Installation problems..

[SamMacca]

Right.. I've played OTTD for a while. So after seeing all screenshots with the Custom Bridgeheads and stuff in, I thought I'd install it and see what it was like.

I understand that TTDP doesnt have its own graphics thingy like OTTD does so I need to download TTD?
Anyway, I've done that and I've installed it. I've downloaded the lastest nightly of TTDP, installed it.
It said the cd was missing but I went in the .cfg file and sorted that out by changing the directory.. but now it works it doesnt look any different from TTD, yet in the screenshots I've seen, it looks different.

Am I missing something somewhere, should I not install TTD or what?

Thanks for the help in advance guys..

[wallyweb]

... but now it works it doesnt look any different from TTD, yet in the screenshots I've seen, it looks different...

TTDPatch is just that ... a patch. Graphically, the basic TTDX is left intact until grf files are added. Any differences you may be looking for were probably added via grf files. Have you set up a newgrf.cfg file yet?

[SamMacca]

Nahh I've not done anything to it. I just supposed it would look like it does straight off haha!
Set up a newgrf.cfg, what do I have to do?

[wallyweb]

Nahh I've not done anything to it. I just supposed it would look like it does straight off haha!
Set up a newgrf.cfg, what do I have to do?

I thought you'd never ask ...
Ok ... You have TTDX installed ... I'm assuming it's the windows version, but if it's the DOS version, we'll have more fun later.
Check the folder into which you installed TTDX. TTDPatch should be in that folder too.
Now, you don't have to start TTDX. TTDPatch will do that for you. I'll assume you've done all that.
Next, check that TTDX folder for a subfolder named newgrf ... What's in it? You should at the very least see ttdpbasew.grf
Let me know if you see all that and then we'll continue.

[SamMacca]

yess i have 'ttdpbasew.grf'
and i've installed TTD and all that lark.. and its the windows version

[wallyweb]

yess i have 'ttdpbasew.grf'
and i've installed TTD and all that lark.. and its the windows version

OK ... then we should be ready to rock 'n role

You need a file named newgrfw.cfg
It is a plain text file. You can create/edit it in Notepad or an equivalent.
Make sure your ttdpbasew.grf is listed in there.
Add your choice of other grf files to the list.
Here is a sample of what I use:

Code: Select all

#newgrfw.cfg#
#=======================================================================
#A basic grf configuration file.
#=======================================================================
# ! after grf file name loads file in inactive state and file can be activated in-game#
#DISABLED# before grf file name prevents file from loading and file will not appear in-game
#=======================================================================
#
newgrfw\ttdpbasew.grf 0 0 0 0 0
#
#-----------------------------------------------------------------------
#Basic grf file MUST BE USED:#
#Sets canals, ccol2, elrails, gui, nsignals, oneway, tramtrk, trkfound, jaquaduct#
#-----------------------------------------------------------------------
#parameter fields: temperate arctic tropic toyland canals#
#climates: 0=default 1=temperate 2=arctic 3=tropic 4=toyland#
#canals: 0=new 1=original#
#-----------------------------------------------------------------------
# http://www.ttdpatch.net/newgrf.html
#-----------------------------------------------------------------------

Next, when you start TTDPatch, it will have to call that newgrfw.cfg file.
I have created and use a Windows desktop shortcut which points to:

Code: Select all

C:\MPS\ttdpatchw.exe -C C:\MPS\ttdpatch.cfg -Xn  C:\MPS\newgrfw.cfg

Just change the C:\MPS part to fit your setup and you should be good to go.

[SamMacca]

Right so every time I stick a newgrf into my game, I have to put it on that .cfg file? If so, how do I go about doing that? And I'm guessing I can use the OpenGFX graphics for TTDP? How would I do that?

[planetmaker]

Uh... you cannot use the usual OpenGFX releases as TTDPatch needs a few special sprites and some (small) changes to the GUI icons code and the grf files need to match the names of the original TTD set (which they don't do by default). Ammler once prepared a release which targeted TTDPatch. But since we got hardly any response back then and also I myself don't have the possibility to test that, we don't produce TTDPatch versions of OpenGFX automatically. Should there be interest, it's something which most probably could be automatically created without too much additional effort.

I don't have at hand nor find the link to that version right now. Please ask Ammler for it. What you can do (just to see yourself) is, though:
rename the OpenGFX grf files to their TTD counter parts:
ogfx1_base.grf --> trg1r.grf
ogfxc_arctic.grf --> trgcr.grf
ogfxh_tropical.grf --> trghr.grf
ogfxt_toyland.grf --> trgtr.grf
ogfxi_logos.grf --> trgir.grf
just renaming ogfxe_extra.grf --> ttdpatchw.grf won't work for the reasons mentioned above, thus you'll experience probably some inconsistencies. Feedback is appreciated.

[wallyweb]

Right so every time I stick a newgrf into my game, I have to put it on that .cfg file?

Yes

If so, how do I go about doing that?

1. Search the forums for grf files that you want to use
2. Search GrfCrawler for grf files that you want to use (Easier than option 1)
Download the grf file and place it in your newgrfw folder.
Read any readme files that accompanied your download, looking for possible parameter settings.
Open newgrfw.cfg in Notepad and add the file's path and name [and parameters if required] to the list.

Code: Select all

#newgrfw.cfg#
#=======================================================================
#A basic grf configuration file.
#=======================================================================
#Format: Path\filename.grf parameters
#=======================================================================
# ! after grf file name loads file in inactive state and file can be activated in-game#
#DISABLED# before grf file name prevents file from loading and file will not appear in-game
#=======================================================================
#Basic grf file MUST BE USED:
#
newgrfw\ttdpbasew.grf 0 0 0 0 0
#
#-----------------------------------------------------------------------
#Additional grf files:
newgrfw\CanSetw.grf 0 15
... etc.

And I'm guessing I can use the OpenGFX graphics for TTDP? How would I do that?

See planetmaker's notes above.
NOTE: Copy and save those TTDX grf files to a separate folder before renaming the originals.

A question for planetmaker:
Do the blue sprite numbers correspond with one another and if yes, are the sprites of the same (x,y) positions and of same sizes? This would be where any inconsistencies might arise.

[planetmaker]

Do the blue sprite numbers correspond with one another and if yes, are the sprites of the same (x,y) positions and of same sizes? This would be where any inconsistencies might arise.

The sprite numbering and order within the five files I quoted have to be the same. The size and alignment of the sprites doesn't and isn't necessarily - a different base set after all should be allowed to change the visual size of houses The inconsistencies I mostly see - if not a properly corresponding ttdpatchw.grf is used - are at the graphical level: the current ttdpatchw.grf is taylored to correspond to the TTD base set, matching its style. Using it with OpenGFX will look funky in places; that's exactly where ogfxe_extra.grf comes into play; it provides suitable replacements for those sprites, too (it's a replacement for openttdw.grf), but it needs slight adjustments to work properly with TTDP.