Total Annihilation AI tweak: How to repack FBI files into rev31.gp3?

[moderator]

I recently stumbled across some instructions which can allow the AI in Total Annihilation to build and use nuke silos and anti-missile silos in skirmishes. However, I have no idea how to carry out the most important step ("repack the units folder into rev31.gp3").

There are four FBI files in total that require "repacking" - two for the ARM side and two for CORE.

Can someone please give me a step-by-step guide as to how I can do this? I've waited years for this mod/tweak!

Thank you in advance.

[moderator]

Can anyone help with this? For clarification, below are the specific instructions in the readme.txt

Installation

1. Repack the units (the four .FBI files) folder into rev31.gp3.
2. Drop nuke.ufo into your TA folder.
3. Drop TotalA-nuke.exe in your TA folder and run it.
If you don't trust my EXE (or you want to use other EXE tweaks as well) the changed bytes are:
000FB780: 80 73 (original)
000FB780: D0 86 (new)

If there is anyone in the TA community who understands how to successfully carry out step 1 of the above installation, could you please tell me how. The rest of the steps I can do myself.

Many thanks,

[Zhikaka]

TA Universe Forums have people who know most.

[moderator]

The TA Universe forums don't seem to allow new registrations. When a user goes to register a prompt appears requesting login details, but without an existing login, there is no way to register as a new user. At least none that I have found.

I was hoping that since Steam has a dedicated section to TA, there might be a user who is familiar with the process of repacking units. I figure this might require HPIView and/or another program, but I can't set out to complete this process without first knowing how the repacking part is done.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks!

[Zhikaka]

Yea I guess it is by emailing some of the admins, etc. Or paging them on GameRanger.

[moderator]

No luck so far with reaching any of the admins. Is there any sites out there that anyone could suggest that contains instructions as to how to repack .FBI files/TAunits into rev31.gp3?

[moderator]

For the record, I have HPIView. All I need to know is the process of how to repack the four .FBI files into rev31.gp3 using this program (according to the other TA mod info, this program is the one to do it).

[moderator]

Hi all, after trying the suggested routes for an answer to this question I've had to come back here as there has been no response from the TA Universe admins or GameRanger.

I appeal one last time (perhaps in vain, but it's worth a shot):

***Is there anyone with a level of modding knowledge sufficient to explain how to repack FBI files into rev31.gp3?***

Note: I have HPIView and also the TA Unit Comparer & Editor on hand. All I need is the 'how to' instructions to the aforementioned process)

[Tommuz]

I'm mainly posting this because I searched for ages and couldn't find a guide on how to edit units anywhere. I don't know if this is still an issue, so this may be more for future people searching for the answer, but to edit units within an existing .hpi or .ufo I did the following:

1. Create a back up of the .gp3/.hpi/.ufo file you wish to edit before you do anything else.
2. Download HPI Tools or HPI Viewer and HPI Pack
3. Create a new folder in a place that you remember. This is where the files contained within the .gp3/.hpi/.ufo file will go for editing.
4. Open HPI Viewer
5. Open the .gp3/.hpi/.ufo file you wish to edit
6. Extract ALL files in to the folder you created in step 2.
7. Close the HPI Viewer - This step seems to be important.
8. Edit the .fbi file of the unit you wish to change and save those changes.
9. Open HPI Pack.
10. Browse for the folder created in step 2, where you extracted the files to.
11. Browse for the folder where the original .gp3/.hpi/.ufo file is contained.
12. Click Pack.

It might be worth testing this on a tier 1 unit so that you can quickly see if it works rather than waiting until you get to higher tier units. For some reason, keeping the HPI Viewer tool opening whilst doing the editing and repacking meant that my changes weren't saved.