Alright. Here and there I've been posting some comments and every so often a screenshot of what I'm working on. One of the bigger problems in modding today as you know, is working with the native game files. There are some tools out there that help right now, but I wanted to go further.
My aim is to provide you with a tool that will allow you to edit all files that are based on the dat-structure (both SH3 and SH4). I've taken all the knowledge that others have gathered, and debugged the file format myself as well for countless hours, and am trying to create a tool that is easy to use, and combines features of several other tools, and more... Especially, the 'more' part.
While I realise the tool is similar to what has been done before (aka Pack3D, mini tweaker, etc), I do hope to add something new. Below is a list of some (not all) things I either have finished or have planned.
Supported:
- Full dat support. My file reader/writer reads 100% (!) of all SH3/4 files, without errors, and it can also write them back without problems. This doesn't mean I also know what every single byte means, but the reader/writer doesn't mind.
Also, for characteristics and object properties, I've got a flexible parser which is not based on file offsets. So, no more headaches with creating tweak files. The only thing that sometimes must be predefined is the datatype of a specific property. In most cases, it will even detect it. This makes it patch proof, mod proof, you name it, it will always read any file and write it back...
It reads the biggest files (interiors, 33MB) on my 3 year old pc in about 8-9 seconds! Small files are as fast as you can blink... (cheesy, i know :p)
- Rich GUI, which allows you to edit all the data that is known to me or anyone else (meaning, if you got info, share, so I can embed it). Not everything is built in yet, but I'm working on it.
- Multiple files can be opened (it will open in a new window). This is to support copy/paste and drag&drop in the future.
- Two types of views for chunks: List, Nested. I want to add another view (grouped), but this is for later.
- Options for editing id's, offsets in decimal/hex, rotations in radians/degrees, etc.
- Import/export of tga's, dds's.
- Import/export of a raw chunk. Can be used to move chunks over to other files.
- Preview function for tga's and dds's.
- Explorer style navigable links for id's. Click an id, if the id exists in the file, it will navigate to it.
- Explorer style history of visited nodes. Back/forward buttons allow you to track back to previously selected nodes.
- Rebuild the index chunk with all id's in the file.
- List of all id's in the file (by selecting the index chunk). Id's and offsets can be copied to clipboard. Later, maybe even in all the game folders.
- Support for placement chunk (cities/harbors)
- Move chunk up/down in list. Only one chunk at a time.
- Revert changes option (entire reload, not undo/redo)
- Recent file list
- One (easy) easteregg... First to post a screenie wins...
Planned or work in progress:
- Import/export of 3D models (with multiple channels, normals, materials).
- Preview for 3D models.
- Property editor for all object characteristics/properties (the property parser is done, but the UI is still a todo)
- Cloning, Copy&paste
- Add/insert new chunk planned.
- Support for the more exotic chunks (sound, animation, etc), but this will be for later... Nevertheless, the file will be read successfully, even if the type of chunk isn't known.
It may sound like a lot of work (it is actually), but I'm enjoying it. If you've got questions or feature requests, please post them.
Release date: soon, probably beginning of august. This will be an ALPHA!
Source code: I may release it eventually when I feel like it. Thing is, it is partially based on corporate code (my own company), so I may need to strip it a bit by then.
[edit] screenshots removed