JA2 V1.13 - Where to find the Stable Release and Updates.

[Incunabulum]

For those scared of the unstable builds. The current stable build (4870) dates from end of 2011 and they've got a feth-ton of new features that have been implemented and tested since then.

[Doug]

Would you be so kind as to collect both the links to the stable version release site and the mod installation instructions into a single thread we can reference for newbies?

[Hypereia]

Excellent news.

[DeeTeez]

YAYYYY

[Incunabulum]

here' the main forum for developers and fans - The Bear's Pit

http://www.ja-galaxy-forum.com/board/ubbthreads.php/forum_summary.html

Wiki and *STABLE* release

http://ja2v113.pbworks.com/w/page/4218334/Downloads

Its a zip file around 350 mb in size.
Best way to install is to *copy* your original JA2 v1.12 install to somewhere else (I put mine on the desktop since I fiddle around with it a lot). Then download the 1.13 patch, place into your 1.12 directory and extract in place. Allow it to overwrite and merge files and folders.

Then download and install the bugfix from the same page.

[Incunabulum]

*UNSTABLE* release

2 ways to do this

1. Single Click Installer from here

http://kermi.pp.fi/JA_2/v1.13_Releases/Unofficial/English/Depri/SCI_113/

Install as above - *don't install the bugfix*. The only disadvantage is its a couple of days before new features are put in here.


2. SVN - this is the main way they put out new features

a} Download SVN from tortoise here. http://Tortoisesvn.tigris.org/

b} Install Tortoise.

c} Install Jagged Alliance 2 ( preferably 1.12 gold edition), it will work with older versions, but "NOT" work with Wildfire.

d} Create a blank folder on your desktop. And name it anything you wish, the name doesn't matter to SVN.

** Word of caution! Always download to a new empty folder, then copy the files to your game directory. There seems to be a problem of missing files happening if you download directly into your JA2 install. **

e} Right click the new folder you just created. A menu will popup. At the top of this menu you will see "SVN CHECKOUT" and just below that "TORTOISE SVN". You want to click on "SVN CHECKOUT". That will bring up the URL request.
Type this in "https://ja2svn.dyndns.org/source/ja2_v1.13_data/GameDir".

Now your 1.13 should be downloading into the folder you created. It will take a while to download.

f} Ok, now "COPY" file and folder from the SVN folder you downloaded the files to into the JA2 folder. Let them overwrite everytime it asks you. Just say "YES" or "ALL" to overwrite the older files from the original JA2.

g} Now you want to see if there are any "UPDATES" available from the SVN. "RIGHT CLICK" the folder on your JA2 1.13 folder. You will again see a menu popup. At the top you will see "SVN UPDATE" then "SVN COMMIT..." and "TORTOISE SVN". You want to choose "SVN UPDATE".

It will now go to the URL that you put in at the beginning and automatically check for any updates that the modders have updated.

They will download automatically into the appropriate places in your game, you don't have to do anything else. After they update it will give you the latest revision number. You can then view the log or say ok and close the process.

That's all there is to it for the updating part.

If you want to view only what is available before you update, "RIGHT CLICK" again and go to "TORTOISE SVN" there is right arrow there let it open and another bigger menu pops up. Click "VIEW LOG" and you can view all the files that are at the URL without updating.

This way is more work but once its done its easier and *faster* to get new updates.

*However* there will not be a new .exe included with the SVN so now you have to go to here

https://skydrive.live.com/?cid=013a6926eac52083&id=13A6926EAC52083%21202

Pick the .exe that matches your version (usually the highest numbered one) download and copy to your JA2 1.13 install. Use that .exe to run the game rather than the default JA2.exe.
That's not *strictly* neccessay but some features may not work properly without the corresponding .exe.

Its easier than that WOT makes it look.

[Incunabulum]

Thread announcing and describing what 'New 1.13 stable branching date' means.

http://www.ja-galaxy-forum.com/board/ubbthreads.php/topics/327457/20140101_-_New_1.13_Stable_Bra.html#Post327457

[Incunabulum]

List of 1.13 feature as of r6438

http://www.ja-galaxy-forum.com/board/ubbthreads.php/topics/325736/List_of_Main_1.13_Features_(As.html#Post325736

All that *plus* more stuff should be coming in the new stable branch.

[76561198007484948]

Will it be possible to download and put it onto the Steam version of the game once it is released in January?

[Incunabulum]

Yes - but not *through* Steam - its third party software. The Steam version is 1.12 so its already patched up and ready for 1.13

However its reccommended to *not* overwrite your Steam install - Steam's default install directory has been known to cause problems unless your login is running as an administrator (with administrator priviliges).

Simply copy JA2 somewhere else and install 1.13 there. Bonus - if something *does* go wrong then you don't have to re-download JA2 again.

[76561198007484948]

Yeah good idea I think I have found the relevant folder - is it the one in Steam/SteamApps/Common? That shouldn't be too difficult to copy elsewhere, I also read that for modding don't put the original vanilla software on the main Program Files drive.
When exactly will the new 1.13 be ready and from which site or should I just wait for notification to appear on the Forum?

[Incunabulum]

The release date is in the post title and the link to it (and instructions on how to install) are in the 5th and 6th posts in this thread.

[Doug]

Ursprünglich geschrieben von sunseekers_:

Yeah good idea I think I have found the relevant folder - is it the one in Steam/SteamApps/Common? That shouldn't be too difficult to copy elsewhere, I also read that for modding don't put the original vanilla software on the main Program Files drive.
When exactly will the new 1.13 be ready and from which site or should I just wait for notification to appear on the Forum?

Modding or no modding, if you know what you're doing and have the hardware, install all your software on a 2nd drive or partition. Some software is sufficiently intertwined with Windows, it won't matter, but some (Like JA2) is pretty independent. In the event of a Windows failure/reinstall or even main system drive failure, that software remains untouched. And as a bonus, it has less chance of contaminating the Windows install should it be the problem. If that's too much trouble, put your data on a separate drive or partition. Maybe that way some tech who doesn't deserve the name won't wipe it in the event Windows needs reinstalling (.. happened to a buddy of mine just the other day). And at the very least, make a backup copy of your My Documents folder from time to time (Anyone can do this: thumb drive would be fine).

And final word of advice: Don't run anything on Windows using an Administrator account. It'll save you a ton of potential grief. The reason User accounts exist is so malware can't modify key system files without asking for Admin permission. If you're running AS Admin, it can happen transparently in the background.

Any or all of the above will save you a ton of grief when things go pear-shaped... which they do from time-to-time.

++++++++++++++
*climbs off soapbox*

[Sonic Boomer]

oh, will it be save compatible?

[76561198007484948]

Has the latest release for Jan 2014 been released yet?

[MacArthur]

Ursprünglich geschrieben von sunseekers_:

Has the latest release for Jan 2014 been released yet?

1.13 devs told me to wait for summer @ irc

they just started on stable branch not released it