SeaBee Alpha - WitP:AE Install & Configuration Application

[fcooke]

Hi Korvar,

Thanks for this - very helpful. I have a new PC and it was driving me bonkers trying to get AE working properly with the switches. My speed scrolling and speed of execution are sorted. I have tried leaving the display as default 1920x1080, which is the native resolution of my PC, but is brings me black bars on both sides of the display. Trying to force the display leads to the dreaded everything shifted down to the right so you cannot get to everything. Any ideas?

Also - I have been using the create different versions of the shortcut and every time I do it inserts a 'beta' into the string before the executable. Not a biggie - I just remove it but rather odd.

Thanks again for this.

Regards,
Frank

[Korvar]

Hi Frank,

If by black bars, you refer to the loading screen:






That's completely normal when running at higher resolutions for which the game was originally intended. The good news is this behavior is limited only to the menu screens; once you load a game, the game map should fill the screen.

The most straightforward thing to try is 'fullscreen' mode with 'force resolution' set, like the following:





It doesn't matter which circled 'fullscreen' option you try, they only vary by the frequency of game autosaves. SeaBee defaults to 1920 x 1080 when forcing the resolution, so if you needed something different (not applicable in this case), you'd change that too.

I've heard mixed reports about how "graceful" using the Alt+Tab key combination to switch between the game and Tracker while using fullscreen mode. That's typically why you'd use 'windowed' mode - if you want to frequently switch between applications (such as the game and 3rd party utilities such as Tracker); otherwise, fullscreen is the easier of the two modes to set up. Using windowed mode makes Windows add a title bar to the top of the application window, so you either need to move the title bar offscreen (via a utility) or reduce the game resolution a bit to allow for the title bar, making sure to maintain the aspect ratio of your monitor. If you are using 'windowed' mode, that's why everything gets shifted down and slightly to the right.

Let me know if you want to use & configure windowed mode, as it's a full discussion in it's own right.

If you get any "image ghosting" or other artifacts while in 'fullscreen' mode, try turning off the -dd_sw switch as described by Admiral DadMan in the discussion of settings differences between fullscreen and windowed modes.


As for the insertion of 'beta2' into the string, pick "No" for the "Use Unofficial (Beta) Release?" option to stop this from happening (see below). If you install the unofficial beta (available on the forums), it will add the "Beta2" subdirectory in the game directory. The beta executable (.exe) file is then located in that 'Beta2' subdirectory, which is why SeaBee adds this into the string when you wish to use the beta. Note you can also make all your other selections in SeaBee, then create shortcuts for both the official and beta .exe files by creating the 1st shortcut, then selecting the other option under "Use Unofficial (Beta) Release?" and hitting the "Build Shortcut" button again. SeaBee labels the beta shortcut with "(Beta)" at the end so both shortcuts can coexist with one another, just like the .exe files do.

[Dragnaath]

I just installed SaeBee and have the following problem when launching the game.

"Unable to find PW data"

then I'm kicked back to the desktop.

[Alfred]

This always means that you are not starting with the proper .exe file.  Usually results from using the wrong shortcut.  Not installing the game properly will also create the same problem.
 
Read this recent thread on the subject:
 
http://www.matrixgames.com/forums/tm.asp?m=4543366&mpage=1&key=&#4543824
 
There are many other threads which deal with the subject as it seems to be raised every couple of weeks.
 
Alfred
 
 

[Dragnaath]

Thank you for the response sir.

The game launches from the installed shortcut. When I create shortcut using SaeBee then I get that message.

I just purchased the game during the sale. Downloaded - patched and saw this thread so I wanted to give this app a try.


Update - Figured it out - The SeaBee created shortcut had "Beta" in the path to the exe file.

Deleted that and the game launched [:D]

[Korvar]

FYI, you can create shortcuts for BOTH the original and (if installed) Beta versions of WITP:AE with Seabee. Just select 'No' in the Beta section as indicated by the red box below to create a shortcut for the original .exe.

In fact, you can quickly create both types of shortcuts by configuring all other settings, clicking the 'Build Shortcut' button to create the 1st type of shortcut, and then switching to the other option in the 'Beta' section and clicking 'Build Shortcut' again; of course, each shortcut will only work if the applicable version of WITP:AE has been installed correctly. The beta shortcut will be automatically labelled with '(Beta)' at the end of its name to distinguish it from the shortcut to the non-Beta .exe for WITP:AE. This works because the Beta version of WITP:AE installs to a sub-directory of the game as opposed to overwriting the original .exe.

The main Seabee screen with the 'Beta' section highlighted:

[bazjak]

Well Well Well
Korvar
Thankyou so much for this
Its seems amazing
I havnt been looking at these forums for a while as i didnt have AE installed
I have just re-installed on my win 10 laptop and i can play YIPPEE
I gave up some time ago as i could not for the life of me sort those switches out
And to cap it all i can play full screen (1600x900)
Thankyou once again

[Korvar]

I'm glad it helped you to enjoy this great game [8D]

[bazjak]

Korvar
Thanks for this
I was wondering if it could somehow be used on the other titles?
WiTP
UV
WPO
As those are going to waste
No problem if they dont but was just wondering

[Korvar]

Seabee isn't designed to be used with anything other than WITP:AE. For one, the switches will almost certainly be different between games. I believe even WITP has limited cross-compatibility with AE because more switches were added to AE.

That said, you could use Seabee to create a "template" shortcut and then manually edit the various fields to match the other game OR create a separate new shortcut for the other game using the Seabee-created shortcut as a guide. It would probably be easiest to find and right-click the other game's .exe file to create a new shortcut (then move it to where you want, such as the desktop), as it will automatically make sure the file path is correct that way. Then add the appropriate switches as per the format of the Seabee-created shortcut, using the game's manual or other document as a reference to what's available.

[bazjak]

Thanks for that
Will see how it goes

[MBF]

bump - I needed it for another computer I was setting up

p.s. worked great too !

[pontiouspilot]

I just did a re-install on new computer using SeaBee. It was certainly helpful since I'm a computer Luddite. I am still having problems however. I play the DBB scenarios and with much screwing around I have the proper map showing up ie with the extra hexes. I cannot for the life of me get the stacking limits to take. It worked fine on old computer and I have attempted to duplicate everything used there. Any ideas? This new computer is a hot Dell i7 windows 10. The other funny glitch, maybe related or maybe not, is that the Aden base no longer open up...not the base, port or air. I haven't checked every last base to see if there are any others.

[Korvar]

What version of DBB are you trying to set up?

It sounds to me like you successfully replaced the default map graphics files (i.e. the 'WPEN' and 'WPEH' files in the ART directory), but you still need to update the map data files. The process is explained on this page of the DBB site, and the files are available on this page. Keep in mind that there are data files available WITH and WITHOUT stacking limits, so make sure to grab the right one (Babes_Extended Map Data With SL 05_12_14.zip).

If you run into snags, let me know what specific scenario you'd like to play, and I can then provide more specific guidance.

[pontiouspilot]

I'm playing DBB #28. I guessed as you did. I tried the process all over with the data files and still no luck. I wonder if it is extracted into correct place? What does your installed directory look like?

Some day, hopefully the SeaBee can cover these add-ons and the enhanced art work too!! I'll owe you a nice whiskey.

[Korvar]

Here is my directory - only a couple small files are missing from view, but they're not relevant:





What you may have done is extract the map data files into the ART subdirectory. The map art files go there, but the data files go into the main WitP:AE directory (see the 'pw' files in the image above - pwhexe.dat, pwzone.dat, and pwzlink.dat are the relevant ones).


I've also attached my stock map data files in a .zip file. You can try extracting that to the main WitP:AE directory which may save you from a complete reinstall.

And thanks - I do plan to continue development of SeaBee to eventually do a "one button install" of WitP:AE plus handle art mods, etc.

[pontiouspilot]

I just tried my first turn on new rig/new install. The extended hexes are definitely correct but here are no stacking limits appearing. Also, the problem with Aden is evident in Abadan also. In the result no orders can be given to air, naval or troops at these bases. The other "off board" bases appear fine.

[Korvar]

Ok, if you're definitely using the extended map w/ stacking limits, then don't use my stock files. Download and extract the "Babes_Extended Map Data With SL 05_12_14.zip" link I provided a few posts above into your main WitP:AE directory. That *should* do it.

[Korvar]

After doing some more reading on the DBB site, you want to make sure you got all the files extracted from the Scen #28 extended map "B" .zip file into your SCEN subdirectory.

From the readme:

All files same as standard AEScen028, except locations file. Locations file has the new bases using the modified map. Requires new Map Art and new pwhexe.

Version-A Version-B Version-C
Aei028.dat std DBB std std
Cam028.dat std DBB std std
Wpa028.dat std DBB std std
Wpc028.dat std DBB std Cargo Cut
Wpd028.dat std DBB std std
Wpg028.dat std DBB std std
Wph028.dat std DBB std std
Wpl028.dat std DBB New Map New Map
Wpp028.dat std DBB std std
Wps028.dat std DBB std std
Scn028.cmt std DBB std std

The highlighted file as part of the scenario files in the SCEN folder interacts with the extended map pwhexe file in the main directory.

[Korvar]

Another item to check - make sure your shortcut doesn't have "Beta2" in both the "Target" and "Start in" fields of the shortcut you use to run the game when you right-click the shortcut and click on "Properties".

The shortcut I created with SeaBee on the left works, on an "old" shortcut in my Beta2 folder on the right DOES NOT WORK and pulls the "PW data" error: