Converting to text

So, you want to convert roughly 1000 files manually rather then use 155 secounds on converting them with a utility? Well you convert them using command prompt, and that is all I can remember . I think it is mentioned in the help documentation in forgetools 3.

Here is the part:

Once you have completed creating or editing any Sins text data

files you may want to convert them into binary to speed up load

times. This can be done by using the provided command line tool

ConvertData.exe”.

The syntax is

I realize it sounds strange putting it that way but there are only a few files I'll want to edit, no more than 30 files. So I won't be doing all of them anyway. The problem is that I can make text versions into binary but I want to take the binary into text. When I try it that way it only makes a new binary copy.

Here you go! This method will convert ALL the files to text, but then you can convert them back to binary with the same tool. https://forums.sinsofasolarempire.com/353296/page/5/#119

Well he wants to do it without a utility.

I know nothing about coding/programming outside of the gameinfo so I can't tell much, but how do you type it?

If we take the exmple:

convertdata mesh mymesh_text.mesh mymesh_binary.mesh

Then it is converting from txt to bin, for the reverse I think you have to do so:

convertdata mesh mymesh_binary.mesh mymesh_text.mesh

If this is what you are doing, then I think that I can't help you anymore.

I'll have to try that... I saw it done that way somewhere else but thought that was just to tell them apart... I'll have to try it when I get home from class.

The command I've been trying is "ConvertData_Entrenchment entity AbilityBlackOut.entity AbilityBlackOut.entity"

When I added the "_text" to the end and it didn't change anything.

I'll keep trying things...

The correct way to do this is:

[ConvertData exe] [file type] [input file] [output file] [output format]

For example:

ConvertData_Entrenchment entity AbilityBlackOut.entity AbilityBlackOut.entity txt

You can also look into setting up .bat file scripts.  This one will look through all subfolders (also called Recursing) for any files ending in .entity, and for each one it finds it will perform command after DO (where %%G is the name of each matching file)...

FOR /R %%G IN (*.entity) DO "C:\Program Files\Sins of a Solar Empire\convertdata_entrenchment.exe" entity "%%G" "%%G" txt

the info from gruntmaster is for the EARLY convertdata's ie before sins 1.10.

moguta's batch AND commandline structure is the current version structure that my textbin gui uses.

and the main differences between releases of my textbin gui IS the later convertdata's AND  an updated 'targetsinsver.txt'file that has the latest sins & entrenchment versions in it in TEXT

harpo

Thank you Moguta. Putting an output format was probably the very last thing I would have tried... It just didn't occur to me.

I believe some people use black magic, but i find harpo's utility far more faster and safer without the risk of losing my soul.

what?!

Nice... I think you might be right...