Addon Making--Intro

[John_Chrichton]

Hello everyone. I have always wanted to start making addons for Arma, but to be frank, I don't know where to start. That is why I'm here.

For my first addon, I am planning to convert a standard white civilian pickup into one used by the Iraqi Police Service. That involves coloring the doors blue and imposing an IPS sign on them. One guy already tried doing the same, but for some reason disallowed his addon to be used. When I am done with this one, I will release it. And if I get more ambitious, I will add lights and sound.

Would one of you guys please direct to the reading material that will be most helpful in getting me started on this little project?

I really appreciate it.

Sincerely,

John

[Gnat]

Maybe start at the ADDON DEPOT section of this web site. Couple related tuts there.
And this.
http://www.ofpec.com/tutorials/index.php?action=show&id=225
Much is the same for ArmA tool install as the newer ArmAII Tools install

For your project;
- Open in O2 the sample pickup p3d supplied by BIS in their Sample Model download
- Look at the texture defintions in O2 (and the different bits different textures cover)
- Find the texture name (and location) which is the one you want to modify
- DePBO a COPY of the PBO where the file resides (probably the WHEELS.PBO)
- Find the PAA file you want
- Convert it with TexView into a TGA
- Edit the TGA (with you colours etc)
- Start your own project folder
- Save a copy of the new TGA, copy of the pickup p3d
- Start a new model.cfg and a new config.cpp there also
- Open that p3d in O2 again
- Change the texture location/name from the old texture to your new texture.
- Get you model.cfg and config.cpp working
- BinPBO it and your near done

For the model.cfg and config.cpp, best to use sections copied from the samples provided and customize to be your addon definitions, not trying to overwrite BIS own.
Thats a separate post if you want specific hemp with those files.
Best of luck. Return to ask on specific problems.

[John_Chrichton]

Thank you very much! Will start messing around with us ASAP.