The decompressor is here.
_{Note: The file is in a special format. A program that can open it is 7-Zip.}

Thanx a lot. Could you tell me how to use it? Pardon my ignorance.

1. Extract zlibnoh.rar into a folder
   
2. Copy the file you want to decompress into the directory you extracted zlibnoh into
   
3. Click "Start", then click "Run"
   
4. A box like this should popup -
   
   
5. Copy what is in this picture, but replace what's inside the brackets with what they show -
   
   
6. Click OK
   
7. The decompressed file is in the directory you extracted zlibnoh in.
   

Thanx again. Do you know how to edit with the decompressed files?

I also tried using this utility but I have trouble getting it to work.

What doesn't work?

Well I amde a folder for the zlibnoh or whatever, unziped it, put the files in the folder, a opened the file that ahd the start/run picture, I copied the text, i went to start run and typed the text exactly how it was, and i cliked run and it doesnt work, it said windows can't find the file, I'm really confused.

I made a shortcut with this command line: "C:\Program Files\Microsoft Games\Age of Empires II\DATA\compr.exe" test.hex empires2_x1_p1.dat. Replace text.hex with whatever you want - it works. I unzipped the RAR into C:\Program Files\Microsoft Games\Age of Empires II\DATA\.

Can you give me more detailed, step by step instructions, I tried your idea but it didn't work.

Sorry - I gave the compression instructions.

This is if you installed AoE and AoC to the defualt location

Unzip the RAR here: C:\Program Files\Microsoft Games\Age of Empires II\DATA

Start MS-DOS Prompt or Command Prompt

In the command promps or MS-DOS prompt:
cd C:\
cd "Program Files"
cd "Microsoft Games"
cd "Age of Empires II"
cd Data
uncompr empires2_x1_p1.dat test.hex

Should work.

I still don't get it, I'm getting frustrated, I still have no idea how to get it to work.

Have you followed my instructions? Step by step I mean. It can be tough.

@BlackWatch: You can use hexplorer to edit the file.

I know. I've been trying my best to decipher anything but just can't. All I've been able to do is change the cost of techs. Even make them require pop - but that's all.

Ok, maybe this will give you a leg up:

There are two basic parts to a tech, the "research" and the "techage".
(I call them that because that's what they were labled as for SWGB, and I modded that first.)

The "research" part contains everything about a tech, EXECPT, the effects. (This is what you're working with right now.)
In order from the begining are the prerequistis (can't spell), then the costs, the civ specifics, then what building it's researched at, then the language entries, the time to research, the link to the "techage" data, some unknown data, then the button slot, and a few more unknowns.
That's where the "techage" part comes in. (These are called "CHUN4" in AoK, so search for those.)

That's the basics. I'm working on writing a guide to all this with all the details (class numbers, types, and the like).
It will tell you how to add techs, make units available, edit the tech tree, edit civ and team bonuses, and I'll throw in some unit stuff as well.

But, this should give you a push in the right dirrection if you want to figure it out yourself.

Thank goodness there will soon be a guide.

Thank you, I'll look now. You're very helpful and thanx again.

I've looked more and have 2 more questions.

1. What is a prerequisite eg. for Loom?

2. Please tell me when you've done the guide.

TIA.

I just can't seem to get it to work. I've unzipped it to G:\Age Of Empire-II The Conquerors\Data
Thats the directory in which I've installed AoC. What next am I supposed to? (Your instructions didn't work Blackwatch...)

OK - please tell me what you did, step by step. Maybe I've got a different stick :-).

ROH:
What doesn't work? What happens?

Mandalorian:
How come some of the CHUN4 links work and others don't? The Loom matches up with one of them but Town Watch doesn't.

They all match up perfectly. How are you identifing the CHUN4's?

Uh oh. Sorry - I made a search mistake of 80 instead of 08. So - do you hav a list for the CHUN like your VERY helpful list of the "research"?

Adding to my previous request, Mandalorian - did you base the Loom CHUN off the Goth C-BONUS?

I have compiled a list of values and classes. It's not very extensive, I've got to narrow some down yet, and find some others...

CHUN4 TYPES
0 Changes Number To
1 Civ Header
2 Avail Units
3 Upgrading One Unit to Another
4 Adding Upgrades (Like +1 armor)
5 Percentages Upgrades (Like 15% faster)
6 Civ Header/Percentages
101 Cost of Tech
102 Tech Tree Disable
103 Get Tech Free

UNITS EFFECTED
0 Archer
2 [SHIPS]
3 Buildings
4 Villagers
6 Infantry
12 [CALVARY]
13 [SIEGE WEAPONS]
18 [MONK]
20 Transport Ships
21 [SHIPS]
22 [SHIPS]
23 [CALVERY]
35 [UNKNOWN]
36 Calvary Archer
43 [MONK]
44 [SKRIMISHER]
47 [CALVERY]
52 Towers
54 [SIEGE WEAPONS]
55 [SIEGE WEAPONS]

EFFECTS
0 Hit Points
1 Line of Sight
2 Garrison
5 Movment Speed
8 Armor
9 Attack
10 Attack Rate
11 Percent Accuracy
12 Range
13 Universal Rate (The rate at which a building creates units or researches techs.)
14 Resource Carry Capacity
20 Minimum Range
21 Population Support
22 Blast Radious (Area Damage)
23 Search Radious

100 Resource Cost
101 Creation Time
103 Cost in Food
104 Cost in Wood
105 Cost in Stone
106 cost in Gold
108 Healing Rate of Units Garrisoned

This is taken from the guide I'm starting to write.

Go to SWGBH and search for my thread "The Unknowns" I think I explained the structure of the "techages" there.

I don't know SWGB at all. I can't understand as a result. Really sorry and thanx.

Mandalorian, could you clarify the Loom CHUN4 entry? I can't get it to paste from Hexplorer into this reply, but I think you know where I am.

How I find it:
Find -> Loom
I check around till I find what I think is the CHUN4 ID which for Loom looks to me to be this: 16000000
Find -> CHUN4
Find -> 16000000

The CHUN4 ID for "Loom" is 22. (So that means the 23rd CHUN4 is the one you want, since they start at 0 instead of 1.)

So, could you define the data inside it?

I'm still having trouble using the decrompressor, when I go to start>run, do I open the file uncompr in my computer/c drive/program files/microsoft games/aoe2/data, because that isn't working, what am i supposed to do?!

Where did you extract the files to?

The AoE 2 data folder.

@ModRocker:

Type this into the Run Dialog:
C:\Program Files\Microsoft Games\Age of Empires II\Data\uncompr.exe empires2.dat empires2.hex

[This message has been edited by geebert (edited 08-29-2005 @ 06:57 PM).]

Where do I get empires2.hex

uncompr.exe creates that file(empires2.hex) when it's done decompressing the file that you specify(empires2.dat).