Joined: 25 Sep 2006 Location: Teamblackistan Posts: Over 9000
Posted: Wed Aug 29, 2007 8:24 pm Post subject:
XCC mixing 101
Under request of Biohazard, I put this together. It covers the most basic functions of the XCC mixer, and XCC editor.
XCC mixer:
1. in the left column in XCC mixer, you can browse through your computer, just like in Windows Explorer. You can either hit Backspace, or the ".." to go back in your search.
You can use this to open any Westwood mix file, as if it was an ordinary folder, just select it and it'll open. "TIBSUN.MIX" holds pretty much all of TS's files.
2. The easiest way to extract a file is to right click on it. You'll get several options on what you can do wit this file.
3. Click "Extract.." to get the 'save as' window.
4. it will make a copy of your file in the directory you specify. For myself, I made a separate folder called 'Extracted' where I extract stuff to, this helps to organize all the stuff I've extracted.
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XCC Mix Editor
Open XCC Mix editor. It'll take you to a blank table. Hit "New" to get started. It'll give you a 'save as' window, asking yo where you want to put the mix, and what you want its name to be. The name is VERY IMPORTANT!!!!! it tells the game to read the files inside.
Put all your shp in "ecache##.mix"
pretty much everything else goes in "expand##.mix"
## means any two digit number between 02 -99. Do NOT use 01 because that's what the firestorm expansion uses.
Anything in these mixes will override other files with the same name.
For example, if you make a new voxel called bggy.vxl, it will OVERRIDE Tiberian Sun's Nod buggy (bggy.vxl) and display your new voxel as the Nod buggy instead.
I want to put voxels in this mix, so I'm calling it "expand09"
Adding stuff:
1. Simply select the files you want to add, click & drag them into the Mix Editor box.
2. when you put everything in that you want to put in the mix, remember to click SAVE, or else it won't save. Yeah, i forget this too sometimes
3. After you save, I like to hit "Compact". It's not always necessary, but it's always good to do.
I have been overlooking this topic multiple times and i see that you have expandxx.mix i cannot find mine? why is this ? Last edited by OVERKILL on Wed Jan 30, 2008 3:33 am; edited 1 time in total QUICK_EDIT
Joined: 25 Sep 2006 Location: Teamblackistan Posts: Over 9000
Posted: Wed Jan 30, 2008 3:00 pm Post subject:
Yeah, I'll have to remake this tutorial someday excluding Mix Editor..
although, I'm not sure if there is a 'compress' feature in the mixer like in the editor, is there? _________________ The Fall of Hammerfest - Epic Tiberian chain story
Tiberian Odyssey mapping department. Discord The Team Black Index QUICK_EDIT
i wanted to say thanks to gufu and Team Black i finally figured it out, and now it works perfectly fine. All i did was use mix editor and made a new expand01.mix file and from their i just added my voxels and hva's and just compact and close, it automatically saved the files and put them into tiberian sun, and for me it works great so thanks again to gufu and Team Black, on a side note this is helping me out alot with my first detailed mod so iam taking my time and patience to do this correctly, and all i can say for now is their is 3 sides and maybe a fourth. QUICK_EDIT
Don't use Expand01.mix, that is already used by FireStorm. Rename it to Expand02.mix or another two digit number higher than one.
Yes you are correct and i appreciate it very much but for now my mod is just for tiberian sun, the reason for this is because i want to have a sequal to which it will involve firestorm, but i will not discuss that topic here so for now thank you everyone for helping, it is all ways good to have a lending hand QUICK_EDIT
Joined: 24 May 2004 Location: Flanders (Be) Posts:300000001
Posted: Thu May 08, 2008 8:04 am Post subject:
XCC Mix Editor is essential for compacting big mixfiles after editing... XCC Mixer tends to be quite wasteful with space. I think this problem is usually caused by XCC Mixer only removing the mix index references to removed files, rather than REALLY removing them.
For example... the RA1 main.mix file in the First Decade pack, made with XCC Mixer, is 1.23 GB. If you open it in XCC Mix editor and press Compact it's reduced to about 870 MB.
oh, also, bulk extracting and stuff is way easier like this:
(this also works with the normal "Copy", for extracting files. You can select multiple files for these operations.)
_________________ QUICK_EDIT
It's funny Nyerguds how many users don't know how XCC Mixer *really* works. Pretty sad actually... Last edited by IcySon55 on Sat May 10, 2008 9:10 am; edited 1 time in total QUICK_EDIT
IcySon55 get off your elitism issues and actually post something constructive if your gonna reply, thats something even noobs are taught
At least it isn't someone asking how to use tibed and having a tutorial for the most basic things at least reduces the probability of useless how do I use xcc mixer posts.
Even Nyerguds who game hacks, hex hacks has a more mature attitude then you. _________________ QUICK_EDIT
My point which was a post to everyone (yes Icyson its not just about you) in general but using your post as a example, is how your so called elitism, snide remarks aren't amusing but rather pathetic and not useful, its like gufu random posts.
Your comment could have been done on msn, pm and yes its a Internet forum so I don't really care if you care.
Also the only reason I disagree with your post here is because tutorials are for new modders who are actually willing to learn but have no idea how to use the tools given and want to be taught.
Its like giving a surgeons tools to a trainee surgeon who is still studying.
On the other hand the numerous noobs on PPM posting stupid questions, mod announcements, etc are like kids who have been given a gun.
Finally there are some features in XCC Mixer which only a few users will ever touch.
Mig Eater wrote:
XCC Mixer has the ability to convert PCX images to vxl files, so really you can use a lot of programs to make voxels, even paint…
I’m not surprised you don’t know about it tho, only a few do & it’s mostly just used for doing skinning quickly, I’m about the only one that makes voxels from scratch this way
Finally 1.45 is rather buggy at best (its crashes when carrying out certain functions and support for other games for which you won't need.
So for something which is smaller, faster and quicker to install (no annoying installer, just delete files) try
Unzip it into a folder, call it say MOD, run xcc mixer and then just use right click - copy and the files will be directly copied to this folder and thus you won't need to use extract. _________________ QUICK_EDIT
Also the only reason I disagree with your post here is because tutorials are for new modders who are actually willing to learn but have no idea how to use the tools given and want to be taught.
Did you learn XCC Mixer from a tutorial? Probably not, there weren't many useful ones around the time we started modding. I learned XCC by simply using it on my own. So my statement still stands, that it's sad that the new modders are incapable of figuring something out without full blown over-detailed tutorials.
What I posted was somewhere along the lines of what DCoder might post and/or think. I don't see you attacking his posts. _________________ Last edited by IcySon55 on Sat May 10, 2008 7:28 pm; edited 1 time in total QUICK_EDIT
Joined: 07 Mar 2006 Location: In ur BIOS, Steeln ur Megahurtz!
Posted: Sat May 10, 2008 6:46 pm Post subject:
IcySon55 wrote:
Allied General wrote:
Also the only reason I disagree with your post here is because tutorials are for new modders who are actually willing to learn but have no idea how to use the tools given and want to be taught.
Did you learn XCC Mixer from a tutorial? Probably not, there weren't many useful ones around the time we started modding. I learned XCC by simply using it on my own. So my statement still stands, that it's sad that the new modders are incapable of figuring something out without full blown over-detailed tutorials.
QFT, same here. in fact, even though i stopped, i learned modding in general this way. and IMHO, someone who doesnt have the brain to figure stuff like that out, doesnt deserve to mod, as he wont be able to produce anything worth looking at anyway. _________________ Please, read the signature rules of the forum. QUICK_EDIT
To be fair Id have to agree that the XCC Mixer is incredibly easy to use, I worked out how to use it in under 10 minutes after getting it. But I suppose I also have to agree that if someone asked for a tutorial on it, it is nice to post one and not just say, go work it out yourself. _________________ [url=http://eve.battleclinic.com/killboard/images/signature/cache/elliott_street_amarr_eve_sig.png[/img][/url] QUICK_EDIT
QFT, same here. in fact, even though i stopped, i learned modding in general this way. and IMHO, someone who doesnt have the brain to figure stuff like that out, doesnt deserve to mod, as he wont be able to produce anything worth looking at anyway.
On question to see whether I agree with this statement or not. Is any of the stuff I've done worth looking at?
And yes, I worked it out myself too, however I gave it to a fried and he repeatedly asked how you use it for quite a while until he figured it out. _________________ Yes, work on MV continues. It is not forgotten. QUICK_EDIT
At least the question being asked related to a common TS/RA2/YR modding tool and not something mind numbingly easy and not mention make you worse at modding such as TibEd.
To be fair I am shocked as to why the person asking didn't go to http://xhp.xwis.net/ and just check the section saying Guide: Using XCC Mixer cos afaik I used that in the very beginning but then again maybe many new modders are unused to the tools.
The posts I hate are spoon fed threads where people ask code my ai or a list of questions without trying e.g. showing sample code.
Since this is a tutorial thread though, I expect more useful, constructive comments to be posted here unless the tutorial is bug ridden/useless. _________________ QUICK_EDIT
Joined: 24 May 2004 Location: Flanders (Be) Posts:300000001
Posted: Sat May 10, 2008 9:22 pm Post subject:
The tutorial basically says what anyone with half a brain can figure out in 10 minutes of messing around with XCC... so I don't think Icy's remark is that odd. _________________ QUICK_EDIT
Joined: 07 Mar 2006 Location: In ur BIOS, Steeln ur Megahurtz!
Posted: Sun May 11, 2008 10:40 am Post subject:
Lt Albrecht wrote:
Quote:
QFT, same here. in fact, even though i stopped, i learned modding in general this way. and IMHO, someone who doesnt have the brain to figure stuff like that out, doesnt deserve to mod, as he wont be able to produce anything worth looking at anyway.
On question to see whether I agree with this statement or not. Is any of the stuff I've done worth looking at?
And yes, I worked it out myself too, however I gave it to a fried and he repeatedly asked how you use it for quite a while until he figured it out.
yes, your stuff is far from bad. _________________ Please, read the signature rules of the forum. QUICK_EDIT
Kind of interresting reading this pros and cons about tooling and modding.
It seems to me that you guys mixing serveral topics:
-how easy it is to handle XCC
-how to learn modding
-and the use of tutorials in general.
I have to admit I'm a beginner in modding even though I learned to handle XCC very fast.
But with the rest (how to understand the ini files, etc.) I think tutorials are the core for people who what to learn. And by the way: how much time can you invest in modding ? I still have other responsibilies besides so I'm very thankfull for every good tutorial that helps to understand and learn more. QUICK_EDIT
All of the voxels in regular TS are also in the LOCAL.MIX, but the SHPs of units are in CONQUER.MIX, while the buildings are in the TEMPERATE.MIX and SNOW.MIX, but you can find their build ups and the cameos in CONQUER.MIX. QUICK_EDIT
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XCC mixing 101
As you see, you learn something new every day 
