Help with CoA files

[Alpha Zeke]

Well, following Gigantus' tutorial on adding a new faction, this file confuses me the most

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

In the big part you specify the name of the graphic element (remember descr_sm_factions?), in this case „SMALL_FACTION_LOGO_OTTOMANS‟ as well as its position on the graphic. This can be a bit tricky, therefore the template. The index on the left of the line has to be in chronological order, starting with zero at the top. If you have to delete an entry in the middle, you will have to renumber every entry after it. The number of the „count=‟ entry will be one bigger as the last line as the count starts with zero. The same principle applies for the number of the „page=‟ entry for the individual element. In our case, it is 3 as it is the fourth page, starting with zero as the first page. Underneath the entry for „ottomans‟ I left template entries for „yellow‟ and „blue‟ for later use.
The same principle applies to „strategy.sd.xml‟ so I will not bore you with a repetition, just the „count‟ numbers change.

If there is some other way for someone to explain this to me, that would be great, because I'm confused as :wub

[Gigantus]

The number of the „count=‟ entry

In the file: <texture_pages count="4">
This means that there are 4 graphics that are being referenced, counting starts with zero, ends with 3

In the file: <sprites count="341">
This is the number of references (co-ordinates) for the UI elements, counting starts with zero like above.

Your entry for the ottoman's small faction logo is at number 338. If you would create another faction and wanted to enter it's symbol, the best way would be to copy the last entry (340), and rename it to 341. Accordingly the sprites count number has to increase by one. You will also have to determine on which graphic (see texture pages section) and at what coordinates your symbol can be found.

<sprite index="341" name="SMALL_FACTION_LOGO_[NEWFACTION]" page="3" left="4" right="35" top="18" bottom="48" x_offset="0" y_offset="0" alpha="1" cursor="0"/>

[Alpha Zeke]

Alright. So now I understand this part. But I'm curious about something else.

In your tut you go to the souther_european folder. In what file did it point out to use the southern euro folder?

Also, in a mod like SS, every different folder has the same pics for shields. Would you know which one I would have to edit to get it correctly, or should I edit them all?

[Gigantus]

Usually southern_european is the default folder. But you can create different graphics for each culture.

Rule of Thumb: the game will first use the graphics in the culture folder, after that the one in the southern_european folder and at last the one in the pack.

[Alpha Zeke]

Well, since the culture is greek, but there is no picture for that in the greek folder, it should then go to European yes?

[irishron]

There is no true "Greek" culture for most. If you go thruogh the Byzantine files for "Greek" culture you will find a mixed bag og southern_european, middle_eastern, and eastern_european. It's a carryover from Rome Total War.
If you want a pure Greek culture, you will be greating your own.

[Alpha Zeke]

Alrighty. Question 2. All the logos have a top bottom left right numbers and a x y offset. How do I get these numbers for the square my logo is in?

[irishron]

Have you looked at any of the files in the interface folder in a program like Photoshop or GIMP? You take a look at the bottom as you scroll, the x, y axis changes. This is where your figures are.

[Alpha Zeke]

I'm running Photoshop CS5 (Thank god for family company connections ) And I have to find how to turn this toolbar on then... I thought there would be one there, but it confused me when there wasn't.

Photoshop is hiding things from me

[Gigantus]

GIMP is the editor of choice for me. There you simply pull a 'ruler' by right click\dragging from the top\left of the working area.

[Ishan]

In photoshop there is a navigator box on the top right in it there is a tab for info, click it and then the mouse position will be visible in the info box telling ur the precise X,Y coordinates.

[Alpha Zeke]

Ishan. You may not know this, but I hate Photoshop for putting in so many features that they start to incredibly overshadow such small things, and help really isn't help at all
Gigantus, thanks! I ended up using gimp, but it still takes some getting used to (especially since it lacks any base window) but I use this with Photoshop now to get as many options as needed

Thanks again guys!

[Ishan]

Glad to help bro but for me Photoshop is perfect with like a zillion options on it and i never had any problem with it.
I haven't bought CS5 but CS2 is simply great and i don't feel like wasting my money on CS5.

[Alpha Zeke]

Trust me, don't All they add in each new creative suite is.. well garbage really but all the tutorial sites use the latest version, and I'm a sucker for easy to manage tutorials