Graphics override for counter numbers not working

[BigDuke66]

Tried it with 2 scenarios but unlike other graphics the files counternumbers.png and h_counternumbers.png are not used if placed in the Graphics Override.

These files need to be moded sometimes if the designer used the squad symbol on units to deny the splitting of that unit.
Scenarios like Operation Neva use this widely and it's a pity that the override is not working as you now have to replace the original files.
And if you have multiple scenarios you may have to roted those files again and again.

I hope this gets fixed asap.

[sPzAbt653]

It is working here [with 4.1.0.4].

[larryfulkerson]

files counternumbers.png and h_counternumbers.png are not used if placed in the Graphics Override.

Have you tried to put those files into a folder named the same as the scenario and placing the folder into the graphcs Override directory?

[Shadrach]

It's true - the Graphics Override doesn't work for those two files, neither in the scenario folder nor in the folder itself. You need to overwrite the files in the game folder. This has been noted for instance with the Neva scenario, see:
fb.asp?m=4573801

Hope this is one of the things fixed next patch, if that ever comes out...

[larryfulkerson]

You need to overwrite the files in the game folder.

I don't know which folder you mean here.

[sPzAbt653]

That's new since 4.1.0.4 then. What versions are you guys using, and are you using Steam ?

[Shadrach]

ORIGINAL: larryfulkerson
I don't know which folder you mean here.

The folder where the game is installed, for me that would be:
f:\Games\The Operational Art of War IV\Graphics\
Not "Graphics Override".

I'm using the latest patch so that would be 4.1.0.21.

[BigDuke66]

I use 4.1.0.21, no steam.
Operation Neva was the scenario pointing me to this problem, tried it with a different scenario, a mod of Fall Weiss 1939, and here it's the same problem.

A question regarding the graphics override folder, would files be used outside a specific scenario folder?

[Shadrach]

ORIGINAL: BigDuke66
A question regarding the graphics override folder, would files be used outside a specific scenario folder?

If the filename matches one of the files in "Graphics", it will use the one in "Graphics Override" instead. That's how I understand it.

NB - There's also a "Graphics Override" folder in the game directory, but we are supposed to use the override in "My Games\The Operational Art of War IV\Graphics Override\". And place user scenario files there. This way they won't get deleted if the game is uninstalled.

[BigDuke66]

ORIGINAL: Shadrach
NB - There's also a "Graphics Override" folder in the game directory, but we are supposed to use the override in "My Games\The Operational Art of War IV\Graphics Override\". And place user scenario files there. This way they won't get deleted if the game is uninstalled.

But this is simply an advise not a needed procedure or?
I doubt that the game could differ between stock scenarios and those added by the user and would use either the override folder in the game folder or the override folder in the user folder.
Wherever these counter file were place, as long as they end up in an graphics override folder they should be used by the game.

[Cabido]

Just a speculation, since I didn't try it. Most files need the three different sizes of the feature to be present in graphics override in order to work. Counternumbers.png comes only with 2 sizes (no s_counternumbers.png). Maybe using a dummy file with this name may fool the system. As I said, I'm just speculating.

[Lobster]

ORIGINAL: BigDuke66

Tried it with 2 scenarios but unlike other graphics the files counternumbers.png and h_counternumbers.png are not used if placed in the Graphics Override.

Does the game even use these now? I modify my colors using the <scenario name>.col file. I put that in the folder named after the scenario in the Graphics Override folder. If I recall correctly the game looks for scenarios in both the game's directory and the user's My Games directory.

Also, if I recall correctly, once the scenario is saved with the new .col file, that information becomes a part of the scenario. It can be retrieved for editing by using the X key while the scenario is loaded in the editor.

tm.asp?m=4385511

[Curtis Lemay]

I think Ralph has added the scenario-specific graphics to the scenario file. As such, you now need to save the scenario in the editor after putting the scenario-specific graphics in the scenario folder, etc. Give that a try.

I know my new Chickamauga 1863 scenario has a modified mapoptional bitmap in it - works ok.

[Shadrach]

ORIGINAL: Curtis Lemay
I think Ralph has added the scenario-specific graphics to the scenario file. As such, you now need to save the scenario in the editor after putting the scenario-specific graphics in the scenario folder, etc. Give that a try.

Do you mean that the custom png's are compiled into the SCE file on save? I don't think this works. I tried it just now. First I would've expected the size of the SCE file would be bigger, which it's not. And the divisions still show as squads:

ORIGINAL: Cabido
Just a speculation, since I didn't try it. Most files need the three different sizes of the feature to be present in graphics override in order to work. Counternumbers.png comes only with 2 sizes (no s_counternumbers.png). Maybe using a dummy file with this name may fool the system. As I said, I'm just speculating.

A good idea, but didn't seem to work. Also, CounterNumbers.png is 322 x 7 px, so an s_counternumbers.png would be impossible to read, even if it was used. No-one even knows what the dimensions of such a file should be. I think a lot of the s_*.png files are not used anyway, as they only apply on the Tiny/Ultra Tiny zoom levels. So it would be pointless to show any symbols there.

I think at this point Ralph is the only one to settle this, if the Counternumbers files are not possible to mod without overwriting game files, or if there's some misunderstanding on how to accomplish this.

[BigDuke66]

No, tried Bob's idea too but it also didn't work for me on the counter files.

[Lobster]

Stop using the .png counter graphics. They are not used anymore so yeah, will not work no matter where you put them. Read this: tm.asp?m=4385511

This is now how you change the colors of counters including the color of the numbers on the counters.

As for terrain graphics, they are handled the same way you are used to using them and there you do use the .png files.

[Shadrach]

ORIGINAL: Lobster
Stop using the .png counter graphics. They are not used anymore so yeah, will not work no matter where you put them. Read this: tm.asp?m=4385511

This is now how you change the colors of counters including the color of the numbers on the counters.

As for terrain graphics, they are handled the same way you are used to using them and there you do use the .png files.

We're not talking about colours. We're talking about the numbers and symbols shown on the counters, which is controlled by the CounterNumbers.png files. It looks like this:

[Lobster]

ORIGINAL: Shadrach

ORIGINAL: Lobster
Stop using the .png counter graphics. They are not used anymore so yeah, will not work no matter where you put them. Read this: tm.asp?m=4385511

This is now how you change the colors of counters including the color of the numbers on the counters.

As for terrain graphics, they are handled the same way you are used to using them and there you do use the .png files.

We're not talking about colours. We're talking about the numbers and symbols shown on the counters, which is controlled by the CounterNumbers.png files. It looks like this:

I modified the divisional symbol so it was filled in between the XX. Then I put it into the Documents/My Games/The Operational Art of War/Graphics Override/<scenario name> folder. This is what I got:





See how it's filled in between the XX. It works just like it's supposed to. Forgot to say, this is with the latest patch (.21)

[Shadrach]

ORIGINAL: Lobster
I modified the divisional symbol so it was filled in between the XX. Then I put it into the Documents/My Games/The Operational Art of War/Graphics Override/<scenario name> folder. This is what I got:

Damn, you're right, it does work... I just tested and it does. I had placed the files in the game install "Graphics Override" directory. Actually, they already existed there because Operation Neva is one of the default scenarios (I think).



Apparently NONE of the graphics files in that folder would work.

I tested also with "Campaign For North Africa 40-43 v.11.0" since it has custom urban tiles. It didn't work in the Install\Graphics Override but it did work in My Games\Graphics Override. This is weird. Does it mean those 500MB of files in Graphics Override is redundant then?

I was under the impression that the game install Graphics Override folder would also work for overrides.

What about the EQP + NQP files then, are these also not used? Can anyone with more experience with the equipment files tell if for instance "Campaign For North Africa 40-43 v.11.0" has the correct equipment? I don't know what to look for...

Confused... [&:]

I'll try to find more scenarios with custom tiles and see if the same happens.

[BigDuke66]

wtf?!
They do work in the user scenario folder.
Just tried Operation Neva and there it's the same, the counter files work in the Graphics Override under the user path but not in the game path.