J3D File Format

Battlewagon3 · 04-20-18, 09:27 AM

I know that it's irritating, but I'll probably have to post this on some other threads as well:

1. The models from LWAMI, when installed according to the instructions, are invisible in my installation of DW.

2. When I have tried to install them manually using GRP (by Adam Milazzo), I had the same problem.

3. In addition, when new models (with or without textures) are installed using GRP, the .dds textures on other subs disappear, which means that my 3d.grp and 3d.ndx files have to be replaced in order to get DW working again. Replacing the .dds textures with .bmp textures doesn't work, either for restoring the textures, or getting the models working.

3. DWEdit is great for modding existing content (if you leave the graphics alone), but the Import and Export features don't appear to work, at least on my computer.

4. Due to the above problems, repaints are also not possible on my computer.

Does anyone know if I need to install anything else, or change any settings, so that these mods will work? Thank you.

Aktungbby · 04-20-18, 11:04 AM

Battlewagon3!

Battlewagon3 · 05-22-18, 09:44 PM

UPDATE: I've managed to get custom models working, but I'm still having trouble with default textures disappearing.

Does anyone else have anything to add?

Jeff-Groves · 11-09-18, 12:18 PM

I can provide enough info on the format to allow you to write a viewer/exporter.
I've only looked at it for a few hours so still figuring out the last bit of unknowns. One could write a new exporter for 3D Max or other programs once I figure it all out.

Thank you TLAM Strike for a few models I downloaded to look at the structure.
Those were a great source to work with.

Jeff-Groves · 11-09-18, 01:45 PM

Looking at the P4_Midget_Sub j3d file header in SweetScape 010 We have this:
EB 0F 00 00 EC 0E 00 00 02 00 00 00 12 00 00 00
10 00 00 00

EB 0F 00 00 as an integer is 4075. That is the number of verts in the j3d file.

EC 0E 00 00 as an integer is 3820. That is the number of polys in the j3d file.

02 00 00 as a short is 2. That is the number of textures used by the j3d file.

12 00 00 00 as a short is 18. That is the number of 3d models in the j3d file.

10 00 00 00 as a short is 16. That is the number of texture mappings in the j3d file.

So we have 4075 verts, 3820 polys, 2 textures, 18 3d models, and 16 texture mappings.

The next stuff is all the verts and texture co-ords. I'll break that down in the next post as there is some info I am not sure of at this time.

Jeff-Groves · 11-09-18, 02:35 PM

Following the header I described is a large block of data which includes the vets and faces of the 3D objects. Let's look at a chunk of that.

66 4C 41 BC BB D2 66 BF 6A AA 68 C1 00 00 00 00
55 55 AD AE 40 CA 2B 38 00 00 80 BF 00 00 00 00
00 00 00 00 16 F5 09 3F

This chunk gives us the verts, an unknown I suspect may be tangents, and our texture co-ords. We read them all as floats.

66 4C 41 BC BB D2 66 BF 6A AA 68 C1 = v 0.011798 -0.901653 -14.541605

00 00 00 00 = seems always the same. maybe a divider?

55 55 AD AE 40 CA 2B 38 00 00 80 BF = unknown. Maybe tangents?

00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 16 F5 09 3F = tex co-ords. 0.000000 0.000000 0.538996
This one is interesting as so far as I have found the 3rd co-ord of 0.538996 must be subtracted from 1 to get the proper number.
Then moved to the secondary position on export! vt 0.000000 0.461104 0.000000

If someone could send me a couple of the Games original 3D files that may help.

Jeff-Groves · 11-09-18, 03:57 PM

A template and script to work with j3d files is being created.
However. I am creating a special file to work with those that will require you to buy a legal copy of SweetScapes 010 Hex Editor.

I put a lot of time in to help with stuff. SweetScape has the best hex editor out there!
I support them and they add nearly anything requested. Spend a few bucks to support a great bit of software! 010 is the best tool a modder can own!

Jeff-Groves · 11-09-18, 04:24 PM

Now. After all the above stuff we come to the faces.
It's all pretty boring to me but you all want the information.
What happens with the j3d file is ALL verts and tex info is one large block with no separation of models. YET!
Now we look at the faces needed. Those also run as one large block with separation coming later in the file.

04-20-18, 09:27 AM	#1
Battlewagon3 Swabbie Join Date: Apr 2018 Posts: 10 Downloads: 6 Uploads: 0	Invisible models? I know that it's irritating, but I'll probably have to post this on some other threads as well: 1. The models from LWAMI, when installed according to the instructions, are invisible in my installation of DW. 2. When I have tried to install them manually using GRP (by Adam Milazzo), I had the same problem. 3. In addition, when new models (with or without textures) are installed using GRP, the .dds textures on other subs disappear, which means that my 3d.grp and 3d.ndx files have to be replaced in order to get DW working again. Replacing the .dds textures with .bmp textures doesn't work, either for restoring the textures, or getting the models working. 3. DWEdit is great for modding existing content (if you leave the graphics alone), but the Import and Export features don't appear to work, at least on my computer. 4. Due to the above problems, repaints are also not possible on my computer. Does anyone know if I need to install anything else, or change any settings, so that these mods will work? Thank you. Last edited by Battlewagon3; 04-20-18 at 02:03 PM.

04-20-18, 11:04 AM	#2
Aktungbby Gefallen Engel U-666 Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: On a tilted, overheated, overpopulated spinning mudball on Collision course with Andromeda Galaxy Posts: 30,034 Downloads: 24 Uploads: 0	welcome aboard! Battlewagon3! __________________ "Only two things are infinite; The Universe and human squirrelyness?!!

05-22-18, 09:44 PM	#3
Battlewagon3 Swabbie Join Date: Apr 2018 Posts: 10 Downloads: 6 Uploads: 0	The models are now working, but the default textures are still disappearing. UPDATE: I've managed to get custom models working, but I'm still having trouble with default textures disappearing. Does anyone else have anything to add?

11-09-18, 12:18 PM	#4
Jeff-Groves GLOBAL MODDING TERRORIST Join Date: Sep 2014 Posts: 5,654 Downloads: 137 Uploads: 0	I can provide enough info on the format to allow you to write a viewer/exporter. I've only looked at it for a few hours so still figuring out the last bit of unknowns. One could write a new exporter for 3D Max or other programs once I figure it all out. Thank you TLAM Strike for a few models I downloaded to look at the structure. Those were a great source to work with. Last edited by Jeff-Groves; 11-09-18 at 12:39 PM.

11-09-18, 02:35 PM	#6
Jeff-Groves GLOBAL MODDING TERRORIST Join Date: Sep 2014 Posts: 5,654 Downloads: 137 Uploads: 0	Following the header I described is a large block of data which includes the vets and faces of the 3D objects. Let's look at a chunk of that. 66 4C 41 BC BB D2 66 BF 6A AA 68 C1 00 00 00 00 55 55 AD AE 40 CA 2B 38 00 00 80 BF 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 16 F5 09 3F This chunk gives us the verts, an unknown I suspect may be tangents, and our texture co-ords. We read them all as floats. 66 4C 41 BC BB D2 66 BF 6A AA 68 C1 = v 0.011798 -0.901653 -14.541605 00 00 00 00 = seems always the same. maybe a divider? 55 55 AD AE 40 CA 2B 38 00 00 80 BF = unknown. Maybe tangents? 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 16 F5 09 3F = tex co-ords. 0.000000 0.000000 0.538996 This one is interesting as so far as I have found the 3rd co-ord of 0.538996 must be subtracted from 1 to get the proper number. Then moved to the secondary position on export! vt 0.000000 0.461104 0.000000 If someone could send me a couple of the Games original 3D files that may help. Last edited by Jeff-Groves; 11-09-18 at 03:10 PM.

11-09-18, 01:45 PM	#5
Jeff-Groves GLOBAL MODDING TERRORIST Join Date: Sep 2014 Posts: 5,654 Downloads: 137 Uploads: 0	Looking at the P4_Midget_Sub j3d file header in SweetScape 010 We have this: EB 0F 00 00 EC 0E 00 00 02 00 00 00 12 00 00 00 10 00 00 00 EB 0F 00 00 as an integer is 4075. That is the number of verts in the j3d file. EC 0E 00 00 as an integer is 3820. That is the number of polys in the j3d file. 02 00 00 as a short is 2. That is the number of textures used by the j3d file. 12 00 00 00 as a short is 18. That is the number of 3d models in the j3d file. 10 00 00 00 as a short is 16. That is the number of texture mappings in the j3d file. So we have 4075 verts, 3820 polys, 2 textures, 18 3d models, and 16 texture mappings. The next stuff is all the verts and texture co-ords. I'll break that down in the next post as there is some info I am not sure of at this time.

11-09-18, 03:57 PM	#7
Jeff-Groves GLOBAL MODDING TERRORIST Join Date: Sep 2014 Posts: 5,654 Downloads: 137 Uploads: 0	A template and script to work with j3d files is being created. However. I am creating a special file to work with those that will require you to buy a legal copy of SweetScapes 010 Hex Editor. I put a lot of time in to help with stuff. SweetScape has the best hex editor out there! I support them and they add nearly anything requested. Spend a few bucks to support a great bit of software! 010 is the best tool a modder can own!

11-09-18, 04:24 PM	#8
Jeff-Groves GLOBAL MODDING TERRORIST Join Date: Sep 2014 Posts: 5,654 Downloads: 137 Uploads: 0	Now. After all the above stuff we come to the faces. It's all pretty boring to me but you all want the information. What happens with the j3d file is ALL verts and tex info is one large block with no separation of models. YET! Now we look at the faces needed. Those also run as one large block with separation coming later in the file.

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