ZHModLauncher

Mod launcher/manager for C&C: Generals: Zero Hour

Why use this mod launcher?

• In red2.net, they organize the mods in a uniform way. That is, they extract the .big files and rename it as .zbig files, so that mods won't clutter each other, unless "activated". -mod command line parameter can be used for mods with just one .big file. However, some mods come with multiple .big files so -mod is no longer valid for some mods.
• This mod launcher will scan for mods and active them, one at a time at game launch time.

Installation

You don't install this one, you just unzip the zip file in the releases and execute the .exe file :)

Fixing ssleay32.dll Problem

• Please install this fix: https://bibber.eu/downloads/cnc-ultimate-collection-launchers/

Mod Installation Instructions

• Locate your mod files. Most mods will come with a couple of .big files and no other files.
• Locate your game folder. If you installed ZH with TFD, The probable location is something like C:\Program Files (x86)\EA Games\Command & Conquer The First Decade\Command & Conquer(tm) Generals Zero Hour. Locate it, wherever it is, it should contain Generals.exe file.
• Create a folder inside that directory and name is as "Mods", without quotes.
• For each mod, create a folder inside the Mods folder you created.
• Inside each folder, place .big file but change the extension as .zbig.
• If you've downloaded mods from red2.net, the mod files should already have .zbig extension.
• Sometimes you might wish to choose to select Zero Hour folder again. If so, go into delete mod4_config.json, which should be located where mod4.exe is.

Launching Mods

• Run the mod launcher program
• The program will scan the folders inside the Mods folder you've created.
• Select one mod of interest from the combo box
• Hit run game button or run game windowed button
• The mod launcher will automatically rename .zbig files to .big files and move them to the game folder.
• Upon termination of the game, the launcher will revert the changes: .big files back as .zbig files in the mod folder.
• Since the mod launcher is renaming files in the game folder, this operation might require Administrator privileges. If things don't work, consider launching the program with Administrator privileges.
• If you see an error message like "SymFromAddr" blah blah by OriginThinSetupInternal.exe, Then you need to run Origin first, before launching the game.

Where are the settings saved?

• Settings are saved in mod4_config.json, in the same folder where mod4.exe is.
• The settings are saved in plain text as JSON format.

Compiling

• The project is created and compiled with Lazarus 1.6 (for 32bits Windows).
• Download it and start from mod4.lpr file in src/.

About .Big file decoding

• The .big content scanning code (for seeing if the mod has AI or not) is from Open Source BIG Editor: http://www.ppmsite.com/?go=osbigeditorinfo
• OS BIG Editor by Carlos "Banshee" Muniz
• RefPack decompression by Jonathan Wilson (jonwil)
• See AboutBig.txt for details

Credits

• English translation by bitsbb01