Overview
This WeiDU mod allows you to biff the content of the override folder for improved performance; that means the files are converted into the BIF file format and moved into the data folder. This works natively under OSX and Linux (if you use the correct executable) and is compatible with the common WeiDU stack un-install operation. The game thereby loads much faster again and the performance is running pretty smoothly without jerking.
Note: Recent user reports have indicated that Generalized Biffing is unnecessary for Enhanced Edition games.
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Compatibility
Games supported
Generalized Biffing is designed to work on all Infinity Engine games.
Other Mods Compatibility
This mod is a WeiDU mod, and therefore should be compatible with all WeiDU mods. It must be installed after all other mods. If you encounter any bugs, please report them on the forum or GitHub!
Installation Order
➽ Please install Generalized Biffing after all other mods.
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Installation
Notes
If you've previously installed the mod, remove it before extracting the new version. To do this, run setup-generalized_biffing.exe , un-install all previously installed components and delete the 📁 generalized_biffing folder.
When installing or un-installing, do not close the DOS window by clicking on the X button! Instead, press the Enter key whenever instructed to do so.
Disable any antivirus or other memory-resident software before installing this or any other mod. Some (particularly avast and Norton!) have a tendency to report false positives with mod activity, resulting in failed installs.
You can extract files from the archive using 7zip, WinRAR, ZipGenius, or another file compression utility that handles .zip files.
Enhanced Editions Note
The Enhanced Editions are actively supported games. Please note that every patch update will wipe your current mod setup! If in the middle of a modded game you might want to delay the patch update (if possible) as even after reinstalling the mods, you might not be able to continue with your old savegames. Alternatively, copy the whole game's folder into a new one that can be modded and will stay untouched by game patches. It is important that you install the mod to the language version you are playing the game in. Otherwise, the dialogues of the mod will not show but give error messages.
Windows
Generalized Biffing for Windows is distributed as an extractable compressed archive and includes a WeiDU installer.
Extract the contents of the mod to the folder of the game you wish to modify (the folder which contains the "CHITIN.KEY" file). On successful extraction, there should be a 📁 generalized_biffing folder and a setup-generalized_biffing.exe file in your game folder. To install, simply double-click setup-generalized_biffing.exe and follow the instructions on screen.
Run setup-generalized_biffing.exe in your game folder to reinstall, un-install or otherwise change components.
Warning!
As of WeiDU v247, some functions operating on the Latin-1 (8859-1) character set have been depracated and now use only US-ASCII characters. Biffing files with non-ASCII characters in their filenames may cause the game to crash.
It has been confirmed that the following mods may suffer from this issue if the affected files are biffed:
- Infinity Animations (all versions 5.x.x and below)
If you also want to install any of the above mods, please follow these steps before installing Generalized Biffing at the end of your mod install order:
- Remove all setup-modname.exe files from your game directory.
- Download Generalized Biffing v2.7 (warning: this version does not support EEex).
- Extract Generalized Biffing into the game directory, but don't install it.
- Download WeiDU v246.
- Rename weidu.exe from the v246 package to setup-generalized_biffing.exe and put it in the game directory overwriting the existing one.
- Install Generalized Biffing with WeiDU v246.
Mac OS
Generalized Biffing for Mac OS distributed in the same compressed archive and includes a WeiDU installer.
First, extract the files from the archive into your game directory. On successful extraction, there should be a 📁 generalized_biffing folder, setup-generalized_biffing and setup-generalized_biffing.command files in your game folder. To install, double-click setup-generalized_biffing.command and follow the instructions on screen.
You can run setup-generalized_biffing.command in your game folder to reinstall, un-install or otherwise the components settings.
Linux
Generalized Biffing for Linux is distributed in the same compressed archive and does not include a WeiDU installer.
Extract the contents of the mod to the folder of the game you wish to modify.
Download the latest Linux version of WeiDU and copy weidu, weinstall and tolower to /usr/bin. Then open a terminal and cd to your game installation directory.
Optional: run 'tolower' and answer 'Y' to both queries. You can avoid running the second option (linux.ini) if you've already ran it once in the same directory. To save time, the archive is already tolowered, so there's no need to run the first option (lowercasing file names) either, if you've extracted only this mod since the last time you lowercased file names. If unsure, running tolower and choosing both options is the safe bet.
Run WeInstall setup-generalized_biffing in your game folder to install the mod. Then run wine BGMain.exe (or wine baldur.exe for EE games), and start playing.
Note for Complete Un-installation
In addition to the methods above for removing individual components, you can completely un-install the mod using setup-generalized_biffing --uninstall at the command line to remove all components without wading through prompts.
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Components
As of v2.3, the installer splits main component into two sub components, letting the player decide if he wants to biff all files or only .wav, .tis and .bam files.
The LABEL of each component gives a fixed component ID, regardles of DESIGNATED changes. Other mods should use labels to detect component installation.
[0] Biff only .wav, .tis and .bam files.
➽ This component might be enough for installations with few mods (recommended by The Bigg and other "Small World Dudes").
[1] Biff all files.
➽ This component is recommended by the "Big World Dudes" (practically essential for installations with many mods).
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Troubleshooting
These are some general tips if you have problems getting the game working, with or without this or other mods. Many times, errors have to do with the game engine itself or the manner of installation or gameplay. The game recommends deleting all files out of the /cache, /temp and /tempsave 📁 sub-folders in your game folder to see if that resolves the problem before any further troubleshooting.
Symptom: Game freezes or crashes to desktop (CTDs)
Sometimes the game displays an "assertion error" in a pop-up window when this happens, but often times it doesn't. To enable the full error message, open the file baldur.ini in your game folder with a text editor (such as Notepad).
Under the [Program Options] section in the file, type Logging On=1 (unless it's already there). While you're there, you may also want to make sure Debug Mode=1 is there to enable the CLUA Console for debugging and testing. Save the file and exit. Now go back into the game and try to reproduce the crash. Then look in your game folder again for the Baldur.err file and open it with a text editor to analyse its contents.
Symptom:
ERROR: error copying [infinityanimations/content/somefile.bam]
ERROR: [SOMEFILE.CRE] -> [override/SOMEFILE.CRE] Patching failed (COPY)
Stopping installation because of error. (with no other error message)
Less-than-informative messages like these may indicate you're installing to a hard drive with a low data transfer rate or an antivirus program is active during installation (which can also affect data transfer). Try installing to an internal drive with antivirus protection disabled during the install. If unsure, disconnect from the Internet (either unplug your network cable or disable your wireless adaptor) and turn off all memory-resident programs during the install. To get a list of these, go to Start > Run and type msconfig where it says "Open:" then click OK. When the System Configuration Utility appears, click on the Startup tab. The only really necessary programs that need to be loaded in memory at startup are those related to your graphics chip (typically ATI or NVIDIA). Uncheck everything else, reboot and try installing the mod again. There are well-documented issues with installing mods while Avast antivirus is running, so make absolutely sure all components of Avast are completely disabled.
Other issues
If none of this resolves your issue, or you have mod-specific issues, please report the problem on the mod's forum or GitHub. Include the contents of your WeiDU.log file in the post, or attach it if it's large.
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Credits
Author: the bigg
Support: SHS Staff
Contributors
- Gwendolyne – maintenance (versions 2.3–2.6)
- AL|EN – maintenance (version 2.7)
- skellytz – maintenance (version 2.8)
- Argent77 – Enhanced Edition and EEex compatibility patches
Translators
- Felipe – Brazilian Portuguese
- Isaya – French
Special thanks
Programs/tools used in creation:
Copyrights
Generalized Biffing is not developed, supported, or endorsed by BioWare™ or Interplay/BlackIsle, Overhaul, Beamdog or the Wizards of the Coast. It was developed by The Bigg.
All mod content is ©The Bigg.
Baldur's Gate II: Shadows of Amn and Baldur's Gate II: Throne of Bhaal © TSR, Inc. The BioWare Infinity Engine is © BioWare Corp. All other trademarks and copyrights are property of their respective owners.
This mod was created to be freely enjoyed by all Baldur's Gate II players, and its content is free of rights. However, it should not be sold, published, compiled or redistributed in any form without the consent of the author.
Please note that any and all redistribution and/or hosting of this mod is prohibited without permission from the author.
The modding community for the Infinity Engine has been going strong for more than 10 years now, and is the culmination of thousands of unpaid modding hours by fellow fans of the game. Modders produce their best work and players get the best, well-supported mods when we all work together.
There are two big ways to upset this harmony. One is to claim someone else's work as your own. The second is to host and redistribute a mod without permission from the author(s).
Be kind to your fellow players and modders. Don't do either.
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