How to use Mod Files

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How to use Modified SC3 Scenario and Graphics Files.

All screen shots are from Windows 7.

Please understand that the main [Default] files for Strategic Command WW II - War in Europe [shortened to 'SC3' for the remainder of these posts] are kept in a location separate from Modified [User] files on your computer.

Pictured below is the home of SC3 on your computer. This shot is for your information only, you should never mess with these files [see page 4, section 2.1.3 in the Manual if you would like more details]. We will see where User files are located later.

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If you are interested in installing a complete Mod [a Scenario or Campaign] go to Post #14.

If you are interested in installing a Graphics Mod for use with a stock Campaign it is very easy, here is where you start. Navigate to the location shown in Post #1 and Double Click the file folder that is highlighted in Post #1. Now scroll down until you see the Application that is highlighted below, and Double Click it. Nothing will seem to happen, but after about 17 seconds, the SC3 Editor will open.

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Click on THIS button, not THAT button or THE OTHER button, THIS button !

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Now you will see what is pictured below. Select the Campaign that you would like to install your Graphics Mod into, in this case we have selected the 1939 Campaign. Now click Open at the bottom right.

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Now your target Campaign is opened in the Editor. From the File drop down menu select Save As.

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Now we have the Save As box, and there is no need to navigate anywhere else, the program knows what you are doing and we are right where we need to be.

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All we need to do is Rename this file and Save it. In this case 'MOD' has been added to the end of the file name. You can name it whatever you want. Now click Save [it will take about 30 seconds]. You are done this part, you may close the Editor.

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Your Modded Campaign will now show up in the games list of Campaigns. HOORAH ! Ok, now lets install a Graphics Mod.

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Each Mod will usually have specific instructions and specific files. As an example, let's install the Sipres Mod into the Campaign that we just created. I have navigated to where I had it saved, and we can see that the Mod's files are located in a Bitmaps folder as seen below. Double Click it.

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Now we see all the good stuff conveniently separated into specific folders. Highlight them all and COPY them.

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Now navigate to here, let me spell it out for you - Documents > My Games > Strategic Command WW II - War in Europe > Campaigns. If it is not this exactly, you are in the wrong place ! Now Double Click the Campaigns folder.

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Here is the Campaign Mod that we saved earlier. Double Click on the Mod's Folder.

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Now PASTE the folders that we COPIED three posts ago into the Bitmaps Folder. You are DONE !

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To install a complete Mod [a Scenario or Campaign], navigate to here, Documents > My Games > Strategic Command WW II - War in Europe > Campaigns. This is the Developer's designed location for Mod's and if you put Mod's anywhere else you will have issues. The Mod you are installing may have specific instructions, but this is the location where the Mod belongs.

That's it ! Thanks for paying attention !!

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[Hubert Cater]

This is really good and thanks for putting this together, it is much appreciated and will definitely help those out to attempt some modding [:)]

One suggestion and only because I think it might make things a bit easier (and perhaps a bit simpler) is to skip the steps where you manually copy the campaigns, rename them and then open them in the Editor and use 'Save As'.

For example, if you go one campaign at a time (and I just suggest this as it is a starter step since most will only try to mod one campaign first just to see how it goes), and let's say open the 1939 Campaign, and then select 'Save As', and save it as '1939 Storm over Europe MOD', it will automatically save the campaign in the user folder, rename it for them and they don't have to subsequently reopen and resave the campaign using the Editor for the game to recognize it as they've done all this in one step. Then at that point they can immediately start modding as they are already in the Editor.

Let me know what you think,
Hubert