How do you make a computer screen story object display custom text?

[xTankbeast]

As of right now, it displays a blank computer screen when I press E on it. How do I populate it with my own text?

[windebieste]

It's been a looong time since I did anything of that nature.  I think you have to edit the cres.dll file.  Not sure any more.  lol.

There's  another way you can display it though.  Basically as a cinematic.  You can create a custom texture.dtx and display the text on that.  Toggle a Camera Object to display the cinematic when you 'Use' the screen.  Set it as a timed event so the player has enough time to read the item before the Camera time expires and it then returns your view to the player.     Players can 'Use' again if they need more time to read.

It doesn't even have to be diesplayed on the monitor you are 'Using'.  Cinematics frequently take place in areas of the map Players can't get to. 

-Windebieste.

[x-M-x]

Yea as Winde says, it's Cres.dll,


Which lets you edit any type of string, (use resource hacker to edit it)

http://www.angusj.com/resourcehacker/

Just gotta find the right section then edit it. (simple but finding the right string can be a pain in the ass)

[Randomizer]

I take it that fiddling with cres.dll will allow me to enter text in the objectives tab as well?

You know, maybe it was TAB or ~, it's where your objectives are listed, along with the incident logs.

[xTankbeast]

So does cres.dll allow you to have multiple different computer screen story objects such as this one? I mean, I just assumed that I'd have to take the texture of blank computer screen, put text on it, and save it as a new texture. I never thought I'd have to modify a .dll file.

[x-M-x]

I take it that fiddling with cres.dll will allow me to enter text in the objectives tab as well?

You know, maybe it was TAB or ~, it's where your objectives are listed, along with the incident logs.

Yes.

So does cres.dll allow you to have multiple different computer screen story objects such as this one? I mean, I just assumed that I'd have to take the texture of blank computer screen, put text on it, and save it as a new texture. I never thought I'd have to modify a .dll file.

If you do a search inside cres.dll you will see different versions. (so yes more than one is listed inside it)

it's just a matter of finding the right string for each one.... and you need to be careful in editing it. (don't wanna mess up ya game now huh? )

[Le Celticant]

Hey,

I strongly advise doing a copy.
Safe that way.

Strings are (luckily) accessible without the need of the source code.
Everything that concerns text displays is in here, from PDA to objective.

Each text correspond to a string number.
You can add string if I recall correctly, and I advise you to, people may still play the Single Player campaign of AVP2 and wouldn't like to have messed up text.

I remember a program called "ResEdit" that could open it and edit it.
It was developed by Black Angel Software and goes with Winrez, which was friendlier to use than the command for rez file.

http://shogo.pentacle.nl/e107/download.php?view.42

Good luck

[PsyKore]

To display text directly on the screen (name of level for instance), send this command: msg player (teletype 9524) The number here is just an example but it refers to the string with your own text.

For a computer or note in the level, you add a story object, and in the text ID field you enter the number from the cres file where you have edited your text.

Like mentioned, it's good to make a copy so nothing gets messed up by accident.

[xTankbeast]

Uh, I can't seem to find cres.dll it's supposed to be in the AVP2 directory right? Because nothing comes up when I search its name in windows explorer

[Randomizer]

With the risk of sounding a bit silly, make sure to check the PROJECT DIRECTORY, not the game folder. That is where your game resources are stacked in order to be used by the editor.

Search it manually, Windows Explorer can be troubling sometimes.

[xTankbeast]

With the risk of sounding a bit silly, make sure to check the PROJECT DIRECTORY, not the game folder. That is where your game resources are stacked in order to be used by the editor.

Search it manually, Windows Explorer can be troubling sometimes.

I'm not seeing it anywhere

[Le Celticant]

It should be right into the AVP2 extracted folder (..\Aliens Vs. Predator 2\AVP2 or wherever you extracted with the unrez.bat)
If not, you could still extract it manually from AVP2P5.rez

[xTankbeast]

It should be right into the AVP2 extracted folder (..\Aliens Vs. Predator 2\AVP2 or wherever you extracted with the unrez.bat)
If not, you could still extract it manually from AVP2P5.rez

Yeah it's not in there. How would I extract it from the .rez file without unrez.bat?

[Le Celticant]

Hello, here is a file to download for you to access rez:

http://shogo.pentacle.nl/e107/download.php?view.42

Install winrez and open REZ files with it.
cres.dll is into AVP2P5.rez

Good luck

Cya!

[xTankbeast]

Alright, I edited the .dll file and stuff with my own text. I told the story object which string and everything, but when I check the computer screen, it shows the original text of the string instead of the new text I wrote there. Did I do something wrong?