Links Extender 2.5

[Weeler]

I've got a question about the Links Extender 2.5 download found in APCD "add-ons" on this site. Is that still a valid , working program ? I downloaded and installed it today, and when it came up, the large photo in the opening screen looked "grayed-out" if you will. And every tab I selected really didn't allow me to access anything. I finally got on a screen that would allow one to select textures for modification, etc., but it didn't allow you to type in any selections. I couldn't "enter" anything anywhere on the program. So, essentially, it was useless. Is there some other more recent version of this somewhere ? I looked at Links Country Club as well. I know several of you designers out there have mentioned using the Extender to create new textures or skies or whatever, so what program are you using ?
The download I'm referring to is by Andrew Jones and was submitted for use back in 2019. Does anyone have some input as to why I'm not able to use it at all ? Thanks for reading.

Ron

[Adelade]

I dont know about sky files, I have only ever used Links Extender for extracting image files or tweak custom texture properties. I havent gotten Links Extender from that place in a while, but I think that download should be fine. I suppose the background image looks a little bit greyed out, if that is what you mean. Not sure what you mean by every tab not allowing you to access anything either, what is it that you are wishing to do?

For extracting image files - Open Links Extender, then click CRZ File > Open Crz File > then Browse to select the course file you want to extract from, then more things will show up after you have loaded the course into Links Extender.

For custom texture properties (this is purely for editing how textures affect ball physics, not for editing how textures look) - see Lez' video episode about it:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CTsBNDOthEw

[Weeler]

Hi Adelade: All I'd like to do is to change the color on a couple of surface textures. So, if I bring up the .crz of the course with the texture I want to change, I can proceed, and that will be changed on that course, right ? What about in the list of textures available on the APCD. Will it now show up there as an "added" new texture ? I will also have to change the name on the texture to set it apart ? I'm going to give it a try soon, to see if things work now that you've explained it a bit.

Thanks...........Ron

[Adelade]

No, Links Extender can only be the first step towards changing the look of textures, you cant change the look within Links Extender alone.

I think this is best explained with an example, lets say I want to use a Fairway texture within one of Lez' courses, but I also want to make it slightly darker and slightly yellower. Here is what I do:

1. Download Lez' course that contains the texture.
2. Open Links Extender > CRZ File > Open Crz File
3. Select TGA Files within the drop-down list, then look for and click to highlight the one I want (if I dont know its name, I just highlight all the ones it might be). I believe only custom textures will appear in the list, Links Extender ignores stock APCD textures.
4. Click the Export button, then browse to C:\Users\[username]\Documents\Links Extender v2 , and I will find the extracted TGA file(s) there.
5. Open the TGA file I want with whichever image editing program (that handles TGA files) - I mostly use Paint.Net, some use PhotoShop, GIMP, PaintShop etc...
6. It differs from program to program, but in Paint.Net all I do is select Adjustments > "Brightness/Contrast", move the brightness slider down and confirm, then select Adjustments > "Hue/Saturation", move the Hue slider down and confirm, then save the file as a new TGA file with a unique name (in order to avoid library corruption) like for example AdeSheshanFwy_Lez.TGA (there is a maximum amount of characters of 24 I think so dont make it too long) (TGA format of 24-bit is enough for textures).
7. Open APCD and the course I am working on, go to Terrain > Face
8. Select any fairway texture in the list then click the Advanced Options icon below the list of textures, then Clone. I give it a unique name (in order to avoid library corruption) like for example "AdeSheshanFwy".
9. Highlight the new texture which will have appeared at the bottom of the list, and click the Texture Properties icon, click Edit Material, then I delete any Far and Mid versions to leave those blank (they are usually not needed, depends on how the texture looks from longer distances, see Lez' episode about Mid textures for more info), then click on the 3 dots button in the Near section, and browse to select my new TGA file. Then make sure I save the settings.
10. Apply the texture where I want it and save the course - all done. Except, usually it takes me a few tries with the sliders within Paint.Net until I am satisfied with the results.