Darktorizo
Posts:
266
Registered:
Dec 10, '06
Extended Info (if available)
Real Post Cnt: 266
User ID: 1,190,502
|
Subject:
Editing Dat Files... Hoping to Skin AC
|
Hello All. I have searched the net for AC skins and have come up with a bunch of useful Information, but I need a bit more. First off, using ReadDat I can export the range of UI Elements I want to change, but they go to a .bin file. How do I convert the .bin to something "Graphically Editable"? or is there another way? Second I would need to "Import" the new "elements" back into the client_portal.dat, Which I assume can be done with WriteDat.
Anyone who has any info and cares to share it would be greatly appreciated.
Also, has anyone successfully made skins for AC:ToD?
Thank you for your help in advance.
DarkTorizo
-----signature-----
Guinevere du Avalon - Level 275 - Mage (War\MeleeD Spec)\2 Hour Buff Bot - TD ~* Explorer of Dereth *~ GoArrow Database Updates (Full): http://db.tt/6UlVIW GoArrow Database Update Page: http://db.tt/9lJUeE4
|
|
Link to this post
|
Yula_the_Mighty
Title: Lore Master
Posts:
6,054
Registered:
Jan 25, '04
Extended Info (if available)
Real Post Cnt: 5,866
User ID: 887,035
|
Subject:
Editing Dat Files... Hoping to Skin AC
|
|
Nobody that I know of has done a skin for Throne of Destiny. You would be the first. That means you get the pleasure of figuring this all out on your own and explaining it to the rest of us.
-----signature-----
(none)
|
|
Link to this post
|
Darktorizo
Posts:
266
Registered:
Dec 10, '06
Extended Info (if available)
Real Post Cnt: 266
User ID: 1,190,502
|
Subject:
Editing Dat Files... Hoping to Skin AC
|
|
Thank you for the response Yula, I kind of figured it hasn't been done yet as there is not a whole lot of info on Skins after Tod. Oh well... I'll keep digging...
-----signature-----
Guinevere du Avalon - Level 275 - Mage (War\MeleeD Spec)\2 Hour Buff Bot - TD ~* Explorer of Dereth *~ GoArrow Database Updates (Full): http://db.tt/6UlVIW GoArrow Database Update Page: http://db.tt/9lJUeE4
|
|
Link to this post
|
Surge_MT
Posts:
5,392
Registered:
May 9, '01
Extended Info (if available)
Real Post Cnt: 5,351
User ID: 95,346
|
Subject:
Editing Dat Files... Hoping to Skin AC
|
You might find this ToD dat viewer/exporter utility helpful (sourcefile also available for d/l):
http://ac.ciper.com/acv.html
-----signature-----
The scripts/links below don't work anymore...I should really change my signature: Skill Calculator: http://www.strikefast.net/skillcalc/ Salvage Calculator: http://www.strikefast.net/tinkering/salvaging/ *** 09-11-01
|
|
Link to this post
|
Darktorizo
Posts:
266
Registered:
Dec 10, '06
Extended Info (if available)
Real Post Cnt: 266
User ID: 1,190,502
|
Subject:
Editing Dat Files... Hoping to Skin AC
|
Thank you for the reply Surge. I have that program and another one like it, now I need a way to edit what is exported, and then import it back into client_portal.dat
-----signature-----
Guinevere du Avalon - Level 275 - Mage (War\MeleeD Spec)\2 Hour Buff Bot - TD ~* Explorer of Dereth *~ GoArrow Database Updates (Full): http://db.tt/6UlVIW GoArrow Database Update Page: http://db.tt/9lJUeE4
|
|
Link to this post
|
Surge_MT
Posts:
5,392
Registered:
May 9, '01
Extended Info (if available)
Real Post Cnt: 5,351
User ID: 95,346
|
Subject:
Editing Dat Files... Hoping to Skin AC
|
Ok, I succeeded in swapping out some images (note the health bar color in the screenshot below):
http://www.strikefast.net/images/Surge/skintest1.jpg
Here's what I did:
1) find location of images using acview
2) extract with ReadDat.exe
3) import as RAW in IrfanView (you need to know the color depth and height,width, shown in acview). It seems most images are 24BPP, BGR, Interleaved, with a file header size of 24. Some newer images are reported as 24BPP by acview, but are actually 32BPP.
4) save the image as a jpg
5) use your favorite graphics program to edit/modify the image
6) load image back into IrfanView, then save as RAW (BGR, Interleaved). Note that you can't write this raw file into the dat file as is, because there is no header.
7) using a hex editor, open the file extracted in step 2, and copy the first 24 bytes.
8) using the hex editor, open the newly created raw file from step 6 and paste the section at the beginning
9) use WriteDat.exe to insert the modified file into the dat file.
I'm sure given these steps, someone can automate some of the tasks/conversions (maybe there's better programs than the ones I used to import/convert/export, etc.)
-----signature-----
The scripts/links below don't work anymore...I should really change my signature: Skill Calculator: http://www.strikefast.net/skillcalc/ Salvage Calculator: http://www.strikefast.net/tinkering/salvaging/ *** 09-11-01
|
|
Link to this post
|
Darktorizo
Posts:
266
Registered:
Dec 10, '06
Extended Info (if available)
Real Post Cnt: 266
User ID: 1,190,502
|
Subject:
Editing Dat Files... Hoping to Skin AC
|
Surge, I can't say thank you enough!!! You are a genius.
Here is a pic of the first modded graphic I did.
http://www.putfile.com/pic.php?img=4508570
Note the line between the chat box and the viewing window.
Thank You!
Skins will be reborn for AC:ToD. 
-----signature-----
Guinevere du Avalon - Level 275 - Mage (War\MeleeD Spec)\2 Hour Buff Bot - TD ~* Explorer of Dereth *~ GoArrow Database Updates (Full): http://db.tt/6UlVIW GoArrow Database Update Page: http://db.tt/9lJUeE4
|
|
Link to this post
|
Sucamarto
Posts:
20,839
Registered:
May 15, '01
Extended Info (if available)
Real Post Cnt: 20,746
User ID: 96,777
|
Subject:
Editing Dat Files... Hoping to Skin AC
|
If anyone does get a ToD skin and wants it hosted let me know and I will reserect the Skins section of my site which is currently a Retired Section;
http://acheaven.buwahaha.com/Skins.htm
-----signature-----
Sucamarto's AC Heaven - http://acheaven.buwahaha.com Sucamarto - (275) Bunny Master Panumbriis Shadow - (275) - Sword,Cook,Alch,Tinker Allegiance - Tasia the True "May the seed of your loin be fruitfull in the belly of your woman" Neil
|
|
Link to this post
|
-paradoxlost-
Posts:
????
Registered:
????
Extended Info (if available)
Real Post Cnt: 0
User ID: 0
|
Subject:
Editing Dat Files... Hoping to Skin AC
|
|
Why save it as a JPG? use something lossless instead like png!
-----signature-----
|
|
Link to this post
|
Rizgar
Posts:
????
Registered:
????
Extended Info (if available)
Real Post Cnt: 0
User ID: 0
|
Subject:
Editing Dat Files... Hoping to Skin AC
|
|
sweet! ToD skins in the making!
-----signature-----
|
|
Link to this post
|
Chainz_TD
Title: Retired.
Posts:
24,639
Registered:
Dec 29, '01
Extended Info (if available)
Real Post Cnt: 24,099
User ID: 582,164
|
Subject:
Editing Dat Files... Hoping to Skin AC
|
|
I miss the differant skins, hope you get something worked out.
-----signature-----
 Carlon ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ Here's the deal I'm the best there is. Plain and simple. I wake up in the morning and I piss excellence. ~ Ricky Bobby
|
|
Link to this post
|
Zenodice
Posts:
6,622
Registered:
Aug 22, '04
Extended Info (if available)
Real Post Cnt: 6,534
User ID: 958,400
|
Subject:
Editing Dat Files... Hoping to Skin AC
|
I'm gonna work on this a bit and see what I can manage, if anyone wants to compile a list of the various UI coords in ACview that would make things a lot easier for anyone who wants to work on this.
I know graphics start int he 0600000 section.
0600100 - Skill Icons
0600200 - Map & Stat Icons
0600400 - Old Race & M/F Icons
Also, anyone who wants to do this will need ReadDat and WriteDat, both of which are found here: http://vnboards.ign.com/ac_utilities/b5432/98059790/p1/
-----signature-----
AC - D3 - GW2 - PS2 ACC Wiki: http://ac.wikkii.net/
|
|
Link to this post
|
Helenisstyck
Title: Loopy the Flame Warrior
Posts:
5,140
Registered:
Jun 6, '01
Extended Info (if available)
Real Post Cnt: 4,996
User ID: 147,646
|
Subject:
Editing Dat Files... Hoping to Skin AC
|
-----signature-----
Shiki - Darth Jihad - Vangar the Valorous - Helenisstyck http://haiku.cc.ehime-u.ac.jp/
|
|
Link to this post
|
Surge_MT
Posts:
5,392
Registered:
May 9, '01
Extended Info (if available)
Real Post Cnt: 5,351
User ID: 95,346
|
Subject:
Editing Dat Files... Hoping to Skin AC
|
I just tested a command-line utility ( http://perso.orange.fr/pierre.g/xnview/en_nconvert.html ) to convert RAW(BGR) images to PNG (or whatever other editable format you prefer), so you don't have to use the IrfanView import for step (3) in my previous post. I am working on a wrapper script to perform the conversion back to RAW, preppend the header/offset, and insert the converted file back into the .dat file.
That leaves the next big task as step (1), reiterated by Zenocide, which is to identify all of the locations of the images in the .dat file. Luckily, this task only needs to be done once to get the "default" set of graphics.
When you navigate the tree in acview, the data is shown in the right hand panel, along with the image properties (color depth, dimensions). Perhaps someone good with C# can modify the source code to acview (it's open source, you can download it from the link in my first post) so instead of displaying the info it can read the whole tree and write the info to a file, or just use the acview export to png and dump the files in one step.
Then we sort the images we want and put them into a repository for the artistically inclined among us to modify.
-----signature-----
The scripts/links below don't work anymore...I should really change my signature: Skill Calculator: http://www.strikefast.net/skillcalc/ Salvage Calculator: http://www.strikefast.net/tinkering/salvaging/ *** 09-11-01
|
|
Link to this post
|
Zenodice
Posts:
6,622
Registered:
Aug 22, '04
Extended Info (if available)
Real Post Cnt: 6,534
User ID: 958,400
|
Subject:
Editing Dat Files... Hoping to Skin AC
|
I'm still stuck on turning the bin file into raw data so I can manage to edit it, could you post how you're extracting the images as a bin and then converting them so you can edit them, then converting back, your other posts left me a bit confused, if you could clarify in a step procedure or what you used to do it that would be swell.
Also are you getting the same thing with ACView where it shows textures in greyscale only and often shows them doubled up? It looks terrible and makes exporting them nearly impossible and hard to discern which textures are what.
Now the good news, i've located the health bar image and a ton of other GUI locs and figure things out a bit.
Anything with a -4120 is an icon file, predominantly things like weapons/armor/spellcomps/spells etc, so when you're looking for the gui or texture images look for the odd ones out that have a different set of digits after the - seperator.
I believe at 06003700 is when the ToD textures start, from there theres a lot of unreadable data.
In any case, here's a few of the GUI locs I managed to find, maybe we should start compiling a list.
-Map-
0600127D-205881 (World Map)
06000261-786456 (Old World Map?)
-Compass-
060011FB-294 (North Icon)
06001938-294 (East Icon)
0600193A-294 (South Icon)
0600193C-294 (West Icon)
-Intro-
0600195C-50724 - 06001979-50724 (Loading Bar-Patching)
~~TOP~~
-Stats-
06001131-1116 (Health Bar Left Side)
06001132-8172 (Health Bar Center)
06001133-864 (Health Bar Right Side)
06001134-1032 (Mana Bar Left Side)
06001135-7836 (Mana Bar Center)
06001136-1200 (Mana Bar Right Side)
06001137-1200 (Stamina Bar Left Side)
06001138-7836 (Stamina Bar Center)
06001139-948 (Stamina Bar Right Side)
06001146-7836 (Empty Bar Left Side)
06001147-1200 (Empty Bar Center)
06001145-948 (Empty Bar Right Side)
-Status Icons-
060016D0-1704 - 060016D1-1704 (Portal Storm)
06001103-1704 (Encumbered Bag Inactive)
0600110F-1704 (Encumbered Bag Yellow)
06001106-1704 (Vitae Inactive)
0600110C-1704 (Vitae Active)
06001111-1704 (Buff Spells Active)
06002629-1704 (Debuff Spells Active)
06002817-1704 (Chess Icon Active)
-Menu Icons-
06001148-2712 (Help Button Active)
0600114A-2712 (Help Button Inactive)
06001932-2376 (Quit Button Inactive)
06001933-2376 (Quit Button Active)
~~MIDDLE~~
-Inventory-
0600121C-2037 (Encumbered Bar Full)
0600121D-2037 (Encumbered Bar Empty)
0600127E-4120 (Inventory Bag)
-Character Attributes-
060002C8-1899 (Strength Attribute Icon)
060002C4-1899 (Endurance Attribute Icon)
060002C6-1899 (Quickness Attribute Icon)
060002C9-1899 (Coordination Attribute Icon)
060002C5-1899 (Focus Attribute Icon)
060002C7-1899 (Self Attribute Icon)
-Character Skills-
06000F90-16944 (Specialized Skills Background)
06000F86-16944 (Trained Skills Background)
06000F98-16944 (Untrained Skills Background)
06000F89-16944 (Unusable Skills Background)
06000F93-16944 (Skills Active)
0600016E-1224 (Arcane Lore Skill Icon)
0600209A-1224 (Armor Tinkering Skill Icon)
0600015D-1224 (Axe Skill Icon)
0600015F-1224 (Bow Skill Icon)
0600209E-1224 (Creature Magic Skill Icon)
06000160-1224 (Crossbow Skill Icon)
0600016A-1224 (Deception Skill Icon)
06000133-1224 (Healing Skill Icon)
0600016B-1224 (Jump Skill Icon)
0600209F-1224 (Life Magic Skill Icon)
0600016D-1224 (Lockpick Skill Icon)
0600016F-1224 (Mace Skill Icon)
0600209C-1224 (Magic Item Tinkering Skill Icon)
06000170-1224 (Mana Conversion Skill Icon)
06000173-1224 (Run Skill Icon)
060035AE-1224 (Salvage Skill Icon)
06000178-1224 (Staff Skill Icon)
0600017B-1224 (Sword Skill Icon)
0600017C-1224 (Thrown Weapons Skill Icon)
06000167-1224 (Unarmed Combat Skill Icon)
0600209D-1224 (War Magic Skill Icon)
0600209B-1224 (Weapon Tinkering Skill Icon)
060012B1-993 (Lower Stat Inactive)
060012B2-993 (Raise Stat Inactive)
-Character Equipment/Inventory-
06000F68-3096 (Necklace Icon)
06000F6A-3096 (Bracelet Icon Left)
06000F5D-3096 (Bracelet Icon Right)
06000F6B-3096 (Ring Icon Left)
06000F5A-3096 (Ring Icon Right)
06000F6E-3096 (Clothing Icon Empty)
06000F5D-3096 (Bracelet Icon Right)
06000F5E-3096 (Missile Ammo Icon)
06000F66-3096 (Weapon Icon)
06000F6C-3096 (Shield Icon)
-Examine-
0600114C-10884 (Examine Bar Left Divider)
0600114D-135024 (Examine Bar Background)
06001126-13602 (Examine Item Background)
0600193E-13602 (Target Health Empty)
0600193F-13602 (Target Health Full)
-Combat-
06001919-2364 (Attack Action Status Empty)
06001923-528 (Attack Speed Slider)
06001920-1944 (Combat Bar Left)
06001921-17880 (Combat Bar Center)
06001922-19224 (Combar Bar Right)
0600191F-891 (Combat Options Inactive)
0600191A-891 (Combat Options Active)
~~BOTTOM~~
-Chat-
06001395-79224 (Chat Bar Extended Inventory Background)
06001396-28824 (Chat Bar Text Input Inactive)
06001397-28824 (Chat Bar Text Input Active)
060012C4-432 (Chat Bar Divider Small)
060012C5-7032 (Chat Bar Divider Big)
-Character Menu-
0600111F-2859 (Allegiance Icon Inactive)
06001121-2859 (Allegiance Icon Active)
06001119-2778 (Spellbook Icon Inactive)
0600111B-2778 (Spellbook Icon Active)
06001122-2778 (Char Stats Icon Inactive)
06001124-2778 (Char Stats Icon Active)
06001116-2778 (Compass Icon Inactive)
06001118-2778 (Compass Icon Active)
0600111C-3183 (Options Icon Inactive)
0600111E-3183 (Options Icon Active)
-Actions Menu-
06001129-2163 (Use Icon Inactive)
0600112A-2163 (Use Icon Active)
06001128-2070 (Examine Icon Inactive)
06001127-2070 (Examine Icon Active)
-Hotbar-
060010F9-3096 (Hotbar # 0)
060010FA-3096 (Hotbar # 1)
060010FB-3096 (Hotbar # 2)
060010FC-3096 (Hotbar # 3)
060010FD-3096 (Hotbar # 4)
060010FE-3096 (Hotbar # 5)
060010FF-3096 (Hotbar # 6)
06001100-3096 (Hotbar # 7)
~MISC~
-Unknown-
0600128A-50844 (GUI?)
0600129C-12312 (GUI?)
0600129D-12312 (GUI?)
0600129E-12312 (GUI?)
-----signature-----
AC - D3 - GW2 - PS2 ACC Wiki: http://ac.wikkii.net/
|
|
Link to this post
|
Surge_MT
Posts:
5,392
Registered:
May 9, '01
Extended Info (if available)
Real Post Cnt: 5,351
User ID: 95,346
|
Subject:
Editing Dat Files... Hoping to Skin AC
|
Here's the exact process:
===================
1) Find an image you want to edit using ACView. Let's take the left edge of the health bar, located at 06001131 (the "-1116" is the size, it's not important).
2) When you select this location in ACView, the hex dump appears in the top right frame. Scroll to the bottom to see the details, they will be needed to convert the RAW file to an editable format:
Image Form=6
24 bit BGR Image
Width=13 Height=28 Size=1112 bytes, 370 pixels]
3) Extract the RAW image with the command "readdat -f client_portal.dat 06001131". This will create the file "06001131.bin"
4) Convert the image to png with the nconvert tool I linked to above, using the following syntax: "nconvert -in raw -ctype bgr -size 13x28+24 -out png 06001131.bin" This will generate an editable png graphic file named "06001131.png" (note the 13x28+24 in the command...this is the (Width)x(Height)+(Offset). Width & Height come from the values in step 2, and so far all the images I tested have had an offset (header) of 24 bytes. I don't know if this is consistent or not. If the offset is wrong, the image will look like it was cut in half and put together backwards.
5) Edit the png file and save the new version of the graphic
6) Convert the file back to RAW format using the following command: "nconvert -v -in png -out raw -ctype bgr 06001131.png" This will create a file named "06001131.raw"
7) Using a hex editor, open the "06001131.bin" file and copy the first 24 bytes. Note that 1 byte is 2 hex characters. (i.e. "0A 15 D4" would be 3 bytes)
8) Using a hex editor, open the "06001131.raw" file, and paste the characters copied from step 7 into the start of the file, and save it.
9) Insert the resulting file back into the AC Dat file with the following command: "writedat client_portal.dat -f 06001131=06001131.raw"
===================
Some notes:
A) If you're getting the image info from ACView, it may be easier to ignore steps 2-4 and just click the "save" button to save a png file directly from acview. The problem with that is the filename for the image at the "06001131" location would be "1131.png", and will make it more difficult to re-import at the end. I was hoping someone could modify the ACView source to automate the export with the proper filename so these parts wouldn't need to be done manually. Once you have all the images, you only need to start at step (5).
B) I still haven't found a good utility to automate steps 7 & 8...I'm most comfortable using Perl, but a Perl script wouldn't be very convenient for most people to download and use (it requires extra software installed first). For the whole process to be user-friendly, it has to be like the old skins: download a bunch of graphics and a batch file and it does all the work for you.
-----signature-----
The scripts/links below don't work anymore...I should really change my signature: Skill Calculator: http://www.strikefast.net/skillcalc/ Salvage Calculator: http://www.strikefast.net/tinkering/salvaging/ *** 09-11-01
|
|
Link to this post
|
Darktorizo
Posts:
266
Registered:
Dec 10, '06
Extended Info (if available)
Real Post Cnt: 266
User ID: 1,190,502
|
Subject:
Editing Dat Files... Hoping to Skin AC
|
Wonderful Progress Guys!!!!
Quick Question: Can anyone confirm for me, or is it just me... Left Bracelet 06000F6A (Filesize 3096 bytes)Can not be written? When I write a new file to the location it doesn't show up. Instead of an Icon it show a bluish square.
I am very impressed where all this is going, Keep up the good work.
-----signature-----
Guinevere du Avalon - Level 275 - Mage (War\MeleeD Spec)\2 Hour Buff Bot - TD ~* Explorer of Dereth *~ GoArrow Database Updates (Full): http://db.tt/6UlVIW GoArrow Database Update Page: http://db.tt/9lJUeE4
|
|
Link to this post
|
Surge_MT
Posts:
5,392
Registered:
May 9, '01
Extended Info (if available)
Real Post Cnt: 5,351
User ID: 95,346
|
Subject:
Editing Dat Files... Hoping to Skin AC
|
I was able to write 06000F6A ok...did you copy the 24-byte header from the original file to the start of the resulting file before importing it? Whenever i forget that step the location gets corrupted.
-----signature-----
The scripts/links below don't work anymore...I should really change my signature: Skill Calculator: http://www.strikefast.net/skillcalc/ Salvage Calculator: http://www.strikefast.net/tinkering/salvaging/ *** 09-11-01
|
|
Link to this post
|
Darktorizo
Posts:
266
Registered:
Dec 10, '06
Extended Info (if available)
Real Post Cnt: 266
User ID: 1,190,502
|
Subject:
Editing Dat Files... Hoping to Skin AC
|
I copied the header, and it would randomly come out either 3096 or 3095 bytes, either way, it would come out corrupted. Will check and get back to you. 
-----signature-----
Guinevere du Avalon - Level 275 - Mage (War\MeleeD Spec)\2 Hour Buff Bot - TD ~* Explorer of Dereth *~ GoArrow Database Updates (Full): http://db.tt/6UlVIW GoArrow Database Update Page: http://db.tt/9lJUeE4
|
|
Link to this post
|
Zenodice
Posts:
6,622
Registered:
Aug 22, '04
Extended Info (if available)
Real Post Cnt: 6,534
User ID: 958,400
|
Subject:
Editing Dat Files... Hoping to Skin AC
|
Thanks surge, this should help quite a bit, also note that if you download that tool make sure to get the full version of XnView + Nconvert, otherwise you'll end up trying to run that command from the command line and getting an error.
Darktorizo, what are you using to hex edit the raw data? I'd suggest hex workshop as it's free and does the job perfectly, you can grab that here: http://www.bpsoft.com/downloads/
When copying the header from the original using hex workshop you should be seeing something like this: http://img440.imageshack.us/img440/7776/hexworkshopheader3nv.jpg
After that simply open up your .raw file and paste it into the start of the file, HW will usually ask if you want to make a backup then it should work fine, just save and import it back into the dat using surge's steps above.
Also, I'm actually learning and fairly skilled in C# so I will take a look at the ACView source tonight and see what can be done with it, the first thing I'm hoping to do is incorperate some kind of label system so we can properly label and identify the objects in the client_portal.dat file.
As for automating the steps, writing a program that just uses the utility you have here probably wouldnt be that difficult, i'll have to get used to the process myself and see if I can whip up a standalone "patcher".
Skins would require all the raw files and you could simply have a batch file mass insert them with the writedat utility, then of course you could make a quick little interface in VB or C# to have people simply point to the skins folder and it would automatically run the batch and make a backup. In any case, thats getting a little ahead of ourselves but the point is it could be done.
Here's a quick little proof-of-concept I did with the in-game map, its kinda poor resolution because I wanted to keep it small so people could check it out, but basically I added a cross at the 0.0 marks and put my name in the bottom right corner, of course if I make real skins i'll try not to be so arrogant as to put my name on it :P
http://img412.imageshack.us/img412/341/maphax5ay.jpg
-----signature-----
AC - D3 - GW2 - PS2 ACC Wiki: http://ac.wikkii.net/
|
|
Link to this post
|
Darktorizo
Posts:
266
Registered:
Dec 10, '06
Extended Info (if available)
Real Post Cnt: 266
User ID: 1,190,502
|
Subject:
Editing Dat Files... Hoping to Skin AC
|
|
TY Zenodice. I was using XVI as a Hex editor, HW works much better, and the graphics Issue is fixed on my end. Onwards...
-----signature-----
Guinevere du Avalon - Level 275 - Mage (War\MeleeD Spec)\2 Hour Buff Bot - TD ~* Explorer of Dereth *~ GoArrow Database Updates (Full): http://db.tt/6UlVIW GoArrow Database Update Page: http://db.tt/9lJUeE4
|
|
Link to this post
|
Jeefwee
Posts:
????
Registered:
????
Extended Info (if available)
Real Post Cnt: 0
User ID: 0
|
Subject:
Editing Dat Files... Hoping to Skin AC
|
|
I like where this is going. Keep up the good work everyone
-----signature-----
|
|
Link to this post
|
Darktorizo
Posts:
266
Registered:
Dec 10, '06
Extended Info (if available)
Real Post Cnt: 266
User ID: 1,190,502
|
Subject:
Editing Dat Files... Hoping to Skin AC
|
Hope you guys can help me with the following Numbers: Chat Arrow, Chat Text Background, # 8&9, Dove Icon, Tan line above dove icon, Backpack open & close, tan line above backpack.
See attached picture for clarification of locations.
http://www.putfile.com/pic.php?img=4608385
Thank you in advance for your help.
-----signature-----
Guinevere du Avalon - Level 275 - Mage (War\MeleeD Spec)\2 Hour Buff Bot - TD ~* Explorer of Dereth *~ GoArrow Database Updates (Full): http://db.tt/6UlVIW GoArrow Database Update Page: http://db.tt/9lJUeE4
|
|
Link to this post
|
Joshuel_Stray
Posts:
????
Registered:
????
Extended Info (if available)
Real Post Cnt: 0
User ID: 0
|
Subject:
Editing Dat Files... Hoping to Skin AC
|
Hope you guys can help me with the following Numbers: Chat Arrow, Chat Text Background, # 8&9, Dove Icon, Tan line above dove icon, Backpack open & close, tan line above backpack.
See attached picture for clarification of locations.
http://www.putfile.com/pic.php?img=4608385
Darktorizo, wow, I didn't think there was that many decal plug-ins around anymore.
-----signature-----
|
|
Link to this post
|
B_R_U_C_E_L_E_E
Posts:
????
Registered:
????
Extended Info (if available)
Real Post Cnt: 0
User ID: 0
|
Subject:
Editing Dat Files... Hoping to Skin AC
|
wow real tecno bable  j/k good luck!
-----signature-----
|
|
Link to this post
|
Churi-ya
Posts:
5,149
Registered:
Jul 9, '02
Extended Info (if available)
Real Post Cnt: 5,026
User ID: 695,709
|
Subject:
Editing Dat Files... Hoping to Skin AC
|
|
Wow guys - this is cool - keep us posted!!!
-----signature-----
Advanced Dungeons and Dragons - DM for 28 Years!
Asheron's Call: Bleys Icefalcon; Monarch of Renaissance - on Harvestgain
If you want someone to be politically correct, I suggest not engaging me in conversation.
|
|
Link to this post
|
iodinevii
Posts:
????
Registered:
????
Extended Info (if available)
Real Post Cnt: 0
User ID: 0
|
Subject:
Editing Dat Files... Hoping to Skin AC
|
Hello first of all i would like to thank you for figuring this out i was dabbling with it myself a bit i have skinned before and know quite about about somputers / getting stuff to work i have d/l all the files you have listed in these pages but ass soon as i try to run readdat or writedat all its doeas is gives me an error here is the info after typing
"readdat -f client_portal.dat 0600195C" this is the ui im trying to change now i have tried diffrent uis and i get the same message
window popup message
ReadDat.exe - Common language runtime debugging services
process id=0x7e0(2016), Thread id=0x73c (1852)
click ok to terminate the application
click cancel to debug the application
command messages
Unhandled exception: System.io.ioexception: The process cannot access the file because it is being used by another process
at system.io_error.winioerror<int32 errorcode, string str>
at system.io.filestream..ctor<string path, filemode mode,file access access,fileshare share, int32 buffersize, boolean useasync, string msgpath, boolean bfromproxy>
at system.io.filestream..ctor<string path, filemode mode,file access access,fileshare share?
at ac.datfile.datfile..ctor<string filename> in c:\src\asheron's call\acdev\ac.datfile\datfile.vb:line 75
at readdat.main.main,string[] args> in c:\src\asheron's call\acdev\datutils\readdat\main.vb:line 114
sorry for any errors in spelling / caps ect..
when i do stuff in cmd i make shure its perfect
-----signature-----
|
|
Link to this post
|
Talice
Posts:
5,000
Registered:
Jul 13, '00
Extended Info (if available)
Real Post Cnt: 4,569
User ID: 34,600
|
Subject:
Editing Dat Files... Hoping to Skin AC
|
iodinevii:
Make sure you close ACVIEW before you try to extract with readdat.. this line should have tipped you off:
The process cannot access the file because it is being used by another process
-----signature-----
Maethor, Legos, Yarvek, Talice
Morningthaw - Celestial Hand
The multiverse sings / of all these things
|
|
Link to this post
|
Minamoto-Musashi
Posts:
????
Registered:
????
Extended Info (if available)
Real Post Cnt: 0
User ID: 0
|
Subject:
Editing Dat Files... Hoping to Skin AC
|
please keep us upto date
I'm more of the artist end of things, not so much on the technical side If implimenting the graphics ect can be automated I'd be willing to build some skins 
-----signature-----
|
|
Link to this post
|
ThunderousTigereyez
Posts:
????
Registered:
????
Extended Info (if available)
Real Post Cnt: 0
User ID: 0
|
Subject:
Editing Dat Files... Hoping to Skin AC
|
|
how do u do it? Ive downloaded plenty of skins but dont know how to make it actually appear on my AC ingame screen??
-----signature-----
|
|
Link to this post
|
-Eps
Title: I Love Boobies. And Butts, too!
Posts:
17,344
Registered:
May 30, '07
Extended Info (if available)
Real Post Cnt: 32,011
User ID: 1,226,605
|
Subject:
Editing Dat Files... Hoping to Skin AC
|
I tried Surge's second directions, but the command line converter didn't work, I even had the full version and addons as well. It did it work inside the main program, though, but I switched to IrFanview because that was easy.
Here's what I do (edited surge's steps):
How to use read/write dat:
go to Start->Run type "cmd" and press enter. type cd followed by the folder your read/write dat and your portal_dat are in. they have to be the same folder.
EditingEx: "cd C:\Documents and Settings\Jscho.COMPUTER.001\Desktop\AC Editing"
1) Extract the RAW image with the command "readdat -f client_portal.dat 0600127D". This will create the file "0600127D.bin"
2) Open ACVIEW and find the image number 0600127D in the portal_dat. Save it as PNG
3) Open and Edit the 0600127D.png file and save the new version of the graphic
4) Convert the 0600127D.PNG to .RAW (BGR Interleaved) with IrFanView save as raw
5) Open the .bin from step one(right click Hex Edit with Hex Workship) and copy the first 24 bytes.
6) Open your .RAW and paste those 24 bytes in the first line
7) Put the file back into the AC Dat with the command: writedat client_portal.dat -f 0600127D=0600127D.raw
Also, I have two portal dats in my folder. one is named Original which i take all the images from with readdat and the other is the one I test on.
Final Result:
http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d120/Jscho21/ScreenShot00078.jpg
I found the higher quality map, downsized it so it was equal the the size of dereth in the old map, placed it over the old map by peices to line it up perfectly. I then took the old map and erased everything but the towns and points of interest, copied that with no background and pasted it on the new map. I did a little bit of moving on sone of the points so that it fit the map closer. I then had to move the map over a couple pixels to the left and add more black parts on the right side for some reason to make it come out even. for some reason when you save the image and then convert and put it into the portal dat, part of the left side shows up on the right.
I downloaded one of the old ac skin folders and I renamed all the files to fit the new portal dat, then I converted them, now I'm attempting to take out all of the images and copy the header then paste it in the new skin and replace it, but it doesn't look like it will fully work because some of the a lot numbers are no longer in the portal dat.
-----signature-----
#dnn #og-ac http://tinyurl.com/ACDTChat Fastest 1-275 in AC history. Plugin Users: 100+ Buy Plugins Relogger, ValSalv, and AutoVendor(route trigger): http://bit.ly/ACaCAl [Trade] +Envoy Sparker says, "Rep check: Eps Levelin, PST."
|
|
Link to this post
|
OREOSTARS
Posts:
2,720
Registered:
Mar 3, '05
Extended Info (if available)
Real Post Cnt: 2,404
User ID: 1,032,895
|
Subject:
Editing Dat Files... Hoping to Skin AC
|
|
I want that map!!!!! It is amzaing, The water and the cross in the middle of it, I am always trying to figure out where abouts they change from E to W and N to S! Great work guys. I can't wait for the final results!
-----signature-----
(none)
|
|
Link to this post
|
Surge_MT
Posts:
5,392
Registered:
May 9, '01
Extended Info (if available)
Real Post Cnt: 5,351
User ID: 95,346
|
Subject:
Editing Dat Files... Hoping to Skin AC
|
Eps:
"...for some reason when you save the image and then convert and put it into the portal dat, part of the left side shows up on the right."
Its been a while since I looked at this, But if I recall correctly, this is what happens when the offset is wrong. I think if you decrease the offset by 3 it shifts the img "wrap point" to the right, and if you increase it by 3 it shifts to the left, or vice-versa. (3 because its R/G/B...if you use different offset increments you'll get a totally distorted image).
-----signature-----
The scripts/links below don't work anymore...I should really change my signature: Skill Calculator: http://www.strikefast.net/skillcalc/ Salvage Calculator: http://www.strikefast.net/tinkering/salvaging/ *** 09-11-01
|
|
Link to this post
|
-Eps
Title: I Love Boobies. And Butts, too!
Posts:
17,344
Registered:
May 30, '07
Extended Info (if available)
Real Post Cnt: 32,011
User ID: 1,226,605
|
Subject:
Editing Dat Files... Hoping to Skin AC
|
That explains it, thanks.
-----signature-----
#dnn #og-ac http://tinyurl.com/ACDTChat Fastest 1-275 in AC history. Plugin Users: 100+ Buy Plugins Relogger, ValSalv, and AutoVendor(route trigger): http://bit.ly/ACaCAl [Trade] +Envoy Sparker says, "Rep check: Eps Levelin, PST."
|
|
Link to this post
|
-Eps
Title: I Love Boobies. And Butts, too!
Posts:
17,344
Registered:
May 30, '07
Extended Info (if available)
Real Post Cnt: 32,011
User ID: 1,226,605
|
Subject:
Editing Dat Files... Hoping to Skin AC
|
|
Anybody able to replace a Greyscale image successfully? everthing I've tried has come out as a a white object in AC (meaning it didn't work). I've tried like 20 different offsets...
-----signature-----
#dnn #og-ac http://tinyurl.com/ACDTChat Fastest 1-275 in AC history. Plugin Users: 100+ Buy Plugins Relogger, ValSalv, and AutoVendor(route trigger): http://bit.ly/ACaCAl [Trade] +Envoy Sparker says, "Rep check: Eps Levelin, PST."
|
|
Link to this post
|
-Eps
Title: I Love Boobies. And Butts, too!
Posts:
17,344
Registered:
May 30, '07
Extended Info (if available)
Real Post Cnt: 32,011
User ID: 1,226,605
|
Subject:
Editing Dat Files... Hoping to Skin AC
|
3d models? I found the model number of a silver tusker, and attempted to view it with AC View, but it's not there. It seems like no models in ac are there.. either AC View can't see them, or they're encrypted or something like that. Also the readdat doesn't seem to work with it either.
Silver tusker is Model is 7184 dec/ 1C10 hex so I tried
readdat -f client_portal.dat 02007184 and
readdat -f client_portal.dat 02001C10
and neither gave anything out. I also tried to write a file to it, to attempt to corrupt what it looked like, and then log in to a white tusker or something, didn't change anything. It seems like the location I tried isn't right, anybody know how I could figure out the location, or guess where it would be with this info:?
Oid : 0x1da14c0d
fExists : true
szName : Silver Tusker
szPlural : Silver Tuskers
oty : 0x00000014
ocm : 0x00000002
olc : 0x00000008
eqm : 0x00000000
eqmWearer : 0x00000000
mcm : 0x00000010
szMcm : Creatures
cpyValue : 0
material : 0
workmanship : 0
citemStack : 1
citemMaxStack : 1
cuseLeft : 0
cuseMax : 0
burden : 0
fInInventory : false
iitem : -1
spellid : 0
distApproach : 0
fContainer : false
citemMax : 255
citemContents : 0
icon : 4147
model : 7184
coords : 0.85S 0.20W
kill loc dist : 0.04
Cur loc dist : 0.06
Oid : 0x1da14c0d
-----signature-----
#dnn #og-ac http://tinyurl.com/ACDTChat Fastest 1-275 in AC history. Plugin Users: 100+ Buy Plugins Relogger, ValSalv, and AutoVendor(route trigger): http://bit.ly/ACaCAl [Trade] +Envoy Sparker says, "Rep check: Eps Levelin, PST."
|
|
Link to this post
|
iodinevii
Posts:
????
Registered:
????
Extended Info (if available)
Real Post Cnt: 0
User ID: 0
|
Subject:
Editing Dat Files... Hoping to Skin AC
|
|
Ok i hope someone is still watching this thread i ahve followd the instructions multiple times double triple and quadruple checked every time i patch the file back into the dat it is not what its supposed to be its fills the whole left chunk of the health bar with a greyishblue chunk ??? and when i look at it in the ac view there is no picure file for that one it says "undefined" wherer am i going wrong i jsut dont get it im geting very frustrated and like i ahve said i double checked everything
-----signature-----
|
|
Link to this post
|
