Yeah, by default the game files come look like that because they are in binary format, and that is notepads representation of it. To mod the game you need to have the files in TXT format (not just a text file), which for SoaSE/Entrenchment 1.181/1.041 I recommend Harpo's GUI converter, which should be downloadable from a thread in the mods section. As I assume you are just starting out, I recommend making a copy of the gameinfo folder on your desktop, convert them to txt with Harpo's tool, and then cope and paste the files you want to change into a new mod folder (Since sins 1.16 you only have to have the files you changed in the mod folder). Also, if you're modding entrenchment you will probably want Harpo's manifest creator tool as well (you new modders are sure spoiled )

Hey,

both of the downloads dont seem to be working for me.... is there another converter out there?

Drag~

the entity files DO NOT NEED to be in bin they work perfectly in txt, which helps with debugging the mod

harpo

I understand that they need to be in text, but for some reason my computer keeps opening the .entity files in binary format and I cant get them to be legible (read first post for example of what I get when I try to open the file)

Drag~

Is there some problem with vista that could be causing this?

Also I keep running into this error

http://i37.tinypic.com/hwii5s.jpg

ok... so just set up that folder structure on someplace like my desktop, and put the files I want to convert into the folder of the game that I have (entrenchment 1.041)

Ill try it and get back to you.

Drag~

EDIT: Ok, I tried the layout and this is again what happened:

http://i37.tinypic.com/sm6i3s.jpg

Is the path right yet? I have the files at:

C:\Users\Administrator\Desktop\Sins Reference\entrenchment 1.041\GameInfo

ok... so you are saying basically try to convert only the files you are planning to edit because some others might not work? And what about the files that dont open, wouldnt someone need to edit them sometimes?

Drag~

ok... well I just ran it with an auto clicker pressing "close" and every time it did another file was processed. When it was done 20 files had converted and the rest had not.

There must be someone out there that has a full list of converted files that he can upload so we dont have to do this, and how do the people who mod the game get all their files converted (if you open a downloaded mod file, they are converted and open normally).

Drag~ 

There is a problem with the convertdata? I got my entire entrenchment gameinfo folder converted just fine. 

Is it only a SoaSE issue?

Would setting the convertdata exe to XP compatibility mode fix it, even if it's launched by another program and not directly?

No. The engine reads plaintext - the reason to convert to bin is that it's smaller and that it runs slightly faster.

I was under the impression the only reason the folder name thing was in effect was that it provided info to the program regarding which version the files were for, but if that's not the case I doubt making regular updates to the program with each patch would get annoying fast. Still (just wondering) why does the program need to be updated with new versions in the first place? Can't it just parse all the extensions, use the appropriate convertdata arguments (mesh/entity/whatever) and spit out the appropriate bin/txt version? I must be missing something but that's how I'd do it manually, and assuming that process works I imagine I could even write a batch file to run at the root of a folder that converts everything over for me.

edit:

I guess this is the answer to my question, must be because I've been using the old convertdata exe for ages.