Help with APCD Object Library please

[Weeler]

I'm still in the "dabbling" and trying things mode with the APCD. I downloaded a couple of files with trees from LeWAW. 68 and 48 trees in crz.status.
He also had a "22 step" Adobe tutorial on how to get them into the objects library, which I followed, ( or at least I thought I did ). Ultimately my APCD
ended up with literally NO 2D objects at all when I finished. I wasn't able to retrieve them at all, and I ended up uninstalling and RE installing the
APCD 2003. LeWAW did an excellent job with the tutorial, however, is there ANY way I can get these new trees into the object library that doesn't take 22 steps ??
Right now, as I mentioned, the files are in crz. form ( and of course need to be .btx format ). Could someone help me get them to their home in
a little "simpler" procedure, or should I try the tutorial again ? Speaking of which, i also tried to do a "Library Merge" of all the 2D plantings in the
APCD 2001 to the 2003 version, which ultimately told me was successful, but really didn't happen either. None of the 2001 objects show up.
( The reason I wanted to do that "merge" was because I like a lot of the 2001 plantings, etc. )
So....I sure would welcome anyone who does this type of thing regularly, to give me info on how to do it as smoothly as possible. Thanks in advance
for reading !

Weeler

[Adelade]

Are you sure you added the objects to the Planting Set too? Because otherwise they wont show up in the planting tab, even if they were correctly and successfully added to the object library. You need to first add them to the object library, then within the object library add them to a planting set.

[Weeler]

Yes, because the trees were small, medium, and large.....I created a planting set called "New Trees". I will try the tutorial from LeWAW again
tomorrow, but I'd still like to know if there is a quicker, easier way to do this. Thanks Adelade.

[Adelade]

Hmm I see, well I havent seen LeWAW's guide so I cant really say, but if you didnt find success with it you could always try alternative guides by Lez or Dan.

I dont remember exactly which video it is that Lez talks about the specific part you're interested in but based on the individual titles I think its parts 34-36 and 44-45 you're looking for, probably mainly 34, 44 and 45? viewtopic.php?f=7&t=49

Or try Dan's steps in this post (skip down to where it says 1 2 3 etc) viewtopic.php?p=460#p460

There are two different methods of extracting trees from a CRZ, I personally only use the Links Extender method, which is the same one Dan describes, I believe Lez mentions both.

If it still wont work, try describe with as much detail as possible what exactly you're seeing that goes wrong, with where and when. We will get it working one way or another. Good luck

[Weeler]

Adelade: I never downloaded or used the Links Extender originally. I just did it 30 min. ago. BUT, I'm not sure it's in the right place in my files.
I have it in Program Files/Microsoft Games/APCD2003. It's all in there within the Links Extender file icon, but when I click on it, the main page comes up, but when I try to click on a function such as "2D import", I don't get anything. I don't have a "hand" on my cursor.....it's like it's all "inactive". Where am I going wrong? ( Perhaps we should take this off-line to a few PM's and not create a long thread. What do you think ? )

Ron

[Adelade]

Here is fine (unless you mind), always a chance your issue is experienced by someone else who would benefit from seeing the thread.

First, make sure you have Links Extender V2 (or 2.5) instead of just version 1. It should clearly say "V2" on the top bar when the program is open.

It is an old user-made program with some rough edges here and there (Im not complaining, I think it is amazing that it was made and that it works at all) so your mouse looking suspect may not be abnormal, Im not too sure because I have custom mouse graphics and cant really compare your observation to how it looks for me.

When clicking the Export button in Links Extender, nothing apparent happening is perfectly normal. Instead, as long as you highlighted some files before it, they should appear in a folder at (C:)\Users\[Username]\Documents\Links Extender v2, look there.

If they're not there, try rebooting your computer and then extracting again. I experienced a problem very recently where it would not export files after a fresh install of Links Extender, but it solved itself immediately after a reboot.

On the one hand, if Links Extender is placed somewhere in Program Files, it should ideally not be within the folder of another program I dont think, but on the other hand my guess is that it would probably still work fine then, so I doubt it is the actual root of your problem (though I suppose it wouldnt hurt to try place it somewhere else if nothing of the above works for you, basically anywhere should be fine).

[Weeler]

OK. I downloaded the version I'm using here on LC in the "APCD Add-ons" section of the Forum. The full name of the file is: Links and APCD Extender.exe. There is NO version listed at all. The file size is 8.82Mb. There is also NO preset installation path with it. So....I'm assuming this is
"Version 1"....or at least outdated. I don't know where else to download the v 2 or 2.5 ( in addition, if that's the case why is it still available instead of
an updated version ? ) Anyhow....where can I find the latest version download ?

Thanks.........

[Adelade]

Yea I have a folder for the 1.0 version too and your description seems to match it. v2.5 can be found at https://www.dropbox.com/s/7hfy7i642bgbj ... 5.zip?dl=0 (provided by Lez Marwick)

I feel like I remember Lez mentioning that the v1.0 could be useful for something, though I forgot what it was. I agree that the link at viewtopic.php?f=16&t=66 should ideally be changed, or the 2.5 version at least be added to the post.

[Weeler]

Adelade......I downloaded the Links Extender file you posted and followed the instructions that Dan listed. I tried 3 times and the LE crashed every time. In order to detail all the things I've tried and their results would take up 6 paragraphs.....so I'm going to leave well enough alone and just use
the items I have. It seems that every time I try to use some "external" program for Links it NEVER works. I am methodical about following all the steps, but it never turns out like it's supposed to. I even "re-downloaded" the Extender file ( thinking I had a bad download at first ), and that one crashed all
the time as well.
I'm not trying to "extract" plantings from another course, I'm simply trying to get one or two of the trees downloads found in the APCD Add-Ons
Forum location into the APCD successfully. I know this software is really old....but I can't believe all the steps necessary to get external files into the APCD. So....at this point I'm
not sure I want to try any other methods....since I've also had to reload the APCD from scratch 3 times as well because I ended up losing ALL the 2D
plant files after I was done.
I appreciate all your help with my problem, sir.

Thanks...........Ron

[Adelade]

It can indeed be very frustrating when things seemingly refuse to work, thats a shame but I understand if you've reached the point of wanting to give up, I will just make some last comments:

Links Extender isnt needed if you already have the files in either .btc or .tga form, but you said they were in .crz form, which was why I brought the program up.

Links Extender crashes occasionally for me too, but never 3 times in a row with only a single course loaded per session so yes there must be something that isnt working... I will recommend you to try one last simple thing if you didnt already though - what I said earlier about restarting your computer after installing Links Extender, because I consistently got crashes when trying to export certain types of files before I did the reboot.

The inside-APCD import function may have some downsides but it is more accessible/simple than the Links Extender method, so it may suit you better if the reboot doesnt work, you could try it if you havent already. Pretty sure Lez shows it in one of the videos I mentioned.