Download TDF Information

Last updated: 12/20/98 22:02

The TDF file within the download directory contains information that describes which build menus of which construction units are able to build the unit it is describing. The file is a text file that is typcially given a name like unitname.tdf, where "unitname" is the unit's short name.

Within these TDF files, are (possibly) multiple occurrances of blocks of statements like the following example:

[MENUENTRYX]
    {
    UNITMENU=CORAVP;    // Who Builds It?
    MENU=4;             // Which Menu?
    BUTTON=2;           // Which Button?
    UNITNAME=Hellfire;  // Unit To Be Built
    }

Within a TDF file in the download subdirectory, the following variables have meaning:

Variable	Description	Examples
[]	Set to a value of "MENUENTRY1", "MENUENTRY2", etc. depending on how many blocks of information you have in this particular file. It simply ennumerates the entries within the file.	[MENUENTRY1]
BUTTON	Set to a value of 0-5, depending on which position on the build menu "page" does the button appear in.	button=2;
MENU	Set to the number of the menu you wish the unit's build menu button to appear (i.e. which build menu "page" does it appear on). The only confusing thing about this variable is that the first menu is actually menu #2. The second is #3, and so on.	menu=4;
UNITMENU	Set to the short name of the construction unit that is able to build your unit (e.g. ARMALAB for the ARM Advanced Kbot Lab).	unitmenu=CORAVP;
UNITNAME	The short name of your unit.	unitname=Hellfire;

Like Unit Numbers and Weapon Numbers, build menu locations for units must be unique. That is, each build menu location for each unit that can build other units must be occupied by only one unit. If two units have the same build menu location, only one will show up, and it is hard to say which one.

A small tool is available called TADGen that will simplify the creation of this file for you by prompting you for the required values.