Content Confusion/GOW and custom creations [Solved]

[TKBS]

Some Questions of Custom stuff and the GOW content
[Number issues]
[1]*I Made a custom sky texture/ [My aurora Borealis]

Q.How do i make this texture a seperate '.upk' file- so other people can have my Aurora / load it into their own map creations? - [just like loading generic UT3 texture?]

[2]*got the GOW content
*created a map - using 1 GOW uncooked . upk file
*Loads fine for me- but other people get a 'crash'
*i sent them a file but in still crashes there pc - and says failed to load "blah blah"

Q. *How do i make my own '.upk' files, so people can have this used content - like SymphonYHeLL did with the EvilMapPack [beta1/2]
^^ how did he make these Evil.upk files?

The following link is taken from SymphonyHell's thread- it states some things i have tried [duplicating etc].
Thanks again Symphonyhell, but i am failing
http://utforums.epicgames.com/showth...=763481&page=2

The following link is to a map with the GOW content that i used- but does not load on other peoples pc
http://utforums.epicgames.com/showthread.php?t=750304
Really beyond my reach this one
Many Thanks

[Hayrack]

About custom stuff:

While importing an object, name your package differently from what is given. For example:

''LOLTextures''/''Customstuff''/''MegaGigaWeapons''/''OC_CC_Mat'' instead of ''DM-map" (Unique names = less problems)
In Content browser, find your package, right click on it and select ''Save''.

Select save location, in dropdown menu use ''.upk''.

Voila. In future, when you import or create other custom objects, on import window, select package name you just created. When done making changes and adjustments, don't forget to save it (right click on).

Never save cooked packages that were created by others, and never have two .upk's with same names.

Include latest version of this package in folder/archive with your map/mod when making public release.

Is that what you asked for :/ ?

[Odedge]

To add what Hayrack stated...

If you are going to create custom content to be used in a map, it's best to add it all to your map file. Where you normally would select the package, just select your map name.

The IMPORTANT thing you need to remember is to use it inside the map before you either build or save the map. Otherwise, the editor will think you don't want it anymore and delete it.

If you are going to create content for other people to use in their map, just save it to a .upk file (in your uncooked folder). You will want to save the actual .upk file by selecting it in the generic browser, right clicking and saving it.

Don't publish it though. This way, people can just "duplicate" the stuff they want into their own map before using.

IMHO, all custom content should be included in a map file (unless it can't, like a script). I basically won't keep a map that has seperate .upk files, unless it likes a mod or something similar.

[TKBS]

I duplicated the packages into my map / using my map name - [third time now]
3 mesh i used [e.g.arch/conservatory], 3 mesh i re-named into my map.

1 mesh called on the GOW_Base_Resources [this is not a physical asset placed in my map, but like the textures and geometry that the mesh use]

Not sure what to do with the base resources-Thus, i have no idea if your comments have helped or not

i do appreciate them though- alot.
Many Thanks


[EDIT] - step by step what i did.
* downloaded GOW content -
* put the uncooked GOW content within my Published and unpublished folders - called 'environments'
*open UT Editor/ load the packages i want to use from the unpublished environments folder[GOW_Arch_Arches]

*Tried the Obj save CODE// it failed [i have 2 ppl on a different forum that checked this and don't know why-]
*so i try duplicate the .upk-- yep
save it as my map - VCTF-TKBSstorm


that works fine - did the same for all 3 Meshes i used - all worked fine
*when i load my map- i have 3 mesh - no longer called GOW but now called TKBS etc

i distribute my map to people and they get this Error: [an example of some errors]
GOW_Base_Resources.Materials.Mat_BaseMat_01_Basic
GOW_Base_Resources.Physical.Default.Stone.PM_Stone
GOW_Base_Resources.Textures.CubeMap.Tex_Cube_Sky
GOW_Base_Resources.Textures.Detail.Tex_ND_Detail_0 7_N
GOW_Base_Resources.Textures.Foliage.Tex_Conserwato ry_Wtndow_01_D1
GOW_Base_Resources.Textures.NoTexture.Tex_No_Textu re_02_Normal_N


^^ all errors refer to the GOW_Base_Resources.upk file

but this GOW_Base_Resources.upk file is not a mesh - it is like phsyics assetts and base textures.-- i cannot duplicate these.
*there is an option to batch export these files [it sasy 130 but i count less in the GOW_Base_Resources.upk-approx 70 80 maybe]


so i am stuck with the GOW_Base_Resources.upk?- but the 3 mesh i used are all afaik working

many thanks again

[SibeRio]

The resources you used as materials are instances. I am building the uncooked package you'll need, Give me some more time and I'll PM instructions.

[Odedge]

When you rename or duplicate something into your map file, there may be other assets still being referenced by what you just duplicated/renamed.

For example: Let's say there is a custom material that uses a custom texture. Both are in a uncooked .upk file.

If you were to just duplicate the material into your map file, it would still be referencing the texture in the uncooked .upk file.

Even if you duplicated the texture file, you would still have to open up the custom material and tell it to look for the texture in your map file.

If you happened to use any of these assets in your map file before you duplicated them, you would then have to go back into the map and tell it to use the new material that is in your map file.

To test if everything is done correctly, after duplicating and such, save the map and close the editor. When you open it up, load the map, look for the original .upk files in the generic browser.

If you seem them (they should be grey), it means that the map is still using something from that package.

p.s. You shouldn't have 2 copies of the exact same file in your "My Documents" folder (both of them are published).

[TKBS]

Okay:
*i used 3 mesh
*They are all duplicated and re-named within my map
*All mesh now have new textures applied to them and referenced only within my map
*All material expressions triple checked to make sure [none linked to original package]
*All LOD references checked and referring to my map -not the GOW stuff like it was-
*mesh/ materials/ material expressions/ LOD/ and references all done

As for the 2 files folders issue;
*which folder can i keep [it would be nice to gain back 8 GB of space]
*i have my GOW content in both unpublished and published - and ODEDGE said that the files are published.

so this means i can delete the GOW uncooked content from my unpublished folder?
- now all my references have been assigned to within my map
?

Many Thanks for the replies: just awaiting a tester

[Odedge]

I never said that the GOW files are cooked or not, because I don't have the files. If you can select an asset and duplicate, then the package must be uncooked because cooked files won't allow you to do this (with out a console command).

If the .upk files are uncooked, then definitely keep them in the Unpublished folder:

...\My Games\Unreal Tournament 3\UTGame\Unpublished\CookedPC

There is a folder called "Environments", which is meant for .upk files. But you can place it anywhere in there. I actually create a folder called "EnvironmentsFree" (for assets that are free to use)".

If a .upk file is distributed with a map and is required to play it, keep it somewhere in here:

\My Games\Unreal Tournament 3\UTGame\Published\CookedPC

Again, it can go anywhere in that folder (or sub-folder). I have a folder called "CustomUPKs" for files released by the community that go with a map.

[TKBS]

p.s. You shouldn't have 2 copies of the exact same file in your "My Documents" folder (both of them are published).

*what do you mean by this ^^? both of what?
and i know this since i am asking which 8gb folder can i delete?

again, which one do i keep?

*The GOW uncooked content is .upk files that i may use for maps...i put the files in a folder called environments obv.
but i have the same in both my published and unpublished directory because i do not know which one i can delete.

*so, can i delete the gow stuff from my published environments gow .upk's [since they are not used in any maps] ?
and then keep the same folder in my unpublished directory?

[Odedge]

p.s. You shouldn't have 2 copies of the exact same file in your "My Documents" folder (both of them are published).

*what do you mean by this ^^? both of what?
and i know this since i am asking which 8gb folder can i delete?

I forgot to add "If". "If both of them are published"

*so, can i delete the gow stuff from my published environments gow .upk's [since they are not used in any maps] ?
and then keep the same folder in my unpublished directory?

Yes, that is correct.

[TKBS]

Awesome. now i understand.
Thank You very much Odedge - you help is appreciated

[Odedge]

Awesome. now i understand.
Thank You very much Odedge - you help is appreciated

You are very welcome.