Author Topic: .p, Battle Files 'n Milkshape 3D (Read 75802 times)

Alhexx · « **on:** 2001-05-21 20:56:00 »

Hi Guys!

Does anybody of u work with Milkshape 3D? I don't think so...but:

I've developed a converter that converts the .p-Files into Milkshape-RAW-Format. It works pretty good, but until now, it only imports the polygons (with their vertexes )
I'm workin' on a new version hat can also import the colors (oh shit...)
(Thanx to Qhimm & Ficedula 4 the .p file format description)

If u'r interested in the converter, u can download it here: http://alhexx.tripod.com/apps/ff7/p_to_raw.zip" TARGET=_blank>http://alhexx.tripod.com/apps/ff7/p_to_raw.zip

U can also convert the files from the battle.lgp, but these files r HUGE! They'r about 100 x the size of the other .p files.
You've got to rename the files there (*) into .p files (*.p)

Important: U can't convert files named '**ab.p' and '**da.p'. If u try, an error will occur.
I suppose that these files aren't 3d models...

If u haven't got Milkshape u can download it here: http://www.swissquake.ch/chumbalum-soft/ms3d/download.html" TARGET=_blank>http://www.swissquake.ch/chumbalum-soft/ms3d/download.html

- Alhexx

P.S. What do u know 'bout the battle-format 'til now?

ficedula · « **Reply #1 on:** 2001-05-21 22:02:00 »

Actually, I do have a copy of MS3D on my own PC, but since I'm not there at the moment I can't have a look 'till I get back to uni later this week.

Sounds good though I look forward to testing it out.

Alhexx · « **Reply #2 on:** 2001-05-21 23:39:00 »

I forgot to mention that this app i *a little bit* BETA, but I have imported Tifa's field model successfully. I've also written another app, that reads out the color pool and writes the RGB Values of each Vertext to a .txt file. It takes much manual work, but it worx (mostly).
I've uploaded this app and tifa's model: http://alhexx.tripod.com/apps/ff7/p_color.zip" TARGET=_blank>http://alhexx.tripod.com/apps/ff7/p_color.zip http://alhexx.tripod.com/apps/ff7/tifa_ms3d.zip" TARGET=_blank>http://alhexx.tripod.com/apps/ff7/tifa_ms3d.zip

- Alhexx

P.S. U need the VB6-Runtimes to run my apps
(Sorry, no C/C++ Apps)

[This message has been edited by Alhexx (edited May 21, 2001).]

ficedula · « **Reply #3 on:** 2001-05-22 02:32:00 »

Hey, so long as it works one way or the other we'll be happy.

Could someone post a screenshot or something? Like I said, don't have access to my own PC at the moment...

The SaiNt · « **Reply #4 on:** 2001-05-22 07:30:00 »

I can't wait to go home and try it.
But the link the doesn't work for me.
I wonder why?

**edit**
Nvm, it turned out that my college admin's switched of access to all zip files.

BTW, I'm sure Seph 3D would be really interested in this.

[This message has been edited by The SaiNt (edited May 22, 2001).]

Alhexx · « **Reply #5 on:** 2001-05-22 18:09:00 »

It's me again!

ficedula: Want some (two ) screenshots? Here we go...
http://alhexx.tripod.com/apps/ff7/tifa_field.gif" TARGET=_blank> http://alhexx.tripod.com/apps/ff7/tifa_field.gif " TARGET=_blank>http://alhexx.tripod.com/apps/ff7/tifa_field.gif[/URL] http://alhexx.tripod.com/apps/ff7/tifa_battle.gif" TARGET=_blank>
http://alhexx.tripod.com/apps/ff7/tifa_battle.gif " TARGET=_blank>http://alhexx.tripod.com/apps/ff7/tifa_battle.gif[/URL]

Info 4 the field model: the converter doesn't import any 'textures' or bones ('till now)
I've had to texture the model manually...
I'm workin' on a new version of the converter that automatically generates a Milkshape-File with groups, colors etc.

Battle Model: That's tifa's head...

I'm lookin closer at the battle files at the moment...

- Alhexx

[edit]
Damn, those links above don't work...use this one instead: http://alhexx.tripod.com/apps/ff7/tifa_ms3d.html" TARGET=_blank>http://alhexx.tripod.com/apps/ff7/tifa_ms3d.html

[This message has been edited by Alhexx (edited May 22, 2001).]

Sir Canealot · « **Reply #6 on:** 2001-05-22 19:42:00 »

Intresting! Now I dont know much about any thing but if you improved the feild models could they be used in the remake? Or even in normal FFVII? That would be sweet! Great work guys keep up the good work!

Alhexx · « **Reply #7 on:** 2001-05-22 22:30:00 »

I've written a new prog (once again

)

This time it converts the .p-files to Milkshape 3D-ASCII-Files and it creates automatically bitmap textures 4 the model and associates them with the created groups...
If u want to try it, u can download it:
http://alhexx.tripod.com/apps/ff7/p_to_ascii.zip" TARGET=_blank>http://alhexx.tripod.com/apps/ff7/p_to_ascii.zip

But be careful, this app is EXTREMELY BETA ! Because I've got a REAL BIG PROBLEM:
Within the .p-Files the colors of the polygons are 'created' by the vertexes, but in Milkshape, the vertexes have no colors. So I've had to create an own group for each polygon (What a mess!) I recommend to use the *old* .p-File-to-Milkshape-RAW Converter... (If u try out p-to-ascii, u'll know why... )

If there's a possibility of giving a color to a vertex in Milkshape, it'd be nice if someone told me how...

Sir Canealot: I'm not so far yet, but I'll think 'bout it...

- Alhexx

[This message has been edited by Alhexx (edited May 22, 2001).]

ficedula · « **Reply #8 on:** 2001-05-23 00:44:00 »

It should be possible to convert back into .P format ... nicking any sections you don't understand from existing .P files ... that's how I did the BMP->TEX conversions anyway, in LGP Tools. After all, we understand *quite* a lot of the .P format.

Anonymous · « **Reply #9 on:** 2001-05-23 16:04:00 »

dude, making a two way converter would make making mods for ff7 so much better. With a background editor and figuring out what part of a .a file controlled walls would make it godly.

Alhexx · « **Reply #10 on:** 2001-05-23 13:20:00 »

Hey, fice: I'll try to convert 'em back to .p format...but does anybody know anything that hasn't been already written down in fice's description? I'd be very happy if someone could give my *all* information (that is known) 'bout the .p file format...
The biggest problem are is the color pool. I've got no idea how to extract 'textures' into color pools...

- Alhexx

ficedula · « **Reply #11 on:** 2001-05-23 15:41:00 »

dark: I didn't think .a files controlled walls; I got the impression they held the animations for the 3d models.

halkun · « **Reply #12 on:** 2001-05-23 16:12:00 »

.a file conrols where the character can walk? (actully, it'll be the "floor" not the "walls") this gets intresing. I wuls love to see the poly plain rendered.

Wow I just though of something.. In ff8 I've been trying to devrypt the battle scenes so I can extract a 3d background. But each field has a floor, which is more accurite to the background. a FF8 battle scene/poly plain would almost complete the whole world ^_^

ficedula · « **Reply #13 on:** 2001-05-23 17:47:00 »

Why would .a files hold that information? Surely it'd just be held in the appropriate field files? After all, the mesh for each location is unique to the location so there's no need to have it in a separate file. Character animations DO get used all over the place, so you would need those held separately.

I thought we'd pretty much determined that the .a files had animations in them; that's what Qhimm seemed to think and I agree with him, though I didn't manage to properly decode a .a file.

halkun · « **Reply #14 on:** 2001-05-24 00:11:00 »

That's what I thought too.

ficedula · « **Reply #15 on:** 2001-05-24 02:14:00 »

Oh, well problem solved then.

Alhexx: Textures? Why do you need to know anything about textures? Only used for the eyes in FF7 models AFAIK...

Anonymous · « **Reply #16 on:** 2001-05-24 16:03:00 »

oh....sorry, wrong thing. i havent done much editing in a while.

Alhexx · « **Reply #17 on:** 2001-05-24 14:58:00 »

fice: I didn't think 'bout these 'textures'. I wanted to say that I have no idea how to change the colors of the vertexes in Milkshape... the only possibility to give colors to polygons in Milkshape is to give them textures, but FF7 colors the .p files with the colors from the .p files...
BTW, I'm workin on a converter now, that can convert RAW files back into .p files. If everything works well, I'll probably release a beta of it the next days...

- Alhexx

Sukaeto · « **Reply #18 on:** 2001-05-24 18:49:00 »

Heh heh . . .

I'm working on a presentation on the technical side of FF7 (graphics, sound, posibbly how the field works.) This topic (along with several others) has helpful information.

Alhexx: Do you mind if I use the wire-frame picture of Tifa in my slide show? I'll be sure to list you on my 'Credits' slide (along with Qhimm and Ficedula, for the LGP utilities; and several others on this board for interesting info)

Srethron Askvelhtnod · « **Reply #19 on:** 2001-05-25 00:26:00 »

Yeesh, how many different people now are trying to undermine my upcoming FF7 tech doc?! Ah, heck, I guess competition isn't really a bad thing.

Alhexx · « **Reply #20 on:** 2001-05-25 14:30:00 »

TiadaghtonDude: I'd be very proud of beeing listed in your credits...

Of course i DON'T mind, if u'r using these screenshots. And hey, I've uploaded a new screenshot of Tifa's Battle Model, this time complete and skinned...

BTW, because I'm sick of listing every link (http://...) in this forum, I've built something like a *Homepage*... every file i'll publish will be listed in this page, so bookmark it...

http://alhexx.tripod.com/apps/ff7/ff7.html" TARGET=_blank>http://alhexx.tripod.com/apps/ff7/ff7.html

BTW, I've released the first version of 'Ultima', my .p-Tool, it exports .p files as .p-to-raw does, but u don't have to 'open' every file...later versions will (probably) be able to convert raw files back into .p files...

- Alhexx

[This message has been edited by Alhexx (edited May 25, 2001).]

Sir Canealot · « **Reply #21 on:** 2001-05-25 18:03:00 »

Intresting. Now being the nice man you are go and make 5000 polygon versions of all the models in FFVII and put them back into the game. That would be sweet. Now go on get to it!

[This message has been edited by Sir Canealot (edited May 25, 2001).]

ficedula · « **Reply #22 on:** 2001-05-25 19:36:00 »

I like!

That's going on my bookmarks list, oh yes.

I'll download the program now, I *think* I've got a copy of MS3D knocking around somewhere.

mirex · « **Reply #23 on:** 2001-05-25 23:35:00 »

i cant download any file from your page alhexx, i always download html file. Is it only my problem ?

ficedula · « **Reply #24 on:** 2001-05-26 02:28:00 »

I made that mistake at first; like a lot of hosts, the files are protected by a gateway. Just click on the link and you get a webpage that links you to the *real* file for download.

Oh, and Srethron: Any chance of an estimated release date on the fabled document of yours?

[This message has been edited by ficedula (edited May 25, 2001).]

Author Topic: .p, Battle Files 'n Milkshape 3D (Read 75802 times)

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