Overwrite base game .pbo files with patched version

[TurboJet 10]

I am trying to make a basic mod and replace some of the .pbo files used by the game. Replacing the files directly results in a "data file too short" error, and I have heard that the best way is to make a mod/addon that will do this instead. Currently I am trying to make some changes in dubbing_f_epa.pbo that will appear when I play the campaign (i.e., be loaded by the engine instead of the original data).

I have added "-mod=@dubmod" to the Steam launch parameters, and inside the root Arma 3 folder I have put @dubmod/addons/dubbing_new_epa.pbo, with the new sound files. Before repacking the pbo, I placed a config.cpp file inside. This wiki article seems to suggest using a "class CfgPatches {...};" code block to configure the mod, but is not very clear for this purpose. My code is below, but it does not seem to work:

class CfgPatches
{
	class dubbing_new_epa
	{
		units[] = {};
		weapons[] = {};
		requiredVersion = 0.1;
		requiredAddons[] = {}; //this line might be a problem...
	};
};

The .cpp file was not "binarized."

I think I also might need something in my userconfig folder, but after a few hours searching the internet and the forums, I cannot seems to find any tutorials on this specific problem.

Any specific advice on replacing the dubbing_f_epa.pbo, or similar task? Thanks for any assistance.

P.S. Is setting up the P: drive needed for this? I have just been using the BankRev/FileBank tools without that, but would do it if necessary.

[teacup 2]

What you did there, was not much. You told the game you want to patch it, and the name of the patch would be "dubbing_new_epa". But you didn't actually add/replace any content. I'm not 100% sure, but i think in order to overwrite those audio files, you should unpack "missions_f_epa.pbo", since "dubbing_f_epa.pbo" contains no config of it's own, it's just a bunch of sound and lipsync files. Find missions_f_epa's config.bin and use cfgConvert to turn it into ASCII form. Then start your config like this:

class CfgPatches
{
class YOURTAG_YOURPATCHNAME
{
	units[]={};
	weapons[]={};
	requiredVersion=0.1;
	requiredAddons[]=
	{
		"A3_Missions_F_EPA"
	};
};
};

Then copy over the needed cfgSentences entries from the game config.cpp and change the file paths to point to your PBO, something like this:

class CfgSentences
{
class A_hub
{
	class 000_a_m01_intro
	{
		priority=0;
		file="\a3\missions_f_EPA\kb\A_hub\A_hub_000_a_m01_intro.bikb";
		class Sentences
		{
			class a_hub_000_a_m01_intro_ALP_0
			{
				text="$STR_A3_a_hub_000_a_m01_intro_ALP_0";
				speech[]=
				{
					"dubbing_new_epa\a_hub\000_a_m01_intro\a_hub_000_a_m01_intro_ALP_0.ogg"
				};
				actor="BIS_AlphaLead";
				variant="";
				variantText="";
				class Arguments
				{
				};
			};
			class a_hub_000_a_m01_intro_ALP_1
			{
				text="$STR_A3_a_hub_000_a_m01_intro_ALP_1";
				speech[]=
				{
					"dubbing_new_epa\a_hub\000_a_m01_intro\a_hub_000_a_m01_intro_ALP_1.ogg"
				};
				actor="BIS_AlphaLead";
				variant="";
				variantText="";
				class Arguments
				{
				};
			};
			class a_hub_000_a_m01_intro_ALP_2
			{
				text="$STR_A3_a_hub_000_a_m01_intro_ALP_2";
				speech[]=
				{
					"dubbing_new_epa\a_hub\000_a_m01_intro\a_hub_000_a_m01_intro_ALP_2.ogg"
				};
				actor="BIS_AlphaLead";
				variant="";
				variantText="";
				class Arguments
				{
				};
			};
		};
		class Arguments
		{
		};
		class Special
		{
		};
		startWithVocal[]=
		{
			"hour"
		};
		startWithConsonant[]=
		{
			"europe",
			"university"
		};
	};

Do this for all the files you want to swap out, then put your config.cpp in your PBO\s root directory.

[TurboJet 10]

Well, my current config file is below, but it does not seem to work. I even converted it to .bin format. Obviously, there is a steep learning curve to modding. (dubbing_new_epa.pbo is the name of the file in \Arma 3\@dubmod\addons)

class CfgPatches
{
	class dubbing_new_epa
	{
		units[] = {};
		weapons[] = {};
		requiredVersion = 0.1;
		requiredAddons[] =
	{
		"A3_Missions_F_EPA"
	};
	};
};
class CfgSentences
{
class A_in
{
	class 01_Wave
	{
		priority=0;
		file="\a3\missions_f_EPA\kb\A_in\A_in_01_Wave.bikb";
		class Sentences
		{
			class a_in_01_wave_ICO_0
			{
				text="$STR_A3_a_in_01_wave_ICO_0";
				speech[]=
				{
					"\dubbing_new_epa\a_in\01_Wave\a_in_01_wave_ICO_0.ogg"
				};
				actor="BIS_leader";
				variant="";
				variantText="";
				class Arguments
				{
				};
			};
		};
		class Arguments
		{
		};
		class Special
		{
		};
		startWithVocal[]=
		{
			"hour"
		};
		startWithConsonant[]=
		{
			"europe",
			"university"
		};
	};
};
};

Anyway, thank you for trying to help, teaCup. I appreciate your detailed response.

[m1lkm8n 411]

I think in order to overwrite a3 sound files u will need to find the class that calls them then do something like this.

class yourclassname;
class arma3name : yourclassname{all the defines};

Now it will overwrite those entries when your pbo is active.

[TurboJet 10]

Well, I may drop this idea, as I still can't get it to work. Below is my final effort, but I really do have to move on. Thanks for the tips. This has given me a sense of the effort that the community modders put in. :)

[inside dubbing_new_epa.pbo, placed in Arma 3\@dubmod\addons\]

class CfgPatches
{
	class dubmod
	{
		units[] = {};
		weapons[] = {};
		requiredVersion = 0.1;
		requiredAddons[] =
	{
		"A3_Missions_F_EPA"
	};
	};
};
class CfgSentences
{
class patchAin; //perhaps I should have replaced 01_Wave, or even a_in_01_wave_ICO_0? Didn't try those....
class A_in : patchAin
{
	class 01_Wave
	{
		priority=0;
		file="\a3\missions_f_EPA\kb\A_in\A_in_01_Wave.bikb";
		class Sentences
		{
			class a_in_01_wave_ICO_0
			{
				text="$STR_A3_a_in_01_wave_ICO_0";
				speech[]=
				{
					"\dubmod\a_in\01_Wave\a_in_01_wave_ICO_0.ogg"
				};
				actor="BIS_leader";
				variant="";
				variantText="";
				class Arguments
				{
				};
			};
		};
		class Arguments
		{
		};
		class Special
		{
		};
		startWithVocal[]=
		{
			"hour"
		};
		startWithConsonant[]=
		{
			"europe",
			"university"
		};
	};
};
};