Running exult 1.4.9rc1 on Mac OS X 10.6.7

[Shawn Smith]

I'm trying to get Exult going on my MacBook. I've played it previously, but always on a Windows system. I'm getting the message 'WARNING Could not find the static data for either "The Black Gate" or "Serpent Isle". Please edit the configuration file and restart Exult.

I have the Serpent Isle files in Library/Application Support/Exult/serpentisle . All I can see so far is that it should be running now and I shouldn't have to change the configuration file.

Also, the version of Serpent Isle I got said it had the Silver Seed included. Will I have to rearrange the files or should everything work there?

[Dominus]

It should work but to be sure is it in /library/... or in/users/username/library...?
It should be in the first one. And if its in /library... Make sure that you didn't just dump SI into the serpentisle folder, meaning the static folder needs to be in /library/.../exult/serpentisle not /library/.../exult/serpentisle/serpent
The very last thing that comes to mind is that on a case sensitive filesystem there can be other problems. OSX isn't case sensitive by default but you can make it so.

[Shawn Smith]

That seems to have fixed it Dominus. Thanks very much.

[Dominus]

No problem. Which of these was it?

[Shawn Smith]

It was in the wrong Library directory. I wasn't aware there was a /Library/ and a /username/Library/ . It just goes to show how much I have yet to learn about Mac architecture.

Again, thanks. And thanks to everyone on the Exult team for giving us the opportunity to continue to enjoy the fantastic work of Origin.

[Shawn Smith]

Since I've started this discussion, although I don't have it installed right now, I may eventually add The Black Gate as well. How complicated is that once you already have Exult running (on a Mac)?

[Dominus]

Depends on which version of BG you have, the documentation tells you how to get the files off the varios BG releases.
Then you place it in /library/application support/exult/blackgate and exult will find it on next start.
I recommend playing with the snapshot, btw. (see our frontpage for big changes).

I'll try to make the difference between the library folders more clear in the docs. Since on Lion the library folder will be hidden I'll have to write how to access it anyway...

[Darius]

FWIW I just ran into this same issue. It would be helpful to point this out in the documentation page for mac newbies.

[Dominus]

Yes, when I get to it, I'll remember to make a note there about the difference between /library and ~/library

[jmallory]

I am having issues with running Exult on my MAC as well. Can anybody provide a step by step process to get this to work? I'm desperate!

[Dominus]

Please be more specific, especially where you get stuck with the documentation

[Explorer12]

i got CD with SI folder and Ultima-7 Black Gate.
On the CD it has STATIC folders.

i tried placing them in

/library/application support/Exult/Black Gate
and
/library/application support/Exult/Serpentisle

still get warning. could not find static data.

i am running os lion

please help. thanks

[Dominus]

First of all, is your file system case senditive? On OS X it isn't by default.

Also you need to place BG static folder into blackgate NOT 'Black Gate' (no space).

To troubleshoot, open a new terminal window and execute

Code: Select all

cd '/library/application support/exult'
ls
cd blackgate
ls
cd ..
cd serpentisle
ls
cd ~/library/application support/exult
ls
cd blackgate
ls
cd ..
cd serpentisle
ls

Please copy paste everything in your terminal window here (you can mark everything with the mouse).


Edit: please provide feedback

[Explorer12]

Thanks for input.

I put just the 'static' folder into the library/application support/blackgate
it still gives me the black screen that it does not have the static folder.

david

[Explorer12]

in the message from exult it says: please edit configuration file and restart exult. what 'configuration file' is it talking about?

static folders are in place in blackgate folder

[Dominus]

Please follow the documentation, now you forgot to place the folder blackgate into the folder exult...

If it still doesn't work do what I told you to troubleshoot...

[Explorer12]

MBP-David:serpentisle sparta1978$ cd 'library/application support/exult'
-bash: cd: library/application support/exult: No such file or directory
MBP-David:serpentisle sparta1978$ ls
STATIC gamedat
MBP-David:serpentisle sparta1978$ cd blackgate
-bash: cd: blackgate: No such file or directory
MBP-David:serpentisle sparta1978$ ls
STATIC gamedat
MBP-David:serpentisle sparta1978$ cd ..
MBP-David:Exult sparta1978$ cd serpentisle
MBP-David:serpentisle sparta1978$ ls
STATIC gamedat

[Explorer12]

i got it to go to next screen with your help.

it appears that creating exult folder with static folders in them in HD-LIBRARY-Application Support did it.

much thanks to your and your team.

[Dominus]

Glad you made it work

[lbchild]

I'm afraid I'm having the same problem as the others. I installed 1.4.9 and initially was able to get 'blackgate' up and running (I didn't try Serpent Isle). Then I deleted 1.2 from my system to streamline things and have had no luck since. I've read the documentation several times over. Version 1.2 worked fine, and I can get 1.4.9 to work on my Windows 7 machine. But reinstalling 1.4.9 on the Mac seems to trash the configuration file: it totally wipes the section that discusses where the data files are placed, as well as the 4 "placeholder" folders described in your Mac docs. Reinstalling from a Time Machine backup got the config file back, but Exult still complains that it can't see the data files. I have the original Ultima Black Gate data files sitting in HD/library/application support/exult/blackgate/static (NOT the user area), but no luck--same error message no matter what. Does it matter where the Exult exe file is located? I have it in a "Exult 1.4.9" folder on the top level of my hard disk.

As I say I've very carefully read the docs and the FAQ, and I'd try to mess with the config file settings for altering the file locations, but I have no knowledge of Unix-style script (" .Exult" ??). If you could pass on any advice I'd greatly appreciate it. The game runs very well under Windows (with the built-in installer) and I had few problems using 1.2 on the Mac but I've tried placing the data files in just about every imaginable location, with no luck. Thank you.

[Dominus]

Please use the above commands I wrote on 03-26-12 and copy/paste the output. ALSO nuke your cfg file. Seriously, move it away so no leftover settings interfere.

Edit: Please use these commands in Terminal.app. These are not harmful to your Mac. All it does is change directory (cd) and list (ls) what files are there.

Code: Select all

cd '/library/application support/exult'
ls
cd blackgate
ls
cd ..
cd serpentisle
ls
cd ~/library/application support/exult
ls
cd blackgate
ls
cd ..
cd serpentisle
ls

[lchild]

Thank you for the prompt reply, I'll follow the instructions you suggest.