[Goober5000]

If you've got a mod* that you want to add to the FreeSpace Open Installer, you're in luck.  You can instantly** incorporate your mod into the FSO Installer repository by following these very simple steps:

• Follow MjnMixael's instructions to create a text file
• Validate the text file using the FSO Installer, by running java -jar FreeSpaceOpenInstaller.jar validate
• Upload the file somewhere where it will be publicly visible, then post a link here
• Goober5000 will add the link to the FSO Installer repository

That's it!  Also, for no additional charge, Goober5000 will helpfully review your text file before integration and let you know if it contains any "gotchas" that you may want to change before going live.

* Mods based on FreeSpace only, for the time being.  Total Conversions are possible, but the functionality isn't finished yet and will be available in a future release.
** For large values of "instant".

[Cyborg17]

Will mods finished after the final version of the installer be able to do this after they release?  Are the downloads chosen by the installer from the code or does it pull the list from somewhere else?

[Goober5000]

The mod list is pulled from the remote site whenever the installer runs; it's not stored within the installer itself.  So the installer will always have the most up-to-date list, regardless of the version you're running.

[niffiwan]

Here's my 2nd attempt at JAD2.21:  http://www.mediafire.com/view/2nny9vm0rjms5zd/jad221.txt

[Goober5000]

If the .rar creates its own folder, then FOLDER should be /, not jad2-21.  Also, you (or Axem) will need to host that text file from someplace where the file is directly readable (i.e. not something that is a webpage).

[niffiwan]

The rar doesn't contain the dir jad2-21 so I'm pretty sure that's OK.

As for the hosting (*shakes fist @mediafire - why do you work for images but not .txt files!*) yeah, I'll have to sort something else out...

Edit:
Right - Dropbox should be OK since such a tiny file should never get anywhere near their download limits...
https://www.dropbox.com/s/psbkl1dot1rjyds/jad221.txt

[Goober5000]

The rar doesn't contain the dir jad2-21 so I'm pretty sure that's OK.

In that case, you need to remove the directory from the hash values.  All file paths are relative to what you specified under FOLDER.

Right - Dropbox should be OK since such a tiny file should never get anywhere near their download limits...

No, DropBox is not okay, because if you go to that link, you get a webpage.   As I said before, the file needs to be directly readable from that link.  No webpage, no download, just straight up TXT.  Most likely Axem will need to put it on his own webspace.

[Axem]

It's probably best that I have full access to it anyway, if JAD ever needs an update I can modify the file!

I'll uh... do something with this.

_{Thanks though, niffiwan!}

[OverDhill]

Will it be possible to rerun the installer down the road and have it validate, update all the files and campaigns as they get changed?

[niffiwan]

The rar doesn't contain the dir jad2-21 so I'm pretty sure that's OK.

In that case, you need to remove the directory from the hash values.  All file paths are relative to what you specified under FOLDER.

I'll get it right someday... I'd really like to see a "local-install" option so that new files can be tested "offline" by the creator, I may have a go at hacking up a patch for the installer to do that.

Right - Dropbox should be OK since such a tiny file should never get anywhere near their download limits...

No, DropBox is not okay, because if you go to that link, you get a webpage.   As I said before, the file needs to be directly readable from that link.  No webpage, no download, just straight up TXT.  Most likely Axem will need to put it on his own webspace.

Although, I tested that link using wget and it gave me just the .txt file... perhaps dropbox has some shenanigans that provide different download options depending on the client?  But...

It's probably best that I have full access to it anyway, if JAD ever needs an update I can modify the file!

I'll uh... do something with this.

_{Thanks though, niffiwan!}

Yeah, probably best that you host it.

[Goober5000]

Will it be possible to rerun the installer down the road and have it validate, update all the files and campaigns as they get changed?

Yep.

Although, I tested that link using wget and it gave me just the .txt file... perhaps dropbox has some shenanigans that provide different download options depending on the client?

Really?  That's interesting.  You might be right about shenanigans.

[Luis Dias]

Will it be possible to rerun the installer down the road and have it validate, update all the files and campaigns as they get changed?

Yep.

Is it going to query the user with something like "Your version of Blue Planet is outdated, do you want to install the newer version?" with an option to see details or...?

[Goober5000]

Something user-friendly.

Anyway this is off-topic for this thread.  This thread is intended to be about incorporating text files into the installer.

[FreeSpaceFreak]

Q: Is it possible to incorporate multiple mod folders (in this case, ASW I and II) into one install txtfile so that it shows up as one mod in the installer? Seems tidier that way.

[Goober5000]

Each mod folder will show up as its own mod in the installer; in other words you can't have one selection install to more than one folder.  But you can list multiple mods within one text file.

[mjn.mixael]

Well, you could install to the Root Folder and make sure all your zip/7z include the subfolders.

[FreeSpaceFreak]

Q: How do we compute the hashes? Is there some (cross-platform) software we can use? Can we use the ones from fs2_open.log?

[chief1983]

There are numerous hashing utilities available for many platforms.  Many common scripting languages also have access to hashing algorithms that could be used to automate it somehow.  I integrated Digest::SHA into the nightly build code to generate SHA-256 hashes for release builds.  *nix platforms generally have shasum available fairly easily, or md5(sum) as command line tools.  Windows users have access to a few utilities with Explorer integration, but don't ask me where to find one as I haven't needed one in ages.  I could whip something up in Perl that could work, although something in Java or native code might be more useful to a broader base.  If it was built in to the installer I bet that would be the most usable solution

[mjn.mixael]

There's a commandline for the Installer to do it as well.. though I don't remember what it is.

[chief1983]

There is mod file validation, I've used that.  There's also hash generation?