INI Tool helps spliting and merging multiple files

linq2js · Light Infantry **Joined**: 26 May 2011

When modding C&C game, we have large INI and it hard to manage/edit. My idea is spliting large file to multiple small files, once we done editing we will merge them all into one file.

Let me demo simple use case. I need custom/add new vehicle to Metal Omega mod. Firstly I must extract original Mental Omega rules file and I create my own ini file, it called main.ini

Code:

;#import original/rulesmo.ini
; all sections of rulesmo.ini will be imported here

; start adding new vehicle

[NewVehicle]
; extend my vehicle from VCARR with #extends directive
;#extends VCARR
; register NewVehicle to VehicleTypes section with #appendTo directive
;#appendTo VehicleTypes
; my vehicle requires only factory, nothing more
Prerequisite=ALLWEAP

Then I open Window command line at current working folder and run command:

Code:

ini-merge main.ini output/rulesmo.ini

I got new rulesmo.ini at output folder. When Mental Omega mod updated, I just update original rulesmo.ini

This is very basic use case, there are alot special use cases you can found here https://www.npmjs.com/package/ini-merge

This INI tool requires npm to run, please go to this link and download npm executable https://nodejs.org/en/download/
When you installed npm, you need to run the command below in command line window

Code:

npm install --global ini-merge

Please feel free to give me some feedback

TAK02 · Posted: Tue Feb 02, 2021 7:25 pm Post subject:

I can see this being useful if you don't want to jump from A to B to C in the same INI and possibly losing your train of thought.

Though in that case I'd recommend opening the INI in a new Notepad window and/or use Notepad++' "clone to other view" and "open in new instance".

Not downplaying your work, just questioning the reasoning behind this creation.

linq2js · Light Infantry **Joined**: 26 May 2011

TAK02 wrote:

I can see this being useful if you don't want to jump from A to B to C in the same INI and possibly losing your train of thought.

Though in that case I'd recommend opening the INI in a new Notepad window and/or use Notepad++' "clone to other view" and "open in new instance".

Not downplaying your work, just questioning the reasoning behind this creation.

Thank for your comment. I think we can do anything with copycat. But with my tool, your INI file is more readable, simplier, easy to mainternant/update. For example, your INI mod project looks like:

main.ini

Code:

;#import original_rulesmd.ini
;#import countryA.ini
;#import countryB.ini

countryA.ini

Code:

;#import countryA_vehicles.ini
;#import countryB_infantry.ini

countryA_vehicles.ini

Code:

[TANKA]
;#appendTo VehicleTypes
;#apply TankLogic
Primary=TANKA_Primary

[TANKB]
;#appendTo VehicleTypes
;#apply TankLogic
;#apply AmphibiousLogic
Primary=TANKB_Primary

You can reuse your INI snippet with ease. once you change TankLogic, you dont need to update its references
You dont care order of TANKA and TANKB in VehicleTypes list

G-E · Defense Minister **Joined**: 09 Feb 2015

A lot of work to create a problem to solve #Tongue

_________________
http://www.moddb.com/mods/scorched-earth-ra2-mod-with-smart-ai

Holland · Grenadier **Joined**: 31 May 2017

Hey thats pretty neat. I already do something similar. I write ini files like this;

[Vehicletypes]
Kittie26=kittie26

[Kittie26]
Codes blabla
Primary=hairball

[Hairball]
Codes blabla
Projectile=hair

And then i share it on my topic on cncnet
https://forums.cncnet.org/topic/10252-adding-mods-with-final-sun-ts-mods-included/

So anyone can easily put it in their map file. Tibsun editor Finalsun has an ootion 'insert ini content', and it uses the same codes u use for your tool, it lists them all in the map perfectly.

But its pretty neat that it can split up the entire ini .. i gotta try it out.
Xcc ini clt can also merge or subtract ini files
And funky also made a neat ini tool https://ppmforums.com/topic-48261/ini-file-merge-and-subtract-tool/

It would be really cool if theres an ini tool for all kinds of needs for cnc games.

Ive always imagined a tree organizer that can easily bring you all related ini content.
For example if u click [tankA], that it will bring up [vehicletypes]368=tankA, but also its weapon. Cus [tanka] has primary=weapon1, it will also bring up [weapon1], and weapon1 also has its projectile and warhead, those will also all show in the tree, for easy grab.

That would be ideal and quick c&c modding.

Anyway, ill check it soon