So I'm guessing the relevant code is:

// f is the file that the system is trying to load
String path = f.getPath();
path = path.substring(0, path.lastIndexOf("\\") + 1);
path = path + "ConvertData_Rebellion.exe";
Process process = new ProcessBuilder(path, f.getName(), f.getName(), "txt").start();

Is path incorrect by any chance? Drop in a println(path); right before the last line I quoted, see if it kicks out the correct path. Otherwise I'm stumped as well... maybe something to do with the way ConvertData handles args?

Well I've already found a few unused events that I will likely make use of, and some that just had the generic 'error' sound.

I don't know a whole lot on the usage of the ConvertData exes, and know nothing of Java (I use vb script), so not sure how much help I'll be....

Does ConverData automatically overwrite files?  By looking at what you got there, it looks like it's converting and saving to the same location & name.

Are you looping too fast on ConvertData and can it support multiple instances running at once?  My own script that calls and uses it waits for each call to complete before looping back.

"I now get an error if I try to run it manually"... assuming you're referencing running the ConvertData exe manually... I seem to remember getting that once, too, but can't remember now what I did to solve it.  I know it's not making sure there were supporting files in the same directory as the exe... mine is empty save the exe, my script, and the files to convert/were converted.  Check make sure that Galaxy Forge runs?? (Assumption that they use the same supporting files and that maybe something got corrupted... and actually, on that note, see if you can grab a fresh copy of the ConvertData exe in case it itself was corrupted.)

Beyond that, all I can think of is showing you the snippet that's relevant in my code and see if something sticks out to you:

Set WshShell = WScript.CreateObject("WScript.Shell")
'other code that defines workingFile as the file to convert
Result = WshShell.Run ("""" & objStartFolder & "\ConvertData_Rebellion.exe"" entity """ & workingFile.Path & """ """ & Replace(workingFile.Path, "\Orig\", "\Text\") & """ txt",0,True)

EDIT: Wow, yeah, that formatting is horrible.  WTF??  Took out the code wrappers....

Normally I just use batch files for conversion but again, ConvertData is now claiming to not be able to run on my computer

Traditionally, I just use batch files to do mass converts between the two formats, but even they aren't working now.  Rebooting doesn't fix it.  I have no idea what's wrong with this...

For the record, Galaxy Forge does run.  Also, I'm only trying to run one instance at a time.  The idea being that whenever you import or export from Buff Builder into .entity files, it will automatically convert it so that the entity files are always stored in the BIN format unless they are actively being edited.

EDIT: I had another copy of ConvertData elsewhere that's still working...  this is weird...

EDIT 2: does ConvertData require the tabbing to be right or a particular text encoding or something?  Because my files run just fine when picked up by the game but for some reason, ConvertData won't run them but it will run stock files...

Maybe instantiate Process process as public static to make sure only one process is running at the same time? Also, does Process require a destroy() call or something similar to clean things up? I'm fairly new to Java threading and process management in general, so if it's taken care of by the garbage collector just like (almost) all other Java classes, then no biggie.

volt, in my text-bin gui I just use standard ASCII text with full paths to each of the files supplied as a sttring to the command shell, and in some of my testing I have had over 10 copies of convertdata running at the same time, but was not able to verify that the files were converted except when I was limiting it to one file at a time and waiting for the convert to finish

harpo

I already had this...

Process process = new ProcessBuilder(path,"entity", fName,fName,"txt").start();

where fName was defined earlier as f.getName().

dont know if this has been asked before, and i probably missed it elsewhere on the forums, but are alliance pacts/diplomacy pacts still hard coded to the original three races?

Aw, alright then thats kinda the answer i was looking for, ill play around with the current ones and see if i can come up with something different. If i cant i will look at those mods, thank you again!

Huh, that is interesting for sure. as soon as i can download large ish files ill take a look.

In the meantime thought another question, Is it possible to have a frigate or capital ship factory build a ship without showing the mesh? the Aldar use portals and having the mesh of the ship being shown while it is built just doesnt work with their factory models as is. ill change them if i have to though.

I would try Y honestly. Solar systems do not vary much on the Y coordinate, being disks. It is a good idea though.

Another thing to try might be to building a dummy version of the ship with no mesh, and give it an ability that spawns the correct ship with the mesh after it is built.

Greetings.  I figure this is the place to ask for this particular question.

I've been playing SoaSE for a while now and enjoy making little mods for my own enjoyment.

One thing I am currently unable to figure out how to do, however, is give one race's research to another.  In particular, I am trying to figure out how to give the Advent's max allegiance research to the Tec and Vasari.  ( Yeah, I know.  You're rolling your eyes.  It's for personal use, so please don't talk about it unbalancing the game. )

I assume if I can figure out how to do it for one specific research, it will be roughly the same for all.

I've been doing my best to figure out, precisely, how to do it through Google but alas, I am having no luck as I can not find what, precisely, is tying it to solely the Advent.  I am not finding online and, after spending a number of hours pouring over the reference files, I am not finding anything in there for each race's specific tech tree.

( All of my modifications thus far have been things like ship abilities, stats, how many times you can do research, etc.  One example is I created an Iconus guardian that I removed weapons from and turned it's repulsion ability into a passive buff that only effects strike craft. )

Any help is appreciated, and please excuse my ramblings.  I tend to over explain things.