Embedded Files
Question: How to Customize a map by transferring both Foliage & Texture layers?
Question: How to Customize a map by transferring both Foliage & Texture layers?
Someone posted on one of the discords I'm on that they wanted to "copy" the grass (crop grass) from Calmsden Farm, to Attingham Park, since they really liked the grass on Calmsden, but didn't like the "base game" yellow-ish grass that is from the base game, and in use on Attingham.
To make this happen, we're going to have to transfer the Grass Foliage layer (the part that grows) and the texture layer (the ground texture) from Calmsden Farm to Attingham Park. To do this we will be editing the XML of the map, as well as copying a few key files.
Table of contents
Table of contents
Starting State
Starting State
Looking at both maps, with the different stages of growth for "crop grass" we can see some notable differences. First off, the Calmsden grass has a much "brighter" base texture layer, very green - while Attingham's base layer is very brown almost looking like straight up dirt. The growth stages are pretty similar, noting that the Calmsden grass is a bit "patchy".
The final growth stage (stage 4, far right ) on is a softer green (more consistent with the growth stages) not as tall, and still retains the "patchy" nature. The Attingham grass on the other hand has stark differences in color between stages - stages 1 & 4 are a "yellow-ish" color, while the growing stages (2 & 3) are a vibrant green.
Calmsden Grass - Stage 1 & 2
Calmsden Grass - Stage 3 & 4
Attingham Grass - Stage 1 & 2
Attingham Grass - Stage 3 & 4
Step 1: Download & Unzip
Step 1: Download & Unzip
Download and Unzip both maps. I would suggest that on the map that is being edited (the "goal" map) that you immediately rename the map folder to something like FS22_MapName_EDIT to make sure that you don't have any conflicts. Be aware that renaming the folder will require a new savegame.
We're going to work directly in your mod folder, using the unzipped folder we just renamed. To make sure that it doesn't cause conflicts with the original Attingham Park file, I'd suggest moving the original FS22_AttinghamPark.zip to a different location. If they are both in the same savegame folder, it'll be hard to tell which you are loading when you load up the game.
Step 2: Copy Texture Files
Step 2: Copy Texture Files
First we are going to transfer the ground texture. Let's open up the Calmsden map and find the textures folder. We're looking for a folder called groundTypes. [FS22_Calmsden\maps\textures\groundtypes]
Open a second explorer window, and navigate to the similar folder structure on Attingham [FS22_AttinghamPark\maps\textures]. Since we don't have a groundTypes folder there, let's create one. [FS22_AttinghamPark\maps\textures\groundTypes].
Now, Copy all of the files from the Calmsden groundTypes folder to the Attingham folder. You should be copying the following 4 files:
groundType_grass_diffuse.dds
groundType_grass_normal.dds
groundType_grassCut_diffuse.dds
groundType_grassCut_normal.dds
Step 3: Update the texture files in the new map
Step 3: Update the texture files in the new map
Since Attingham uses the default textures, It's going to be somewhat easy to find the right textures to replace. First off, we're going to need to open up both Calmsden's map.i3d file and Attingham's map.i3d file both in a text editor - this step is much easier in a text editor than doing the same in the Giant's Editor
In the Attingham file, look for this string: [grassCut_diffuse]. Then, in the Calmsden file, look for the same string. Notice how the Calmsden file points to a "local" directory, where Attingham points to a $data directory? That means that the attingham map is using base-game textures. Let's update the Attingham lines for [groundType_grassCut_diffuse] and [groundType_grassCut_normal] to the new paths referring to the local files that we just copied in. It should look something like: (don't worry that the line says .png where our files are .dds.)
<File fileId="281" filename="textures/groundTypes/groundType_grassCut_diffuse.png"/>
<File fileId="282" filename="textures/groundTypes/groundType_grassCut_normal.png"/>
Then, we'll do the same for the [groundType_grass_diffuse] and [groundType_grass_normal] which when you are done should look like:
<File fileId="279" filename="textures/groundTypes/groundType_grass_diffuse.png"/>
<File fileId="280" filename="textures/groundTypes/groundType_grass_normal.png"/>
Step 4: Test it out in game
Step 4: Test it out in game
In your mods folder, first make sure that the original FS22_AttinghamPark.zip is not in the same folder, and without zipping it up, we're going to test it in single player.
Before our edit
After our edit
As you can see in the before / after photos above, the grass texture is now the brighter custom grass texture from Calmsden, as well as the grass texture under the growing grass - which is brighter and less "brown". The grass is still the same, let's change that next.
Step 5: Copy over the grass files
Step 5: Copy over the grass files
Now we're going to copy over the proper files from the Calmsden map to get that nice vibrant green grass (not the "puke green" grass that is basegame).
First we are going to create the same folder structures in the Attingham file tree that are in the Calmsden file tree. As you browse the Calmsden file tree, you'll see that within the textures folder, Oxy has his own foliage folder [FS22_Calmsden\maps\textures\foliage] . This is where the custom foliage images are stored. Let's create that same folder structure over on Attingham. [FS22_AttinghamPark\maps\textures\foliage]
Now, we need to copy in the correct files from Calmsden to Attingham. We don't need everything this time, so only copy the following files over to the new Attingham foliage folder:
grass.i3d
grass.i3d.shapes
grass.xml
meadowFR_diffuse.png
meadowFR_grassCutLOD_diffuse_H.png
meadowFR_grassGreenMiddleLOD_diffuse_H.png
meadowFR_grassGreenSmallLOD_diffuse_H.png
meadowFR_grassHarvestReadyLOD_diffuse_H.png
meadowUS_diffuse.png
You'll also need to copy over the [distance] folder to the new folder.
distance/grass1.dds
distance/grassCut_distance_diffuse.dds
Step 6: Update the map to look for the new grass.xml file
Step 6: Update the map to look for the new grass.xml file
Just like before, we're going to update the Attingham map.i3d file to match the Calmsden map.i3d file in regards to the new grass.xml file that we just copied over.
In the Attingham file, look for this string: [grass.xml]. Then, in the Calmsden file, look for the same string. Notice how the Calmsden file points to a "local" directory, where Attingham points to a $data directory? Again, all we have to do is tell the map to look in the new location for the new file. Update the Attingham line to look like this:
<File fileId="303" filename="textures/foliage/grass.xml"/>
Step 7: Test it out in game
Step 7: Test it out in game
Make sure you save, and load up the game again!
Calmsden Grass on Attingham!
You can see here from the screenshot on the left, that we now have the Calmsden grass textures & foliage on Attingham Park!
Step 8: Zip it up and Play!
Step 8: Zip it up and Play!
Now that it's all working in game - the safe thing to do is to zip up the edited map file, and enjoy!
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