[FF7 PSX] What should be removed after recompressing the BATTLE.X file?

[Raziel80]

When I use gzip to recompress (BATTLE.X) file after editing, it turns out 7 bytes larger than the original file and that's after I reinsert the 8 byte header. What bytes need to be removed after recompressing the BATTLE.X file? (FF7 PSX PAL English SCES-00867)
SymphoniC said that this is because: "compression utilities by default add a time stamp when compressing"

I guess most compression utilities by default add in the filename and a time stamp when compressing and stuff like that.

It looks like something has been added to the beginning of the file.

original BATTLE.X looks like this: (first 0x28 bytes for comparison)

Code: [Select]

Offset      0  1  2  3  4  5  6  7   8  9  A  B  C  D  E  F

00000000   C0 38 05 00 D8 41 07 00  1F 8B 08 00 00 00 00 00   А8  ШA   ‹     
00000010   00 00 C4 BD 0D 7C 5C 55  99 3F FE CC 9D 9B 64 92     ДЅ |\U™?юМќ›d’
00000020   A6 ED 4D 3A 2D 53 A8 74                            ¦нM:-SЁt
after recompressing and reinserting the 8 byte header BATTLE.X looks like this

Code: [Select]

Offset      0  1  2  3  4  5  6  7   8  9  A  B  C  D  E  F

00000000   C0 38 05 00 D8 41 07 00  1F 8B 08 08 9B 11 A9 60   А8  ШA   ‹  › ©`
00000010   00 03 42 41 54 54 4C 45  00 C4 BD 0D 7C 5C 55 99     BATTLE ДЅ |\U™
00000020   3F FE CC 9D 9B 64 92 A6                            ?юМќ›d’¦
So, I deleted in the edited BATTLE.X 7 bytes: 03 42 41 54 54 4C 45 at offset 0x11. (this means the word BATTLE, the gzip tool may have added the filename)
Then I changed 1F 8B 08 08 9B 11 A9 60 from offset 0x08 to 1F 8B 08 00 00 00 00 00. (don’t know, because there’s something wrong with that)
Did I do everything right?

Additional question. What tools are exist for working with BIN, BIN-GZIP, LZS archives, to decompress/recompress?

[MysticLord]

https://github.com/cebix/ff7tools
^Tools for working with FF7 archives, though you'll need to understand how to use the command prompt and how to install the dependencies (Python 2.7 and a couple other things).

[Raziel80]

https://github.com/cebix/ff7tools
^Tools for working with FF7 archives, though you'll need to understand how to use the command prompt and how to install the dependencies (Python 2.7 and a couple other things).

I installed Python 2.7.16, launched Command Prompt (launched cmd.exe on win xp 32 bit) and went to the folder where BATTLE.X is located along the path F: \ games \ FF7 \ zQhimm-FF7 \ ff7tools-master \ ff7.
What to do next? Need step by step instructions.
Do I need to do the following steps as in the post below?

The X format is a simple gzip file containing overlay code and with an 8 byte header. The first 4 bytes are used for decompression size, the last 4 indicate the decompression size+bss segment (which is an area used for zero-initialized values, so it's just a bunch of zeroes). Cut those 8 bytes, rename .x to .gz and decompress. When recompressing add again those 8 bytes using identical values and it will work.

[MysticLord]

I assume so. Make sure you back up your files.

Ask NFITC1 if you run into problems.

[Raziel80]

Answers to my questions.
To decompress files with https://github.com/cebix/ff7tools need to enter command in the command prompt: python unbingz KERNEL.BIN.
But these tools work with KERNEL.BIN file, they don't work with BATTLE.gz file. I do not see a tool or command that can recompress the KERNEL.BIN back.

ff7_gzip tools can decompress/recompress BATTLE.gz file. Command to decompress BATTLE.gz: gunzip BATTLE.gz. Command to recompress BATTLE file: gzip BATTLE or gzip -n BATTLE.
The -n switch stops gzip inserting the file's name and compression timestamp into the archive.

[vayneruel]

Have you renamed BATTLE.X to BATTLE.gz, Raziel?

[Raziel80]

Have you renamed BATTLE.X to BATTLE.gz, Raziel?

Yes, I did what I wanted with ff7_gzip (FF7Dec + gzip) tools.
Information for modifying FF7 PSX files: http://forums.qhimm.com/index.php?topic=15074.0 ,
http://forums.qhimm.com/index.php?topic=12174.msg168727#msg168727

[MysticLord]

It might be useful for someone to upload the decompressed version of the file, so you can compress it and see how it corresponds to the file you're working with.

[Bosola]

It's been a long time since I worked on the BATTLE.X file. However, I did find the following README I wrote to myself, in a file from 2014. It was for running an assembler patch for long range enemy attacks:

Here's the procedure:

- unpack the BATTLE.X by removing the initial eight header bytes (copy them somewhere)
- decompress the file as a gzip archive
- run the ASM file (enemy_long_range_attacks_asm.txt) through ARMIPS
- recompress with gzip (using the Cygwin version of gzip with the flags -9 -n will work best)
- re-add the initial header bytes
- reinsert your BATTLE.X file using whatever means you like

[Raziel80]

Here's the procedure:

- unpack the BATTLE.X by removing the initial eight header bytes (copy them somewhere)
- decompress the file as a gzip archive
- run the ASM file (enemy_long_range_attacks_asm.txt) through ARMIPS
- recompress with gzip (using the Cygwin version of gzip with the flags -9 -n will work best)
- re-add the initial header bytes
- reinsert your BATTLE.X file using whatever means you like

Where can I download this Cygwin version of gzip?

[MysticLord]

It's a chore, unfortunately.

You have to install Cygwin, and at some point in the installation there will be an option to install a bunch of programs with it. Select gzip there.

https://www.cygwin.com/install.html

If you want to update it and install more programs, run the installer again.

Cygwin is a bunch of linux apps ported to windows, complete with it's own terminal to run them from.

[Raziel80]

Thanks for the tips.