Alpha.txt help

[Rainbow Lizard]

I am making a new faction for SMAC (I have vanilla), and I am trying to edit the alpha.txt, but when I edit it, it will not save. I am running it in windows Vista, on Notepad, and the error message is 'Make sure that both the file and the path are correct'. I opened it from the program Files section, and I am sure I got the correct name. Any help?

[sisko]

hello, and welcome to alphacentauri2.info!

Any help?

in Vista, the alpha.txt file is inside the "program files" super-security area, so it cannot be edited directly, even by an administrator. You should try to save the edited file to the desktop and then drag-and-drop it into the folder to save the changes.

[Buster's Uncle]

Confirmed.  I have a simular problem with AC text files in Windows7.  The workaround I found is the same - I save it somewhere else and copy it back to my SMAC(X) root directory, letting it overwrite the original.

Welcome from me, too, o' prismatic reptile.  We're glad to have you.    How did you find us?

[Rainbow Lizard]

Confirmed.  I have a simular problem with AC text files in Windows7.  The workaround I found is the same - I save it somewhere else and copy it back to my SMAC(X) root directory, letting it overwrite the original.

Welcome from me, too, o' prismatic reptile.  We're glad to have you.    How did you find us?

I was looking up help for the custom faction then I found this forum.
Also, I managed to edit it, but I opened the game and when I got to the faction select, the game crashed. I think it read the txt file incorrectly.

[Buster's Uncle]

Googled us, huh? 

Hmmm.  I'm a graphics guy, not so strong on that text end, but the faction select screen crash thing is very familiar.  Make sure the case (UPPERCASE/lowercase) for the faction name is consistent inside the fileand with the way the original factions have it, and that it's spelled the same -and there's an easily-overlooked spot it's used in the mostly legal/credits junk at the top before the file seems to really begin that the game uses for identifying the file at that stage.  Careful comparison to the official faction files might help.

Did you edit an official faction manually, or use that evil FacEdit, or what?  FacEdit sucks.  But you had a 'save with Notepad' problem, so you're good on that point.

May we see your work?  Sharing is good, and if you attach the file to your next post, it'll have the additional benefit of making it possible for us to have a look-through for your problem.

[Rainbow Lizard]

I edited it manually. I haven't even heard of FacEdit.  I'll look through the files, though I did copy the framework from the HIVE.txt file. Here is my file.

(click to show/hide)

#HACKER
Hack Kings, The Computarian, Hackers, M, 2, George, M,  0,  0, 1, 1, 0,
  FACILITY, 11, FACILITY, 6 , SOCIAL, +RESEARCH, SOCIAL, +EFFIC, SOCIAL, --MORALE
  Politics, Police State, nil
  Politics, Fundamentalist, nil
  Hackers, Hacking,
  Link, Zelda, Legend of Link
  System Master, criminal, obssesive, lazy, antisocial,
  Obsessive Simpleton
  educate & entertain our citizens
  to build a society where everbody is happy, no matter where they are in the virtual world
  ignoring all strands of reason and simply giving his people the illusion of pleasure
  ignoring all strands of reason and simply giving your people the illusion of pleasure
  morph your population into lazy, unworking fools
  playing silly games with his citizens instead of helping them
  playing silly games with your citizens instead of helping them
  wasting our time
  time-wasting small-talk, M1
  entertainment services, M2
  silly games, M2
  data tax, M1
  entertaining the people
  Antivirus
  Antivirus Programming

#BASES
System Core
Binary Base
Hexidecimal tower
Programmer's Space
The Face-Booker
The Software Centre
Java Base
C+++ Tower
Happiness Tubes
Universal Datalink
Internet Paradise
Twitterverse
Antivirus Centre
The Youtuber
Apple Labs
Microsoft Labs
iGrid
Android Grid
Computerised Heaven
Green Grass Program
Social Program
Anti-drone Web
Yahooplex
Friend of the Programmer
Nintendo tower
Wire of Technology
Secret Hack
Cheat Code
Antivirus Village
System Storage
Data holder
New Skyrim
Zenimax Quaters
People's Joyverse
Education Net
Space.net
#END

#WATERBASES
Port Pixel
Port Sony
Port Sega
Port Fun
USB Port
Flash Port
Port Valve
#END

#BLURB
^  You know, Some people just want to have fun. You ever thought of that, Mr. Diamond Mansion Morgan? We don't want anything to strain us, you people at the U.N Headquaters, we don't like stuff to hold us back, you bashers of the bible, we just want fun. To look at things on our computers. To watch our television sets. To play with our kids. Maybe we could be powerful, or intelligent, but we don't know life's goal, so we just do what we want.
^
^        -- Chairman Sheng-Ji Yang,
^           "Essays on Mind and Matter"

#DATALINKS1
^LEADER: {George Arkan}
^BACKGROUND: {Great Britain, Unity Surveyor}
^AGENDA: {Global Happiness}
^TECH: {None}

#DATALINKS2
^+1 RESEARCH: {Makes research fun}
^+1 EFFICIENCY:    {Happiness makes quick workers}
^-2 MORALE:   {Happiness creates pacifism}
^Entertainment Facilities: {Free RECREATION COMMS and HOLOGRAM THEATRE at every base}
^{May not use Fundamentalist or Police State politics.}

#FACTIONTRUCE
#xs 440
#caption $CAPTION7
"War isn't good for my people, or yours for that matter. Gets them all worried. What we really need is peace, so maybe a blood truce is good for us?."

"Indeed. Blood Truce would be most satisfactory."
"Not today, simpleton! You need to be taught a lick of sense"

#FACTIONTREATY
#xs 440
#caption $CAPTION7
"$TITLE0 $NAME1, your ideals, though not entirely caring to the people, are reasonable, and your faction need not pose a threat to our antivirus software. Shall we sign a Treaty of Friendship to maximise happiness?"

"As you wish. We will all be happier as a result."
"No. Your policies are ineffective in practice, and I fear you will not help me, $NAME3."


# ; This line must remain at end of file

[/font]

And for the sake of it, my picture.

[Buster's Uncle]

You've made a good start, which is always impressive from someone coming in from the cold self-taught.

In a superficial first scan, I don't see any obvious problem with the file.  Hopefully, someone will spot something - there are several active members better qualified for troubleshooting .txt file issues than I.  You left Yang's name on the quote, BTW - which makes the quote hilarious. 

You can find graphics how-to stuff in the Graphics thread in this forum, though I'm behind on posting that kind of stuff, but I'll be thrilled to field any art questions there.  Unlike your loading problem, I can address graphical issues with a lot of confidence, and I have sugestions for improving your .pcx.

Have you seen my custom factions page yet?  I did an alternate Data Angels myself, called The Node Masters.

[Buster's Uncle]

gwilly?  I see you showed up - help this gentleman, willya?

[Rainbow Lizard]

by the way, I attached my pcx file for the faction. What do you think of it? Can you help me improve it?

[Buster's Uncle]

Absolutely.  I looked at it yesterday and had another quick glance right before I saw your post.  You've got the basics, which is a big accomplishment on the first try for someone self-taught. 

However, a you need to start over with processing the leaderhead (it's a converted photo, yes?), and it, the logos and diplomacy landscape need scanlines.  I can talk you through how to do all those things.  -Also, the at-rest (top) small report logo is going to really stick out in the F4 screen and two iterations of the leaderhead are cropped poorly.

Mind you, whether to do these things is up to you and what you consider good enough.   I'm recently considering a reworking and re-release of my first seven custom factions, as I've learned a lot since then, and they're no longer up to my standards, and now embarrass me a little bit.  (But I'm buried in SMAC/forum projects, and it ain't gonna happen tomorrow.)

-I needed to finish posting all the how-tos I have in the Graphics thread for a long time, anyway, and you're clearly gonna motivate me to finally get it done.

I'm gonna have a lot of questions, like what graphics program you're using.  I know Photoshop and GIMP - the latter of which I know best, recommend, and is a free download.

[sisko]

I edited it manually. I haven't even heard of FacEdit.  I'll look through the files, though I did copy the framework from the HIVE.txt file. Here is my file.

i did some edits. here's my version. i haven't tried cause my SMAC is modded right now for a GotM scenario. please try to use it and tell us if it works.

[Rainbow Lizard]

I use GIMP for my images. Can you help me with the leaderhead? I'm not entirely sure how I'm meant to make it realistic.
By the way, is it good to copy something into an RGB image and add noise and smudging and things?

[sisko]

congrats on becoming a citizen, Rainbow Lizard!

how's that file i posted?

[Buster's Uncle]

I use GIMP for my images. Can you help me with the leaderhead? I'm not entirely sure how I'm meant to make it realistic.
By the way, is it good to copy something into an RGB image and add noise and smudging and things?

I'll be thrilled to help you with the leaderhead.  Post me a copy of the photo you used, willya?

To the second, I think so, if I understand the question.

[Rainbow Lizard]

I have a slight problem with the faction's txt file. For the name of faction and things in that area, it uses the row a few ones above it, for example, the formal name is FACILITY, and the description is completely blank. It also cancels out the Social bonuses. The facilities are working fine, though. I still have a HoloTheatre and a ReComms.
Here's the image, BUncle.