New version of ReadZFSFile available

Martin the Dane · January 22, 2002, 20:03

It has turnes out that it is time to launch a new version of my .zfs-viewer/extractor ReadZFSFile.

The new version includes

Extracts and displays text, graphics, and sound files from the .zfs files found in Civ:CTP and CTP2.
Save the .rim files found in the graphics-.zfs's as either .rim or .tga-files.
New:
Added save multiple selected files.
Added a search feature so now you can search for a specific filename within the open .zfs-file and for files with a specific string.
Fixed Save All Files so now _all_ files are saved, not just the selected file.

Get ReadZFS Version 2.1

Martin the Dane

The Big Mc · January 23, 2002, 06:34

hi

i just downloaded it I will let you know what I think tomorrow

The Big Mc · January 24, 2002, 06:10

nine out of ten

I look at a lot of stuff in them zfs files

I would recommend this program highly for moders it has all the unit icons as well as the tile imps

I have a suggestion would it be possible to add a zoom feature to viewing the pics some of them are really small.

I still have few problems reading one or two files in ctp2 however.

Martin the Dane · January 24, 2002, 08:34

Tkanks for the nice review.

Quote:

I have a suggestion would it be possible to add a zoom feature to viewing the pics some of them are really small.

Might be possible, I'll look into it.

Quote:

I still have few problems reading one or two files in ctp2 however.

Anything to do with ReadZFS?

Martin the Dane

Locutus · January 24, 2002, 08:57

edit: sorry, wrong thread

The Big Mc · January 24, 2002, 09:28

could be I will get the file for you to take a look at it just wont open in the program may be a new type for ctp2 or something.

Martin the Dane · January 24, 2002, 13:31

Ok here comes a minor update, adding zoom and fixes bug in the rember last dirs.
Use this link ReadFZS version 2.1.0.4 or go to my website

This time there is a patch but only from build 3.

Eh Mc! If the file is huge, could you just send me the first meg or so of it, that should be enough to figure out what's wrong.

Martin the Dane

The Big Mc · January 25, 2002, 06:46

it is only small I will get it to you on Monday

Martin the Dane · January 31, 2002, 20:00

I have been going over the code for ReadZFSFile again, so the whole code recieved a major overhaul, resulting in significant
increases in speed and decrease in memory usage.

Here's the "What's new" section from the readme.

Loading and caching now happends in the background. (seperate threads)
Removed loading file animation (it just slowed it down).
Added an Options-dialog.
Added 'Persistent Dirs' option - determins wether or not to remember the last used directories to next session.
Added 'Always Use Default Dirs' option - determins wether the Open and Save dialogs remembers the dir used or reverts to default each time.
Added 'Enable Caching' option - determins wether ReadZFSFile leaves the files that has been displayed in memory or reads them from disk.
Added 'Auto Cache' option - cache files on open.
Added 'Load Data' - loads all files into memory.
Added 'Unload Data' - unloads all files from memory.
Images can now be saved as:
.rim - Native CTP format
.tga - TrueVission targa
.bmp - Windows Bitmap
.jpg/jpeg - JPEG Image File
All truncated file extentions are now treated as txt, rim, or wav.
.zfs-files can now be passed to ReadZFSFile on the command line. Makes double-clicking possible.

Hopefully this will be the last major update, but let me know it there's anything missing.

btw. Mc what happend to that file?

Download ReadZFSFile 2.2 or go My Website
Martin the Dane

Locutus · January 31, 2002, 20:07

Great stuff, some major improvements there!

Downloading now...

The Big Mc · February 1, 2002, 05:06

I will tell you what happened to that file I lost it the little thing got away on my but I am still trying to find the thing again. Thanks for the updated version

Sovereign · February 3, 2002, 15:01

Guys, I downloaded the zfs thing, and found some pic's I like. However, I'm confused on a couple of things. First, I cannot find these CTP 1 cities to replace Civ 3 or Civ 2 city graphics. I'm looking for the graphics of cities... its hard to explain, but I want the graphics for the cities when they increase in size like a Diamond age city of size 50 (2 rings on its tower) looks different than size 25 (1 ring on its tower)... Do you understand what I'm trying to say? I'm looking for these graphics.

Modern City: small (size 1), Medium (size 6 - 12) and max (size 13+)

Genetic City: Small (1 - 13) Medium (size 14 - 24), large (25 - 49), max (50+)

Diamond City (same as Genetic city)

Second thing... I am trying to figure out how to use the hydroponic farms to replace the boring farmland in ToT and the boring irrigation squares in Civ3. Ditto for MagLevs to replace Rails, and MegaMines to replace the boring mine tunnel graphics for Civ 3 and ToT...

Personally I love the CTP game, and thats why I'm trying to see if I can transfer some graphics from there to my other civ games. Locutus referred me to this thread so I thought I'd ask for help here. Any help would be appreciated!

P.S. I'm a newbie at MOD'ing, pretty much limited to graphics.

Locutus · February 3, 2002, 15:29

D'oh!

*hits himself in head with hammer*
Sovereign, sorry, I didn't read your post carefully (or rather, I did but I responded rather carelessly). Much of the stuff you want is in Sprite files, you can't decode those files in any way. This is mainly the city sprites, I think the other stuff *is* available in zfs... The only way to use them (the sprite stuff) is to screencapture it...

Sovereign · February 3, 2002, 18:22

Hrmm... no wonder I couldn't find city graphics or straight MagLev lines in the 2000 ZFS files I went thru. However, I noticed it HAD a size 1 sea city, space city, and ancient age city in the ZFS format.

I don't want to sound like a newbie again, but how exactly do I "screenshot" CTP? What exact buttons or sequence do I have to follow to do the screenshots? I'm learning how to MOD'ize and I appreciate your help and feedback Locutus. Thanks for being patient with a new and upcoming CTP + Civ MOD'der

P.S. here's a nice pack of ice for that nasty bump on your head Locutus

Martin the Dane · February 3, 2002, 21:01

Hi Sovereign, nice to se a new user to oe of my programs.

Quote:

Hrmm... no wonder I couldn't find city graphics or straight MagLev lines in the 2000 ZFS files I went thru.

Well one of those I can help you with. To get the images for maglevs, farms etc. you ned to get another one of my programs: TileEdit. This program lets you extract the graphics from the CTP Tile-Files (.til). Well actually it lets you modify the tile-files wich was what it was made for, but to do that you might need to extract some of the existing graphics and modify it.
But I guess that belongs to another thread: TileEdit: first beta release is here Where you can find some additional help on using TileEdit.

(TileEdit is now in final beta)

btw. Locutus. Go easy with that hammer. We need your head in one piece here

Immortal Wombat · February 4, 2002, 06:26

Quote:

Originally posted by Sovereign
I don't want to sound like a newbie again, but how exactly do I "screenshot" CTP? What exact buttons or sequence do I have to follow to do the screenshots?

The print-screen button above Insert on the keyboard copies what is on your screen into a picture that you can then paste into any graphics program,such as MS Paint, or Paint Shop Pro.

The Big Mc · February 4, 2002, 08:49

Hi I found the file and even found out what is up
The file is a .wav but for some reason activison forgot to put the .wav on the end and I can’t play it in you program how ever if a save it to disk and then rename the thing . wav It plays it.
So by telling you the problem I don’t have to upload it to save space on apolyton

Martin the Dane · February 4, 2002, 13:42

Hm..

I should have thought of that earlier Mc, but now It's fixed. Files (within .zfs-files) with no extention can be displayed using the 'default file type' option.

And I found a minor (?) bug:

forgot to diplay the play, pause, and stop buttons, for .wav-files but that's fixed now.

Get the new version of
ReadSFSFile or the Patch

Martin the Dane

Locutus · February 5, 2002, 06:50

Quote:

Originally posted by Martin the Dane
btw. Locutus. Go easy with that hammer. We need your head in one piece here

Too late...

Immortal Wombat · February 5, 2002, 11:41

The Big Mc · February 11, 2002, 08:32

Glad you got to the bottom of it

Martin the Dane · February 11, 2002, 17:14

Hope I realy am at the bottom of it, and that there are no more bugs to fix.

In that case this will be my first ever truly final version

all other programs have had minor updates comming for so long that I lost the last user befor that.

Martin the Dane

The Big Mc · February 12, 2002, 05:24

What about .dat files that are on the CD is there any way to open them I have a feeling there may be some stuff in there

Martin Gühmann · February 12, 2002, 10:59

You should try to open the huge *.ctp files on the CD with WinZip or WinRar. And you will know how to install CTP2 without the installer program. Unfortunatly I can't promise you that than the patch will work.

-Martin

Locutus · February 12, 2002, 12:21

Actually, no Martin, that won't work since you'll miss the registry settings and stuff. But if you copy the whole install utility to the hard-disk and replace the *.ctp files with empty ones it *does* work (the install utility usually crashes half-way through with me so I'm forced to do this

).

The *.dat files aren't particularly interesting. Just zips that contains empty *.wav files (wtf?) and pictures of the Activision design team and someones wife and kid(s) (WTF?)

Immortal Wombat · February 12, 2002, 15:00

How are you opening those Locutus?

Locutus · February 12, 2002, 15:28

With WinZip and PSP, how else?

Martin the Dane · February 12, 2002, 18:23

Windows Commander and ACDSee

Locutus · February 12, 2002, 18:41

You get the point, wise guy...

Immortal Wombat · February 12, 2002, 19:37