Publishing Campaign on Steam Workshop

[Kydoimos 916]

Hi all - I'm preparing to publish a campaign on Steam Workshop - is the configuration any different to what it would be if I were publishing on Armaholic or something like that? What I mean is, if I have a PBO, containing a CPP file, a PAA file, and an Addons folder which in turn contains a PBO of my campaign - would that work ok? What's the layout and folder / PBO arrangement? Thanks in advance!

[IndeedPete 1038]

No folders, no PBO arrangement. If your addon PBO works from a modfolder there shouldn't be any problems with subscribing / using the workshop version. The Publisher only allows you to upload the PBO, no additional meterial or folders.

[Kydoimos 916]

Ah - I think I see now! So the CPP file is redundant - because you don't load it from the expansions in the main menu? And I'm guessing the config file is not needed too? Everything needed is in the core PBO? Ok! Thanks!

[IndeedPete 1038]

No, no, no! It still needs the config.cpp! There needs to be ONE PBO containing the campaign folder and config.cpp. Inside the campaign folder is your missions folder, campaign description.ext etc. But it's just ONE big PBO! Take apart M.E.R.C.S. if it helps.

[Kydoimos 916]

Lol - I see! Ok! Thanks - I might do as you say and use your campaign as a guide. Thanks again, mate!

[Von Quest 1163]

I'm lost! I hope I can post here if that's ok? I hate this whole Steam thing!!! I don't understand and CAN NOT find instructions anywhere!!!!

So you can not use Steam to include other files? Like .pdfs and other txt files? Just one .pbo? How does that work? No info or graphics on the main ArmA menu screen? What the???

I can't get my Mod to upload correctly on Steam? I've been using the same system as always, now its obsolete? Like Armaholic, Dropbox, etc? How are people uploading multiple pbos then?

Where can I find this M.E.R.C.S that's Steam-compatable? I'm hating Steam more and more each day...

[IndeedPete 1038]

Uploading addons to steam works exactly the same as with regular addons. You don't have loose folders (like mod folders) flying around, just the plain addon PBO. No loose PDFs, no readme.txts - no additional material outside the PBO. However, steam allows you to add pictures and text to your workshop entry so you've got that covered. No one is forcing you to use the steam workshop, don't really like it myself. Use dropbox, Armaholic or whatever you're familiar with. Sure, you can probably reach more people on steam but based on my own experiences there are a lot of idiots as well (fortunately, they're the minority). This is the M.E.R.C.S. steam page.

[Von Quest 1163]

Thanks. Sorry for the rant. Just confused as to why there are no instructions or details on Steam about this. The only link offered goes to generic "How to Place Unit" stuff. NOT on how to use BIS Publisher (Tools), the Steam Workshop, and advice on how to organize your project, etc. Took me TWO days just to figure out you need BIS Tools and have to upload with the Publisher from there. Good grief! LOL

So, how do you get organized then? If I upload, either nothing is recognized, or I get a fatal error. Does this mean I'll loose ALL my File Paths then? If so, that's like hundreds and hundreds, if not thousands of lines of code! Are Server Keys void then? I see the potential and user-friendly appeal of just subscribing though Stream... But not from our end if we have to maintain two separate projects to cater to both.

Thanks again for the feedback. I'll look into it again with a fresh set of eyes after some sleep.

( p.s. And wow! MERCS looks very detailed. Might have to check that out. ;) )

[IndeedPete 1038]

Unfortunately, Publisher and steam workshop have been buggy since release, hence I try to avoid that crappy system. Had to use it because of the MANW contest but some contestants were allowed to upload it on dropbox because of technical issues.

Anyway, I have no idea about "nomal" addons, server keys and such sorcery. M.E.R.C.S. is just a campaign and follows a rather simple structure. Made an addon shell for Kydoimos to use in this thread, maybe that helps. To avoid future headaches I'd advise anyone to publish addons primarily via dropbox or Armaholic.

Thanks, feel free to try it. ;)

[toiletuser 29]

Anybody willing to help?

Just finished my first campaign after xxxxx hours working on it and testing it....

i wrote campaign description.ext, missions, music....., create campaigns folder and put everything inside and test it ingame...WORKS GREAT!

Problem appears when i try to publish it via publisher, i  created @COLLATERAL folder with addons subfolder and inside i put  COLLATERAL.pbo which includes : missions folder, Description.ext, config.cpp, pic.paa....

when i try to publish it publisher offers me to fix it (some pbo outside addons folder or not in root directory). He fix it and publish, i download it and in campaign menu appears empty space and when i try to play it -no entry\ campaign.ext(something like that) message

I dont understand, everything worked when placed in campaign folder in arma 3 dir so i belive description.ext is good, it must be something with config.cpp or pbo\folder\files arrangement......

I'm very close to quit and let it go, but i think missions are preety good to not to share

[toiletuser 29]

Solved! Pbo tool didn't work properly so i tried with pbo manager and it works....