Multiple packages...

[dj_ely]

Hello!
Please could anyone help?

This morning i saved my unreal map that I am working on, (with a load of static meshes, first time they have been inserted). When i closed unreal i then had to save 62 packages individually. I assume this is something to do with the static meshes as i have not had to do this before.

Does anyone know why i have to save 62, instead of 1 for example. Is there a way that i can reduce this number, and what should i do in future to avoid having to save 60 odd packages? Any advice or links to advice would be appreciated..

Thanks very much for your time and help....

dj_ely :D

[nick89]

Gah. You should never save those packages!
Open Your map and find anythig not in mylevel that should be.

[dj_ely]

Hello,
Thanks for getting back to me. Why shouldnt you save those packages? Is it gonna mess up the map :eek: ???? Also how do i go about rectifying what i've done?
Cheers again

[dj_ely]

Hello,
I removed all the static meshes, and ran the map and it played with no problems.
Saved and exited, without saving the packages.
I then added a few static meshses, ran the map and it was ok.
Saved and exited, without saving the packages.
I Then added all the static meshes that i removed.
Saved and exited, without saving the packages.
I then reoped the map and tried to run it and got the following errors....

Log: Browse: Autoplay.ut2?Name=dj_ely?Class=Engine.Pawn?Character=BobaFett?team=0?Sex=M?NumBots=0
Warning: Failed to load 'myLevel': Can't find file for package 'myLevel'
Warning: Failed to load 'chris7': Can't find file for package 'myLevel'
Warning: Failed to load 'Autoplay.ut2': Can't find file for package 'myLevel'
Warning: Failed to load 'Level None.MyLevel': Can't find file for package 'myLevel'

Any suggestions please?????

Everything looks fine in UnrealEd, cant work out what is happening!!

[tildamagic]

ummm im guessing either the packages were deleted or they werent saved properly.

its saying it cant find the file for the specfic package, usually when i get that error it because i havent saved the packs, or i forgot to do a rebuild all. perhaps you moved it someplace else on your hd and forgot to move it back

either way good luck..

[Slashbot_427]

I have had this...
im not sure whether you are creating your own content(meshes tex etc) or using ones already in the game.
I was importing Smeshes in from Maya5PLE into UED3. they would apper in the static mesh browser. I would place them into my level, rebuild and exit the map to play test it. On exiting it would ask to save the packages. the thing here is that if you are saving the meshes (or texture or whatever) into your own package (ie map plus other packages) you will be asked to save that package, plus all the ones that are Package0, Package1 etc.
I think that the packages that are named package0 etc are place-holder packages used internally in the editor(maybe cause it doesnt know where they come from yet), and that when you exit you dont need to save them.

If you are importing your own content(Smesh) then as soon as you import it into the editor you need to save the package before you place the object in the map. Then place one of the objects in your map and save your map under a new name ( eg DM-RunAmok_47.ut2, DM-RunAmok_48.ut2 etc).
Exit the editor. Hopefully you should get no message to save your custom package,cause you saved it already, and only one to save Package0. This is the placeholder (I think) for that one mesh. Each different mesh that you place will get one place holder, so if you put 50 of the same mesh you will only get one Package0 meassage on exiting(I think).
Restart the editor and load your map. your mesh should be properly placed. if you open the package in the browser, it should show up correctly, and you should now be able to place more of them.

This process of starting and stopping the editor all the time might sound like a pain in the arse, but i bet you spent quite a few hours placing all those static meshes.

So..
Save your package after every import.
Use you new content in some way (apply tex, place mesh etc)
Save map under an incremental name.
Exit editor
PackageX- dont save, its a place holder.
YourCustomPackage.xxx- if you get this it means you didnt save it earlier, and things will probably go wrong. save it anyway.
OriginalEpicPackage.xxx - dont save any of these under any circumstances- I did by accident just last night and had to reinstall UT2004 to fix it. you will get a version error any time you try to load a map.

Maybe also consider not using the MyLevel package for anything except terrain. either use existing packages, or create new ones for any custom content. its a lot easier to edit and manage separate packages, than to edit mylevel. Have one package named after your mapname for each type of content eg RunAmok_Tex.utx, RunAmok_Statics.usx etc. Its easy to zip them together and distribute later.

This is all from my own experience over the last month or so- if it needs correction dont hesitate.

Hope it helps.

[dj_ely]

Hello!
Thanks for the help and advice, i've now saved all static meshes and textures to my own individual folders and am experiencing no problems now when testing. Thanks for the help and advice. Think i hadn't saved the textures/static meshes once i had placed them in the map !
Thanks again,
dj_ely

[BmB23]

Hmm... I always say no to package0/1/2/3/4/5/6/etc

and as long as I only save the relevant packages (like mycustomstaticmeshes.usx) it works fine.

[Killavirus]

i also say no or yes depending on which button i press :D

[Kantham]

you will be asked to save that package, plus all the ones that are Package0, Package1 etc.
I think that the packages that are named package0 etc are place-holder packages used internally in the editor(maybe cause it doesnt know where they come from yet), and that when you exit you dont need to save them..........

Nice post there :)

Yes , it is not a problem , this is when you modify a skin from any meshe i guess. It's no a problem for me , i just click fast and center my cursor on NO all the time.

You also want to compress your textures once you imported them , your maps or package will be optimized ALOT. For example , if you got 6 textures 1024X1024 @ RGBA8 (uncompressed) for a custom skybox , you map or package will be around 2 times bigger than usual, Ask everyone that know that. If your texture is alpha (meaning it is transparent , and you imporeted it as a .TGA file) compress it to DXT3 , and if your texture is just a screenshot , a skin or anything else of that kind , compress it to DXT1.

[dj_ely]

Kantham,
Thanks for the advice, I wouldn't have known to do that cheers. Seems like a good idea, I have not added my skybox yet so will bear it in mind when i do.
Thanks again for the tip...
dj_ely

[BmB23]

lol killavirus... you got me there.

[Killavirus]

;)