TECHREP #00023

FROM: Tools Commissar
TO: Arma 3 Modders
MATERIEL CATEGORY: Tools
CIRCUMSTANCES: Update 0.92 (DS Utils, FSM Editor, ImageToPAA)
SIZE: ~10 MB

STATUS

This update's first significant change concerns the tools used to sign your addons. We harmonized the public and internal version, meaning everyone is now using the very same versions of DSCheckSignatures, DSCreateKey and DSSignFile. Furthermore, those 3 command-line tools now benefit from a unique interface called DS Utils, which will allow you to easily manage the signing of your mods. In short, the interface is able to manage the entire process, from key creation to the final verification of the signed files. Later, a command-line mode will be added to permit you to automate this important process. For the record, the signature process is very important because it's a first barrier against cheating. It allows the servers to detect whether a player uses modified data, and therefore, potential cheats.

DS Utils is another step in the upgrade of the tool interfaces, after ImageToPAA (which benefited from further improvements), the next interface will be for the Sound Tools.

The second round of FSM Editor work brings some useful changes. The most notable is syntax highlighting, which will make your FSM code more readable and easy to understand. Because the "Cannot open" issue has been fixed, we've removed the starting script, meaning you might have to rebuild the file association. Do so using the tiny file assoc, available in the installation directory of the tools.

A note regarding the usual suspects Object / Terrain Builder, and their viewer: Buldozer - we are still investigating and preparing upcoming improvements. If you are using the Arma 3 Legacy branch and if the Launcher doesn't start, the script located in "Arma 3 Tools\Patches" might help you to fix this problem.

As per usual, your feedback and suggestions are very welcome via the well known channels: Feedback Tracker & the forums.

CHANGELOG

• DS Utils
  • Added: First iteration (Arma 3 Tools\DSSignFile\DSUtils.exe)
    Unified interface for DSSignFile, DSCreateKey and DSCheckSignatures
• FSM Editor
  • Added: Syntax highlighting
  • Added: Selectable search result highlight color
  • Changed: Updated SQF definitions
  • Changed: Default editing font is now "Consolas", size 9
  • Changed: .FSM is now the default file type (open and save)
  • Tweaked: Undo & redo functionality and RichTextBox text editing shortcuts (Ctrl+Del, ...)
  • Fixed: "Cannot open" file when FSM Editor is opened from a file
  • Fixed: The path to the compiler was incorrectly defined on save (CTD)
  • Removed: Hotfix script
  • Removed: Message box when the search has completed a cycle between the results
• Addon Builder
  • Added: Ability to specify destination file name (not only directory). The filename needs to end with .PBO. Otherwise it will be considered as a directory.
  • Tweaked: Better logger Config
  • Fixed: CTD when packing in console if the source directory was non-existent
  • Removed: DWM window shadow because it may cause the windows to be rendered incorrectly
• ImageToPAA
  • Fixed: The UI won't freeze while processing the file list
  • Fixed: It wasn't possible to convert more than one batch of files
  • Fixed: It was impossible to process a list when the custom destination directory was incorrect (checked or not)
  • Removed: Previous version of the interface
• Arma 3 Launcher
  • Added: Temporary hotfix for the Launcher in case of corrupted user settings (see Arma 3 Tools\Patches\CorruptedUserSettingsHotfix.bat)
• Samples
  • Added: UI textures of Marksmen weapons to serve as a template for various color skins
  • Added: Proxy for sidearm in holster into vest sample (\A3\Characters_F\Proxies\pistol_holstered)
  • Changed: Door animations are now handled with functions instead of scripts (Sample of House)
• Terrain Builder
  • Fixed: Terrain Builder refuses to generate layers at certain settings
• Addon Builder
  • Fixed: When the trailing slash was missing from the source and / or destination, the parent folder was selected (instead of the selected folder)
  • Fixed: The prefix parameter sent to FileBank was sometimes incorrect and led the parser to fail
• Publisher
  • Restored: User tag check
• DSCheckSignatures
  • Changed: The exit code (errorlevel) now indicates how many files are incorrectly signed
• DSCreateKey
  • Changed: Equalization with the version used internally - no change
• DSSignFile
  • Changed: Equalization with the version used internally - no change
• Arma3Tools.exe
  • Changed: Auto-size enabled on the license form
  • Changed: Structure of the license form
  • Changed: DSSignFiles button now starts DS Utils
• Steam configuration
  • Added: DS Utils installation
  • Added: Registry patch for x64 OS (Arma 3 Tools\Patches\Registry_x64.exe)
  • Changed: Incremented version to reflect the current stage (0.92)
  • Removed: DSSignFileGUI entry
  • Removed: DSCreateKeyGUI entry

NOTES

• In case of any issue, please, let us know on our usual channels: Feedback Tracker or the forums.
• You can find the tools package in the Steam library (switch the filter to "Tools") - "Arma 3 Tools".
• You will need to start the primary tool once to add all needed registry entries for the rest of too.