Civ4 Useful Programs: Difference between revisions

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(→‎XML Programs: Most modders don't use these, in fact they are harder to use then notepad++ in my oppinion. Edited to make this page useful for novice modders.)
(Added a link to the Gamefont Editor utility by Asaf)
 
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== Essential Programs for nearly all aspects of Modding==
== Essential Programs for nearly all aspects of Modding==
* A text editor, such as [http://notepad-plus.sourceforge.net/uk/site.htm Notepad++], [http://www.gnu.org/software/emacs/ emacs], [http://www.vim.org/ vim], or even WordPad and Notpad (which come with Windows)
* A text editor, such as [http://notepad-plus.sourceforge.net/uk/site.htm Notepad++], [http://www.gnu.org/software/emacs/ emacs], [http://www.vim.org/ vim], or even WordPad and Notpad (which come with Windows)
** Vim and Emacs are good for hardcore programming - Notepad++ is food for just about anything.
** Vim and Emacs are good for hardcore programming - Notepad++ is good for just about anything.
* A diff/merge tool, such as [http://winmerge.org/downloads/ WinMerge] or [http://www.scootersoftware.com/ Beyond Compare]
* A diff/merge tool, such as [http://winmerge.org/downloads/ WinMerge] or [http://www.scootersoftware.com/ Beyond Compare]
** Vim, Emacs, and some other text editors contain merge/diff tools in themselves.
** Vim, Emacs, and some other text editors contain merge/diff tools in themselves.


== Graphics Programs ==
 
* [http://www.blender.org/ Blender]
* [http://forums.civfanatics.com/showthread.php?t=135740 BMP To WorldBuilderSave Converter]
* [http://www.softpedia.com/get/Multimedia/Graphic/Graphic-Editors/DXTBmp.shtml DXTBmp]
* [http://www.gimp.org/ GIMP]
* [http://nifelheim.dyndns.org/~cocidius/dds/ GIMP DDS Plugin]
* [http://www.turbosquid.com/gmax Gmax]
* [http://niftools.sourceforge.net/wiki/NifTools NifTools]


== Map/Scenario (WorldBuilder-like) Programs ==
== Map/Scenario (WorldBuilder-like) Programs ==
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== XML Programs ==
== XML Programs ==
* There are some pre-packaged XML editing tools for civ4, but most modders prefer the directness of a text editor like [http://notepad-plus.sourceforge.net/uk/site.htm Notepad++]
While there are some XML editing tools for civ4, none are necessary.  In fact, most experienced modders prefer the directness of a text editor like [http://notepad-plus.sourceforge.net/uk/site.htm Notepad++]; however if you are having difficulty understanding and editing the XML you should consider using the user created tools below.
* [http://forums.civfanatics.com/showthread.php?t=270586 Civ4 XML Editor]
* [http://forums.civfanatics.com/showthread.php?t=270586 Civ4 XML Editor]
* [http://forums.civfanatics.com/showthread.php?t=276286 Civ4 File Checker]
* [http://forums.civfanatics.com/showthread.php?t=276286 Civ4 File Checker] (checks your XML for errors; recommended for everyone)
* [http://www.symbolclick.com/ XML Marker]
* [http://www.symbolclick.com/ XML Marker]


== Python Programs ==
== Python Programs ==
* [http://www.python.org/ Python IDLE]
You will need a text editor like [http://notepad-plus.sourceforge.net/uk/site.htm Notepad++] to modify python.
* [http://civ4bug.sourceforge.net/PythonAPI/index.html Civilization4 Python API Reference Guide]
* [http://civ4bug.sourceforge.net/PythonAPI/index.html Civilization4 Python API Reference Guide]: is an invaluable reference guide listing the various calls and functions available to the modder in python.
* [http://www.python.org/ Python IDLE]: is an advanced python tool designed for python programming in general; it's usefulness as a tool to utilize for scripting in Civ4 is questionable; in fact if you need to use IDLE to implement and test your civ4 python code, the functionality of your code would probably be better served in the SDK; as Civ4's implementation of python can be very slow and should be limited to simple scripting and interface functions.
 
== Graphics Programs ==
* [http://www.blender.org/ Blender]
* [http://forums.civfanatics.com/showthread.php?t=135740 BMP To WorldBuilderSave Converter]
* [http://www.softpedia.com/get/Multimedia/Graphic/Graphic-Editors/DXTBmp.shtml DXTBmp]
* [http://www.gimp.org/ GIMP]
* [http://nifelheim.dyndns.org/~cocidius/dds/ GIMP DDS Plugin]
* [http://www.turbosquid.com/gmax Gmax]
* [http://niftools.sourceforge.net/wiki/NifTools NifTools]
* [http://forums.civfanatics.com/showthread.php?t=429541 GameFont.tga Editor Utility]


== SDK Programs ==
== SDK Programs ==
* [[How_to_Install_the_SDK|Guide to installing the SDK]]
* [[How_to_Install_the_SDK|Guide to installing the SDK]] (It is highly recommended you read this before starting SDK work on Civ4)
* [http://www.microsoft.com/express/download/link Visual Studio 2008 Express]
* Compilers:
* [http://www.codeblocks.org/ CodeBlocks]
** [http://www.microsoft.com/express/download/link Visual Studio 2008 Express] (recommended method)
* [http://kael.civfanatics.net/files/PSDK-x86.exe Microsoft Platform SDK]
** [http://www.codeblocks.org/ CodeBlocks] (obsolete in many ways; cannot create a debug dll)
* [http://kael.civfanatics.net/files/msvcrt.lib msvcrt.lib]
*Libraries:
* [http://kael.civfanatics.net/files/msvcrtd.lib msvcrtd.lib]
** [http://kael.civfanatics.net/files/PSDK-x86.exe Microsoft Platform SDK]
* [http://kael.civfanatics.net/files/msvcprt.lib msvcprt.lib]
** [http://kael.civfanatics.net/files/msvcrt.lib msvcrt.lib]
* [http://kael.civfanatics.net/files/VCToolkitSetup.exe VC++ Toolkit 2003]
** [http://kael.civfanatics.net/files/msvcrtd.lib msvcrtd.lib]
** [http://kael.civfanatics.net/files/msvcprt.lib msvcprt.lib]
** [http://kael.civfanatics.net/files/VCToolkitSetup.exe VC++ Toolkit 2003]


== Misc Programs ==
== Misc Programs ==
* [http://forums.civfanatics.com/showpost.php?p=3247291&postcount=1 PakBuild]
* [http://forums.civfanatics.com/showpost.php?p=3247291&postcount=1 PakBuild]
* [http://forums.civfanatics.com/showthread.php?t=276286 Civchecker]
* [http://www.sadmansoftware.com/search/index.html SadMan Search]
* [http://www.sadmansoftware.com/search/index.html SadMan Search]
* [http://forums.civfanatics.com/showpost.php?p=7280262&postcount=1 NSIS Installer Program]
* [http://forums.civfanatics.com/showpost.php?p=7280262&postcount=1 NSIS Installer Program]

Latest revision as of 21:47, 28 May 2013

This page provides links to programs that are useful and help with modding Civilization IV.

Essential Programs for nearly all aspects of Modding

  • A text editor, such as Notepad++, emacs, vim, or even WordPad and Notpad (which come with Windows)
    • Vim and Emacs are good for hardcore programming - Notepad++ is good for just about anything.
  • A diff/merge tool, such as WinMerge or Beyond Compare
    • Vim, Emacs, and some other text editors contain merge/diff tools in themselves.


Map/Scenario (WorldBuilder-like) Programs

XML Programs

While there are some XML editing tools for civ4, none are necessary. In fact, most experienced modders prefer the directness of a text editor like Notepad++; however if you are having difficulty understanding and editing the XML you should consider using the user created tools below.

Python Programs

You will need a text editor like Notepad++ to modify python.

  • Civilization4 Python API Reference Guide: is an invaluable reference guide listing the various calls and functions available to the modder in python.
  • Python IDLE: is an advanced python tool designed for python programming in general; it's usefulness as a tool to utilize for scripting in Civ4 is questionable; in fact if you need to use IDLE to implement and test your civ4 python code, the functionality of your code would probably be better served in the SDK; as Civ4's implementation of python can be very slow and should be limited to simple scripting and interface functions.

Graphics Programs

SDK Programs

Misc Programs