OFPEC Forum
OFPEC The Editing Center => General Announcements => Topic started by: Wolfsbane on 11 Nov 2002, 02:10:56
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With OFP progressing as a game, this is an issue that has been discussed on many levels. From BIS to the Gamer, everyone has had a bite of this biscuit, so lets put it to the public.
Whenever you want to use a file to play on OFP, you usually have to manually place it into the folder that requires it. This is really not much of a taxing task, but can, at times, become a tad confusing, and certainly can lead to very full, very messy folders, and have you wondering precisely what file does what.
So with the possibilities of releasing the files in an Installer .exe format, should we move onto this new level of professionalism?
The Case For .EXE
- It's fast and efficient, easy and smooth
- It allows Launchers and Start Menus / Options
- It allows more specific directories to be created, and prevents files being placed in the wrong areas
The Case Against .EXE
- Amature files could lead to corruption
- It's -always- going to be a security risk, even with a good virus scanner
- It's simply there for people that are too lazy to figure out where the files should go, and do it themselves
So cast your vote, then let us hear your reply.
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I voted "Don't care", but I'm leaning more towards "No" than "Yes".
.exe installers for huge MODs, like I44 or something (When it's out) or stuff that has a gazillion files that go into a gazillion folders, that's ok. Very nice and handy.
But for single addons, nah.
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I voted no...
IMO, this should only be used for extremely large or complicated addons/missions/campaigns/mods.... Not for the small stuff. ;D
My plan is, if I use the .exe format, I will give the option for just a zip file if people prefer that....
Not sure if you were asking in general or asking because you're thinking about using that format for this site...
Asmo
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I voted no also but my reson is not convincing ;) ;D
its easier 2 me 2 make da file zip dan makin it an Exe ;) ;D
so in da name of lazyness i vote no ;)
;D
LCD OUT
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yes there's nothing to worry about if you have a good virus checker.
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A virus checker is only good, if you keep it updated with the latest vendor updates.....
I generally feel it's something that's a big 'No' for the time being, unless your Mod is, as stated, complicated and difficult to install, IE: Homeland Security.
We shall see how it goes, I'm just looking for public opinion.
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My "public opinion" ;D is a big no, the reason why is that by doing it manually I know exatlly where they are, for example,addon, I allways put them into the botom of the addon folder, even after you close the folder the addon is going to stay there in most of the cases, so if this addon screw up my OFP all I got to do is open the addons folder and get read of the PBO, so no corruption stays much longer in my OFP directory.
Thi is only a example of a cuple of reasons why, but again, I agree that a masive instalation should be done in EXE format, besides, chances are that when addons that big come out they have been tested over and over again by a good lot of people that knows what they doing :) so it won't be many cases of corrupted filles.
Later all.
@CERO.
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my opinion and vote is
Nooooooooooo :noo:
It's fast and efficient, easy and smooth
ok.
It allows Launchers and Start Menus / Options
why would you want those?
It allows more specific directories to be created, and prevents files being placed in the wrong areas
anyone who can't install a normal zipped addon can live without one
Artak lifts his hand up
Amature files could lead to corruption
true.
It's -always- going to be a security risk, even with a good virus scanner
true
It's simply there for people that are too lazy to figure out where the files should go, and do it themselves
true
;D
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Noooooooooooooo
Damn you [in best Charlton Heston voice]
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Don't mind my face... I HAVE been waiting for this :) ... :(
Sorry, I think I've skipped some .exe classes ::)
Please don't tell me this is actually taught to youngsters nowadays MI_Fred want's to talk about it to Artak :'(
Let's see, my favourite point in installing anything to ofp so far has always been an update, and the lowpoint(s^10000)...installing addons. What a pain. Please, I have enough wrinkles and grey hair. They are not sexy.
This would make retarded questions of how to install addons unnecessary. Obvious. Smell this, you could read the readme while installing. Ooh yeah let's save those 5 seconds too shall we. :)
A virus checker is only good, if you keep it updated with the latest vendor updates.....
so shall you offer those too ;D . I mean, I see this is the main obstacle for not offering .exe files.
It's a shame there's always sceptic people, make my mind hazy... I give this a gasped yes...
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*cough*
Does anyone care about people who don't do mission or addon editing, ie. guys who probably don't bother where to put the installation files as long as the newly installed mission/addon works? When you buy a new computer game would you like to be the install instructions like "put file A to directory B and file C to directory D"?
Many missions and addons suffer from the desease that the creator didn't care about the player (ie. their 'customer') when creating their missions/addons. They use Gunslinger's/Kegety's editor addon without realizing that it makes life only easier for the mission editor but doesn't add any substance to the gameplay. Thus the player has major disadvantages but no considerable advantages, just that the lazy mission editor has less hassle when he creates his mission. And addon editors name their addons like "ITA A.M.I. AMX AA KEY/JOY", which shows that the addon creator didn't think one single second about the player who will read "2, pilot, get in ITA A.M.I. AMX AA KEY/JOY" during a mission.
I just couldn't believe when I read:
Quote:
It's simply there for people that are too lazy to figure out where the files should go, and do it themselves
true
The player, your customer, has every right in the world to be lazy. The simple truth is: If you're too lazy to create a self-extracting exe file to make life easier for your 'customers', do never, ever call them lazy, just because you're the one searching for excuses not to learn how self-extracting exe files are done.
For the player (and that's the only point of view that counts), the advantages of self-extracting exe files greatly outweight their disadvantages.
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So how come you wouldn't Install the one we talked about the other night? ;)
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Why should I install an addon for a MP mission (no matter if ZIP or EXE) when there are tons of MP missions out there that don't need addons? When I d/l a SP mission, the readme tells me which addons I need, which is OK. When OFP auto-downloads an MP mission I don't have the chance to check if I have all the addons I need. I have been kicked out of a MP mission too often because I didn't have an addon and I have seen too few MP missions where user addons really make a difference in gameplay, to install an addon just for an MP mission. This is another symptom of the the-mission-creator-doesn't-care-about-the-player-desease.
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lol,Sefe's right though to the ordinary player its a pain in the arse to read the readme and put all the files in the right places.
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I vote NO for single addons and missions only, since for MODs it uses so many files and folders, that I see no other option.
For a lot of reasons ;D
1 There is no way for a person to know if the exe file will work correctely before installing things, it may overight older addons, or even install things in wrong places, altrough we do have our ofpec stamp of quality and fully working, we don't know what the user as downloaded in other websites.
2 Probably a lot of addon and mission makers don't know how to make the .exe file.
3 Probably a lof of people won't install an addon after seing it's an .exe file.
4 The Virus problem.
5 The current installation way, really ain't that hard to understand, I haven't seen many posts in the forum asking how to install addons and missions, so it means that so far I would say 98% of users do find the way to Install things.
A good ReadMe file YES a setup.exe NO ;)
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LOL
The player, your customer, has every right in the world to be lazy. The simple truth is: If you're too lazy to create a self-extracting exe file to make life easier for your 'customers', do never, ever call them lazy, just because you're the one searching for excuses not to learn how self-extracting exe files are done.
I didnt say da player is lazy ;D just said dat im lazy - nd i dont have ny probs wid da player beign lazy cuz im lazy wen im da player ;D nywayz i dont call da player customer till he pays 4 getin da mision :P ;D so i make misions 4 my own fun nd make em available 4 D/L if da player wanna play em he D/L da mision nd instal it if not he dont have 2 ;D
LCD OUT
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Well said LCD - ;D
Anyways I know you ain't lazy by the amount of missions and BETA reviews you get through. ;)
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LCD, when you make missions only for your own fun, then why do you upload them? And I put the word 'customer' in qotes. I never meant that the player is a paying customer. If you read my reply carefully you'll find out that I talked about the wrong focus many mission makers have. They want to make life as easy as possible for themselves even if it comes with disadvantages for the player.
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Ok I have a right to be lazy as a """""customer""""". Sure.
As a mission maker I don't have that option, because if I don't make an .exe, I'm being a lazy low life?
Mhpf.. maybe I think my missions should only be played by those who know how to unzip..
ahem, well anyways a good point with the bigger mods. I can mention the Homeland Security for exampe.
I had to download this .exe. It made A LOT of new files and a few new folders under my OFP + a desktop icon.
Now some may think of this as a good think and some as a bad. I for one don't care much about playing something that feels like Counter Strike with OFP engine.
Also let's say I've got four or five of these mods installed with this selfextractinf exe thingy. Pretty soon My OFP folder is filled with new files and folders.. makes me feel like I'm not in control anymore, and many games have ended in the recycle bin because of that.
So even if the author receives more appriciaton for his efforts to make the """customers""" life easier by learning how to make an .exe file I still vote no. In my opinion having these doesn't help the community in no way. It's just like switching from DOS to Windows - life may be a bit easier, but you're not in control anymore Artak tries to think of a better word but lacks the skill.
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Come on ppl! You think putting a file into a folder is work? ::)
The poll speaks for itself. Besides, it's fun unzipping the files and placing them in the right directory. You could even make a game of it! ;D
8)PEACE
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LCD, if you want to discuss thing with me, please use a language that I can understand.
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* deleted dis massge nd wrote it again cuz dont wanna take valuable OFPEC resources ;)
hop now its in mor understandable language ;D
@ sefe - I upload themisions from 2 reasons
1) I think thatif i have fun with the missions maybe someone else will enjoy them also
2) I always want to see how good i am (OFPEC rating) so i post it to know
. If you read my reply carefully you'll find out that I talked about the wrong focus many mission makers have. They want to make life as easy as possible for themselves even if it comes with disadvantages for the player.
the only thing that i dont do until now is making the mission in EXE format and i will even do thatif the EXE format will be mre popular than it is now (as you see in the pool) - Iscript everything in the missions myself (im the 3 missions i made untill now i scripted everything alone exept a spy sat script that i only modified), I beta my mission on this forum and even give my breifings to other people to fix my english, so I think that not making a EXE is a litlle laziness that i can afford ;)
@ Chudley - I Beta a lot of mission becuse
1) i love making comments and find bugs, make me feel more involved in the missions
2) I hate plaing missions with bugs and know that they are considered as completed missions
3) The mission depot didnt release new mission for a longtime
LCD OUT
[edit]This is not exactly on topic but i wanted to make a point ;)[/edit]
[edit2]Is that more understandable sefe ?[/edit2]
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IMO Should only be used for Mods or maybe campaigns that come with some addons. NOT for single missions and NOT for single addons.
==========
PsyWarrior
-------------
NCPD Chief
==========
P.S. progs like multimedia builder make EXE createon REALLY easy so there's no excuse for you modders out there. If it reduces the D/L size of a mod it can't be too bad. Missions aren't worth it though. :hmm:
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1) I think thatif i have fun with the missions maybe someone else will enjoy them also
This trace of altruism shows me that you are not only developing missions for yourself. ;)
I think that not making a EXE is a litlle laziness that i can afford ;)
Maybe your missions would become even better if you would overcome that lazieness.
I for my part don't think that all those fears of addons/mission corrupting OFP or introducing virusses are justified. I don't know about you but I download self-installing applications all the time and I had no problems with virusses so far. I protect my system with a virus scanner that auto-updates itself about once or twice a week. When you surf the internet regularily, you always risk becoming the victim of a virus. But why should OFP missions/addons be a bigger risk than other self-extracting archieves? If you fear virusses you shouldn't download anything from the internet.
As for corrupted files, which difference does it make if you copy a corrupted file to the addon directory yourself or let the installer do that? If the file is corrupt it will mess up OFP in any case. And if the file is copied to a wrong directory, what bad can happen? The worst thing is that the mission/addon doesn't work.
Artak, your concern about losing control is typical for someone who knows how things are done. The reason that many people can't program their video recorders is that the engineers thought that if they would be able to program the VCR, the customers would be able, too. Have you ever thought that many players don't care about losing control? Maybe they have just basic computer knowledge, have never opened the mission editor and don't care where which file has to go. They just want to play another user-made OFP mission. It simply improves the quality of a mission/addon if those users don't have to bother about directories or read endless readme files. For them, the easiest way to play the mission is double click on the installer and then run OFP.
I'm sure no-one who has replied to this thread does need a self-extraccting archieve. But is that a reason to vote 'no'? The question in the poll wasn't "do you need an auto-installer for yourself?" but "do you think missions/addons should be packed in a self-installing exe?". To get the right answer for that question you don't have to ask yourself "do I need such an exe file?" but "do the players who want to install my mission benefit from a self-extracting archieve or does it come with more disadvantages for them?". And as soon as you question your own concerns about virusses or corrupting OFP about if an average OFP player without any editing experience would share them or if he rather wants to have the installation as easy as possible, you might get the opinion that your point of view isn't representative (because it's backened up by superior editing knowledge).
[edit2]Is that more understandable sefe ?[/edit2]
Yes.
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nice point of view Sefe ;D
Well I thought as a customer point of view only, well, why should I install something with an .exe file, when I really don't know what it will to do my game ???
And, since I don't know what it as done, if I don't like what I've installed, how am I gonna remove it ???
I supose you've thought also on an uninstall feature? ???
Which as you know it not only is though to make as also it's really dangerous to use ???
Chech this Ex:
Let's say I have an addon called TAGSeals.pbo, one day I decide to upgrade it and I rename it TAGSeal.pbo (no need to use other name, since it will duplicate things), well the player does use the setup.exe, and as you know it overights his old file, well, one day he decides, "on second thought this upgrade brings me a lot of things but I'm not gonna use them", "the best is to unistall it" (so an unistall feature as to be present also), well after unisnstalling, will it bring the old TAGSeals.pbo back ???
I do understand that for better we should always change, and it's nice to have this kind of ideas, since that is excately what the forum is all about (to learn and improove), but will this really help the public in making their life easier, or will it make the public know even less about the game and it's engine ?
I mean is the idea of ofpec to make people's life easier making everything for them, or is it to bring people to our community and teach them how to work and understand the game as easy as possible???
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This trace of altruism shows me that you are not only developing missions for yourself
yeah making it for my freinds and every1 who like my missions style ;)
i agree with Skaven
LCD OUT
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To be honest, i don't see the point in this.
Surely your able to read, right? And all readme's should have information on installing the addon/mission/campaign. If not, then i don't see them putting the effort into making a .EXE then, do you?
All it requires is drag and drop. If that is beyond you then i'd hate to see what kind of job you guys have. :-X
The whole issue of viruses is stupid as the chances of getting a virus in a .EXE is just as likely as in a .zip.
1) I think thatif i have fun with the missions maybe someone else will enjoy them also
This trace of altruism shows me that you are not only developing missions for yourself.
He makes them for himself then, if he likes them, releases them ;D
8)PEACE
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should i start a thread bout y mission editors make nd upload their misions ::)
LCD OUT
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*cough*
::) well, I didn't want to quote it all.... you can read it "upstairs" :) but I must say that
I basically agree on seffy's
agitation on behalf of the ofp gamers community! He's right, most ppl don't think
an inch beyond their own p3d/textures (and the 3 seconds of "fame" :P ).
Still, Im too scared to ever, EVER play peek-a-booh with an EXE file :help:
I'd rather eat my "lil' willy" with garniture and onions!!!! :wow:
Thus: :noo:
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I'd rather eat my "lil' willy" with garniture and onions!!!! :wow:
You're a troubled, troubled person, Tomb...
And isn't it "Lil Tombie"?
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nope! my parrot is named willy ::)
( :booty: )
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I plan on releasing an update to Operation Lojack one of these days, so that it works with 1.85.
The mission is a hefty 4.8MB, so I figure I will release a patch that will patch the original version. I made a version 1.1 of Lojack a long time ago, but decided not to release it. The size of the patch was only 70kb!. Of course, I will offer a 'full' download, but for those who still have the original, and want to play it agin in v1.85, 70kb is nicer download than 4.8MB.
You guys need to chill with the virus fears. If you download it from OFPEC, I'm sure it will be clean. Any respectable site would scan executables for viruses before hosting them.
I just spent 8 hours cleaning viruses off of, and completely reinstalling our Exchange server at work. The servers were infected, not because a file thought to be legit was actually a virus, but because a certain idiot MCSE who works with me decided to install outlook on the mail server to test out the accounts he created. F---ing pudwacker!
The point of that is, if you practice an ounce of prevention, and be a little bit wary of what you run, you will be ok. I wouldn't worry bout downloaded exe's from OFPEC.
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I say not for me, but it's nothin to do with viruses. It's just because I like to keep track of what addons I have, and I often won't download a mission if it uses custom addons (I don't see the point in an addon for one mission only - addons with a good 'shelf life', multiple uses etc are another issue) - and dislike it especially if the mission zip includes commonly available addons.
Case in point - I d/l'd a 'nam mission by Winters (Hill 420). Nice mission.. but the zip included the nam pack. >:(
As if I don't have it. So it took two hours to download on my pissy 56K, just to give me an addon I already had. :P
I have no objection to a .zip fulla stuff, but I like to know what's going where. Besides, when it comes to missions, I have about ten subdirectories in my /missions folder & things go where they should in there - but only I know where that might be.
I realise this is the perspective of someone who has several computing qualifications & about ... um .. god .. 17ish years of experience with computers (yes, I shit u not) - a perspective rather different from someone who does not in fact know the difference between the addons folder and the missions folder - or who may not have been born the first time I struggled with a for loop. This is not to be derogatory.. I remember the first time I stared at the addons folder and went "What, do I just dump it in here? Oooh.. I need to restart.. Do islands go in here? or do they go in Worlds?" etc etc
My theory: Just make *two* of them.. one .exe and one zip. Then people can download whichever of them rings their bell. We aim to please... ;)
Personally, I think havin em as zips teaches ppl a little about how the system works.. what goes where etc... & I have no objections to answerin questions in the forums or the chat, no matter how simple they might seem. Everythin's simple once u know how to do it, & I like people who want to know how things work.. but that doesn't mean *forcin* people to learn how things work if they don't have to and don't want to know.
Besides, I'm perfectly capable of opening a sfx with a zip program.. I do believe winzip kindly set me up a right-click option for sfxs to open them in WinZip.. so there's really no difference between a SFX and a ZIP. So if it all goes to .exes, I just have to exercise my middle finger a bit.. ;D
neway, that's my 2c, or it would be if we still had 2c coins in this country.
PS: yes, a lot of that was leading up to the middle finger joke. Sad, isn't it?
PPS: TL: it's ppl like that who make me not mention my MCSE in job interviews. Too many twits bought their frickin qualifications at those 'boot camps'. Sheesh, pay $7000 for a MCSE? It's cheaper if u *study* for it. ::)
PPPS: Really? Outlook? On the MAIL server? Is he really that stupid? And .. *grins* did u change the passwords on all the servers and not give them to him? Best defense...
</rant>
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PPS: TL: it's ppl like that who make me not mention my MCSE in job interviews. Too many twits bought their frickin qualifications at those 'boot camps'. Sheesh, pay $7000 for a MCSE? It's cheaper if u *study* for it.
PPPS: Really? Outlook? On the MAIL server? Is he really that stupid? And .. *grins* did u change the passwords on all the servers and not give them to him? Best defense...
He is the only MCSE in the department. I don't, nor will I ever attempt to obtain an MCSE. In the early days of my I.T. carreer (only four years ago in my case :) ), I was all for getting an MCSE, but after meeting too many, who were total dumasses, and obvioiusly memorized a bunch of answers, I have changed my goals.
I run everything there anyway. ;)
"I have hired and fired many MCSE's."
- From a consultant Friend of mine, who works with us from time to time, and owns a wireless ISP
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I run everything there anyway
*Coughs*
And who still got his bottom spanked during a little adventure?
:P
Anyway...
My theory: Just make *two* of them.. one .exe and one zip. Then people can download whichever of them rings their bell. We aim to please...
Well, you'll know how much this would increase storage requirements by, so we obviously cannot at this point in time, go down that road.
Case in point - I d/l'd a 'nam mission by Winters (Hill 420). Nice mission.. but the zip included the nam pack.
As if I don't have it. So it took two hours to download on my pissy 56K, just to give me an addon I already had.
The Missions Depot now eliminates that problem. The only files in the zip, -should- be the Readme and the PBO for the Mission. That's it.
The addons are all seperated, and are downloadable by choice.
The other problem, as stated about .exe files, is that the guy that made it, can install the stuff anywhere on your PC, and create anything to be flung about. Folders, shortcuts and all sorts of crap.
Now, the issue is not for us, whom are obviously aware of what we're doing, but for Joe Bloggs whom has just got it, and installs it, because he's not really that sure of what's going on. Then his Desktop and his C:\ is full of unwarranted and totally unrequired directories and other such crap.
Besides, .exe's generally require more files to be put on your HD, from the Setup custome image to all manner of crap that the author though 'Looked good'.
I just don't like the thought of that.
Damn, it's not that hard to zip some dirs, with a clear Readme, and let the user do the small bit of legwork that it takes to enjoy your hard worked at mission.
Too much to ask? I think not.
You guys need to chill with the virus fears. If you download it from OFPEC, I'm sure it will be clean. Any respectable site would scan executables for viruses before hosting them.
Thus increasing our Review time again. We don't need any extra labour added to the already hefty workload of our Reviewers. I know most Reviewers will probably side-step an .exe and leave it for someone else, which leads to longer turn-around times. Not that I can blame them, I wouldn't want to have to download several .exe's then scan it, and hope that a scan is sufficient.
Lets not dumb it down and open ourselves up.
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Thus increasing our Review time again. We don't need any extra labour added to the already hefty workload of our Reviewers. I know most Reviewers will probably side-step an .exe and leave it for someone else, which leads to longer turn-around times. Not that I can blame them, I wouldn't want to have to download several .exe's then scan it, and hope that a scan is sufficient.
I see your point. What about the scenario I put forth where I might release a patch along with a full version for Lojack? I could just submit the full version to OFPEC and host the patch on my site and provide a link, leaving it up to the user, as to weather or not they want to trust me.
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:D Wolfy, ol' duck - in addition to all this .exe crap, I have a little prayer :
Would it be poss. to add a few file converting tools to the Addons Depot or the Ed. Depot ??? :)
Seeing all these new addons popping up in ".ace" format or ".rar" format which I don't have
a clue on how to open/install - it could be REALLY great with a couple of tools, or at least
some kind of "FORMATS TUTORIAL", for grabs in one of the ofpec sections! :cheers:
(perhaps with links to where ya can get the proper conv. tools etc.)
It sure as hell suits this site to be able to cope with the latest & oddest ( :P ) stuff out there.
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Hmm.. not that .ace or .rar have anything to do with OFP, I think it's an idea worth a look.
For the record .ace and .rar are file formats of packed files just like .zip is, but unlike .zip the .ace and .rar never made it to be distributed with windows.. as in winzip :P
You can find good .rar and .ace extracting softwares from all over the net, but if you go to www.tucows.com you can't go wrong. just search it's database and you're bound to find a tool.
I don't really know what to say to this officially, so let's just remember all that I have no official statement on this subject. :D ;)
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Try:
http://www.powerarchiver.com/
;)
Not so good with the latest .rar files, but it handles everything else in one great program
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Hank ya, ladies :-* though the ---> :toocool: just goes for me!
what about all the other morons out there who (like me, minus the moron part off course) don't have a frikkin clue on what to do with these lesser well known 'compressors' ??? :o
I also saw a thread about this on the General Ed. board yesterday,
so obviously I'm not the only goofy around :beat: :tomato:
Which makes me hang on to my orig. question :
:) Wouldn't it be a good idea to add somekind of unpacking tut to one of the depots ?
Having tried the links & now - successfully, clap yer hands ::) - used the tools,
I think a simple collection of links to the most popular sites where you can
grab those tools would be a great idea, that is if a short info. text is included.
Som'n like :
>> If you have downloaded an addon which isn't packed
in the most common used .zip format,
but is called .ace
or .rar or (insert unknown formats here), and you don't
know what to do :noo: ease up, :D ofpec helps you out.
All you need is....<< etc.
Well, just some
"Feeling lost? Can't install the addons? Read this..."
this could be really neat 8) :)
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i voted no mainly because of the virus stuff, but for large MODs and stuff, i like having a installer, but for addons and missions, its just a waste
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I voted no. Its a waste of time and effort for the addon maker to make the exe file. A zip file is fine for just one PBO. Heck even for alot of PBO's its fine. If its an addon then they do in the addons folder Missions go in the missions folder. Its not exactly rocket science, and I should know, Im doing rocket science at Uni.
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I voted yes just simply becuase i deal in a group of 35 plus members who asks so many "stupid" questions about where to put this and where to put that......takes a friggin hour just to play a board.lmao
As for viruses, I run Norton 2003 and also a trojan horse checker/remover
that checks my computer on start-up as well as manuelly when I want it to. so I think that .exe is the easiest and best way to distrubute addons/mission/etc.
oh the link to the trojan horse remover if your interested is,
http://us01.anti-trojan.net/ATro55en.exe
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omg i am totally 100% NO!
no no no no no no... and finally... no. >:(
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no no double no, use aae, and i warn agenst touching a user made addon in exe form, people here are only thinking viruses, but look at the program NSIS ( http://nsis.sourceforge.net (http://nsis.sourceforge.net) ) ya, you can easily make an exe with in, but it can be turned into a very malicious program with 1 line of code, it can wipe out your ofp game, program files folder, or whole damn hdd, and it would be undetectable to a virus checker, i have virtually no programming expierience and i could do this, so just think what a real programmer can do, if anyone puts out an addon in exe form, i would not use it, and i warn ofpec from touching it if it is submitted, unless you are the type who enjoys reinstalling crap and like to have to re-download addon sets all over again :)
just wanted to give a heads up,
im on to you CS fans!!!!!!!! ;D
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It's hardly rocket science to put addons in the addons folder and missions in the missions folders. If every OFP addon was made up of fifteen files that had to go into certain folders and then be mauled around by another program (a mod launcher or something) then yes, .exes for all. But then the most advanced thing you have to do is move genericaddon.pbo to addons, genericmpmission.pbo to MPmissions and genericmission.pbo to missions, it's a big smelly waste of time.
So, uh, I say no.
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Ney, ney and thrice ney!
For things like complete mods then I aggree with using them but for single addons or missions then what's the point, it's not like Winzip is hard to use and WinXP supports zip files anyway!
I like knowing where things have been installed to, especially since I'm now using mod folders for different set ups (One for playing RSF games, one for UKF development, etc) and I'd rather not have thing automatically installed to where I don't want them as well as other unwanted bits (e.g. the Portugese (spelling?) mod (can't remember their name) Williys MB Jeep addon came as an exe and that installed stuff onto my Start Menu, great just what I need!
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I don't like 'em (exes)
Not because of viruis etc
Just because not all of them put the files in the right place (I have ofp installed in Z:\Op Flashpoint after a few reinstalls and a hdd chage)
So I normall extract them to a temp dir, and the copy them to the addons dir (And where ever else they go)
BTW, what one had better compression ratio? Zip (/rar) or exe?
I suppose self-extracting zip/rar files are the same though..
Also, exe files, atleast one I have download have given a "Not offical exe file" type error..
- Ben
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I say: why not?
it avoid problems with a n00b putting the files in the wrong opflash directory and buggin' us with silly remarks such as "i've installed the addon/mission/campaign, but it won't work..." :)
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I don't like .exes because they always end up installing to the wrong folder, because I keep all my Games in a specific folder, so rather than Codemasters\OperationFlashpoint\whatever, it is PCGames\Codemasters\etc etc. Plus, I hate having stuff on my start menu :)
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I'd say no because of the virus thing... but with so many MODs being created 8) and multiple sources for files which may or may not be up(Invasion1944), it'd be nice to get offical bundles from OFPEC to make mission creation easier.
For example, group them individually ultimate-upgrade style for infantry, helicopters etc. so US/Russian/Resistance strengths stay equal:
-i.e. "Upgrade Troop Specialist Ver1.1" would have 1990's US Rangers/SAS/BlackOps etc.. with all weapons and vehicles. KISS, and have icons next to missions showing what is needed(?) so there's no confusion.
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One one hand, a setup.exe would look cooler and might even have a smaller file-size (nah!), on the other a zip is faster; MUCH faster.
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I vote NO because, How LAZY do you have to be to not put a file in it's proper folder yourself? I mean, it's not hard to figure out that addons go in the Addons folder in your OFP directory. It's not like the folder's are all called x5d5d359r318 or something and you have to figure it out by isolating "x".
Also, I just don't trust exe's. but I'm kinda paranoid about viruses, because I play OFP on my brother's computer.
Usually you have to locate your OFP addon folder anyway for the installation program to work. And then all the install does is pop a .PBO in your addon folder, which I could do in less time from a zip than with an installer.
Exe's only make sense for large mods, IF the files go in different folders (addons, missions, worlds...)
IMO, of course.
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my opinion and vote is
Nooooooooooo :noo:ok.why would you want those?anyone who can't install a normal zipped addon can live without one
Artak lifts his hand uptrue.truetrue
;D
I agree
Come on, anyone can put a file in the addons dictionary
:hmm: can't they :hmm:
The risks far out weigh the benifits
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Gentlemen.... I think this discussion is mainly over... the norm is now to release addons as ZIP or RAR files, and only a few large mod's release EXE's. The AAE initiative uses MSI installers, if I am not mistaken. The point is, the norm has already been established... so further discussion on the topic isn't really needed.