By Phe0n1x
This page informs modders about the location and purpose of certain files in Generals and Zero Hour. The first thing that you will need is a .big extractor for the .big files that Generals and Zero Hour use. FinalBIG by Matthias Wagner (homepage) is the most commonly used .big extractor.
The following files and folders are to be found in C:\Program Files\Command and Conquer Generals or C:\Program Files\Command & Conquer Generals Zero Hour
NOTE: Any text in italics is placeholder text that must be replaced with the information described. The location and existence of the files and folders described below may differ slightly depending on the version of the game you have installed.
» Game Folders
| File Path |
Description |
| UserData\Maps\ |
User-created maps are stored here by World-Builder during creation. |
| Data\Cursors\ |
Contains all of the default cursors, you may add your own for a mod. |
| Data\Language\ |
Contains your language files. This folder may not appear unless you install certain mods. |
| Data\INI\ |
Normally added after you install a mod, Generals and ZH reference here first before using the default files |
| Data\Movies\ |
Contains the in-game movies. |
| Data\Scripts\ |
Contains important scripts for being able to play maps. |
| Data\Scripts\MultiplayerScripts.scb |
Contains multiplayer scripts |
| Data\Scripts\SkirmishScript.scb |
Contains skirmish scripts |
| Data\WaterPlane\ |
Contains water effects |
| Support\ |
Contains the help files and readmes |
| MSS\ |
Contains vital program files |
| MSS\Audio[YOUR_LANGUAGE]\ or MSS\Audio[YOUR_LANGUAGE]ZH\ |
Contains audio data in your language |
| MSS[YOUR_LANGUAGE]\ or MSS\[YOUR_LANGUAGE]ZH\ |
Contains the in-game text data in your language |
| Patch.doc |
Contains the patch readme |
| Readme.doc |
Contains information about the game |
| Launcher.bmp |
The picture you see in on the splash screen |
» .BIG Files
The next part of the tutorial describes the .big files the game uses.
| .big File |
Description |
| Maps.big or MapsZH.big |
Contains the Official Multiplayer Maps and Missions |
| Music.big or MusicZH.big |
Contains the in-game music files |
| Patch.big or PatchZH.big |
Contains the patch data |
| Terrain.big or TerrainZH.big |
Contains the terrain data |
| Shaders.big or ShadersZH.big |
Contains the shader data |
|
Speech.big or SpeechZH.big and
Speech[YOUR_LANGUAGE].big or Speech[YOUR_LANGUAGE]ZH.big
|
Contains the voice sounds that you hear when units talk or during in-game clips. |
| Textures.big or TexturesZH.big |
Contains the textures used by the game. |
| Window.big or WindowZH.big |
Contains window data for the game |
| INI.big or INIZH.big |
Contains the INI data (configuration files) that run the game. Most of the modding will be done in these documents. |
» INI Directory
The third part of this tutorial describes the .ini files within INI.big and INIZH.big. It is highly recommended that you extract the .big file to the Data\INI\ directory with FinalBIG as to not corrupt your game's files. For example Data\INI\Crate.ini - which is within INI.big and INIZH.big - can also be identified by the game if it is in the Data\INI folder under the name of Crate.ini.
| File Path |
Description |
| Data\INI\Crate.ini |
Contains crate data |
| Data\INI\Rank.ini |
Contains Generals Power data |
| Data\INI\Science.ini |
Contains how many points per rank and what Generals Powers are available |
| Data\INI\SpecialPower.ini |
Contains every special weapon in the game, all go by their name in-game except the Nuclear Missile, known as the Neutron Missile in the INI file |
| Data\INI\Weapon.ini |
Contains all of the unit weapon data in the game |
| Data\INI\Object\WeaponObjects.ini |
Contains all of the special weapon objects, again—Nuclear Missile is Neutron Missile |
| Data\INI\Object\AmericaAir.ini |
Contains the data for USA air units |
| Data\INI\Object\AmericaInfantry.ini |
Contains the data for the USA infantry units |
| Data\INI\Object\AmericaVehicle.ini |
Contains the data for the USA vehicle units |
| Data\INI\Object\AmericaMiscUnit.ini |
Contains the data for miscelaneous the USA units |
| Data\INI\Object\ChinaAir.ini |
Contains the data for the China air units |
| Data\INI\Object\ChinaInfantry.ini |
Contains the data for the China infantry units |
| Data\INI\Object\ChinaVehicle.ini |
Contains the data for the China vehicle units |
| Data\INI\Object\ChinaMiscUnit.ini |
Contains the data for the miscelaneous China units |
| Data\INI\Object\GLAAir.ini |
Contains the data for the GLA vehicle units |
| Data\INI\Object\GLAInfantry.ini |
Contains the data for the GLA infantry units |
| Data\INI\Object\GLAVehicle.ini |
Contains the data for the GLA vehicle units |
| Data\INI\Object\GLAMiscUnit.ini |
Contains the data for the miscelaneous GLA units |
| Data\INI\Object\AirforceGeneral.ini |
Contains the data for the Airforce General |
| Data\INI\Object\BossGeneral.ini |
Contains the data for the Challenge Boss general |
| Data\INI\Object\ChemicalGeneral.ini |
Contains the data for the Chemical General |
| Data\INI\Object\DemoGeneral.ini |
Contains the data for Demolitions General |
| Data\INI\Object\InfantryGeneral.ini |
Contains the data for the Infantry General |
| Data\INI\Object\LaserGeneral.ini |
Contains the data for the Laser General |
| Data\INI\Object\NukeGeneral.ini |
Contains the data for the Nucular General |
| Data\INI\Object\StealthGeneral.ini |
Contains the data for the Stealth General |
| Data\INI\Object\SuperWeaponGeneral.ini |
Contains the data for the Super Weapons General |
| Data\INI\Object\TankGeneral.ini |
Contains the data for Tank General |
NOTE: The .ini files of AirforceGeneral.ini and below are only found in INIZH.big.
If you want to specifically change a basic unit that is common to a faction (not General-dependent), then you need to edit AmericaAir.ini, AmericaInfantry.ini, AmericaVehicle.ini, AmericaMiscUnit.ini, ChinaAir.ini, ChinaInfantry.ini, ChinaVehicle.ini, ChinaMiscUnit.ini, GLAAir.ini, GLAInfantry.ini, GLAVehicle.ini, or GLAMiscUnit.ini. The *Generals.ini only contain data related to their uniqure units and powers.
» Data Folders
The next part of this tutorial deals with files in your "My Documents" folder, it can be found on your Desktop or by default at: C:\Documents and Settings\[USER_NAME]\My Documents\.
The following files can be found in My Documents\Command and Conquer Generals Data and My Documents\Command and Conquer Generals Zero Hour Data.
| File Path |
Description |
| Maps\ |
Contains user-created maps. Make sure your map has a folder with the same name so that the map reviewers and the individuals playing your map have an easier time installing your custom map. |
| MapPreviews\ |
Contains the .tga files (mini-map image file included with each map) of the user-created maps. This folder is managed by Generals and Zero Hour automatically and functions as a cache of the mini-map image file included with all maps, including those in the Maps\ folder. Make sure you include the .tga file in your map when you send it to people.
|
| Replays\ |
Folder that contains your saved in-game replays. You can also install downloaded replays here.
|
| Options.ini |
Configuration file that contains you options that you set in-game. |
| Skirmish.ini |
Configuration file that contains temporary data about the last map that you played, if you edit it, nothing will change |
| SkirmishStats.ini |
Contains your overall skirmish stats, edit at your own risk! |
| ReleaseCrashInfo.txt |
When Generals or Zero Hour crashes, the cause is listed in this file |
| ReleaseCrashInfoPrev.txt |
Contains the previous crash information |
FYI: For user-created maps, you your map file and your .tga file need to be in a folder with the same name, case, and spacing as the map name. For example, "big_gap" is not the same as "big gap" and "Big_gap" is not the same as "big_gap" when Generals or Zero Hour interprets the name of your map.
Disclaimer: Remember, anything contained within this tutorial is for educational and modding purposes only. By editing files, know that you are doing so at your own risk and expense. If you do corrupt your game by incorrectly editing a file, we recommend completely uninstalling it, ensuring the entire installation folder has been deleted, and then reinstalling it.
