APE 3.2 1.0.0

This is version 3.2 of APExp.  It is an update by Jay of the APExp created by Catman, who has given permission to the Zoo Tycoon Community Download Directory (ZTCDD) web site to host APExp.  Although his APExp is often called APE 3, someone else actually created APE 3, which inspired Catman to create his version.  So Catman's version could be considered APE 3.1, even though it shows 3.0 as the version number.

APExp3-2.zip contains the following:

APExp.exe
gdiplus.dll
MSVCP60.DLL
readme.txt (this file)
AXP folder containing iconsaxp.apx
ZZA folder containing config.apx and x.abc

Before running APExp.exe, copy the AXP and ZZA folders to ZT's main folder.  The ZT main folder must contain the AXP and ZZA folders for APExp.exe to work properly.  So do not rename the AXP and ZZA folders or the files inside those folders.  Although those folders have to be in the ZT main folder, the APExp.exe program can run from anywhere.  You would double-click APExp.exe to run it, although your Windows setup might not show the ".exe" at the end of "APExp.exe".  When creating something new, before saving, make sure Language is set to English in the Descriptions screen for animals and in the Descriptive Text screen for other objects.

It is recommended not to use any earlier version of APE or APExp, even for animals or objects that come with the original ZT.  Although it is recommended not to use the APE program, you might want to have the documentation that comes with APE 1.1.  APE and earlier versions of APExp would cause problems in animal configuration files.  Even a number of scenery configuration files would contain problems.  APExp 3.2 eliminates a lot of these problems.  APExp 3.2 also gives access to more animals and objects than earlier versions.  But even using APExp 3.2, it is still recommended to check ".uca" with the Animal Configuration Checker and to edit manually ".uca" and ".ucs" files by following the Uca Editing Guide and the UCS Editing guide, which are at various web sites.  APExp 3.2 is mostly configuration changes from previous versions.  APE and APExp cannot create working versions of buildings.  So APExp 3.2 allows creating scenery versions of buildings.  To make it more obvious that these are scenery versions, "Decorative" has been added to their names.  Rocks and exhibit foliage have been changed to be allowed in all exhibits and so they do not count toward suitability.  So "Decorative" has been added to their names as well.  Previous APExp versions could create objects that would crash the game because their configuration had lines that they should not have.  APExp configures those objects correctly.  The APExp program is mostly the same as the APE program.  So it has the same problems as the APE program.  APE and APExp have problems with some animations.  Sometimes APExp might stop unexpectedly (crash).  Running APExp again will usually work.  If APExp still crashes, you should delete the file C:\treedAXP.txt and try running APExp again.  APExp creates C:\treedAXP.txt.  You might see the file C:\treedump.txt.  APE and previous versions of APExp create that file.  To reduce the chances of APExp crashing, do not click its buttons too quickly.  That is especially true for the screens that show animations.  Also like APE, APExp might not load the graphics for a ZT animal or object.  Again, running APExp again will usually work.  APExp does not display some animations in the same way that ZT does because APExp does not support all of the formats that ZT does.  Like APE, APExp does not allow setting footprints larger than 5x5.  So for objects that have larger footprints, the ".ucs" file will have to be edited manually.  Like APE, APExp can create ".ztd" files that are not as efficient as they can be.  To reduce the chance of problems, after you save a ".ztd" or delete a project in APExp, you should exit APExp before doing anything else in APExp.  Also, the ".ztd" files should be checked to see if they have any unnecessary folders or files.  Although the ".ztd" files for animals and objects can have unnecessary folders and files, animals expecially could be much larger than they need to be.  Among other things, any ".wav" file can be deleted from the ".ztd" if you did not add the ".wav" file yourself.  Unlike APE and previous versions of APExp, APExp 3.2 creates new animal configuration files that use in-game sound files directly instead of using the ".wav" files that are copied into the ".ztd" from ZT.  When creating new animals, a number of screens look different in APExp 3.2 than in APE or previous versions of APExp.  The Behaviors screen usually will not show anything because behaviors were changed to get around some of the problems caused by APE and previous versions of APExp.  The changed behaviors still work in ZT the same way, though.  Also, some things have been moved in APExp.  One of the screens in APExp 3.2 is called "Optional Properties".  It is recommended not to click on that button when creating a new animal because just clicking that button will create unnecessary lines in the ".uca".  That screen is just for checking some settings for existing animals.  If the button is clicked, it is recommended exiting APExp before saving a ".ztd".  Like APE, APExp creates other unnecessary lines, especially in the [cSuitableObjects] and [cCompatibleTerrain] sections.  The Uca Editing Guide says how to determine which lines are unnecessary.

The following is just for information.  The ".apx" files in the AXP and ZZA folders are actually ".ztd" files.  But they must use ".apx" for APExp to work properly.  x.abc is actually a ".dll" file.  But it must be called "x.abc" for APExp to work properly.  These file names were chosen so that they would not interfere with APE or previous versions of APExp.  x.abc contains the messages that are put in ".uca" and ".ucs" files.  Even though the message blocks say they are German (because the previous versions of APExp did as well), the messages themselves are actually using English.  The AXP and ZZA folder names were chosen because some things have to be before ZT's folder names and some things have to be after ZT's folder names.

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Just for historical purposes, the following is the readme.txt from the English version of the original APExp from zootycoonabc, which no longer exists:

Thanks for your visiting at Zoo Tycoon ABC and the downloading of the file.

APExp (english) !

The zip-File contains:

APExp.abc
APExp\APExp.exe
     \cinfig.ape
     \gdiplus.dll
     \MSVCP60.DLL
     \readme.txt

Installation-Instructions:

The file "APExp.abc" and the folder "APExp" must set to the directory of Zoo Tycoon. That´s all.

A.P.E.xp startet with a double-click on the "APExp.exe" file, which you can found in the "APExp" - folder.

If you found any errors, please mail to:

           webmaster@zootycoonabc.de
           Keyword: APExp

Sincerely yours

Catman

15.02.2004
Copyright by Catman
exclusive for Zoo Tycoon ABC
http://www.zootycoonabc.de