.dat unpacking question

J

Josan12

Vault Senior Citizen
Ok, techie question i need help with.

I want to modify one of the FRM's in the master.dat> art> misc folder (the laser shot graphic)
So far, i've only modified the critter.dat, and the only way i've been able to do it is to unpack the whole contents of the file with Datexplorer, modify the .FRM i want, and then re-pack the whole critter.dat file again. And it's so damn slow! It takes more time to do all the .dat packing/unpacking than it does to modify the file! To make a small change, and then test it in-game takes ages!

My question is: am i missing something? is there an easier/quicker way to do this and i'm just ignorant of it? (please say yes) :crazy:
 
Josan12 said:
Ok, techie question i need help with.

I want to modify one of the FRM's in the master.dat> art> misc folder (the laser shot graphic)
So far, i've only modified the critter.dat, and the only way i've been able to do it is to unpack the whole contents of the file with Datexplorer, modify the .FRM i want, and then re-pack the whole critter.dat file again.
Click to expand...
Wait, why are you repacking? Just unpack the critter.dat once and any changes to the critter frms can go to your \Fallout2\data\Art\critters folder.

For other frms, they would then go to Fallout2\data\Art\"folder name"
 
killap said:
Wait, why are you repacking? Just unpack the critter.dat once and any changes to the critter frms can go to your \Fallout2\data\Art\critters folder.

For other frms, they would then go to Fallout2\data\Art\"folder name"
Click to expand...

Ok ....... So let me clarify (i have trouble with this stuff): Am i correct in understanding this is a case where the game will override the critter.dat file if it finds something in the apropriate folder in \Fallout2\data\art\critters ??
... effectively saving modders the need to repack the .dat file when they make changes to it?
 
Yeah, no need to repack. Also, there is no need to unpack everything. You can extract individual files. Just select the one file (highlight) and choose the command to extract that file to whatever location. It will create the file in the correct folder tree for you in the location you specify.

And, a patch000.dat overrides everything in the data folders. Everything in the data folders overrides the master.dat and critter.dat. So, what you said is true. No need for modders to repack anything.
 
Josan12 said:
Ok ....... So let me clarify (i have trouble with this stuff): Am i correct in understanding this is a case where the game will override the critter.dat file if it finds something in the apropriate folder in \Fallout2\data\art\critters ??
... effectively saving modders the need to repack the .dat file when they make changes to it?
Click to expand...
Yep. As long as you don't have a patch000.dat file that is. I assume you don't.

edit:
MIB beat me to it. Serves me right for getting distracted... :wink:
 
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