Hello!

I have been playing Escape Velocity Override for several weeks and my favorite part is exploring the Proxima and Ji Nebulae. I wanted (and hoped) to explore beyond the Voinian border, the North and South and past the Cressent Asteroids. I then began playing around with some of the great plug-ins on this site (mainly F-25), which furthered my wanting to explore more.

I have just started reading through ways to create plug-ins. For someone who has never done this, trying to get a handle on all the aspects is a challenge to say the least. What I would like to do ultimately is create for myself an expanded universe with more planets, governments, ships and missions. I even began putting a bunch of things into a notebook, to save for a time when I can do that. First (tiny steps), I would like to just create some new star systems. Is there an easy way to do this?

Keep in mind, I'm brand new to programming and I have done no tinkering. I'm looking for something like "Creating EVO Plug-Ins For Dumbies". If anyone can give me a little advice where to get started, I would really apprciate it. Thank you!

Rob Astor

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Remember, the gods will not do for men what men must do for themselves.
-- Athena

I've always preferred Evedit for system making. Unfortunatly, people tell me it is worthless for just about everything else. You can get it on the EVO utilities page I'm sure. Unless of course you are referring to EVO-Nova, in which case the best bet is ethir mission computer or EVONE, or, if using a PC, EVNEW. Play with those a bit and you should figure out how it works. (In one of the Mac ones you have to open Nova data 2, click on the "galaxy" header above sol, and open it to view the whole galaxy.)

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I am ME hear me roar!
Meeoowwwww

He has played plugs for EVO, so he plays the original.

Making plugs is inherently not easy, but it's not as complicated as programming, rather, it's more like data entry. Basically you create a new sÿst resource, that has an ID different from the ones in the data files. then you fill it in with the good values for what you want the system to be (where, when, linked to what, which spöbs, and some more). Now, to do that, you need the technical documentation and reference: the Holy EVO Bible, available (url="http://"http://www.ambrosiasw.com/cgi-bin/vftp/show.pl?product=evo&category;=utilities&display;=date&file;=EV Developers Kit.sit.hqx")here(/url) (you also have some alternate ones in PDF or split simple text files, if you prefer). There is some plug helping guides for EV/EVO, though I don't know them. Everything is available at the add-on files. Moreover, the (url="http://"http://www.ambrosiasw.com/cgi-bin/ubb/forumdisplay.cgi?action=topics&forum;=EV+Plug-in+Developer+FAQs&number;=29&DaysPrune;=20&LastLogin;=")EV plug FAQ(/url) is very relevant for EV/EVO. Lastly, the best way to learn is to observe how things are done in the data files.

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The (url="http://"https://secure.ambrosiasw.com/cgi-bin/store/hazel.cgi?action=serve&item;=breakdown.html&BREAKDOWN;_SKUID=1480")Ambrosia Mac CD(/url) with other registrations - 5$. Paying for (url="http://"http://www.ambrosiasw.com/games/evn/")EV Nova(/url) as it's such a great game - 30$.
The (url="http://"http://www.ambrosiasw.com/games/evn/tshirts.html")1337 EV Nova T-shirt(/url) - 22$. The (url="http://"http://w00tware.ev-nova.net/")NovaTools(/url) by wOOtWare to tinker with your Nova - FREE!
The feeling you're a Nova geek - priceless.
There are things money can't buy or that are free, for everything else, there's indeed Mastercard.

Quote

Originally posted by Meaker VI:
I've always preferred Evedit for system making. Unfortunatly, people tell me it is worthless for just about everything else. You can get it on the EVO utilities page I'm sure. Unless of course you are referring to EVO-Nova, in which case the best bet is ethir mission computer or EVONE, or, if using a PC, EVNEW. Play with those a bit and you should figure out how it works. (In one of the Mac ones you have to open Nova data 2, click on the "galaxy" header above sol, and open it to view the whole galaxy.)

Its pretty hopeless for galaxy editing. Not to mention the fact it buggers everything up

When I was still making plug-ins for classic, I used (url="http://"http://www.ambrosiasw.com/cgi-bin/vftp/dl-redirect.pl/EVDevelopersMap.sit?path=ev/utilities&file;=EVDevelopersMap.sit")EV Developers Map(/url). Ok, so the files it makes are in EV format, but that identical to the EVO format as far as systems and everything is concerned. For ships I used (url="http://"http://www.ambrosiasw.com/cgi-bin/vftp/dl-redirect.pl/shipwrite118.hqx?path=evo/utilities&file;=shipwrite118.hqx")Shipwrite(/url). Most of the rest I coded by hand in (url="http://"http://www.ambrosiasw.com/cgi-bin/vftp/dl-redirect.pl/ResEdit213.sit.hqx?path=evo/utilities&file;=ResEdit213.sit.hqx")ResEdit(/url) with templates, or (url="http://"http://www.ambrosiasw.com/cgi-bin/vftp/dl-redirect.pl/MissionComputerX-140.sit?path=evo/utilities&file;=MissionComputerX-140.sit")Mission Computer(/url). I've heard some good things about (url="http://"http://www.ambrosiasw.com/cgi-bin/vftp/dl-redirect.pl/EVOGod.sea.hqx?path=evo/utilities&file;=EVOGod.sea.hqx")EVOGod(/url), but I've personally never used it...

Best of luck

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'It's only when you look at an ant through a magnifying glass on a sunny day that you realise how often they burst into flames'
- Harry Hill

EVO Developer's Map. Simple, small, works fine. Right here in the add-on files, too. Come to think, same could be said for all of Pontus' tools.

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"As a weapon of war it leaves much to be desired; but as a spectacle it takes much beating." -- a General observing the disastrous test of the JATO-assisted "jumping" tank.

Thanks for the tips on getting started. I do have another question, one that really has me stumped. I have been looking into the resource files and I have been reading the EVO Bible. I know that systems are numbered starting at 128 (however, I would use the next highest number than the last one for creating a new systems as ad-ons). I know how the planets, moons and space stations are placed into a system map by an x - y plot. What's really got me stumped is, how do I choose where to place the new system onto the galaxy map? Is there a grid system (similar to the placing of planets in a system map) where I can draw a plot of the galaxy and use it as a graph or plot grid in order to get the systems placed in the galaxy where I want them? I don't want to create a system and link it to others and have it off in some random place. So, where do I look for the galaxy map information and, is it a grid I can map out on paper to use as a reference for placing new systems?

Thanks again!

Rob Astor

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Remember, the gods will not do for men what men must do for themselves.
-- Athena

Quote

Originally posted by RobAstor:
**Thanks for the tips on getting started. I do have another question, one that really has me stumped. I have been looking into the resource files and I have been reading the EVO Bible. I know that systems are numbered starting at 128 (however, I would use the next highest number than the last one for creating a new systems as ad-ons). I know how the planets, moons and space stations are placed into a system map by an x - y plot. What's really got me stumped is, how do I choose where to place the new system onto the galaxy map? Is there a grid system (similar to the placing of planets in a system map) where I can draw a plot of the galaxy and use it as a graph or plot grid in order to get the systems placed in the galaxy where I want them? I don't want to create a system and link it to others and have it off in some random place. So, where do I look for the galaxy map information and, is it a grid I can map out on paper to use as a reference for placing new systems?

Thanks again!

Rob Astor

**

Hey, I'm not the only one developing for EVO anymore!! hooray

The best way to make in system spobs is to use (url="http://"http://members01.chello.se/warlordpontus/ev/hqx/EVO_Devmap116v2.hqx")EVO Developer's map.(/url)
Click on a system and hit command e, that takes you inside the system where you can make and edit spobs. I love that program...

and somebody had better thank me for taking a half an hour of my time to find a link to that program that works!

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Cmon people, the (url="http://"http://www.AmbrosiaSW.com/cgi-bin/ubb/forumdisplay.cgi?action=topics&number;=20&SUBMIT;=Go")Chronicles(/url) are worth looking at.

(This message has been edited by Captain Phillips (edited 04-28-2004).)

Captain Phillips,

I salute you! Thanks for the time and effort in finding that link. I couldn't find it last night. I don't know if I would call myself a developer at this point. I'm in the notebook stage while trying to figure out how to do the actual programming. I have a lot of great ideas I hope to translate into a cool plug-in, but, as I said, I'm trying baby steps first.

Thanks again, Captain, and to everyone who has offered advice thus far. I'm sure I will have more questions and I hope none of you minds my asking them when I get stuck!

Rob Astor

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Remember, the gods will not do for men what men must do for themselves.
-- Athena

Quote

Originally posted by RobAstor:
**Captain Phillips,

I salute you! Thanks for the time and effort in finding that link. I couldn't find it last night. I don't know if I would call myself a developer at this point. I'm in the notebook stage while trying to figure out how to do the actual programming. I have a lot of great ideas I hope to translate into a cool plug-in, but, as I said, I'm trying baby steps first.

Thanks again, Captain, and to everyone who has offered advice thus far. I'm sure I will have more questions and I hope none of you minds my asking them when I get stuck!

Rob Astor

**

Thanks,

I was helped along slightly because I knew that I had a topic somewhere that I made wherin was a link. But I must have spelled something wrong in the subject because finding that topic didnt' turn out so easy.

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Cmon people, the (url="http://"http://www.AmbrosiaSW.com/cgi-bin/ubb/forumdisplay.cgi?action=topics&number;=20&SUBMIT;=Go")Chronicles(/url) are worth looking at.

(This message has been edited by Captain Phillips (edited 04-28-2004).)

I remember getting started. I think I spent a week or two reading the EVO bible, reading FAQs, reading archived posts here. It was all just a confusing ball of wool and I could find no end to pull at. My "Aha!" moment came when I read the "ResEdit Guide" aka "A Guide to Using ResEdit to Making Plug-ins for EVO" -- whatever the name, look for it in the plug-ins for EVO on this board. As soon as I read that thing it all started to fall into place.

If your question about adding systems wasn't answered already; the EVO Developer's Map is completely GUI. You can (if memory serves) open up the original map for reference, plop down your new systems, open them up and plop in spobs. Save out only what you've added as a plug-in; EV is very nice about this -- it will look across the plug-in folder for resources; if it finds a new one it will add it to the game, and if it finds a matching one it will overwrite the original.

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I just checked out the latest version of EVO Developer's Map. It does display the original (or whatever original you choose to point it at), adding new systems and links is as simple as click and drag, it edits spobs and even bar descriptions. It also searches the installed graphics -- the only thing is doesn't do is create new PICT, spin, or snd resources for truly custom planets. I added a bunch of unexplored systems and a secret Pirate base to the Ji Nebulae in less time than it took to edit this post...

(This message has been edited by Commander Arashi (edited 04-28-2004).)

I started playing with EVO Developer's Map right after I downloaded it this afternoon. It does seem easy. I just have to jump back between it and the EVO Bible to make sure I'm creating a system the way I want it. Since this is my first effort, I'm being cautious.

Now for a question. How do you add a second stellar object to the system (like a planet, moon or space station)? I tried in the same way I placed the planet on the screen, however, nothing seems to appear. I also tried to clone and duplicate the system and got the same result. So, I deleted the clone and duplicate, reducing the system back to just one planet and one system on the galaxy map, as I have it set up now (complete with trading, outfitting, ect.). I may find the answer on the webpage that came with the download. On the off chance I don't, any help is still greatly appreciated!

Thanks!

Rob Astor

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Remember, the gods will not do for men what men must do for themselves.
-- Athena

Quote

Originally posted by RobAstor:
**Now for a question. How do you add a second stellar object to the system (like a planet, moon or space station)? I tried in the same way I placed the planet on the screen, however, nothing seems to appear. I also tried to clone and duplicate the system and got the same result. So, I deleted the clone and duplicate, reducing the system back to just one planet and one system on the galaxy map, as I have it set up now (complete with trading, outfitting, ect.). I may find the answer on the webpage that came with the download. On the off chance I don't, any help is still greatly appreciated!

Thanks!

Rob Astor

**

heh heh, when you double click on the planet tool it creates a spob in the middle of the system. If you didn't edit that spobs appearenct, double clicking again will apear to do nothing. What you have to do is click once on the spob tool and then click where you want the planet to be.

Here is a helpfull bit of information, if you should ever want to erase all the EVO systs and replace them with new ones (AKA Total conversion work) the most obvios thing to do is to select all the old systems and delete them. Well I'll tell you, that doesnt' work. When you close and reopen your map all the old systems from evo will have reapeared and the whole map will look like a mess of lines. What you have to do to override (heheh) this problem is make a copy of the EVO Data2, open it in Res edit, and delete the spob, syst, and nebu resorces. Then delete the alias you had in EVO Dev map's resorce folder and replace it with this file, which by the way, will have to be named EV Data 2 to work. Tada, when you open the program again you will get a blank space, just double click on the syst tool to create a system at the coax 0,0.

I ruined two maps before I figured this out. It ought to be in the EVO developer's map read me instructions.

------------------
Cmon people, the (url="http://"http://www.AmbrosiaSW.com/cgi-bin/ubb/forumdisplay.cgi?action=topics&number;=20&SUBMIT;=Go")Chronicles(/url) are worth looking at.

Quote

Originally posted by Captain Phillips:
**heh heh, when you double click on the planet tool it creates a spob in the middle of the system. If you didn't edit that spobs appearenct, double clicking again will apear to do nothing. What you have to do is click once on the spob tool and then click where you want the planet to be.

Here is a helpfull bit of information, if you should ever want to erase all the EVO systs and replace them with new ones (AKA Total conversion work) the most obvios thing to do is to select all the old systems and delete them. Well I'll tell you, that doesnt' work. When you close and reopen your map all the old systems from evo will have reapeared and the whole map will look like a mess of lines. What you have to do to override (heheh) this problem is make a copy of the EVO Data2, open it in Res edit, and delete the spob, syst, and nebu resorces. Then delete the alias you had in EVO Dev map's resorce folder and replace it with this file, which by the way, will have to be named EV Data 2 to work. Tada, when you open the program again you will get a blank space, just double click on the syst tool to create a system at the coax 0,0.

I ruined two maps before I figured this out. It ought to be in the EVO developer's map read me instructions.

**

I'd forgotten that whole routine. Fortunately, my plug was still the way I left it; with a copy of EVO Data2 there with all the systems and spobs stripped out. I have, however, forgotten what to do if you want to make a small TC (less systems than EVO has) but don't want to replace the Data2 file. Create blank resources to those numbers? Create a bunch of empty systems and stick them in a corner off the map?

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"As a weapon of war it leaves much to be desired; but as a spectacle it takes much beating." -- a General observing the disastrous test of the JATO-assisted "jumping" tank.

Quote

Originally posted by Commander Arashi:
**I'd forgotten that whole routine. Fortunately, my plug was still the way I left it; with a copy of EVO Data2 there with all the systems and spobs stripped out. I have, however, forgotten what to do if you want to make a small TC (less systems than EVO has) but don't want to replace the Data2 file. Create blank resources to those numbers? Create a bunch of empty systems and stick them in a corner off the map?

**

easy, just modify the existing systs.

------------------
Cmon people, the (url="http://"http://www.AmbrosiaSW.com/cgi-bin/ubb/forumdisplay.cgi?action=topics&number;=20&SUBMIT;=Go")Chronicles(/url) are worth looking at.

Quote

Originally posted by Commander Arashi:
**I'd forgotten that whole routine. Fortunately, my plug was still the way I left it; with a copy of EVO Data2 there with all the systems and spobs stripped out. I have, however, forgotten what to do if you want to make a small TC (less systems than EVO has) but don't want to replace the Data2 file. Create blank resources to those numbers? Create a bunch of empty systems and stick them in a corner off the map?

**

Replace the data file 2 anyway, it's not that big to distribute, and it's what has always been done for a TC (compared to a plug which just adds to the data files).

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The (url="http://"https://secure.ambrosiasw.com/cgi-bin/store/hazel.cgi?action=serve&item;=breakdown.html&BREAKDOWN;_SKUID=1480")Ambrosia Mac CD(/url) with other registrations - 5$. Paying for (url="http://"http://www.ambrosiasw.com/games/evn/")EV Nova(/url) as it's such a great game - 30$.
The (url="http://"http://www.ambrosiasw.com/games/evn/tshirts.html")1337 EV Nova T-shirt(/url) - 22$. The (url="http://"http://w00tware.ev-nova.net/")NovaTools(/url) by wOOtWare to tinker with your Nova - FREE!
The feeling you're a Nova geek - priceless.
There are things money can't buy or that are free, for everything else, there's indeed Mastercard.