This is a large amount of information in these posts. I'll be working on a full, properly formed tutorial as we get access to A17 and we can really make the xpath system shine. I've listed some examples here, and we'll be posting a ton more xpath samples over the coming weeks, as we port the SDX modlets over to use the native hooks.
By all means, begin posting your comments, questions, or requests for clarity.
Since we now know that xpath support will be built-into the vanilla base game, and discussions earlier were getting a bit confusing, I've decided to make a new thread to try to demystify xpath and what it'll mean for mods and modders going forward in A17. The information in this thread has been pieced together from forum and discord discussions. They may not be 100% accurate, but I will update this thread when we know the full implementation.
XPath is a way of adding, changing, or removing XML lines and nodes, without directly editing the XML files. It allows you to apply patches to the XML files without manually editing the vanilla XML files.
SDX has had partial support for this since its initial release, and a lot of the SDX Modlets are already written this way. We will be using some of the SDX's xpath as examples in this thread, but SDX is not required to do this in A17 and onwards.
I believe in using examples to explain concept, so in the next few posts, you'll see a mixture of explanation, along with sample xpath code.
The following Mod structure is expected for A17 and beyond:
You will be able to have multiple mods loaded, and loading will occur as long as the ModInfo.xml exists. This is unchanged from what we've been doing doing with other alphas, with the exception of the Config folder.
This Config folder will support loading XML files, written using xpath, in the following folder structure:
The files in the Config folder will not be a full copy of the vanilla file with your changes. Rather, it'll contain the changes you want done to the vanilla files. The files under the Config must match the vanilla file name. You cannot create an entityclasses2.xml file, and expect it to work. Any changes in the entityclasses.xml will have to be done in the same file. However, each mod can have its own entityclasses.xml.
During the game's initialization, it will perform the xpath merge in-memory only; no files will be actually be modified. This would allow us to remove mods we no longer want, without re-validating against steam, or previous copies of the xml. That's a big one. No more half merging of a mod, and not having it work, then trying to pull it back out.
What this means for us is that we'll be able to make a variety of smaller mods, which I've been calling modlets, which can add, remove and change smaller pieces of the game. They can be used together, or they could be added to an overhaul mod, in order to style your game play easier.
These modlets would also exists outside of the Data/Config folder, so if you have made direct XML changes in your Alpha 17.1 Data/Config files, and Steam updated the game to 17.2, you would have lost your changes, or would have to re-merge them in. We've all been there before. But if they existed as modlets, under the Mods folder, they would be safe. And as long as your xpath is still valid to the new XML, it should load up with no additional work on your part.
If we could use xyth's JunkItems modlet, which adds random, scrappable junk items to loot containers, and add them to Valmod Overhaul. Likewise, if Valmod Overhaul did not have the No Ammo modlet (which gives you the ability to unload a gun and get its bullets back without disassembling it), you could drop the NoAmmo modlet into your Mods folder. Headshots only? Want to increase stack sizes? Same deal.
With a properly constructed modlet, we'll be able to piece together new play styles for people to enjoy and share. A modder working on a large overhaul won't have to duplicate work. If they wanted to include the No Ammo mod, they wouldn't have to code it themselves, letting them focus on the bits that make their mod really unique.
Let's get started on your journey...
By all means, begin posting your comments, questions, or requests for clarity.
Since we now know that xpath support will be built-into the vanilla base game, and discussions earlier were getting a bit confusing, I've decided to make a new thread to try to demystify xpath and what it'll mean for mods and modders going forward in A17. The information in this thread has been pieced together from forum and discord discussions. They may not be 100% accurate, but I will update this thread when we know the full implementation.
XPath is a way of adding, changing, or removing XML lines and nodes, without directly editing the XML files. It allows you to apply patches to the XML files without manually editing the vanilla XML files.
SDX has had partial support for this since its initial release, and a lot of the SDX Modlets are already written this way. We will be using some of the SDX's xpath as examples in this thread, but SDX is not required to do this in A17 and onwards.
I believe in using examples to explain concept, so in the next few posts, you'll see a mixture of explanation, along with sample xpath code.
The following Mod structure is expected for A17 and beyond:
Code:
Mods/
<ModName>/
Config/
UIAtlases/ItemIconAtlas/
ModInfo.xml
<ModName2>/
Config/
ModInfo.xmlThis Config folder will support loading XML files, written using xpath, in the following folder structure:
Code:
Config/entityclasses.xml
Config/gamestages.xml
Config/items.xmlDuring the game's initialization, it will perform the xpath merge in-memory only; no files will be actually be modified. This would allow us to remove mods we no longer want, without re-validating against steam, or previous copies of the xml. That's a big one. No more half merging of a mod, and not having it work, then trying to pull it back out.
What this means for us is that we'll be able to make a variety of smaller mods, which I've been calling modlets, which can add, remove and change smaller pieces of the game. They can be used together, or they could be added to an overhaul mod, in order to style your game play easier.
These modlets would also exists outside of the Data/Config folder, so if you have made direct XML changes in your Alpha 17.1 Data/Config files, and Steam updated the game to 17.2, you would have lost your changes, or would have to re-merge them in. We've all been there before. But if they existed as modlets, under the Mods folder, they would be safe. And as long as your xpath is still valid to the new XML, it should load up with no additional work on your part.
If we could use xyth's JunkItems modlet, which adds random, scrappable junk items to loot containers, and add them to Valmod Overhaul. Likewise, if Valmod Overhaul did not have the No Ammo modlet (which gives you the ability to unload a gun and get its bullets back without disassembling it), you could drop the NoAmmo modlet into your Mods folder. Headshots only? Want to increase stack sizes? Same deal.
With a properly constructed modlet, we'll be able to piece together new play styles for people to enjoy and share. A modder working on a large overhaul won't have to duplicate work. If they wanted to include the No Ammo mod, they wouldn't have to code it themselves, letting them focus on the bits that make their mod really unique.
Let's get started on your journey...
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