Where did you find the guardian turret? can you post a link, or the file on here? You will need to use that file, which I assume you mean the object description of the turret. That file will have to go in a folder called Objects within a folder named INI within the Data folder of the ZH directory. It will look like this:

C:\Program Files\EA Games\Command & Conquer Generals Zero Hour\Data\INI\Object

What I suggest is to find the object file for the Tank general from the files you exported using FinalBig. It is called:

Data\INI\Object\TankGeneral.ini

Open that file up and scroll to the bottom and copy paste the desctiprtion you have for the turret at the bottom of that file. Now create that folder system like I showed above and place that TankGeneral.ini file inside that Object folder. The game will reference this folder just as it does the ZHINI.big file and it will find your updated TankGeneral.ini file. Now without seeing this turret I cannot be sure if it has a new weapon or not. So unless someone else here is familiar with it you will have to determine rather you need to copy paste something into the weapon.ini file as well. If that is the case than you will need to find the description of the weapon it uses which will be a seperate file and copy paste it into the existing weapon.ini file. This file just contains all the weapon types that each unit/structure uses. Within the object description for this turret it will list (if more than one) all of the weapon sets. I would suggest finding that section on the turret and copying that weapon type. Then go into the weapon.ini file and go to Edit > Find, and paste that weapon type there so you can see if its already an existing weapon type. If its not, then you should have another file for the weapon sommwhere inside your download. Once you have placed the object description inside the TankGeneral.ini file, as well as checked on and updated the weapon.ini file if necessary then you will need to make that turret purchasable by the tank gen. Note: you can have it purchasable by any faction, just because its in the TankGeneral.ini file doesnt mean it belongs to that general alone. Also, if you have to update the weapon.ini file, then just use the one you extracted in that .big file, and add in your section for your turret then place that file iside the INI folder that I had you create earlier.

Search for a file called CommandSet.ini, within that file search for the section that has the Tank_DozerCommandSet, it will look like this:

CommandSet Tank_ChinaDozerCommandSet
1 = Tank_Command_ConstructChinaPowerPlant
2 = Tank_Command_ConstructChinaInternetCenter
3 = Tank_Command_ConstructChinaBarracks
4 = Tank_Command_ConstructChinaAirfield
5 = Tank_Command_ConstructChinaSupplyCenter
6 = Tank_Command_ConstructChinaPropagandaCenter
7 = Tank_Command_ConstructChinaBunker
8 = Tank_Command_ConstructChinaSpeakerTower
9 = Tank_Command_ConstructChinaGattlingCannon
10 = Tank_Command_ConstructChinaNuclearMissileLauncher
11 = Tank_Command_ConstructChinaWarFactory
12 = Tank_Command_ConstructChinaCommandCenter
14 = Command_DisarmMinesAtPosition
End

CommandSet Tank_ChinaDozerCommandSet
1 = Tank_Command_ConstructChinaPowerPlant
2 = Tank_Command_ConstructChinaInternetCenter
3 = Tank_Command_ConstructChinaBarracks
4 = Tank_Command_ConstructChinaAirfield
5 = Tank_Command_ConstructChinaSupplyCenter
6 = Tank_Command_ConstructChinaPropagandaCenter
7 = Tank_Command_ConstructChinaBunker
8 = Tank_Command_ConstructChinaSpeakerTower
9 = Tank_Command_ConstructChinaGattlingCannon
10 = Tank_Command_ConstructChinaNuclearMissileLauncher
11 = Tank_Command_ConstructChinaWarFactory
12 = Tank_Command_ConstructChinaCommandCenter
13 = Tank_Command_ConstructTurret
14 = Command_DisarmMinesAtPosition
End

The number on the left corresponds to the position of the image that you click to build each item. 1 is the top left position, then 2 is below that, 3 next to one, and 4 is below 3 and so on. There is a diagram of it at the top of the CommandSet.ini file. You do not have to remove the china bunker if you dont want to since the slot for 13 is not taken. So if you want, type 13 = and then put the name of the turret after the equal sign just as the others did. It is not terribly important what you put call that line. You may call it Tank_Command_ConstructTurret if you wish. The second command set I posted there is edited the way yours should look after adding that part in.

Next you will need to edit the CommandButton.ini file. This file is referneced by the computer to explain what to do for each command in the command set file. Anywhere in the CommandButton.ini file you will need to add a section for your new turret. It will look like this:

CommandButton Tank_Command_ConstructTurret
Command = DOZER_CONSTRUCT
Object = Tank_ChinaTurret
TextLabel = CONTROLBAR:ConstructChinaCommandCenter
ButtonImage = SNComCentr
ButtonBorderType = BUILD ; Identifier for the User as to what kind of button this is
DescriptLabel = CONTROLBAR:ToolTipChinaBuildCommandCenter

The two sections in bold are very important. The first one must match the line you had in the commandset.ini file. It is what links these two together. The second must match the first line of the object description you placed in the TankGeneral.ini file. It is just the object name. Now I copied this command button section from the tank gen's command for contructing the command center. So in this example the text when hovering over the turret would read "Construct Command Center" or something to that effect. Also the image on the button will be that of the command center. If you want to know how to change the text we can explain that to you, but as for the image, without haveing an image that you want there, then there isnt much you can do about that besides just choosing an existing image and we can explain that if you know which image you want. Below I have the start to the object description for a China Helix, the part in bold is what must match up with the command line of the command button file:

Object Tank_ChinaVehicleHelix

; *** ART Parameters ***
SelectPortrait = SNHelix_L
ButtonImage = SNHelix

UpgradeCameo2 = Upgrade_ChinaBlackNapalm
UpgradeCameo3 = Upgrade_ChinaHelixGattlingCannon
UpgradeCameo4 = Upgrade_ChinaHelixPropagandaTower
UpgradeCameo5 = Upgrade_ChinaHelixBattleBunke

In case there is any confusion about the file system I am going to try to clear it up for you here. The file you extracted, the INIZH.big file. That file is a compiled form of many other files that the game uses. While you have it open in FinalBig you can see on the left pane all the file paths that each file uses. If you wish to edit a file, and place it in the Zero Hour directory you must place it in the same loction that the .big file said it was located. For many of these files its within the Data\INI foler. Some will need to go into a sub folder of the INI folder called Object. Others will go in Textures etc etc. Just make sure you use the same file path that the oringal file inside INIZH.big had. You can extract maps as well from the MapZH.big file for editing in world builder.

Edited by user Monday, March 31, 2008 1:58:27 PM(UTC)  | Reason: Not specified

I found your turret, I just got shockwave a couple days ago so the turret name wasnt apparent to me at first. There may be more to do than just what I listed above. Although all that must be done. Im not sure which turret that is in the game but if it uses upgrades or anything it gets a little bit more complicated. But, if you want, start with what I listed above and we'll work off the errors you recieve from there.

Also, after unzipping (since I dont have time right thsi second to get a membership for that site) what all files does this zip file contain? That should help determine what all has to be done. There should be new audio, weaponry and textures and models etc... for this turret so it will take quite a bit of fussing with to get it working.

Edited by user Tuesday, April 1, 2008 3:33:11 AM(UTC)  | Reason: Not specified

Models, textures, a text file, and the object file... what I don't see is a weapon.ini file or any audio files. It could be that it just uses existing weaponry and sounds but I am going to make sure later... I have a 3 hour drive in a few minutes but tonight I'll probably see if I cant successfully add this mod on my system so its easier to explain.

I thought as much

My "modding" skills go as far as changing and adding new colours and even that's half assed

Edited by user Tuesday, April 1, 2008 2:53:21 PM(UTC)  | Reason: Not specified

Ok, thanks for the help

Dont worry about the csf, i called it a str file, which is the same thing just different file type. That file doesnt affect anything. I never even placed it when I put these files on my system. It is only a text file so it alters text so that the game knows what that new turret is when you hover your mouse over it in game, that sorta thing. Go to your my documents folder, and then click on Command and Conquer Generals then ReleaseCrashInfo. Post those contents here. If it says something like AccessViolation Game update, then try opening world bulder and if you get an error, or multiple errors then post those errors here instead.

Ok, that is helpful. Somtimes world builder gets errors that arent realy anything, so for now I'd say igonore the pop up patriot error.

Now what you need to do is check to make sure that the command line of your dozer command set regarding the turret matches up with whats in the CommandButton.ini file. I am assuming you did not change the comamnd line that they provided which was:

10 = Command_ConstructAmericaGuardianTurret

Yours may use a different number depending on what was free in the command set. So yours probably looks like this once you added it to the tank china command set:

CommandSet Tank_ChinaDozerCommandSet
1 = Tank_Command_ConstructChinaPowerPlant
2 = Tank_Command_ConstructChinaInternetCenter
3 = Tank_Command_ConstructChinaBarracks
4 = Tank_Command_ConstructChinaAirfield
5 = Tank_Command_ConstructChinaSupplyCenter
6 = Tank_Command_ConstructChinaPropagandaCenter
7 = Tank_Command_ConstructChinaBunker
8 = Tank_Command_ConstructChinaSpeakerTower
9 = Tank_Command_ConstructChinaGattlingCannon
10 = Tank_Command_ConstructChinaNuclearMissileLauncher
11 = Tank_Command_ConstructChinaWarFactory
12 = Tank_Command_ConstructChinaCommandCenter
13 = Command_ConstructAmericaGuardianTurret
14 = Command_DisarmMinesAtPosition
End

Now that has to match up with the CommandButton.ini file. In the Commandbutton.ini file you should paste into that file somewhere at the bottom the following.


CommandButton Command_ConstructAmericaGuardianTurret
Command = DOZER_CONSTRUCT
Object = AmericaGuardianTurret
TextLabel = CONTROLBAR:ConstructAmericaGuardianTurret
ButtonImage = SAGuardian
ButtonBorderType = BUILD ; Identifier for the User as to what kind of button this is
DescriptLabel = CONTROLBAR:ToolTipUSABuildGuardianTurret
End

You need to paste that entire section into the commandbutton.ini file and the part in bold MUST match up with the line you had in the command set. It does not matter that is says American in the line, just that they are the same as each other. The second part that I bolded in that command button is the object itself. This line MUST match up with the first line of your object description. That is the data that came in that large file that starts and end with the following:

Object AmericaGuardianTurret

; *** ART Parameters ***
SelectPortrait = SAGuardian_L
ButtonImage = SAGuardian
Draw = W3DModelDraw ModuleTag_01

.
.
.


Geometry = CYLINDER
GeometryMajorRadius = 12.0
GeometryMinorRadius = 1.0
GeometryHeight = 14.0
GeometryIsSmall = No
Shadow = SHADOW_VOLUME
BuildCompletion = PLACED_BY_PLAYER

End

It is a long section so I just posted the begining and end of that file but you need to leave all of whats in between obviously. The part in bold must match up with that bold line in the commmand button file.

Make sure inside the Data foler of your zero hour directory there is a folder called INI. Inside that folder you need another folder called Object. Inside the object folder is where the file goes that you have that object description. The name of that file DOES NOT MATTER. Mine is named 'GT'. This file must be of type file extension .ini On vista it is a bit of a ***** but if you are running XP then just type .ini after the name. Mine would say GT.ini The CommandButton.ini, and CommandSet.ini files are the same way, but those don't go in the object folder. They just go in the INI folder, but must be named like I stated already. With those make sure you are using the orinal files and just adding in what is needed. In the CommandSet.ini file you also have to add in the command set of the turret. That was also included in that large file you have. Just copy paste the contents of his command set at the bottom of the CommandSet.ini file. It should look like this.


CommandSet GuardianTurretCommandSet
13 = Command_StrategyCenter_Stop
14 = Command_Sell
End

Make sure you have done these things correctly. Then we can move on to see if the models and textures and weaponri where placed right.

So did you get it to work then? FYI, that line corresponds to the line in the command button and therefore has NO OTHER PURPOSE! You could put anything there as long as it matches the command button.

If that did work for you, try opening world builder, im curious if that pop up patriot error is still around. It shouldn't be since you dont even have the patriot object description or even model files in your directory.

Edited by user Wednesday, April 2, 2008 6:26:54 PM(UTC)  | Reason: Not specified

Yes, that is not an error of yours, I noticed both the upward fire and the slanted turret... working on why it does it though. Ill let you know when I figure it out.

EDIT - Do you remember, does the turret look like that in the mod? with the funny angle and all?

Edited by user Thursday, April 3, 2008 6:21:39 AM(UTC)  | Reason: Not specified

Yea I agree, I was just saying that it wasnt an error in placing the files. I even tried to change some of the values for the turret in both its object descriptiong and also in the weapon.ini file... I couldnt get it to look right or even look any different than it does now. I'm wondering if whoever made this model in this instance, maybe they messed up the part where the cannon must function independently from the swivel. I didn't notice but does it have recoil when it fires??

Anyhow it looks stupid, but you could easily just get the right one from the mod if you wanted. Its what I did with the mammoth tank cuz I think its awesome.