    ------------------------------------------------------------------------
                               TCBuild.com
           Converting Build.exe for Total Conversions for Duke3d
                 by Ben Smit -    email: bens@dbn.lia.net
                   web site: www.dbn.lia.net/users/util
    ------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Let's say you want to create or edit maps for a Duke3d Total Conversion
    called PLATOON for instance.
    I will use this TC as an example - I hope TNT don't mind;-)

    Create any directory - say PLATBULD
    Into this directory copy :-

    TCBuild.com
    Build.exe
    Duke3d.grp
    Kextract.exe
    Kgroup.exe
    Platoon.grp

    Most Total Conversions today come with a .GRP file, if it does have
    a group file then skip the next paragraph.



    If not and you received the package with all the files seperate
    (as was for the old Duke3d version 1.3d)  you will need to create a
    temporary group file. Create another directory and copy all the ART
    files only from that Total Conversion into this directory together
    with the file KGROUP.EXE which is in your GOODIES directory.
    If there are no .ART files then it's not a Total Conversion but you can
    still create a Build.exe for this directory (See for Duked3d at end)
    Else just type KGROUP.EXE PLATOON.GRP *.ART and press enter.
    Copy this new PLATOON.GRP file into your new PLATBULD directory which
    you originally created.



    That's it - now just type TCBUILD and press enter.

    A message will appear as follows, requesting the Group filename for the
    TC you want to edit maps for.

    Build modification for Total Conversion maps by Ben Smit
    email: bens@dbn.lia.net'
    Web site www.dbn.lia.net/users/util
    Enter the name of the TC Group (.GRP) File - (Esc to Quit)

    Type the name PLATOON and press enter.

    TCBuild will now do all the necessary and create a file call BUILDX.GRP
    normally between 13 and 20 megs in size. TCBuild will also delete all
    unwanted files from this directory and extract all the MAP files for the
    Total Conversion in question - in our example, PLATOON.

    If there was no NAMES.H file in the TC group file TCBuild will create
    you one - but this will be for DUKE3D.

    If the TC in question has new weapons, enemy etc. and when build a map
    the names for the sprites are incorrect - then you will need to delete
    this NAMES.H and create your own. Sometimes the TC's web site will
    offer you this file, check this out as a first option - INSIST on one.

    If they do not have one, (or won't give you one) you will need the
    DEFS.CON file which is sometimes in this case called PLATOON.DEF
    If it is not seperately supplied try extracting it from their .GRP file
    Kextract.exe Platoon.grp Platoon.def
    or
    Kextract.exe Platoon.grp Defs.con

    Once you have found the file - rename it to NAMES.H and load it into an
    editor or word processor. All you need from this file is the 1st section
    starting :-

    define SECTOREFFECTOR 1
    and ending
    define FRAMEEFFECT1 3999  (for duke3d version 1.3d)
    or ending
    define JURYGUY 4943       (for Atomic/Plutonium)

    Get rid of the rest. Now you need to add the crosshatch or pound sign (#)
    in front of each - define

    #define SECTOREFFECTOR 1
    and ending
    #define FRAMEEFFECT1 3999  (for duke3d version 1.3d)
    or ending
    #define JURYGUY 4943       (for Atomic/Plutonium)

    If creating your own NAMES.H file sounds to complicated just use the one
    which was created from TCBuild. The only difference is that the names for
    the sprites will differ...... not a serious problem.

    That's it - You can now Build maps in THIS directory for the PLATOON TC
    or whatever TC you have.

    NB. This version of BUILD.EXE will now only work for this TC and nothing
    else - Maybe rename it to some other name like BUILDP.EXE for example.

    In this way you can have a directory for each Total Conversion and not
    clutter up your main Duke3d directory.

    TCBuild will work for Duke3d itself or if the TC had no .ART files - if
    you want to do so - in this case you would need two DUKE3D.GRP files in
    your working directory with the one renamed to say DUKEXX.GRP for example.

    Good Luck, Ben


