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This is the beginning tutorial, that is to come before the Bible Explained to Dummies. I wrote it some time ago and mailed it to Space Pirate (thus the HTML that won't quite work here...), but I realised you people may wish to have a look at it, especially since there are allusions to it in the BEtD and other people may wish to put my guides in their website. Indeed, my policy is that just about anyone can take my work, copy it, post it in his website, modify it, ignore it, set it on fire and wipe his ass with it, just as long as I'm credited as the original author (and making people pay for it won't make me happy). The tutorial is to be read after this liminary note that SP has already put there.
Begin by opening your plug editor of choice, and find the open command. But before you open anything, though, it is better to take a precaution: lock all Nova data files. This is usually done by calling Get Info (cmd-i) in MacOS, or the properties in Windows, and checking the right box ("locked" or "read only"). Repeat for every file in the "Nova data" folder, save for Nova Music and the 4 movies. This should be done because some editors automatically make changes and/or save changes, there is really no point in modifying them, and nothing will turn wrong to the point you will have to reinstall the game.
When they are locked, return to the plug editor, and open Nova data 4. You should see a number of things inside the file, labeled by 4-char names, oütf, for instance. Open the oütf one, you should see a list of named things that are called <b>resources</b>, here you have the list of the outfits in the game. <b>oütf</b> (including the dots, though some editors don't show them) is called a resource type, it's a 4-char long code that identifies the kind of resource; Nova uses several of them such as shïp, dësc, etc... Open other resource lists for other resource types to familiarise yourself with the interface of the editor. Notice there is a number associated with each resource, which is its ID (there might be another, its size, ignore it). It identifies the resource in the file, you can't have two resources of the same kind with the same ID in the same file.
Then, open the first oütf resource, that has ID 128, the light blaster. You should have a window with fields and such that shows the characteristics of the outfit (note: this will need to be checked to be sure it's like that with the various editors). You could modify them, but the modifications won't be saved, as the file is locked. No, don't unlock it. Rather, we will create a new file that will hold the modification, and when starting out the game will apply the modification found in the new file. Such a file is a <b>plug-in</b>. This is essential as by doing your modifications in a plug, you will easily revert to the normal scenario, the mod will be easier to distribute, and it's safer overall.
To create a plug-in, tell the plug editor to create a new file. Maybe after asking for a name and where you want it created, the editor should open it. Return to Nova data 4, select oütf ID 128 in the oütf list, and choose copy. Then, go back to the new plugin and choose paste. Make sure the copy in the plug has ID 128. You can then open the light blaster in the plug, and make a small modification. Let's change the mass field to 1 (the mass field should be easy to find, and contains 3); as the Nova Bible says, in the oütf section, this is the mass of the outfit, in tons. Then, close the window, save, and look for your new plug where you saved it on the hard drive. (note: indent somehow here so that people not using ResEdit won't search how long they should skip) If you use ResEdit with or without NovaTools on Mac, it will look like a ResEdit document (actually, it is one), and Nova will not load such a document. Therefore, you need to choose "get info for -plugname-" menu item in the file menu of ResEdit. You should have a window with many things (note: a link to a screenshot would be useful), but we're interested in two things: the type and creator fields. Enter "Npïf" in the type field, and "Növä" in the creator field. Close the window, and confirm to save the changes. Return to the Finder, and make the plug icon refresh somehow (selecting, closing and reopening the window, or waiting for a few seconds, usually work). It should now sport the appearance of a Nova plugin (a black square or puzzle piece with tools on it). If it doesn't, reopen ResEdit's get info of the plug, and check you did enter things well. In order not to have to do this again, make a copy of your plug, strip the copy of its resource, and rename it blank plug, this way when you'll need a new, virgin, plug you'll just have to make a copy of blank plug. (note: end of indent) If you use a PC or another editor, it should be a valid plug rightaway. For everyone, quit now your editor, and move your plug-in to the plug-in folder in the Nova folder. Then run Nova, and with an old pilot or a new one, go to a Federation outfitter. It should display the light blaster with a mass of 1 tons. Clearly an improvement over the original design!
If Nova crashes at some point before you can see that, there is a problem, tell us about it in the EV Developer's Corner, with all the info you can give (platform, editor, when it does crash and <A HREF=http://home.comcast.net/~slagblah/pilotlog.html TARGET=_blank>pilotlog and debuglog</A>). If it simply does not work, i.e. the light blaster still has a mass of 3 tons, quit Nova and double-check everything. Note that the light blaster is not available 100% of the time, so if you don't see any, take off and land on another planet. If it still doesn't show up after 10 tries, quit Nova and double-check everything.
Otherwise, congratulations, you successfully made your first plug-in! Notice the resource in the plug-in overrided (note: overrode? I need to check my irregular verbs...) the resource in the data file with the same ID. This is a general rule: the resources that are found in the plugs add to the ones in the data files, overriding the ones with the same type and the same ID. This allows to add anything you want and modify anything existing while not having to have in your plug anything but what's new or modified.
(note: at this point, I think it would be better to leave the guy do as he wants, with links to: -a page about using the Bible (that I will do, do you know you can efficiently go directly to a section of the Bible by making a search for the resource type, skipping the extraneous results of course?), -annoted templates for each resource type, with a short explanation of each resource type with each link, advising him to check them in the order we prsent them, i.e. outf first and misn last, -actually, anything your guide will contain (links added as content is provided). It's possible to add later on other links should the content come, right?
Therefore, the "getting started" part will consist of two pages, this one and the one I already submitted. Notice it's better to have them on separate pages, that way if someone decides to disregard what the first tells him (and my experience tells me that most will, let's remember they will likely be newbs on the EVDC/EV-Nova.net forums who have asked for a guide to do plugs and have been linked to this place), he will click, so he will really decide it, then he will realise he needs the stuff and will obtain it, he can't blame anyone for not having been warned.)
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This post has been edited by Zacha Pedro : 21 September 2004 - 11:21 AM
