GRFCODEC.EXE questions

Andrex · Post by **Andrex** » 04 Feb 2003 06:17

1. In the guide you refer to a file called "trg1.grf" while the real name of the file is "trg1r.grf". I suppose both windows and DOS version of TTD uses the same names, so if this is simply a spelling error, it should be corrected.

2. I have decoded all GRF files from the TTD folder, however the backup file was created only for the main file, trg1r.grf. Why there are no backups for the others? (despite I know I can create them manually)

3. How can I run grfcodec.exe in the background, hiding its window? (by using the "RUN" option from Start menu plus -? command I suppose).

SHADOW-XIII · Post by **SHADOW-XIII** » 04 Feb 2003 06:26

1) No .. Dos trg1.grf , Win trg1r.grf
2) the best to do is making your own backups
3) yes .. you will it but only a while but I will notsee if something goes wrong

Tom Cumming · Post by **Tom Cumming** » 04 Feb 2003 16:35

Andrex wrote: 3. How can I run grfcodec.exe in the background, hiding its window? (by using the "RUN" option from Start menu plus -? command I suppose).

Just like any other program really - create a shortcut to it and set it to run minimised in the properties for the shortcut.

Andrex · Post by **Andrex** » 04 Feb 2003 17:35

My mistake. Despite I knew that windows trick.

WHat I need to do is HIDE the program window while it is runing. And I need the command line ONLY.

Post by **orudge** » 04 Feb 2003 18:00

Well, basically, just do a FindWindow and then a ShowWindow(hWnd, SW_HIDE) - easy enough in VB. If I have time/can be bothered, I'll do that.

Patchman · Post by **Patchman** » 05 Feb 2003 04:29

Or recompile GRFCodec as a console application, and redirect stdin/stdout to somewhere else.

Btw, the backup is only generated when your encoding, not when decoding.

Post by **orudge** » 05 Feb 2003 11:32

Er, you mean recompile as a GUI application, I assume?

mp3Pro · Post by **mp3Pro** » 05 Feb 2003 11:41

/me keeps his fingers crossed

Post by **orudge** » 05 Feb 2003 11:48

Oh, it's certainly possible (if you mean hiding the window).

Andrex · Post by **Andrex** » 05 Feb 2003 16:47

I'm building a VB GUI to manage the grfcodec.exe to automatically perform its most common tasks, as you have imagined.

The best thing would be to incorporate those EXE into my program somehow, but since I have no idea how to do that, it will be enough with hiding the window.

Another question:
The color palette settings are valid only for decoding, or it may be applied when encoding also?

mp3Pro · Post by **mp3Pro** » 05 Feb 2003 16:54

for encodeing there a -m switch

Patchman explains [/url]

Andrex · Post by **Andrex** » 05 Feb 2003 23:54

I am having problems when encoding with the m switch.
This is the situation:

C:\AZ\TTDXP>grfcodec.exe -e -m 0 trgcr.grf
GRFCodec version 0.9 - Copyright (C) 1999-2002 by Josef Drexler
Encoding in temporary file C:\AZ\TTDXP\trgcr.new
Agh! Getting colour 216 but it has no map!ransparency: 57%, Redundancy: 78%)

With all GRF files I've tried, I get the same error, but with differnt values for everything. Also happens with the -m 1 switch of course.

mp3Pro · Post by **mp3Pro** » 06 Feb 2003 00:03

sounds like a question for josef

Patchman · Post by **Patchman** » 06 Feb 2003 06:10

Andrex wrote:Encoding in temporary file C:\AZ\TTDXP\trgcr.new
Agh! Getting colour 216 but it has no map!ransparency: 57%, Redundancy: 78%)

With all GRF files I've tried, I get the same error, but with differnt values for everything. Also happens with the -m 1 switch of course.

This means you're either using the wrong -m switch, or that the graphics are using the wrong palette.

Remember that -m is for converting between DOS and Windows graphics. This means, with -m 1, the PCX file must be in the Windows palette, and the resulting GRF file will use the DOS palette. -m 0 works the other way round.

If the palette is correct already, you don't need the -m switch.

Post by **orudge** » 06 Feb 2003 13:50

Andrex wrote:The best thing would be to incorporate those EXE into my program somehow, but since I have no idea how to do that, it will be enough with hiding the window.

Create a DLL file with the GRFCodec routines in (you'll have to modify the GRFCodec source a bit, but it's certainly possible), and call this from VB.

Andrex · Post by **Andrex** » 07 Feb 2003 01:02

I think I will revome the -m swith from the program because I have no success when using it.
I have tried to convert WinTTD graphics into DOS, DOS graphics into Windows, with both -m 0 and -m 1 switches, and it doesn't work. I simply don't know what may be wrong.

Rob · Post by **Rob** » 07 Feb 2003 16:03

As far as I know, and tested myself. It is only possible to change new made graphics. This means up to now it is only possible to change new vehicles for windows to dos and visa versa. Sadly enough.

It is not possible to change changed buildings and new made railroadsprites or bridges.

Andrex · Post by **Andrex** » 07 Feb 2003 16:44

Rob wrote:As far as I know, and tested myself. It is only possible to change new made graphics. This means up to now it is only possible to change new vehicles for windows to dos and visa versa. Sadly enough.
It is not possible to change changed buildings and new made railroadsprites or bridges.

Are you talking about the -m switch or something? Because it is very possible to change buildings and stuff.

I'll leave the -m switch but with a warning message like "It may not work".

mp3Pro · Post by **mp3Pro** » 07 Feb 2003 16:46

I cant wait to try it out

Rob · Post by **Rob** » 07 Feb 2003 16:47

I was refering to the post above mine. So yes, i'm talking about the -m switch.

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GRFCODEC.EXE questions

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