Demolishable buildings

[T26913]

Pretty straight forward, how can you make all buildings demolishable? Like wall upgrades, mines, farms, etc.

It must just be a question of changing a little piece of script, but I wouldn't know where to begin looking.

[Caesar Clivus]

I dont think you can make walls demolishable. But for mines and farms etc it's quite easy. Open up the EDB, find the entries for the buildings in question and take "hinterland" out of their names.

Dont forget to also change their names in export_buildings.txt in the data\text folder and also in the descr_strat for any starting buildings that exist.

[T26913]

The ED what? I'm a total noob at scripting, where can I find this EDB? Also, why do I have to change their names? And what do I change them to?

[Augustus Lucifer]

You can make walls demolishable, you can't make the core building demolishable(partially because demolishable isn't a word! ). The EDB stands for export_descr_buildings.txt, which will be found in the data folder of your Medieval II directory after you've unpacked your game. You can find out more about the various aspects of the EDB from:

A Guide to the export_descr_buildings.txt File

What Caesar means when he says 'hinterland' is this is the way the game classifies building which are indestructible(at least in terms of being able to demolish them, they can still be destroyed by script but that's another matter entirely). By removing this prefix from the internal 'names' of the buildings in the file, and updating the 'strings' file(export_buildings.txt in the data/text folder) to match the new 'names'(or they won't link up), you remove the indestructible property from them.

In addition there is a 'core' property. This building type determines the building which advances your settlement size. In Rome it is the governor residence, in Medieval II it's the walls. You can change which building is the core, but there always needs to be a core so there will always be an indestructible building. So if you want to destroy walls and just make them provide defenses and have settlement size based on governor palaces, there's ways to do that, but for the sake of simplicity I wouldn't advise it.

[konny]

ASFAIK, you cannot destroy any building that changes the look of the settlement on the map. Never tried myself, though.

[T26913]

I have a signifigant problem... my export_buildings.txt.strings file isn't a txt, it's a VLC (.bin). If I try to open it, VLC tries to play it like a video file, very strange. How do I update that?

Edit: I tried opening it with noteblock... indeed, theres text I can edit, a whole lot. I can't see what's what, it's just one huge grid of text, no organisation at all.

[Gigantus]

I have a signifigant problem... my export_buildings.txt.strings file isn't a txt, it's a VLC (.bin). If I try to open it, VLC tries to play it like a video file, very strange. How do I update that?

Edit: I tried opening it with noteblock... indeed, theres text I can edit, a whole lot. I can't see what's what, it's just one huge grid of text, no organisation at all.

You need to use the StringBin Converter
Extract into your data\text folder and double click the bat file.

[T26913]

It says it can't open the file when I double click it. I've extracted it into my data folder, and it's an MS-DOS-bat file and everything.

EDIT: Ok, I actuelly tried reading the readme, and actuelly working on my own. I've deleted all the ''hinterland-'' in front of all the building names in export_descr_buildings. Then I converted the export_buildings_strings with stringbin converter, and found to my surprise it had apparently already updated itself. I could not find anything starting with hinterland (That text file is friggin huge, so I had to use alphabetical order of course), but I was able to find mines, and there was not a single ''hinterland_'' to be found.

So I gave it a try, but farms, mines and roads are still undemolishable. So I decided to totally delete the old export_buildings_string file that was still in .bin format, leaving only the new coverted file. I tried it again (the game actuelly still works to my surprise, signalling it must be using the new converted export_buildings), but still farms, mines and roads are undemolishable.

I have also deleted ever building with a ''hinterland_'' in the descr_strat, and I'm not even trying to demolish them. I'm testing it on newly built mines and farms.

[konny]

So I gave it a try, but farms, mines and roads are still undemolishable.

This could be the result of what I wrote above: buildings that change look of a settlement (and seemingly the province as well) on the map cannot be destroyed. Try something else:
- Make the church hinterland_,
- try to destroy it,
- didn't work?,
- ok, remove the hinerland_ again
- can it be destroyed now?

[Gigantus]

Notepad has got a search function. Ctrl+F
A new string.bin file will be generated every time you edit the txt version

[T26913]

That will be very useful, but where do I find the new string.bin. file and kill it?

[SigniferOne]

In /data/text.

[axnsan]

in export descr_buildings, these are the mines, farms and roads. they are all in the same section

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

building hinterland_roads

{

    convert_to hinterland_castle_roads

    levels roads paved_roads 

    {

        roads city requires factions { northern_european, middle_eastern, eastern_european, greek, southern_european, } 

        {

            convert_to 0

            capability

            {

                road_level 0

            }

            material wooden

            construction  1 

            cost  400 

            settlement_min town

            upgrades

            {

                paved_roads

            }

        }

        paved_roads city requires factions { northern_european, middle_eastern, eastern_european, greek, southern_european, } 

        {

            convert_to 1

            capability

            {

                road_level 1

            }

            material wooden

            construction  3 

            cost  1200 

            settlement_min city

            upgrades

            {

            }

        }

    }

    plugins 

    {

    }

}

building hinterland_castle_roads

{

    convert_to hinterland_roads

    levels c_roads c_paved_roads 

    {

        c_roads castle requires factions { northern_european, middle_eastern, eastern_european, greek, southern_european, } 

        {

            convert_to 0

            capability

            {

                road_level 0

            }

            material wooden

            construction  1 

            cost  400 

            settlement_min town

            upgrades

            {

                c_paved_roads

            }

        }

        c_paved_roads castle requires factions { northern_european, middle_eastern, eastern_european, greek, southern_european, } 

        {

            convert_to 1

            capability

            {

                road_level 1

            }

            material wooden

            construction  3 

            cost  1200 

            settlement_min city

            upgrades

            {

            }

        }

    }

    plugins 

    {

    }

}

building hinterland_farms

{

    convert_to hinterland_farms

    levels farms farms+1 farms+2 farms+3 

    {

        farms  requires factions { northern_european, middle_eastern, eastern_european, greek, southern_european, } 

        {

            convert_to 0

            capability

            {

                farming_level 1

            }

            material wooden

            construction  2 

            cost  600 

            settlement_min village

            upgrades

            {

                farms+1

            }

        }

        farms+1  requires factions { northern_european, middle_eastern, eastern_european, greek, southern_european, } 

        {

            convert_to 1

            capability

            {

                farming_level 2

            }

            material wooden

            construction  3 

            cost  1200 

            settlement_min town

            upgrades

            {

                farms+2

            }

        }

        farms+2  requires factions { northern_european, middle_eastern, eastern_european, greek, southern_european, } 

        {

            convert_to 2

            capability

            {

                farming_level 3

            }

            material wooden

            construction  4 

            cost  2400 

            settlement_min large_town

            upgrades

            {

                farms+3

            }

        }

        farms+3  requires factions { northern_european, middle_eastern, eastern_european, greek, southern_european, } 

        {

            convert_to 3

            capability

            {

                farming_level 4

            }

            material wooden

            construction  6 

            cost  4800 

            settlement_min city

            upgrades

            {

            }

        }

    }

    plugins 

    {

    }

}

building hinterland_mines

{

    convert_to hinterland_castle_mines

    levels mines mines+1 

    {

        mines city requires factions { northern_european, middle_eastern, eastern_european, greek, southern_european, }  and resource silver or resource gold or resource tin or resource iron or resource sulfur or resource marble or resource coal

        {

            convert_to 0

            capability

            {

                mine_resource 4

            }

            material wooden

            construction  2 

            cost  2000 

            settlement_min large_town

            upgrades

            {

                mines+1

            }

        }

        mines+1 city requires factions { northern_european, middle_eastern, eastern_european, greek, southern_european, }  and resource silver or resource gold or resource tin or resource iron or resource sulfur or resource marble or resource coal

        {

            convert_to 1

            capability

            {

                mine_resource 7

            }

            material wooden

            construction  3 

            cost  3500 

            settlement_min city

            upgrades

            {

            }

        }

    }

    plugins 

    {

    }

}

building hinterland_castle_mines

{

    convert_to hinterland_mines

    levels c_mines c_mines+1 

    {

        c_mines castle requires factions { northern_european, middle_eastern, eastern_european, greek, southern_european, }  and resource silver or resource gold or resource tin or resource iron or resource sulfur or resource marble or resource coal

        {

            convert_to 0

            capability

            {

                mine_resource 4

            }

            material wooden

            construction  2 

            cost  2000 

            settlement_min large_town

            upgrades

            {

                c_mines+1

            }

        }

        c_mines+1 castle requires factions { northern_european, middle_eastern, eastern_european, greek, southern_european, }  and resource silver or resource gold or resource tin or resource iron or resource sulfur or resource marble or resource coal

        {

            convert_to 1

            capability

            {

                mine_resource 7

            }

            material wooden

            construction  3 

            cost  3500 

            settlement_min city

            upgrades

            {

            }

        }

    }

    plugins 

    {

    }

}

remove all hinterland_ :

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

building roads

{

    convert_to castle_roads

    levels roads paved_roads 

    {

        roads city requires factions { northern_european, middle_eastern, eastern_european, greek, southern_european, } 

        {

            convert_to 0

            capability

            {

                road_level 0

            }

            material wooden

            construction  1 

            cost  400 

            settlement_min town

            upgrades

            {

                paved_roads

            }

        }

        paved_roads city requires factions { northern_european, middle_eastern, eastern_european, greek, southern_european, } 

        {

            convert_to 1

            capability

            {

                road_level 1

            }

            material wooden

            construction  3 

            cost  1200 

            settlement_min city

            upgrades

            {

            }

        }

    }

    plugins 

    {

    }

}

building castle_roads

{

    convert_to roads

    levels c_roads c_paved_roads 

    {

        c_roads castle requires factions { northern_european, middle_eastern, eastern_european, greek, southern_european, } 

        {

            convert_to 0

            capability

            {

                road_level 0

            }

            material wooden

            construction  1 

            cost  400 

            settlement_min town

            upgrades

            {

                c_paved_roads

            }

        }

        c_paved_roads castle requires factions { northern_european, middle_eastern, eastern_european, greek, southern_european, } 

        {

            convert_to 1

            capability

            {

                road_level 1

            }

            material wooden

            construction  3 

            cost  1200 

            settlement_min city

            upgrades

            {

            }

        }

    }

    plugins 

    {

    }

}

building farms

{

    convert_to farms

    levels farms farms+1 farms+2 farms+3 

    {

        farms  requires factions { northern_european, middle_eastern, eastern_european, greek, southern_european, } 

        {

            convert_to 0

            capability

            {

                farming_level 1

            }

            material wooden

            construction  2 

            cost  600 

            settlement_min village

            upgrades

            {

                farms+1

            }

        }

        farms+1  requires factions { northern_european, middle_eastern, eastern_european, greek, southern_european, } 

        {

            convert_to 1

            capability

            {

                farming_level 2

            }

            material wooden

            construction  3 

            cost  1200 

            settlement_min town

            upgrades

            {

                farms+2

            }

        }

        farms+2  requires factions { northern_european, middle_eastern, eastern_european, greek, southern_european, } 

        {

            convert_to 2

            capability

            {

                farming_level 3

            }

            material wooden

            construction  4 

            cost  2400 

            settlement_min large_town

            upgrades

            {

                farms+3

            }

        }

        farms+3  requires factions { northern_european, middle_eastern, eastern_european, greek, southern_european, } 

        {

            convert_to 3

            capability

            {

                farming_level 4

            }

            material wooden

            construction  6 

            cost  4800 

            settlement_min city

            upgrades

            {

            }

        }

    }

    plugins 

    {

    }

}

building mines

{

    convert_to castle_mines

    levels mines mines+1 

    {

        mines city requires factions { northern_european, middle_eastern, eastern_european, greek, southern_european, }  and resource silver or resource gold or resource tin or resource iron or resource sulfur or resource marble or resource coal

        {

            convert_to 0

            capability

            {

                mine_resource 4

            }

            material wooden

            construction  2 

            cost  2000 

            settlement_min large_town

            upgrades

            {

                mines+1

            }

        }

        mines+1 city requires factions { northern_european, middle_eastern, eastern_european, greek, southern_european, }  and resource silver or resource gold or resource tin or resource iron or resource sulfur or resource marble or resource coal

        {

            convert_to 1

            capability

            {

                mine_resource 7

            }

            material wooden

            construction  3 

            cost  3500 

            settlement_min city

            upgrades

            {

            }

        }

    }

    plugins 

    {

    }

}

building castle_mines

{

    convert_to mines

    levels c_mines c_mines+1 

    {

        c_mines castle requires factions { northern_european, middle_eastern, eastern_european, greek, southern_european, }  and resource silver or resource gold or resource tin or resource iron or resource sulfur or resource marble or resource coal

        {

            convert_to 0

            capability

            {

                mine_resource 4

            }

            material wooden

            construction  2 

            cost  2000 

            settlement_min large_town

            upgrades

            {

                c_mines+1

            }

        }

        c_mines+1 castle requires factions { northern_european, middle_eastern, eastern_european, greek, southern_european, }  and resource silver or resource gold or resource tin or resource iron or resource sulfur or resource marble or resource coal

        {

            convert_to 1

            capability

            {

                mine_resource 7

            }

            material wooden

            construction  3 

            cost  3500 

            settlement_min city

            upgrades

            {

            }

        }

    }

    plugins 

    {

    }

}

save & close

now to the text/export_buildings.txt

somewhere at the middle of the file, you have these lines

{hinterland_castle_mines_name}Mines
{hinterland_castle_roads_name}Roads
{hinterland_farms_name}Farms
{hinterland_mines_name}Mines
{hinterland_roads_name}Roads

remove all hinterland_ :

{castle_mines_name}Mines
{castle_roads_name}Roads
{farms_name}Farms
{mines_name}Mines
{roads_name}Roads

save, close and delete export_buildings.txt.strings.bin

start the game

[T26913]

Has this actuelly worked for you? Because I've already done what you said, and it still isn't working for me. Though, that could be because I've fiddled with some other things... looks like I might be re-installing... again...

[Caesar Clivus]

Has this actuelly worked for you? Because I've already done what you said, and it still isn't working for me. Though, that could be because I've fiddled with some other things... looks like I might be re-installing... again...

If you are running vista, you need to turn off UAC or your changes might not turn up in the game.

[T26913]

If you are running vista, you need to turn off UAC or your changes might not turn up in the game.

I'm using good ol' XP, so it's impossibly a vista issue. But has anyone been able to make this work?

[Squid]

in export descr_buildings, these are the mines, farms and roads. they are all in the same section

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

building hinterland_roads

{

    convert_to hinterland_castle_roads

    levels roads paved_roads 

    {

        roads city requires factions { northern_european, middle_eastern, eastern_european, greek, southern_european, } 

        {

            convert_to 0

            capability

            {

                road_level 0

            }

            material wooden

            construction  1 

            cost  400 

            settlement_min town

            upgrades

            {

                paved_roads

            }

        }

        paved_roads city requires factions { northern_european, middle_eastern, eastern_european, greek, southern_european, } 

        {

            convert_to 1

            capability

            {

                road_level 1

            }

            material wooden

            construction  3 

            cost  1200 

            settlement_min city

            upgrades

            {

            }

        }

    }

    plugins 

    {

    }

}

building hinterland_castle_roads

{

    convert_to hinterland_roads

    levels c_roads c_paved_roads 

    {

        c_roads castle requires factions { northern_european, middle_eastern, eastern_european, greek, southern_european, } 

        {

            convert_to 0

            capability

            {

                road_level 0

            }

            material wooden

            construction  1 

            cost  400 

            settlement_min town

            upgrades

            {

                c_paved_roads

            }

        }

        c_paved_roads castle requires factions { northern_european, middle_eastern, eastern_european, greek, southern_european, } 

        {

            convert_to 1

            capability

            {

                road_level 1

            }

            material wooden

            construction  3 

            cost  1200 

            settlement_min city

            upgrades

            {

            }

        }

    }

    plugins 

    {

    }

}

building hinterland_farms

{

    convert_to hinterland_farms

    levels farms farms+1 farms+2 farms+3 

    {

        farms  requires factions { northern_european, middle_eastern, eastern_european, greek, southern_european, } 

        {

            convert_to 0

            capability

            {

                farming_level 1

            }

            material wooden

            construction  2 

            cost  600 

            settlement_min village

            upgrades

            {

                farms+1

            }

        }

        farms+1  requires factions { northern_european, middle_eastern, eastern_european, greek, southern_european, } 

        {

            convert_to 1

            capability

            {

                farming_level 2

            }

            material wooden

            construction  3 

            cost  1200 

            settlement_min town

            upgrades

            {

                farms+2

            }

        }

        farms+2  requires factions { northern_european, middle_eastern, eastern_european, greek, southern_european, } 

        {

            convert_to 2

            capability

            {

                farming_level 3

            }

            material wooden

            construction  4 

            cost  2400 

            settlement_min large_town

            upgrades

            {

                farms+3

            }

        }

        farms+3  requires factions { northern_european, middle_eastern, eastern_european, greek, southern_european, } 

        {

            convert_to 3

            capability

            {

                farming_level 4

            }

            material wooden

            construction  6 

            cost  4800 

            settlement_min city

            upgrades

            {

            }

        }

    }

    plugins 

    {

    }

}

building hinterland_mines

{

    convert_to hinterland_castle_mines

    levels mines mines+1 

    {

        mines city requires factions { northern_european, middle_eastern, eastern_european, greek, southern_european, }  and resource silver or resource gold or resource tin or resource iron or resource sulfur or resource marble or resource coal

        {

            convert_to 0

            capability

            {

                mine_resource 4

            }

            material wooden

            construction  2 

            cost  2000 

            settlement_min large_town

            upgrades

            {

                mines+1

            }

        }

        mines+1 city requires factions { northern_european, middle_eastern, eastern_european, greek, southern_european, }  and resource silver or resource gold or resource tin or resource iron or resource sulfur or resource marble or resource coal

        {

            convert_to 1

            capability

            {

                mine_resource 7

            }

            material wooden

            construction  3 

            cost  3500 

            settlement_min city

            upgrades

            {

            }

        }

    }

    plugins 

    {

    }

}

building hinterland_castle_mines

{

    convert_to hinterland_mines

    levels c_mines c_mines+1 

    {

        c_mines castle requires factions { northern_european, middle_eastern, eastern_european, greek, southern_european, }  and resource silver or resource gold or resource tin or resource iron or resource sulfur or resource marble or resource coal

        {

            convert_to 0

            capability

            {

                mine_resource 4

            }

            material wooden

            construction  2 

            cost  2000 

            settlement_min large_town

            upgrades

            {

                c_mines+1

            }

        }

        c_mines+1 castle requires factions { northern_european, middle_eastern, eastern_european, greek, southern_european, }  and resource silver or resource gold or resource tin or resource iron or resource sulfur or resource marble or resource coal

        {

            convert_to 1

            capability

            {

                mine_resource 7

            }

            material wooden

            construction  3 

            cost  3500 

            settlement_min city

            upgrades

            {

            }

        }

    }

    plugins 

    {

    }

}

remove all hinterland_ :

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

building roads

{

    convert_to castle_roads

    levels roads paved_roads 

    {

        roads city requires factions { northern_european, middle_eastern, eastern_european, greek, southern_european, } 

        {

            convert_to 0

            capability

            {

                road_level 0

            }

            material wooden

            construction  1 

            cost  400 

            settlement_min town

            upgrades

            {

                paved_roads

            }

        }

        paved_roads city requires factions { northern_european, middle_eastern, eastern_european, greek, southern_european, } 

        {

            convert_to 1

            capability

            {

                road_level 1

            }

            material wooden

            construction  3 

            cost  1200 

            settlement_min city

            upgrades

            {

            }

        }

    }

    plugins 

    {

    }

}

building castle_roads

{

    convert_to roads

    levels c_roads c_paved_roads 

    {

        c_roads castle requires factions { northern_european, middle_eastern, eastern_european, greek, southern_european, } 

        {

            convert_to 0

            capability

            {

                road_level 0

            }

            material wooden

            construction  1 

            cost  400 

            settlement_min town

            upgrades

            {

                c_paved_roads

            }

        }

        c_paved_roads castle requires factions { northern_european, middle_eastern, eastern_european, greek, southern_european, } 

        {

            convert_to 1

            capability

            {

                road_level 1

            }

            material wooden

            construction  3 

            cost  1200 

            settlement_min city

            upgrades

            {

            }

        }

    }

    plugins 

    {

    }

}

building farms

{

    convert_to farms

    levels farms farms+1 farms+2 farms+3 

    {

        farms  requires factions { northern_european, middle_eastern, eastern_european, greek, southern_european, } 

        {

            convert_to 0

            capability

            {

                farming_level 1

            }

            material wooden

            construction  2 

            cost  600 

            settlement_min village

            upgrades

            {

                farms+1

            }

        }

        farms+1  requires factions { northern_european, middle_eastern, eastern_european, greek, southern_european, } 

        {

            convert_to 1

            capability

            {

                farming_level 2

            }

            material wooden

            construction  3 

            cost  1200 

            settlement_min town

            upgrades

            {

                farms+2

            }

        }

        farms+2  requires factions { northern_european, middle_eastern, eastern_european, greek, southern_european, } 

        {

            convert_to 2

            capability

            {

                farming_level 3

            }

            material wooden

            construction  4 

            cost  2400 

            settlement_min large_town

            upgrades

            {

                farms+3

            }

        }

        farms+3  requires factions { northern_european, middle_eastern, eastern_european, greek, southern_european, } 

        {

            convert_to 3

            capability

            {

                farming_level 4

            }

            material wooden

            construction  6 

            cost  4800 

            settlement_min city

            upgrades

            {

            }

        }

    }

    plugins 

    {

    }

}

building mines

{

    convert_to castle_mines

    levels mines mines+1 

    {

        mines city requires factions { northern_european, middle_eastern, eastern_european, greek, southern_european, }  and resource silver or resource gold or resource tin or resource iron or resource sulfur or resource marble or resource coal

        {

            convert_to 0

            capability

            {

                mine_resource 4

            }

            material wooden

            construction  2 

            cost  2000 

            settlement_min large_town

            upgrades

            {

                mines+1

            }

        }

        mines+1 city requires factions { northern_european, middle_eastern, eastern_european, greek, southern_european, }  and resource silver or resource gold or resource tin or resource iron or resource sulfur or resource marble or resource coal

        {

            convert_to 1

            capability

            {

                mine_resource 7

            }

            material wooden

            construction  3 

            cost  3500 

            settlement_min city

            upgrades

            {

            }

        }

    }

    plugins 

    {

    }

}

building castle_mines

{

    convert_to mines

    levels c_mines c_mines+1 

    {

        c_mines castle requires factions { northern_european, middle_eastern, eastern_european, greek, southern_european, }  and resource silver or resource gold or resource tin or resource iron or resource sulfur or resource marble or resource coal

        {

            convert_to 0

            capability

            {

                mine_resource 4

            }

            material wooden

            construction  2 

            cost  2000 

            settlement_min large_town

            upgrades

            {

                c_mines+1

            }

        }

        c_mines+1 castle requires factions { northern_european, middle_eastern, eastern_european, greek, southern_european, }  and resource silver or resource gold or resource tin or resource iron or resource sulfur or resource marble or resource coal

        {

            convert_to 1

            capability

            {

                mine_resource 7

            }

            material wooden

            construction  3 

            cost  3500 

            settlement_min city

            upgrades

            {

            }

        }

    }

    plugins 

    {

    }

}

save & close

now to the text/export_buildings.txt

somewhere at the middle of the file, you have these lines

{hinterland_castle_mines_name}Mines
{hinterland_castle_roads_name}Roads
{hinterland_farms_name}Farms
{hinterland_mines_name}Mines
{hinterland_roads_name}Roads

remove all hinterland_ :

{castle_mines_name}Mines
{castle_roads_name}Roads
{farms_name}Farms
{mines_name}Mines
{roads_name}Roads

save, close and delete export_buildings.txt.strings.bin

start the game

You'll also need to edit descr_strat to correct any instances of those buildings placed at the beginning of the game. Anywhere else that building names are used (scripts for example) may also need to be updated.

[axnsan]

i haven't tried it, but it should work...

if you add hinterland_ to any building, you'll notice it will be impossible to demolish it in game. but if you remove it it'll be possible again

[axnsan]

yeah i forgot about that. though the game wouldn't start for him if that was the problem, so most probably a vista issue

[Gigantus]

I am not sure, but I think everyone forgot this file:

data\export_descr_buildings_enums.txt