[JGZinv]

Back again... 

I'm looking at the possibility of working on changing the ship HUDs and
the background/graphics around the main menus shown within FS2.
I'm not concerned with the button layouts, fonts, or any of that as of yet.

But I'd like some information as to how this is done, I have searched and
only managed to find a couple topics concerning fonts and menu items themselves.
Searching on HUDs did not, unfortunately, turn up a tutorial or data as I'd hoped.

I'm familiar with Photoshop, so no concerns there, just need to know the "how, and with what"
of replacing both of these features - since they will switched with Tachyon related imagery/HUDs.

Also, I made this up for our current FringeSpace promo banner/symbol -

http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d1/GuardianZinv/Tachyon/FringeSpacePromoBanner.png

Thanks and enjoy. 

[Turey]

I'm guessing that you'll continue to have a hard time finding information on modding the HUD and menu stuff. It's one of the less-changed areas of FS2, simply because no one has a serious problem with how the HUD is laid out or the quality of the menu backgrounds (excepting the main hall).

[JGZinv]

Hmm perhaps I should browse the Game-Warden sections then...
They would likely be the most apt to change those areas.

Just to clarify this is somewhat an example of what I wanted to change
when I said "menu."

http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d1/GuardianZinv/Tachyon/Menu-Example.png

Not the main hall with all the doors and people and so forth.
That's animation, which I can do... but it's harder and more time consuming
by a power of 12.

[JGZinv]

Guess I'll reply to my own question - since I have a reasonable answer
and to help those following in my footsteps.

Basically, barely anything at all over at Game Warden that's usable, mostly
screen shots and comments on how it looks - not how it's put together.

So....

Both the HUD and the menu graphics are control by the tbl files, sadly.
The HUD is a system of positioned displays coded in by position using pixels and
directing that particular gauge to a spot. The 2D image used for the display, is also
based on a gauge by gauge basis.

Basically, if you want to make a custom HUD, such as porting from one game to FS2.
You'll have to modify all the gauge's positions, plus other basic tbl changes.
This is closest thing to a guide for the gauges section.

http://www.hard-light.net/wiki/index.php/Hud_gauges.tbl


Didn't find anything as to the other menu graphics, unless it's a part of the
main hall tbl. Which doesn't appear to be the case.

http://www.hard-light.net/wiki/index.php/Hud_gauges.tbl

Edit -

Likely, the listings for the menu bitmaps would be a part of this section.

menuui (Handles all the misc user interface, such as the main menu, tech room, campaign list etc)

[Wanderer]

Most of the HUD and menus (and other menu graphic file names and their positioning) are hard coded (apart from the mainhall). However coding of completely new menu creation system is afaik either in progress or in planning (with UI to create it).

Creating new HUD is somewhat possible currently either via replacing the needed graphics files with files of similar size and format or by using relatively new scripting system to create new gauges for the HUD.

Replacing menus require changing about 2000 graphics files - if made for both 640 and 1024 resos or 'only' 1000 if made for either reso alone.

[Turey]

or by using relatively new scripting system to create new gauges for the HUD.

see this for scripting an new hud:
http://www.hard-light.net/wiki/index.php/Script_-_Example_HUD

[JGZinv]

Thanks for the suggestions/help - it at least gives us some perspective
as to how much work will be involved.

If theres any more word on that HUD UI editor, it would be great to hear about it.