How-to: make battle_models.MODELDB more readable

[Hospitalier Grand Master]

I know you are all busy with your mods but sparing the files I need would be very very appreciated not only by me but by all who would like to do some small modding.

[Hospitalier Grand Master]

So no one can spare those files instead of oblige me to spend hours for a thing you have already delt with...

[Evil_Dane]

Please cant you just make a downloadable file?

[Gigantus]

If you had checked the thread you would have seen the link to the download.
Or you could have simply clicked the 'Formatted Campaign ModelDB files' link in my sig.

[Evil Empror Proteus]

EDIT - lol posted in wrong thread, thats what i get for having too many tabs open. Is there no post deletion option?

[EarendilElenthol]

The Lithuania mod (Kingdoms) is setting up a standard format for the models_db, that can facilitate the exchange in units and rosters between mods. i hope that will be the new standard, as it would make models_db problems far less likely to pop up.

[carranopb]

I tried to add the Stradiots as mercenaries in the game. Simply does not work. I can not edit model.db. I did not understand the logic of the thing yet ...

[Lifthrasir]

Hi guys, I've got a question regarding that line:
16 -0.090000004 0 0 -0.34999999 0.80000001 0.60000002
On the 1st page of this thread, that lines is located at the 1st place, before the unit name.
On my battle_models file, that line seems to be at the last position, under the "fs_test_shield 0".
I don't know if it is important or not but where do I have to put that line: 1st position or last position?
I thank you in advance.

[Gigantus]

A section of the modelDb file starts with the unit\model name and ends with that entry (or this one [mounts and officers]: 0 0 0 0 -1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0)

[Lifthrasir]

Many thanks Gigantus. That confirms I've done it right for that point. But I still get a CTD when starting. There must be something else wrong

[Lifthrasir]

Ok, I finally found out what was wrong with my battle_model file with the Help of MagicCuboid. All my new units were integrated at the bottom of the file. It seems that adding the new units under the captains stuff causes a CTD. By moving them with the other units, the game works (hope I'm clear).
It might be important to mention it for the newbies like me.

[Gigantus]

The sequence shouldn't really matter (never had a problem adding at the bottom or after general\captain entries), but then weirder stuff has happened.

[Gigantus]

18 turks The number in front of that line is the length of the entry that follows - in your case it should be 5

[galadhril]

18 turks The number in front of that line is the length of the entry that follows - in your case it should be 5

Ok..THANX.. IT WORKS!!

[Gigantus]

One is glad to be of service

[Melooo182]

I say the double space 'required' after "_norm.texture 0" is BS
I just mass edited the whole BMMDB replacing double, triple, cuatruple spaces with a single space and the game runs just fine, no CTD at start niether in the few custom battles i ran after.

I challenge anyone to prove me wrong

[MIKE GOLF]

I am trying to add a new unit from another submod to a mod I am working on. I am utterly exasperated as to why the moddb is not reading the new unit. The edu has under 500 units. The battle_models.modelsdb has had several models removed with no issues. All the textures and sprites and meshes are located as per the model locations. Serialization numbers are not the cause of the ctd. If anyone can help it would be appreciated. Attached is the modeldb file I am trying to add the unit to.

Here is the edu description for the unit:

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

type             HOR_Folyavuld_Marines    ; Folyavuld Marines
dictionary       HOR_Folyavuld_Marines    ; Folyavuld Marines ; chud
category         infantry
class            missile
voice_type       Heavy
banner faction   main_infantry
banner holy      crusade
soldier          folyavuld_marines_upg0, 60, 0, 1
officer          dale_captain_early_flag
officer          dale_captain
mount_effect     elephant +3
attributes       sea_faring, hide_forest, extreme_range, hardy, can_withdraw, free_upkeep_unit, start_not_skirmishing, mercenary_unit
formation        1.2, 1.2, 2.4, 2.4, 4, square
stat_health      1, 3
stat_pri         7, 2, arrow, 170, 30, missile, missile_mechanical, piercing, none, 0, 1
stat_pri_attr    no
stat_sec         5, 2, no, 0, 0, melee, melee_blade, slashing, sword, 25, 1
stat_sec_attr    no
stat_pri_armour  5, 3, 2, metal
stat_sec_armour  0, 0, flesh
stat_heat        0
stat_ground      0, 1, -1, -2
stat_mental      11, normal, trained
stat_charge_dist 15
stat_fire_delay  0
stat_food        60, 300
stat_cost        2, 550, 220, 75, 75, 550, 4, 100
armour_ug_levels 1, 2
armour_ug_models folyavuld_marines_upg0, folyavuld_marines_upg1
ownership        slave, scotland
era 0            slave, scotland
era 1            slave, scotland
era 2            slave, scotland
recruit_priority_offset    8

Here is the bmdb entry for the unit:

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

22 folyavuld_marines_upg0 
1 
1 
68 unit_models/_units/rhovanion/models/folyavuld_marines_upg0_lod0.mesh 6400 
2 
4 merc 
68 unit_models/_units/rhovanion/textur/folyavuld_marines_upg0_d.texture 
68 unit_models/_units/rhovanion/textur/folyavuld_marines_upg0_n.texture 
47 unit_sprites/portugal_rhudaur_axemen_sprite.spr
8 scotland 
68 unit_models/_units/rhovanion/textur/folyavuld_marines_upg0_d.texture 
68 unit_models/_units/rhovanion/textur/folyavuld_marines_upg0_n.texture 
47 unit_sprites/portugal_rhudaur_axemen_sprite.spr
2 
4 merc 
68 unit_models/_units/rhovanion/attach/folyavuld_marines_atch_d.texture 
68 unit_models/_units/rhovanion/attach/folyavuld_marines_atch_n.texture 0 
8 scotland 
68 unit_models/_units/rhovanion/attach/folyavuld_marines_atch_d.texture 
68 unit_models/_units/rhovanion/attach/folyavuld_marines_atch_n.texture 0 
1 
4 None 
11 MTW2_Bowman 
19 MTW2_Fast_Swordsman 
2 
19 MTW2_Bowman_Primary 
14 fs_test_shield 
2 
18 MTW2_Sword_Primary 
14 fs_test_shield 
16 -0.090000004 0 0 -0.34999999 0.80000001 0.60000002 
22 folyavuld_marines_upg1 
1 
1 
68 unit_models/_units/rhovanion/models/folyavuld_marines_upg0_lod0.mesh 6400 
2 
4 merc 
68 unit_models/_units/rhovanion/textur/folyavuld_marines_upg1_d.texture 
68 unit_models/_units/rhovanion/textur/folyavuld_marines_upg0_n.texture 
47 unit_sprites/portugal_rhudaur_axemen_sprite.spr
8 scotland 
68 unit_models/_units/rhovanion/textur/folyavuld_marines_upg1_d.texture 
68 unit_models/_units/rhovanion/textur/folyavuld_marines_upg0_n.texture 
47 unit_sprites/portugal_rhudaur_axemen_sprite.spr
2 
4 merc 
68 unit_models/_units/rhovanion/attach/folyavuld_marines_atch_d.texture 
68 unit_models/_units/rhovanion/attach/folyavuld_marines_atch_n.texture 0 
8 scotland 
68 unit_models/_units/rhovanion/attach/folyavuld_marines_atch_d.texture 
68 unit_models/_units/rhovanion/attach/folyavuld_marines_atch_n.texture 0 
1 
4 None 
11 MTW2_Bowman 
19 MTW2_Fast_Swordsman 
2 
19 MTW2_Bowman_Primary 
14 fs_test_shield 
2 
18 MTW2_Sword_Primary 
14 fs_test_shield 
16 -0.090000004 0 0 -0.34999999 0.80000001 0.60000002 
24 folyavuld_retainers_upg0 
1 
1 
70 unit_models/_units/rhovanion/models/folyavuld_retainers_upg0_lod0.mesh 6400 
2 
4 merc 
70 unit_models/_units/rhovanion/textur/folyavuld_retainers_upg0_d.texture 
70 unit_models/_units/rhovanion/textur/folyavuld_retainers_upg0_n.texture 
41 unit_sprites/sicily_lossarnach_sprite.spr
8 scotland 
70 unit_models/_units/rhovanion/textur/folyavuld_retainers_upg0_d.texture 
70 unit_models/_units/rhovanion/textur/folyavuld_retainers_upg0_n.texture 
41 unit_sprites/sicily_lossarnach_sprite.spr
2 
4 merc 
70 unit_models/_units/rhovanion/attach/folyavuld_retainers_atch_d.texture 
70 unit_models/_units/rhovanion/attach/folyavuld_retainers_atch_n.texture 0 
8 scotland 
70 unit_models/_units/rhovanion/attach/folyavuld_retainers_atch_d.texture 
70 unit_models/_units/rhovanion/attach/folyavuld_retainers_atch_n.texture 0 
1 
4 None 
11 MTW2_2H_Axe 
0 1 19 MTW2_2H_Axe_primary 
0 16 -0.090000004 0 0 -0.34999999 0.80000001 0.60000002

I have also tried to change the entry "4 merc" to "5 slave" to reflect what the edu says to no effect.

[Taiji]

Try doing one battle_model entry at a time.

Also I notice you're adding a battle_model that has nothing to do with that unit in the EDU - folyavuld_retainers_upg0

[caratacus]

I am trying to add a new unit from another submod to a mod I am working on. I am utterly exasperated as to why the moddb is not reading the new unit. The edu has under 500 units. The battle_models.modelsdb has had several models removed with no issues. All the textures and sprites and meshes are located as per the model locations. Serialization numbers are not the cause of the ctd. If anyone can help it would be appreciated. Attached is the modeldb file I am trying to add the unit to.

Here is the edu description for the unit:

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

type             HOR_Folyavuld_Marines    ; Folyavuld Marines
dictionary       HOR_Folyavuld_Marines    ; Folyavuld Marines ; chud
category         infantry
class            missile
voice_type       Heavy
banner faction   main_infantry
banner holy      crusade
soldier          folyavuld_marines_upg0, 60, 0, 1
officer          dale_captain_early_flag
officer          dale_captain
mount_effect     elephant +3
attributes       sea_faring, hide_forest, extreme_range, hardy, can_withdraw, free_upkeep_unit, start_not_skirmishing, mercenary_unit
formation        1.2, 1.2, 2.4, 2.4, 4, square
stat_health      1, 3
stat_pri         7, 2, arrow, 170, 30, missile, missile_mechanical, piercing, none, 0, 1
stat_pri_attr    no
stat_sec         5, 2, no, 0, 0, melee, melee_blade, slashing, sword, 25, 1
stat_sec_attr    no
stat_pri_armour  5, 3, 2, metal
stat_sec_armour  0, 0, flesh
stat_heat        0
stat_ground      0, 1, -1, -2
stat_mental      11, normal, trained
stat_charge_dist 15
stat_fire_delay  0
stat_food        60, 300
stat_cost        2, 550, 220, 75, 75, 550, 4, 100
armour_ug_levels 1, 2
armour_ug_models folyavuld_marines_upg0, folyavuld_marines_upg1
ownership        slave, scotland
era 0            slave, scotland
era 1            slave, scotland
era 2            slave, scotland
recruit_priority_offset    8

Here is the bmdb entry for the unit:

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

22 folyavuld_marines_upg0 
1 
1 
68 unit_models/_units/rhovanion/models/folyavuld_marines_upg0_lod0.mesh 6400 
2 
4 merc 
68 unit_models/_units/rhovanion/textur/folyavuld_marines_upg0_d.texture 
68 unit_models/_units/rhovanion/textur/folyavuld_marines_upg0_n.texture 
47 unit_sprites/portugal_rhudaur_axemen_sprite.spr
8 scotland 
68 unit_models/_units/rhovanion/textur/folyavuld_marines_upg0_d.texture 
68 unit_models/_units/rhovanion/textur/folyavuld_marines_upg0_n.texture 
47 unit_sprites/portugal_rhudaur_axemen_sprite.spr
2 
4 merc 
68 unit_models/_units/rhovanion/attach/folyavuld_marines_atch_d.texture 
68 unit_models/_units/rhovanion/attach/folyavuld_marines_atch_n.texture 0 
8 scotland 
68 unit_models/_units/rhovanion/attach/folyavuld_marines_atch_d.texture 
68 unit_models/_units/rhovanion/attach/folyavuld_marines_atch_n.texture 0 
1 
4 None 
11 MTW2_Bowman 
19 MTW2_Fast_Swordsman 
2 
19 MTW2_Bowman_Primary 
14 fs_test_shield 
2 
18 MTW2_Sword_Primary 
14 fs_test_shield 
16 -0.090000004 0 0 -0.34999999 0.80000001 0.60000002 
22 folyavuld_marines_upg1 
1 
1 
68 unit_models/_units/rhovanion/models/folyavuld_marines_upg0_lod0.mesh 6400 
2 
4 merc 
68 unit_models/_units/rhovanion/textur/folyavuld_marines_upg1_d.texture 
68 unit_models/_units/rhovanion/textur/folyavuld_marines_upg0_n.texture 
47 unit_sprites/portugal_rhudaur_axemen_sprite.spr
8 scotland 
68 unit_models/_units/rhovanion/textur/folyavuld_marines_upg1_d.texture 
68 unit_models/_units/rhovanion/textur/folyavuld_marines_upg0_n.texture 
47 unit_sprites/portugal_rhudaur_axemen_sprite.spr
2 
4 merc 
68 unit_models/_units/rhovanion/attach/folyavuld_marines_atch_d.texture 
68 unit_models/_units/rhovanion/attach/folyavuld_marines_atch_n.texture 0 
8 scotland 
68 unit_models/_units/rhovanion/attach/folyavuld_marines_atch_d.texture 
68 unit_models/_units/rhovanion/attach/folyavuld_marines_atch_n.texture 0 
1 
4 None 
11 MTW2_Bowman 
19 MTW2_Fast_Swordsman 
2 
19 MTW2_Bowman_Primary 
14 fs_test_shield 
2 
18 MTW2_Sword_Primary 
14 fs_test_shield 
16 -0.090000004 0 0 -0.34999999 0.80000001 0.60000002 
24 folyavuld_retainers_upg0 
1 
1 
70 unit_models/_units/rhovanion/models/folyavuld_retainers_upg0_lod0.mesh 6400 
2 
4 merc 
70 unit_models/_units/rhovanion/textur/folyavuld_retainers_upg0_d.texture 
70 unit_models/_units/rhovanion/textur/folyavuld_retainers_upg0_n.texture 
41 unit_sprites/sicily_lossarnach_sprite.spr
8 scotland 
70 unit_models/_units/rhovanion/textur/folyavuld_retainers_upg0_d.texture 
70 unit_models/_units/rhovanion/textur/folyavuld_retainers_upg0_n.texture 
41 unit_sprites/sicily_lossarnach_sprite.spr
2 
4 merc 
70 unit_models/_units/rhovanion/attach/folyavuld_retainers_atch_d.texture 
70 unit_models/_units/rhovanion/attach/folyavuld_retainers_atch_n.texture 0 
8 scotland 
70 unit_models/_units/rhovanion/attach/folyavuld_retainers_atch_d.texture 
70 unit_models/_units/rhovanion/attach/folyavuld_retainers_atch_n.texture 0 
1 
4 None 
11 MTW2_2H_Axe 
0 1 19 MTW2_2H_Axe_primary 
0 16 -0.090000004 0 0 -0.34999999 0.80000001 0.60000002

I have also tried to change the entry "4 merc" to "5 slave" to reflect what the edu says to no effect.

As this is a mercenary unit, you will need to take out the Scotland faction in Ownership of the EDU entry. If its for Scotland delete the (mercenary_unit) in the attributes.

Mercenary units and faction units require separate EDU entries. Its probably the case that the game is confused by the mention of Scotland.

[MIKE GOLF]

I have tried that, also I have removed the retainers from the post as they were not intended to be there. I will double check everything and try again.

Fast answers! I will try and limit it to just "scotland" and see what happens.