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Fixing track PODs with missing bin file extensions

Programs you need

• cpod
  
• <a href="http://mtm2.com/~mtmg/downloads/evo/EditPad.zip">editpad</a> (or equally capable text editor)
  
• <a href="http://mtm2.com/~mtmg/downloads/evo/podview.zip">podview</a>
  
• the DOS command prompt (Open Command Window Here powertoy)
  
• <a href="http://mtm2.com/~mtmg/downloads/misc/editors/pathc400.zip">pathcopy</a>

Open the finished POD in cpod and save a LST file.

Edit the LST file. DATA\NULL will show up as "DAT" and MODELS will show up as "MOD". Just remove them from the LST file, close up blank spaces, and then save.

Extract all files from the pod using podview (you can also use cpod) and be sure to recreate the directory structure.

In the WORLD folder, find the track's sit file. Open it in editpad.

• search for "NewLine" and "mass" - the exact string is "\nmass" - and replace all with "dot bin" and "NewLine" and "mass" - the exact string is ".BIN\nmass". This will add a bin file extension on object boxes too, so...
  
  
• search for dot and "00" and dot and "BIN" - the exact string is ".00.BIN" - and replace all with dot and "00" - the string is ".00". This should remove the bin extension where is it not needed; however, you should double check there are no errors, so...
  
  
• search for "!type,flags" and visually inspect each model entry. Press F3 to find next. Fix anything that isn't correct. Repeat until all models have been checked.

Save the SIT file.

Open a command prompt and browse to the models folder. Type the following command: "ren *. *.BIN" - this will add the bin file extension to all models. Close the command prompt.

Use pathcopy to create a list of models in the MODELS folder. Use "copy long path" to get the full file and path name. Copy the list into the LST file. Be careful to include the backdrop only once. Remove all path information to the left of the MODELS folder. (eg, it should only have MODELS\FILENAME.BIN for each model). Close up blank lines and save the LST file.

Open the LST file using cpod. Save the POD using a new file name.

Total time: approximately five to ten minutes.

Took me 5 to 10 minutes to understand exactly how to do the steps. This is probably because I'm not sure what you're tying to accomplish. What pod files have bin models with no bin extensions? MTM1 tracks or something?

Phinny; The whole discussion of searching was confusing to me because quotes were used for literal strings and also for the description of the strings.

my latest track, gladiator Colosseum, has this problem. i have no idea how it happened, but no one had any errors or anything, so i left it as is.

that's really weird - from Traxx?

It happens when you hide known file extensions, in Windows Explorer.

> Took me 5 to 10 minutes to understand

We make allowances for slow learners :-P


> What pod files have bin models with no bin extensions?

As has been mentioned, when you uncheck "hide file extensions for known file types" in windows explorer folder options. And I'll add it is a Traxx v1.4 and earlier problem. And as has been alluded to, XP SP1 or SP2 seems to have worked in a fix (Bill always claimed it was a windows error and not a traxx error, and this seems to confirm at least part of that is true).


> The whole discussion of searching

... assumes you're familiar with search and replace in editpad (or whatever program you use).

Fixed my butt.

I am using XP with SP2 and Summer Isle had no bin extensions.
And using Traxx 1.5 as well.

I didn't know your butt was ever broken; sorry to hear the news.


As far as this problem is concerned, I was talking about the Unable to get lnth of message.

http://cownap.com/~mtmg/errors.cgi?e=57

>As has been mentioned, when you uncheck "hide file extensions for known file types" in windows explorer folder options.

Yep. AND a Smart Windows User NEVER hide the file extension. That prevent you from virus, troyans, fake programs and blah, blah, blah.


>And I'll add it is a Traxx v1.4 and earlier problem. And as has been alluded to, XP SP1 or SP2 seems to have worked in a fix (Bill always claimed it was a windows error and not a traxx error, and this seems to confirm at least part of that is true).

95/98/98SE/ME too.

>Fixed my butt.
>I didn't know your butt was ever broken; sorry to hear the news.

See what I'm talking about?

LOL

It's too bad that a clean install of XP will be set to hide file extensions by default, and you actually have to go in and change it yourself. It still catches newbies.

I agree, working in Windoze is far too precarious for me to not have that file information available at a glance.

This says it all:

working in Windows XP is far too precarious for me, worst OS ever.