Portal 2 Extras Menu Patcher 1.0
No. Sorry for being unclear.
I meant a batch file, which would have the advantage of being able to run on any Windows machine new enough to run Portal 2, no .NET required. The disadvantage would be that batch scripts are harder to write. You might even be able to use PowerShell, but that would require PowerShell to be installed, which is only true (by default) on Windows 7.
I was complaining about the fact that these .NET and Java solutions are overkill for the job, but I don't really have the ability to complain since I haven't written any code either. Honestly, I'm not intimidated by task of writing a batch script, I just don't know all of the steps that your patcher goes to: reading registry keys, what files to look for, how exactly to edit the extras file and so on.
Plus, the script, when zipped, would probably be less than 1KB. [/programmer]
No. Sorry for being unclear.
I meant a batch file, which would have the advantage of being able to run on any Windows machine new enough to run Portal 2, no .NET required. The disadvantage would be that batch scripts are harder to write. You might even be able to use PowerShell, but that would require PowerShell to be installed, which is only true (by default) on Windows 7.
I was complaining about the fact that these .NET and Java solutions are overkill for the job, but I don't really have the ability to complain since I haven't written any code either. Honestly, I'm not intimidated by task of writing a batch script, I just don't know all of the steps that your patcher goes to: reading registry keys, what files to look for, how exactly to edit the extras file and so on.
Plus, the script, when zipped, would probably be less than 1KB. [/programmer]
You are right. The problem here is that I can only write C# .NET Windows Forms and C++ console programs. I wanted the program to have a nice GUI so it's easy to use. I have no idea how to use WinApi to do that. Maybe I should start learning... Console programs are good sometimes but not for this.
As far as I know, many Windows users already have the newest .NET framework installed since it is pretty widely used. I think it is easier & faster to install .NET and use my program than modifying the extras.txt yourself and copying the map files to the portal2maps folder.
I can't write anything else than console programs for Mac or Linux users. Though majority of Portal 2 players are using Windows. That is why I'm sticking with C# Windows Forms. It is easy to use and fast to learn. And it's powerful.
And what comes to the size, I wouldn't complain about it. It is the same if the file is 80kb or 1kb. With 8mbit/s internet connection the file will be downloaded in a second.
You're not wrong, which is why it isn't a compelling argument. It's more of an achievement.
I updated the program to version 1.6. You can now also patch version 7.5 .vtf files to version 7.4 (which is supported by VTFEdit)!
To use this feature, just drag & drop a .vtf file on to the program and click "Patch 7.5 (.vtf) to 7.4".
No mac support? =(
Nope, sorry. Try dual booting Windows or emulating it... 
Most of Portal 2 players are using Windows & .NET.
it's so cool, but with anything in portal 2 like it is today, it's not completely pluggable, meaning if you are doing all that inside a vpk, it would only work if the player has one custom campaign installed from an author that puts all this data inside.But if you have many vpk's installed like that, only one extras.txt (or lightboard icons script) will be used and rendering another one useless.
Valve should make this completely pluggable.