How Do I Operate TA:Mutation?


The Menus
The menus control things you probably wouldn't mess with every time you run TA:M.
SETTINGS:
Automatically Launch TAHook
If this is checked, TAHook will be launched when you launch TA. This can be very handy, because its often difficult to remember to launch TAHook when you want to play a game.

I have the Core Contingency Installed
Check this if it isn't already.
If you don't have TA:CC installed, you might as well hang up shop, cause you won't be really needing this program then. Technically TA:M is supported for non-TA:CC players, but you won't really find much use for it. Go get TA:CC!!

Disable "Modified/Missing File" warnings"
When you install TA:M, it expects certain files to be there, and it expects them to be the originals. If you have changed them, or removed some, TA:M will complain with an error message every time you load up.
With this option checked, TA:M will not display the error messages. It is not recommended that you check this unless you know what you are doing.

Disable "Custom Executable for TC" warning
When you run a TC that has its own executable, TA:M could act unpredictably, or unstable. TA:M will attempt to warn you, but if you are sure you know what you are doing, you can check this option to disable the message. It is not recommended for most people however.

Don't try to configure ICQ to launch TA:M
When you launch TA:M, it checks to see if you have ICQ. If you do, it tries to configure ICQ so that TA:M can be launched from it. This is not harmful to your ICQ settings, but if you choose not to do it, you will continue to get the messages every time you launch TA:M.
Check this option if you want to disable the messages.

Don't ask to compile a monolithic TotalA1.hpi file
When you launch TA:M, it attempts to compile your Original TA data files into a single file, so that you can run Total Conversions. You should say "Yes" to this and let it do the compiling. It only does this once, and then you're set.
However, if you do not want TA:M to do this, you can say no, but you will get a message every time you load TA:M asking for you to let it do this.
Check this option if you want to disable the messages

FUNCTIONS:
Take Snapshot
This menu item will prompt you to save a file that consists of a list of your TA:M settings.
You will get a Save Snapshot box where you enter a filename. The files always have a ".tas" extension.
Snapshots are stored in the Snapshots folder under your TA-Mutation folder.
In our example snapshot, you can see the breakdown.
  • The line beginning with "TC:" contains the running Total Conversion.
  • The next line says "MUTATORS:" and following will be a list of running Mutators.
  • The line beginning with "AI:" contains the running AI.
  • The next line says "UFOs:" and following will be a list of running UFO files. That's all a snapshot is.
    Restore Snapshot
    This menu item will prompt you to select a snapshot to restore. Once you select the file, your TA:M settings will match that of the snapshot.
    There is a snapshot included in TA:M called "Unmodified TA" and if you select this snapshot, everything in TA:M will be turned off, and you will be left with TA, as it was first installed. This is a great way to get ready for a backup, because it takes all your goodies and moves them into your TA-Mutation folder.
    NOTE: just because you have a snapshot, doesn't mean you have the files necessary to restore the snapshot.
    If the snapshot contains mutators or other items that you do not have installed, you will still be able to load the snapshot, but there will be warning messages and you will be missing elements of the snapshot. If this happens, you are not ready to watch a demo or load a saved game that used the snapshot's settings.

    Make a UFO Pack from the currently enabled UFOs
    See the "How do I make UFO packs" section to the left.

    The Tabs

    The Buttons

    Terminology