overriding advancement using [advancefrom]

[The_Gnat]

Basically i want to change what a unit advances to using [advancefrom]. However currently [advancefrom] only appends advancements to the unit. Is there a way to override the previous units advancements and change them to exactly what the [advancefrom] contains?

The reason i want to use advancefrom is because events and [modify_unit] do not change the description files of units.

Thank you!

[Ravana]

When you use advancefrom, then you are in singleplayer context, therefore you can just define exact unit types you want.

[The_Gnat]

When you use advancefrom, then you are in singleplayer context, therefore you can just define exact unit types you want.

Thank you for replying. It would be easier if there was just a way to override the advancement. Or a way to override a description file.

My problem is that i want to have two standards. One for multiplayer and one for singleplayer. If i define extra units it will confuse the multiplayer version.

[beetlenaut]

You can use [store_unit] and put whatever value you want in the advances_to key. That will replace what was there before.

[The_Gnat]

You can use [store_unit] and put whatever value you want in the advances_to key. That will replace what was there before.

Will this modify the description information?

Thank you for responding!

[beetlenaut]

The help files are not tied to units in any way, so no. The descriptions come from [unit_type], which is not modified by changing units in the game. You should be able to use preprocessor commands like #ifdef in [unit_type], but I don't know if that would help.

[The_Gnat]

The help files are not tied to units in any way, so no. The descriptions come from [unit_type], which is not modified by changing units in the game. You should be able to use preprocessor commands like #ifdef in [unit_type], but I don't know if that would help.

That is very helpful! Can i define and undefine definitions in game that will then effect units description files using ifdef? For Example:

In game event:

Code: Select all

[event]
   name=moveto
   first_time_only=no

   [filter]
        {XXXXX}
   [/filter]

   #define CHANGE_DESCRIPTION_FILE
   #enddef
[/event]

In unit file:
[unit_type]
 ...
   #ifdef CHANGE_DESCRIPTION_FILE
           [advance_from]
                   unit=Swordsman
           [/advance_from]
   #endif
 ...
[/unit_type]

Would something like that work? Thank you!

[beetlenaut]

Using an event probably won't do anything. We are talking about preprocessor directives, not variables. They cause the engine to make a permanent decision when the file is loaded. There is no reason that changing one would cause the file to be reloaded though. I was thinking that you could use #ifdef to see if MULTIPLAYER was defined when the unit type was loaded. That might work.

[The_Gnat]

Using an event probably won't do anything. We are talking about preprocessor directives, not variables. They cause the engine to make a permanent decision when the file is loaded. There is no reason that changing one would cause the file to be reloaded though. I was thinking that you could use #ifdef to see if MULTIPLAYER was defined when the unit type was loaded. That might work.

Yes, i understand definitions are only defined on game loading. In that case can i search for a definition #ifdef CAMPAIGN (i believe i have asked this question before). Or can i re-load my description files mid game in order to edit them?

[beetlenaut]

Searching for a definition is what #ifdef does. Or did I misunderstand the question?

There is no way to trigger the cache to reload with WML. Since the game forces you to go to the title screen to do it manually, I doubt it could safely be done from within the game anyway.

[The_Gnat]

Searching for a definition is what #ifdef does. Or did I misunderstand the question?

Sorry about being unclear what i am meaning is: is there a way to write an #ifdef CAMPAIGN like you can write #ifdef MULTIPLAYER.

I believe that this has not been created, but that is no problem. Thank you all for your feedback and help it has been very useful!

[James_The_Invisible]

No, there is not a define for singleplayer mode, every campaign has its own one. But you can use #ifndef MULTIPLAYER.

[beetlenaut]

is there a way to write an #ifdef CAMPAIGN

#ifndef MULTIPLAYER

Edit: Uh...yeah. What he said. Faster than me.

[The_Gnat]

Thank you for your help!!