Creating a manifest file

Whichever client you are using, whether its CreamSoda or Tequila, they will come with a manifest file. This file (an XML file) will explain to the client where to go to download files and where to place those files. It will also tell the client how to launch a game client for specific game servers. An example manifest can be found here.

While there are other components, the two main sections in a manifest are:

• Profiles
• File List

Profiles

The profile section is made up of "launch" entries and each entry appears in your client as a server to which you can try and connect. Each "launch" entry contains the command instructions necessary to launch the game client exactly as it would if you created a shortcut on your desktop. It contains the following parameters:

• exec - the file to execute. This has to appear later as a file in the file list section.
• order - the position the server appears in the list of clients.
• website - a url to display when the server is selected.
• params - the attributes that will be appended to the exec when run. Typically this would include the address of the authentication server and an patch directory.

Example:

 <launch exec="Ouroboros.exe" order="1" website="https://www.thunderspygaming.net/" params="-patchDir ouro -auth 167.114.172.239">/coxg/ (v2:i1)</launch>
 

File List

The file list section contains a series of file references. Each "file" entry contains the information necessary to download, correctly place and validate the file in questions. Each "file" entry also surrounds one or more "url" entires from where the file could be downloaded. Each "file" entry contains the following parameters:

• name - the name and location for the file relative to the CreamSoda or Tequila installation.
• md5 - the checksum used to validate the downloaded file. For compatibility across different OS please ensure all checksums are in lowercase.
• size - size in bytes used to validate the downloaded file.

Example:

 <file name="Ouroboros.exe" md5="415755240dcce033c27f464724cba3f0" size="9681408">
 	<url>https://brute.coh.network/OuroDev/v2i1/Ouroboros.exe</url>
 	<url>http://cityofhero.es/OuroDev/v2i1/Ouroboros.exe</url>
 </file>

How to Add Your Server

If you are planning on keeping your server in line with the Ouroboros server then adding your own server to a manifest file is relatively simple. Use an existing manifest as a starting point, either the example linked above or one provided by a server you play on. Then you should work out the commands to launch a client and connect to your server. So if you launch a client by typing

 C:\CoH\ouroboros -auth 1.2.3.4 -patchDir ouro

You would add a launch entry to the profiles section of your manifest like this:

 <launch exec="Ouroboros.exe" order="2" website="https://yourserver.com/homepage" params="-patchDir ouro -auth 1.2.3.4">YOUR SERVER NAME</launch>

If you plan on making your own modifications, either to code or textures and models, then that is more complicated and a subject for the Corp Wiki.