What's the relationship between a dashboard sii file and its template?

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NemesysTrans
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Joined: 30 Dec 2019 20:01

What's the relationship between a dashboard sii file and its template?

#1 Post by NemesysTrans » 25 Jan 2022 23:14

I'm really puzled by this.

I'm trying to make a custom dashboard for the DAF XF Euro6. I initially started by copying the original files from SCS base file into a new mod. So far, so good. I did edit the template file to replace some fonts. Still good to go. But as soon as I add additional styles to the template, all hell breaks loose. The game reports a dangling pointer for every style that the dashboard sii file references:

Code: Select all

00:26:16.430 : <ERROR> [unit] File '</Users/laurent/Library/Application Support/Euro Truck Simulator 2/mod/DAF XF Euro6 Custom Dashboard | >/ui/dashboard/daf_xf_euro6.sii':
00:26:16.430 : <ERROR> [unit] The unit '_nameless.6000.00ee.0d00' of type 'ui::text_common' has dangling pointer (to 'txt.daf2013.text0') in the attribute named 'look_template'.
It goes like that for every single reference from the dashboard sii file to the template. That is as if it cannot find the template anymore. But without any addition, I can change the existing styles and everything works as expected. I've tried to rename the styles in both the dashboard sii file and the template, same errors.

At the beginning of the any SCS template files, there is this warning:

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# For modders: Please do not modify this file if you want to add a new entry. Create in
# this directory a new file "<base_name>.<idofyourmod>.sii" where <base_name> is name of
# base file without the extension (e.g. "dashboard" for "/ui/template/dashboard.sii") and <idofyourmod> is
# some string which is unlikely to conflict with other mod.
I must be dumb because I just can't understand what that means. I'm thinking that this is an old comment from a previous version of the game because, how can you create an additional file in the same directory? These files are part of base.scs, hardly a directory.

So, can someone explain what's the relationship between a dashboard sii file and the template it needs???
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room217au
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Re: What's the relationship between a dashboard sii file and its template?

#2 Post by room217au » 01 Feb 2022 00:02

About the SCS template files.. it means don't use the same filename as the base game.
base game: dashboard.sii
your mod: dashboard.mydash.sii
as an example.
If you suck at playing the trumpet, that's probably why.
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NemesysTrans
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Re: What's the relationship between a dashboard sii file and its template?

#3 Post by NemesysTrans » 01 Feb 2022 02:11

Thank you @room217au . I'll give it a shot.
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room217au
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Re: What's the relationship between a dashboard sii file and its template?

#4 Post by room217au » 01 Feb 2022 20:59

@NemesysTrans The interior definitions folder needs to be edited to reflect the new dashboard filename too.
from "def\vehicle\truck\daf.xf_euro6\interior\excl_fl.sii" as an example:

Code: Select all

	dashboard_path: "/ui/dashboard/daf_xf_euro6.sii"
to

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	dashboard_path: "/ui/dashboard/daf_xf_euro6.mydash.sii"
or whatever filename you decide on.
If you suck at playing the trumpet, that's probably why.
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NemesysTrans
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Re: What's the relationship between a dashboard sii file and its template?

#5 Post by NemesysTrans » 02 Feb 2022 14:55

Ohhh! I think that's the part I was missing @room217au . Thank you.
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NemesysTrans
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Re: What's the relationship between a dashboard sii file and its template?

#6 Post by NemesysTrans » 18 Feb 2022 15:03

I was missing that part @room217au , but, how does a dashboard file find the template file?
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room217au
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Re: What's the relationship between a dashboard sii file and its template?

#7 Post by room217au » 20 Feb 2022 04:42

@NemesysTrans I think the template filename has the same suffix as the dashboard file?
From the case above it would possibly be "dashboard_text.daf_xf_euro6.mydash.sii ?? and it would live in the ui\template directory.
The important part, one of them, is that the sections in the template file:

ui::text_template : txt.daf2013.fuel {
name: "zDB Daf 2013 Fuel"
text: "<align hstyle=right right=-170><font face=/font/big.font xscale=4 yscale=4>%0</font></align><offset vshift=30><font face=/font/big.font xscale=2 yscale=2> %1</font>"
}

are used in the dashboard file:

ui::text_common : _nameless._.distance {
value: "9999|km"
look_template: txt.daf2013.fuel
text: ""
coords_l: 330
coords_r: 690
coords_t: 465
coords_b: 365
area_l: 1
area_r: 0
area_t: 0
area_b: 1
id: 1080
layer: 2
tab: -1
pointer: -1
my_parent: _nameless._.display0
}

That pretty much sums up my knowledge of dashboard files :D
If you suck at playing the trumpet, that's probably why.
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NemesysTrans
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Re: What's the relationship between a dashboard sii file and its template?

#8 Post by NemesysTrans » 20 Feb 2022 15:42

Thanks, @room217au . I'm going to have another look at the suffix!
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