# Generalized Biffing

A Spellhold Studios tool for Infinity Engine games

Author: the bigg (Valerio Bigiani)

Website and Forum • Download • GitHub •

## Overview

This WeiDU tool allows you to biff the contents of the override folder for improved performance; this means the files are converted into the BIFF format and moved into the data folder. The game thereby loads much faster again and the performance is smoother. Generalized Biffing works also on macOS and Linux (if you use the correct executable) and is compatible with the common WeiDU stack uninstall operation.

Note: User reports have indicated that Generalized Biffing is, in most cases, unnecessary for Enhanced Edition games.

## Compatibility

### Supported games

Generalized Biffing is designed to work on all Infinity Engine games.

### Other mods

This is a WeiDU tool; therefore, it should be compatible with all WeiDU mods. It must be installed after all other mods. If you encounter any issues, please report them on the forum or GitHub.

## Installation

### Notes

If you've previously installed this tool, remove it before extracting the new version. To do this, run the WeiDU installer, uninstall all previously installed components, and delete the 📁 generalized_biffing folder.

When installing or uninstalling, do not close the console window by clicking on the X button! Instead, press the Enter key whenever instructed to do so.

Disable any antivirus or other memory-resident software before installing this or any other mod. Some software has a tendency to report false positives with mod activity resulting in failed installs.

### Enhanced Editions

Please note that every patch update will wipe your current mod setup. If in the middle of a modded game you might want to delay the patch update (if possible), as even after reinstalling the mods, you might not be able to continue with your old savegames. Alternatively, copy the whole game folder into a new one that can be modded and will stay untouched by game patches. It is important that you install the mod to the language version you are playing the game in. Otherwise, the dialogues of the mod will not show but give error messages.

### Setup instructions

Generalized Biffing is distributed as a compressed archive including WeiDU installers for Windows, macOS, and Linux.

Extract the contents of the archive to the folder of the game you wish to modify (the folder which contains the CHITIN.KEY file):

- 📁 generalized_biffing
- 📁 weidu_external
- setup-generalized_biffing.exe (Windows)
- setup-generalized_biffing.command (macOS)
- setup-generalized_biffing.sh (Linux)

To install, run the setup file for your system and follow the on-screen instructions.

To uninstall or reinstall, simply run the setup file again and follow the prompts.

### Complete uninstallation

In addition to the methods above for removing individual components, you can completely uninstall the tool using setup-generalized_biffing --uninstall at the command line to remove all components without wading through prompts.

## Components

### Biff only WAV, TIS, and BAM files

This component should be enough for installations with just a few mods (recommended by The Bigg and other "Small World Dudes").

### Biff all files

This component is intended for mega-modifications or installations with many mods (recommended by the "Big World Dudes").

## Troubleshooting

These are some general tips if you have problems getting the game working, with or without this or other mods. Many times, errors have to do with the game engine itself or the manner of installation or gameplay. The game recommends deleting all files out of the /cache, /temp, and /tempsave 📁 sub-folders in your game folder to see if that resolves the problem before any further troubleshooting.

Symptom: Game freezes or crashes to desktop (CTDs)

Sometimes the game displays an "assertion error" in a pop-up window when this happens, but often times it doesn't. To enable the full error message, open the file baldur.ini in your game folder with a text editor (such as Notepad).

Under the [Program Options] section in the file, type Logging On=1 (unless it's already there). While you're there, you may also want to make sure Debug Mode=1 is there to enable the CLUA Console for debugging and testing. Save the file and exit. Now go back into the game and try to reproduce the crash. Then look in your game folder again for the Baldur.err file and open it with a text editor to analyse its contents.

Symptom:

ERROR: error copying [infinityanimations/content/somefile.bam]
ERROR: [SOMEFILE.CRE] -> [override/SOMEFILE.CRE] Patching failed (COPY)
Stopping installation because of error. (with no other error message)

Less-than-informative messages like these may indicate you are installing to a hard drive with a low data transfer rate or an antivirus program is active during installation (which can also affect data transfer). Try installing to an internal drive with antivirus protection disabled during the installation. There are well-documented issues with installing mods while Avast antivirus is running, so make absolutely sure all components of Avast are completely disabled.

Other issues

If none of this resolves your issue, or you have mod-specific issues, please report the problem on the forum or GitHub. Please include the contents of your WeiDU.log file.

## Credits

##### Author: the bigg

##### Support: SHS Staff

##### Contributors

- Argent77 – Enhanced Edition, EEex, and non-ASCII compatibility patches
- Gwendolyne – maintenance (versions 2.3–2.5)
- AL|EN – maintenance (versions 2.6–2.7)
- skellytz – maintenance (versions 2.8–2.9)

##### Translators

- Felipe – Brazilian Portuguese
- Isaya – French

##### Special thanks

- Everyone else from The Gibberlings Three, Spellhold Studios, and other Infinity Engine gaming and modding communities who offered their help and support.

##### Programs/tools used in creation:

- WeiDU by Wes Weimer, the bigg, and Wisp
- IESDP maintained by igi and lynx
- Notepad++ by the Notepad++ team, Don Ho, and the spellcheck plug-in
- WeiDU Notepad++ Highlighters by Argent77
- WeiDU Mod Packager by Argent77
- Infinity Auto Packager by AL|EN

##### Copyright

Generalized Biffing is not developed, supported, or endorsed by BioWare™ or Interplay/BlackIsle, Overhaul, Beamdog or the Wizards of the Coast. It was developed by The Bigg.

All tool content is ©The Bigg.

Baldur's Gate II: Shadows of Amn and Baldur's Gate II: Throne of Bhaal © TSR, Inc. The BioWare Infinity Engine is © BioWare Corp. All other trademarks and copyrights are property of their respective owners.

This tool was created to be freely enjoyed by all Baldur's Gate II players, and its content is free of rights. However, it should not be sold, published, compiled or redistributed in any form without the consent of the author.

Please note that any and all redistribution and/or hosting of this tool is prohibited without permission from the author.

The modding community for the Infinity Engine has been going strong for more than 20 years now, and is the culmination of thousands of unpaid modding hours by fellow fans of the game. Modders produce their best work and players get the best, well-supported mods when we all work together.

There are two big ways to upset this harmony. One is to claim someone else's work as your own. The second is to host and redistribute a mod without permission from the author(s).

Be kind to your fellow players and modders. Don't do either.

## Version History

###### Version 2.9 (November 10, 2024)

- Added support for non-ASCII filenames (thanks to Argent77).
- Repackaged with Windows, macOS, and Linux installers in a single ZIP archive (thanks to Argent77).

###### Version 2.8 (September 28, 2024)

- Added a warning and instructions in relation to the deprecated Latin-1 character set as of WeiDU v247.
- Added compatibility with EEex (thanks to Argent77).
- Updated mod metadata for PI.

###### Version 2.7 (February 2, 2024)

- Updated Infinity Auto Packager.
- Normalized EOL.
- Removed outdated information from readme.
- Cosmetic corrections.

###### Version 2.6 (February 1, 2022)

- Added ini settings to enable globally unique labels for PI.
- Remove outdated information from readme.
- Cosmetic corrections.

###### Version 2.5 (January 30, 2021)

- Added Dynamic Install Syntax in generalized_biffing.ini metadata file to support AL|EN's "Project Infinity".
- Added Brazilian-Portuguese translation (thanks Felipe).
- Re-format generalized_biffing-readme-english.html with new SHS readme template.

###### Version 2.4 (April 13, 2020)

- Added missing EE-specific resource types: LUA, MENU, PNG and TTF.
- EE-specific resource types are only considered for EE games.
- Sorted resource type list alphabetically.

###### Version 2.3 (February 24, 2020)

- Added generalized_biffing.ini metadata file to support AL|EN's "Project Infinity".
- Added DESIGNATED numbers and "generalized_biffing_min" and "generalized_biffing_all_files" component LABELS.
- Replaced READLN actions with SUBCOMPONENTS to support AL|EN's "Project Infinity".
- Externalized tp2 code into *main_component.tpa* library for more comfortable readability and maintenance.
- Integrated BWP Fixpack (Argent77's BG:EE compatibility patch).
- Added README command in tp2.
- Wrote a new generalized_biffing-readme-english.html readme file.
- Removed useless backup folder.
- Updated WeiDU installer to v246.
- Included Linux and Mac Os X versions in the same package (thanks AL|EN's Infinity Auto Packager tool!).
- Uploaded mod to official Spellhold Studios GitHub mirror account.

###### Version 2.2 (April 13, 2018)

- Used a better algorithm for listing and moving files.

###### Version 2.1 (January 4, 2011)

- Unknown modifications.

###### Version 2.0 (November 30, 2010)

- Added French translation (thanks Isaya).

###### Version ?.? (November 13, 2010)

- Files whose names don't fit in 8.3 characters aren't biffed.

###### Versions ?.? (July 23, 2010 - January 8, 2010)

- Unknown modifications.

###### Version ?.? (September 16, 2009)

- Only for Linux users.

###### Version ?.? (August 3, 2009)

- Unknown modifications.

###### Version ??? (April 6, 2009)

- Tightened regexp to ensure only valid files will be biffed anyhow.

###### Version 1.0

- Initial release.