Difference between revisions of "Compiling 2DAs"

Revision as of 00:24, 30 January 2010

In the "Dragon Age\tools\ResourceBuild\Processors" folder there is an executable named "ExcelProcessor.exe". This is the file that handles conversions of 2DAs from XLS to GDA format. Below are described 3 ways in which this file may be used.

Precautions

• Be sure the Excel Format is correct, the Excelprocessor may give hints on errors thou. See Article: 2DA
• Be sure your worksheets name is correct. IE follows the naming convention of M2DA's in which the prefix is defined.
• Be sure your worksheets name is separate from those already in use, unless you want to override one which is hardly the case.
• Close Excel or Openoffice ,otherwise the Excelprocessor cant process the files.

Converting

2 convenient Methods are listed.

Drag & Drop Method

1. Copy ExcelProcessor.exe and source .XLS files to a new directory (not explicitly neccessary, but advised)
2. Select source .XLS files and drag them onto ExcelProcessor.exe
3. Resulting .GDA files, will be located in your users folder, which differs from OS and Language used.

Using a .BAT file

The following method adds some comfort:

• Create a folder called C:\2DA\
• There create a File called "2DACompile.bat" and add following lines with Notepad.

cd /d %0\..
"C:\*DragonAgeInstallDir*\tools\ResourceBuild\Processors\ExcelProcessor.exe" %1
PAUSE

Note: Replace "C:\*DragonAgeInstallDir*" with where you installed your game.

• Drag and Drop the XLS file over the new BAT file. It doesnt need to be in the same directory.
• The GDA File will be placed into C:\2DA\
• The window will stay open ,so you can view eventual Error messages.

Alternativly you can place the Batch file on your desktop, in which case the GDA will also be put on the Desktop. If you prefer easier access and convert often. Just drag the XLS from wherever it is over it.

Adding 2DA export to the Windows XP file explorer

Here's an easy way to add a context (ie, right-click) menu item that quickly converts new or updated Dragon Age Excel files into GDA format:

Setup:

1. Open Windows Explorer and click Tools | Folder Options.
2. In the File Types tab, select the XLS extension from the list and click the Advanced button.
3. Click the New button and put 'Binarize 2DA' in the Action field.
4. Paste the following in the Application field and click OK (update the drive and folder names to match your client): "C:\*DragonAgeInstallDir*\Dragon Age\tools\ResourceBuild\Processors\ExcelProcessor.exe" "%1" -outdir="C:\Documents and Settings\YOURNAME\My Documents\BioWare\Dragon Age\packages\core\override"
   1. For the Steam version, use the following: "C:\Program Files\Steam\steamapps\common\dragon age origins\tools\ResourceBuild\Processors\ExcelProcessor.exe" "%1" -outdir="C:\Documents and Settings\YOURNAME\My Documents\BioWare\Dragon Age\packages\core\override"

Note that paths with spaces in them can cause Windows trouble, if your paths have spaces in them remember to wrap them in quotation marks.

Usage:

1. Using Windows Explorer, navigate to your 2DA folder and select the Excel file(s) to process. Right click and select 'Binarize 2DA' from the context menu.
2. Confirm a corresponding GDA file is created in your override folder for each Excel file processed.

An example of how setting this up in Windows XP looks

Afterwards

Place the GDA(s) into the game's override directory. Which one, is determined the following:

When it should be included into a custom Module, copy them into:

My Documents\BioWare\Dragon Age\AddIns\yourmodulename\module\override\

• This is a cleaner solution, when packaging up the Module ,the files will be all in one place.

• Note: "My Documents" is different to each OS Version and OS language. "yourmodulename" is created with your custom Module.

For all other cases, when not making a Module copy them into:

*DragonAgeInstalldir*\packages\core\override\

• Note: *DragonAgeInstalldir* is the Installation Directory you have chosen.

You will need to restart the Toolset, or Game for the changes to take effect.