Jump to content
Sign in to follow this  
MAVEN

Squad Tag Quick Tutorial and 100% FULL AND FREE hosting.

Recommended Posts

The full name for this discussion should be ArmA 2 Squad.xml, Squad.dtd and Squad.paa Tutorial + FREE Squad.xml hosting (.dtd and .paa also)

It took me a while to find some useful information and some chatter with friends before I could have finally created my own Squad settings and Badge in ArmA 2. There are few tutorials out there that already explain how-to basics but none of them explain some key features and parameters properly. So here comes my version.

In ArmA 2 you can create Squads, add member tags and even your own logo, which I'm sure many of you here know about.

Download and edit the following files.

squad.xml

With contents (edit parameters as per your likes): https://www.dropbox.com/s/mlxu5fqi97ua7nz/squad.xml

To add more members simply create more member fields in the squad.xml

Squad.xml needs a proper squad.dtd file as follows: https://www.dropbox.com/s/dr9klu8telkmp5j/squad.dtd

You don't have to edit squad.dtd file but it has to be present.

Squad logo aka .paa image.

This is the trickiest part in the entire Squad thingy. This tutorial should explain the simplest way to create a working logo for your squad.

If your squad's logo contains no alpha channels (transparency) you may simply create 128x128 or 256x256 image with jpg extension, example squad.jpg which you later simply put into squad.xml picture parameter as if you do for .paa image. And that's it.

If your squads logo does contain alpha channels, you have two options, TexView 1.1 or TexView 2. I recommend you get both from BIS website.

Install TexView 2, and get TexView 1.1 extracted and ready for use. After that, find a suitable logo image for your squad, make sure it's 128x128 or 256x256 and either .png .tiff .tif or .tga format. The TexView 1.1 supports only .tga for transparency but .tga can be hard to export with alpha channels. Open TexView 2, locate the prepared logo (I suggest .png file) and then in upper left drop down box select RGBA and in the drop down box bellow it select DXT1. You may now go to File>Save as and export your .paa image, example squad.paa

And that's it, your logo is a go! To test it, open TexView 1.1 and open the exported .paa image, if TexView 1.1 opens and displays the image successfully (Don't mind the non-transparent backdrop displayed in TexView 1.1) then your .paa file is ready for use.

Hosting squad.xml squad.dtd and squad.paa/squad.jpg:

There are few options available online, most are free but require a donation if you want to host a logo as well. You are free to use them if you wish as they will work fine. All you have to do is put all 3 above mentioned files in same folder online.

However, I found a better solution, at least for myself, and completely free of charge.

Go to Dropbox.com and if you don't have an account create one. Next up, loggin on the website, find Public folder, then find the 3 squad files on your system, select them and drag-drop them right in the Public folder on the website. Once you do that, the 3 squad files will be in your Dropbox Public folder. This folder is as its name says, a public one, which means everyone can access it if he/she has the link. Finally, to make your squad setup work with your ArmA 2 and your members ArmA 2 clients, you will need a link that is direct download for squad.xml. To do this, find the squad.xml file in your Public Dropbox folder and right click on it, then Select the 1st line in the drop down menu that should say "Get Link" a popup will appear showing you a link that leads to direct squad.xml download, click on the Copy to clipboard button or copy the link. Open up your ArmA 2 game and find Profile settings, place the above mentioned squad.xml link in Squad URL field, then click ok. Distribute the link with your members.

Remember, to add more members to your squad, simply add more squad.xml member fields with valid Player ID's for each player, and then loggin into your Dropbox and simply drag-drop squad.xml right into Public folder, by doing this your squad settings will be auto-updated and almost instantly.

You're good to go.

A-Ten-HUT! Dismissed.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Hey, that's some nifty use of Dropbox for free hosting!

Due to some other thread, i started rebuilding my online squadxml-tool.

I did some squadxmlhoster tool for in joomla *(ages ago) but im now working on a complete standalone solution.

the system allows PNG files to be uploaded, and these files are converted to .paa files for ingame use.

Here is the current progress:

Finished:

* Base framework & design

* Twitter authentification ( signup via twitter )

* ability to create multiple communities.

* ability to create unlimited Squads in a community

* Automatic PAA conversion

Todo:

* Invititation system where players can be invited/join a squad.*

* personal control panel.*

* the Actual XML output use by the game*

* public pages ( pages that dont need to be logged in)*

* facebook authentification ( signup via twitter )

* Social functionality

Items marked * at the end is base functionality, if these are finished the system will go public.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Hi jerryhopper.

Thanks.

Sounds like a nice tool you made. If you manage to use Dropbox API and implement it for hosting purposes in your tool that would be really cool as Dropbox offers free and fast file transfer (Many people use its API to build cool cloud apps)

Do you have a video that demonstrates your squad tool in use?

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Do you have a video that demonstrates your squad tool in use?

Nope, still building atm. But with a little luck you can be using it on Jan 1st :)

And about dropbox : Nope, my system hosts all files. no dropbox account needed.

Here is a preview : http://squadxml.limnosradio.com/

i disabled image-uploading & conversion coz i need to test/tweak the last parts there...

Todo before going live:

* Invititation system where players can be invited/join a squad.*

* personal control panel.*

* the Actual XML output use by the game*

With 9hrs on the clock untill 2012, im gonna take a break and join my family.

i will continue on Jan 1st in the afternoon - hopefully finishing it that day.

for now : HAPPY NEWYEAR EVERYBODY!!!!!!!!!!

Edited by jerryhopper

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Thanks for the info, jerryhopper, looks promising!

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Here is the current progress:

Finished:

* Base framework & design

* Twitter authentification ( signup via twitter )

* ability to create multiple communities.

* ability to create unlimited Squads in a community

* Automatic PAA conversion

* public pages ( pages that dont need to be logged in)

* Invitation system where players can be invited/join a squad.*

* personal control panel.*

* the Actual XML output use by the game*

* facebook authentification

Todo:

* Social functionality

You can signup now, create squads/communities, upload your imagery etc.

Small update :

In case people run into problems, you can file a error/bug report

http://squadxml.limnosradio.com/report-a-bug.php

Major update :

Image-editing facility implemented. no external image editor needed.

You can create/edit your image with our 'photoshop' clone which runs completly in your browser.

Edited by jerryhopper

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

@jerryhopper hey, does this still work? cause every time i am trying to login with twitter i get this error:

INSERT INTO `users` (oauth_provider, oauth_uid, username, screen_name, twitter_oauth_token,twitter_oauth_token_secret, profile_image_url ) VALUES ('twitter', , '','','Zeq30RMbgkPdvDaEQoysVQSihlK4XtYXYt8ihXFYbY','acI0R2WtxIhRIRbm6qo3mBeoZcqkALqTzqowsIoEOU','') You have an error in your SQL syntax; check the manual that corresponds to your MySQL server version for the right syntax to use near ' '','','Zeq30RMbgkPdvDaEQoysVQSihlK4XtYXYt8ihXFYbY','acI0R2WtxIhRIRbm6qo3mBeoZcq' at line 1

I know this thread is old, but oh well :P

Thx,

NorthyPark

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Please sign in to comment

You will be able to leave a comment after signing in



Sign In Now
Sign in to follow this  

×