make the game more frantic - 'bigger' even.

BUT... like I said, Vanilla GalCivII DA is near impossible to mess with... seriously... you guys absolutely NAILED the balance straight out of the box (Version 1.5)... I mean... EVERY game I play in Vanilla mode w/stock .xmls is DOWN to the wire. (mixed AI levels, but at least 2-3 of them are really smart).

It is HANDS DOWN the most impressive AI I've seen in a game - ever.
I can't even imagine what GalCivIII holds in store for us 4xers.

And another thing... GalCivII is my first 4x Game ever... I'll never need another one. It's safe to say I can't say the same of FPSs, lol!!!!

Thank you SO much for your help and for understanding what I'm trying to do,

Chr*s

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