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| The EDuke32 autoload Thingy |
| by LeoD |
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| Version: 1.3 (2023-05-30) |
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Copy mods, HRP, or Voxel Pack files into the autoload folder and they will be
loaded automatically without additional parameters.
(Check the according option in the startup window, or add the line
"NoAutoLoad = 0" to the [Setup] section of your eduke32.cfg file.)
"autoload" is usually located in your Duke3D/Ion Fury installation directory,
alongside the EDuke32/Fury executable and its *.cfg files.
Other possible locations (not checked):
- Windows: %USERPROFILE%\AppData\Roaming\EDuke32\autoload
- Linux: ${HOME}/.eduke32/autoload
Put only the currently required ZIPs into autoload. (Accepted file extensions
are: zip, grp, pk3, pk4.)
Packs which build upon other packs only need to have a file name "later" in the
alphanumerical sort order to override or add to other ZIP contents if necessary.
A common misconception is that the packages are actually "loaded" by EDuke32.
Better consider their contents a bunch of sheets laid over each other with,
say, zzz-mypack.zip on top.
EDuke32 will only 'see' the lower priority files where (all) the layers above
have a hole ( = file not present in their ZIP/GRP/folder).
Priority from bottom to top:
1. default GRP (shipped with your game, usually DUKE3D.GRP, fury.grp, etc.)
2. -gamegrp GRP/ZIP
3. autoload GRPs
4. autoload ZIPs
5. -g GRPs/ZIPs in parameter order
6. -j [dir] files in parameter order
7. files in the current working directory
Many mods, especially the bigger ones like DukePlus, are not meant to be put
into autoload in the first place, but some may still be able to use it the
other way round. You could play a CON-only mod with the HRP for example.
Always consult their accompanying documentation first.
Because some shitty operating system(s) won't differ between upper/lower case
letters, which affects the sort order, it is recommended to use
lower case letters only for filenames in autoload.
I recommend to not have plain game files in your autoload folder,
only ZIP or GRP packages.
Do NOT set autoload as "Custom game content directory" in the startup window,
that's very bad practice. The same goes for "-j autoload".
Do NOT name a folder containing game files "DUKE3D.GRP". That's even worse IMO.
The -noautoload command line option will temporarily override the current
setting without altering the configuration file.
In order to turn a game contents folder into an autoload package, zip up what's
inside it, NOT the folder itself.
The behaviour of other Duke Nukem 3D ports (BuildGDX, Raze, etc.) and even
other games based on EDuke32 (NBlood, VoidSW, etc.) may differ from EDuke32,
concerning either autoload, command line parameters, or both.
What I know about DukeGDX (BuildGDX):
AFAIK BuildGDX doesn't take any command line parameters.
Phredreeke added:
For DukeGDX, ZIP files in the autoload folder are actually loaded separate
and isolated from each other (a DEF file in a ZIP file can not define an
image found in another ZIP file).
This means that you couldn't use the Z-Pack on top of the HRP, for example.
(The current DukeGDX v1.15 (BuildGdx v20.081) can't deal with many of the
HRPs DEF parameters anyway.)
From BuildGDX' 1.15 readme.txt:
Autoload folder can be used to load mods at game startup. These can include
custom music packs, voxels, maphacks, HRP etc.
***You are not supposed to put custom campaigns into autoload folder***
BGDX will automatically load all zipped files in the autoload folder and
execute the following .def files:
- unpacked .def files
- .def files inside .zip archives that have the name of the port
(dukegdx.def, bloodgdx.def, swgdx.def, rrgdx.def, psgdx.def,
twgdx.def, lspgdx.def, or whgdx.def)
LINKS:
------
Duke4.net ................................... https://duke4.net
Duke Nukem 3D High-Resolution Pack .......... https://hrp.duke4.net
DukePlus / Attrition ........................ https://fissile.duke4.net
EDuke32 port ................................ https://eduke32.com
EDukeWiki ................................... https://wiki.eduke32.com
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Other stuff by LeoD ....... https://forums.duke4.net/index.php?showtopic=3513
CHANGELOG:
==========
1.3 (2023-05-30)
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about autoload folder location
1.2 (2021-11-09)
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turn game folder into autoload package
1.1 (2021-09-13)
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clarifications
1.0 (2021-08-23)
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initial release