The PFM 2.1's MyMod Feature
I just uploaded the new PFM version with a mod management feature; here's how it supposed to work.
It is intended to manage single-pack mods, allowing to declare a base directory for each; this basically works like the PFM of old, but is more flexible IMO.
If you don't want to use the feature, that is no problem; the pre-defined "None" entry should make the PFM behave just as before. I'd really recommend you try it out though, I find it makes things much easier.
1. Go to the "MyMods" menu and select "New".
2. Enter the name of your mod into the input box. This name is what the manager will use as the pack name (<name>.pack).
3. Select the base directory for this mod.
- this is where your pack file will be saved
- all data you extract from any pack, the PFM will put here (no save dialog will be shown anymore)
- when adding files from below this directory, the PFM will create all in-pack subdirectories relative to this path
4. Now, the Open File dialog is opened in the Shogun data directory. This happens because usually when creating a new mod, you want to start off with data from one of the original pack files. You can cancel this if you want and start off with your empty pack directly.
5. The mod is now added to the MyMods menu so you can select it again later; you can create as many mods as you like with this method. Switching to another one will also open its associated pack file.
6. Once you want to test your mod, you can use the "Install mod" feature. What this will do is copy the pack file to Shogun's data directory, and if you're editing a "Mod" type pack, add an entry to your user.script.txt file if one isn't in already.
7. The "Uninstall" will rename the pack in the data directory by appending a ".old" suffix so the game won't find it anymore when starting. If you're working on a "Mod" type pack, the corresponding entry in the user.script.txt file will be commented out so the game will ignore it.
When you start the PFM, the last mod you worked on will be set and its pack file opened.
You can easily delete MyMod entries by activating them and select the "Delete Current" menu item (the "None" entry cannot be deleted). This will not delete any data on your hard disk, so the pack file will still be present, as will the files you extracted underneath the mod's base directory. If you deleted an entry by accident, you can just recreate it by giving it the same name and choosing the same directory as before.
If you already have a mod and want to create an entry for it, just put it in the working directory you want and enter the pack's name when asked for it; it will be found and opened.
I still have some improvements in mind, but I wanted to get this out reasonably early to get a read on how it's perceived.
Let me know what you think
Reply With Quote
