Matrix Games Forums

I don't like the new Database Viewer. I think you should revert back to the old in-game viewer. The new one is nice and all, but it doesn't integrate well with the game when played fullscreen. It dumps you out to the desktop, doesn't load the picture, have to go back to game screen reselect unit, and then it dumps you out to desktop again with maybe a picture maybe not. Who needs all this malarkey. I want to click Database, unit, picture, and see a picture in-game.

out

Sure, I'll look at this tomorrow as it should be optional now.

To convert to the old database media viewer you will need to follow these three steps:


1. Use the windows command line to browse to your Harpoon 3 ANW folder. Type the following: This disables the media viewer. Repeat this step for each install if you have multiple ANW installs.

2. Grab the old pic files.
computerharpoon.com/public/OldHarpoon3PicResFiles.zip

3. Extract the *pic.res files into your Harpoon 3 ANW/Resource/DBPics/ folder.


To enable the new media viewer again, just type the following at the command prompt in your Harpoon 3 ANW folder:
For directions on using a MS command prompt, use Google.

Thanks,

Setting it up now. I'll let you know the results.

Hi,

Thanks for the details on how to switch to the old style viewer. It may not display the photos as large, but it certainly works fast, and doesn't disrupt things when playing in full screen mode.


Regards,

Rocky

I have a question regarding the database viewer: is it possible to add photos to it?
 
Thanks

Yes,

Check out the Resource\DBPics directory. I believe the directory structure explains how to add media but if you need more details just ask. You'll need to know the unique ID of the platform and just drop in your the .png format image in there. Same thing with the supported 3d model formats.

Thanks,

How about for platforms that don't yet have a folder in Resource\DBPics directory? If so, how?
Be gentle, I'm new at all this!

Create the directory. Pad the directory name on the left with 0s to make it 3 characters long. For example, LHD-1 with the ID 7 becomes directory

007

-or-

007 - LHD-1

The viewer will do the rest.

Where do I find the ID number? [&:]

Every platform entry (Plane, ship, sub) has a datafield for Picture ID number.  You can see it when you use the In-Game database editor.

Thanks Herman and Russell. Time to add some pics [:)]

Hello...again....[:'(]
OK, so I got into the In-Game Editor, found the ID number and added a photo. The problem I found was there are many platforms using the same number. I started with planes, the first entry being the 1124N Sea Scan (in the PlayersDB). I then went to the next entry, Bison, and saw it had the same number. I went through a few more entries and saw they had the same number as well. I didn't want to go changing anything because then I would have had signature issues. Is there some to to change that ID number without causing any other issues?
Also, how do I frame and resize the images so they look the same as the ones already in the game?
 
Thanks

ORIGINAL: incredibletwo

OK, so I got into the In-Game Editor, found the ID number and added a photo. The problem I found was there are many platforms using the same number. I started with planes, the first entry being the 1124N Sea Scan (in the PlayersDB). I then went to the next entry, Bison, and saw it had the same number. I went through a few more entries and saw they had the same number as well. I didn't want to go changing anything because then I would have had signature issues. Is there some to to change that ID number without causing any other issues?

The planes have the same number for PicID because those planes have no attached image. #94 is a generic "No photo available".

PicID #130 for ships and PicID #54 for subs serve the same default message.

There is no way to change something in the Database without messing up synchronization with the accompanying Signature.bin file. I *think* that the Signature file is created as an amalgam of data from reading the 17 *.dat files. Therefore, if you change something in the *.dat files, the Signature file that was previously generated will not match the current files. That's my hypothesis, anyway. [:)]

Thanks for that. I guess I'll wait until this signature thing is sorted out i.e. removed. [:)]
I've already started hunting down images for platforms that currently don't have one.

Hi again,
Any word on the database, or the ability to edit entries without synchronisation issues, for 3.10? I'm a detail junkie and itching to get to it... [:)]

ORIGINAL: incredibletwo

Thanks for that. I guess I'll wait until this signature thing is sorted out i.e. removed. [:)]
I've already started hunting down images for platforms that currently don't have one.

How about feeding images to Herman for the real PDB releases instead of making your own offshoot? Then all the signature issues are taken care of in the normal PDB releases.

Hi Tony,
Good idea, but "maybe" some of the images are copyrighted. Personal use is ok. Is it OK to give them to Herman?
 

imho distribution of PDB outstrips personal distribution but you can probably go a long ways using copyright free or credited images. just my 2 cents, I'm no copyright lawyer but I tend towards the conservative side, towards not taking chances with copyright.

Would you class the PDB as commercial?