Hard Light Productions Forums

General FreeSpace => FreeSpace Discussion => Topic started by: Galemp on March 28, 2003, 05:12:38 pm

Title: Understanding VPs
Post by: Galemp on March 28, 2003, 05:12:38 pm

I'm helping to make an addition to Karajorma's FAQ, going over each and every filetype used by Freespace and describing what it is, how to modify it, and how to make your own. It will be linked from his FAQ but I'm :thepimp:ing it here as well.
Currently it has every table dissected except the weapons, which is coming later. I hope it will be of significant use to both new and experienced modders. Additions, clarifications, and suggestions are encouraged! :)

Go see it (http://www.3dap.com/hlp/hosted/fsport/tutorial/VP_tut.html)

Title: Understanding VPs
Post by: Anaz on March 28, 2003, 06:08:05 pm

you forgot to tell them that where it says +gun_mounts, it doesn't actually effect the ship, only what it says in the techroom. I remember that was one big mistake that I made when I started .tbl hacking those so many years ago...

Title: Understanding VPs
Post by: Galemp on March 28, 2003, 07:19:19 pm

Yes I did. :nod:

Quote

+Length: 16 m ;Like the rest of the description, these three entries have no effect on the ship. They're only there for the ship selection.

Other than that...

Title: Understanding VPs
Post by: Anaz on March 28, 2003, 07:54:28 pm

Oopps...:nervous: I was skimming...

Title: Understanding VPs
Post by: Petrarch of the VBB on March 29, 2003, 01:33:30 pm

Tut tut.

Title: Understanding VPs
Post by: Kazan on March 30, 2003, 08:45:31 am

if you wanted to understand a VP should have asked me

a VP file consists of a 16-bit header followed by the binary contents of each file - then a trailing FAT (File Allocation Table)

so kinda like this

header ("VPVP", Version 2.0, NumFiles=2, FatOffset=SomeValue)
file1data
file2data
FAT

making them is easy if you use VP Constructor Suite or my console app version VPmake

Title: Understanding VPs
Post by: karajorma on March 30, 2003, 10:46:49 am

GE's FAQ is more about what the files IN the .vp do. That said a little bit on how to make your own would be a good idea :)

Title: Understanding VPs
Post by: Kazan on March 30, 2003, 11:03:30 am

Quote

Originally posted by karajorma
GE's FAQ is more about what the files IN the .vp do. That said a little bit on how to make your own would be a good idea :)

VP CS is rather intuitive

Title: Understanding VPs
Post by: karajorma on March 30, 2003, 11:17:16 am

Quote

Originally posted by Kazan


VP CS is rather intuitive

Yeah But if you don`t know where to get it from.... :) I`ve seen questions about how to build VP's a few times cause people don`t know where to get the tools.
 In a FAQ what tool you use to do something with is often enough of an answer. :)