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Author Topic:   Copying DLL files not needed?
Bloodroot
Knight

Posts: 54
From:
Registered: Feb 2002

posted 26 February 2002 23:20     Click Here to See the Profile for Bloodroot        Reply w/Quote   
Greetings, all.

I have been away for quite some time from these forums. A new trend I saw on my return was modified DLL files being a common thing distributed with mods. (At least, the few I've downloaded.)

The instructions I have read say to back up and then replace your existing DLL files, then switch back later. Some mods come with a patch mpq with similar instructions.

I have found that, under Windows 2000, if I simply put the .mpq file, .dll files and/or data directory in, say "d:\d2mods\mtg" or "d:\d2mods\me" then copy my d2 shortcut, change the working directory and add -direct and -txt to the command line ... it all works.

Even the right DLL files are loaded. (I have checked..the game won't care if you do not have, say, d2game.dll in the main directory if you have it in the mod directory.)

So this has made my mod playing much easier...if it's a patch mpq type mod, just toss it in a directory, rig up the shortcut and POOF it works, with no renaming the main patch_d2.mpq file at all. If it is a direct mod, obviously that works too. No renaming DLLs, no renaming ANYTHING.

Perhaps this is already known as true, but none of the instructions I have seen explain it ... all these new developments are so fascinating. I am a unix code jockey, but the idea of learning enough Visual C++ to write a custom DLL is starting to appeal to me...

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Myhrginoc
Honorary Warlord

Posts: 1326
From: Percussion U
Registered: Dec 2001

posted 27 February 2002 21:29     Click Here to See the Profile for Myhrginoc   Click Here to Email Myhrginoc        Reply w/Quote   
The DLLs you see with advanced mods are hex-edited, not recompiled from C++. You might wander over to the Expansion Code Editing Forum if you want to check out the gritty details.

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Bloodroot
Knight

Posts: 54
From:
Registered: Feb 2002

posted 28 February 2002 12:26     Click Here to See the Profile for Bloodroot        Reply w/Quote   
I did know that...

All my assembly skills were developed in the 80s on 6502 and 65c02 machines, so I am just a tad rusty.

I wonder, though, if it might be possible to use a new DLL, hex editing the old DLL to call something from our new DLL instead of the old one when Skill X goes off.

Just a thought.

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Myhrginoc
Honorary Warlord

Posts: 1326
From: Percussion U
Registered: Dec 2001

posted 28 February 2002 19:05     Click Here to See the Profile for Myhrginoc   Click Here to Email Myhrginoc        Reply w/Quote   
That would be theoretically possible, as would adding new code at the very end of an existing DLL. The latter might be easier.

I'll have to remember to try that instead of using NOP blocks next time I expand a function, to see if it works.

This topic is heading deep into Expansion Code Editing territory, if some moderator would be so kind as to lock this instance and start another there

[This message has been edited by Myhrginoc (edited 28 February 2002).]

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Wyvern
Honorary Warlord

Posts: 1137
From: A very large cave
Registered: Jan 2002

posted 02 March 2002 15:13     Click Here to See the Profile for Wyvern   Click Here to Email Wyvern        Reply w/Quote   
So at the end of the dll you can add stuff? I never tried that with a hex editer.

------------------
Open the door jahobie WhorÉ -grave ♣♣♣

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General Nutt
Lord

Posts: 123
From: Great White North
Registered: Jan 2002

posted 03 March 2002 20:34     Click Here to See the Profile for General Nutt   Click Here to Email General Nutt        Reply w/Quote   
Wyvern your avatar is driving me nutts, please check you e-mail.

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Speak Softly and carry a big sword (or two)

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Baldrick
Moderator

Posts: 1334
From: The ShadowHaven
Registered: Oct 2001

posted 03 March 2002 20:45     Click Here to See the Profile for Baldrick   Click Here to Email Baldrick        Reply w/Quote   
Why, general nutt? i love the avatar.

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Baldrick
Leave out the k at the end and i'll send at you the killer rabbit.
Keeper of the
ShadowHaven and QFG mod assistant developer.

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General Nutt
Lord

Posts: 123
From: Great White North
Registered: Jan 2002

posted 03 March 2002 20:55     Click Here to See the Profile for General Nutt   Click Here to Email General Nutt        Reply w/Quote   
it's just the gif is all messed up, I just fixed it and sent it back , so the background doesn't held, and made the file little smaller.

------------------
Speak Softly and carry a big sword (or two)

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Baldrick
Moderator

Posts: 1334
From: The ShadowHaven
Registered: Oct 2001

posted 03 March 2002 21:01     Click Here to See the Profile for Baldrick   Click Here to Email Baldrick        Reply w/Quote   
nutt he made the backround because he wanted too.

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Baldrick
Leave out the k at the end and i'll send at you the killer rabbit.
Keeper of the
ShadowHaven and QFG mod assistant developer.

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General Nutt
Lord

Posts: 123
From: Great White North
Registered: Jan 2002

posted 03 March 2002 21:13     Click Here to See the Profile for General Nutt   Click Here to Email General Nutt        Reply w/Quote   
whooops.

ah LSD thing I guess (wow the trails man)my mistake.

[This message has been edited by General Nutt (edited 03 March 2002).]

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