Gta.dat: Difference between revisions

Latest revision as of 23:21, 20 July 2018

The gta*.dat file lists which files define the game map. It can be found in the game's data directory, and is known as gta3.dat in Grand Theft Auto III, gta_vc.dat in Grand Theft Auto: Vice City, and simply gta.dat in Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas. The same file format is also used for the default.dat file in the same directory.

Format

The files are in plain text format so they can be opened with any text editor (like Notepad). Line comments are indicated by the character # (number sign) and empty lines are allowed. They can be placed anywhere in the file. Since there are different types of files, a keyword is needed for each entry. Most entries use the following format, where the path is relative to the game's base directory:

<keyword> <path>

Although the file itself is not split up into sections, entries are usually grouped by type and arranged in a special order according to the game's loading sequence:

Keyword	Description	Example
CDIMAGE	Links to additional IMG archives (other than the hardcoded ones). In GTA San Andreas, a maximum of five entries are supported; any more will crash the game. `CDIMAGE` is supported in GTA III and GTA Vice City but it is unused in the default data files.	CDIMAGE MODELS\EXAMPLE.IMG
IMG		IMG MODELS\EXAMPLE.IMG
IMGLIST	Links to external image list files.	IMGLIST common:/DATA/EXAMPLE.TXT
WATER	Links to external water plane placement files. The identifier can hold more than one parameter. It is unconfirmed either this also works for other identifiers.	WATER common:/DATA/EXAMPLE1.DAT WATER common:/DATA/EXAMPLE2.DAT common:/DATA/EXAMPLE3.DAT
IDE	Links to item definition files.	IDE DATA\MAPS\EXAMPLE.IDE
COLFILE	Links to collision files. An additional parameter between keyword and path associates the file to a level. If this is 0, the col file is used by the whole map; a higher number (1 to 3) assigns it to one of the level.	COLFILE 0 MODELS\COLL\EXAMPLE.COL
MAPZONE	Links to zone files.	MAPZONE DATA\EXAMPLE.ZON
IPL	Links to IPL-style item placement and zone files.	IPL DATA\EXAMPLE.ZON IPL DATA\MAPS\EXAMPLE.IPL
TEXDICTION	Links to external texture dictionaries.	TEXDICTION MODELS\EXAMPLE.TXD
MODELFILE	Links to external model files.	MODELFILE MODELS\GENERIC\EXAMPLE.DFF
SPLASH	Links to splash screens that appear when transitioning between levels. The argument for these is not a path, but just the name (without extension) of a texture dictionary in the `\models\txd` directory. Might be ignored, though.	SPLASH loadsc2
HIERFILE	Unknown purpose.
EXIT	Stops any further processing of the file.

Since Grand Theft Auto IV has various subdirectories which need to be identified there are new identifiers at the start of the path. They identify the exact location relative to the executeable file. Those are:

platform:
common:

Internally they will be replaced with the internal directory description and appendet to the installation directory of the game. Example:

platform:/DATA/MAPS/MANHAT/MANHAT12.IPL

gets

PC/DATA/MAPS/MANHAT/MANHAT12.IPL

which finally is transformed to (e.g.)

C:\Program Files\Rockstar Games\Grand Theft Auto 4\PC\DATA\MAPS\MANHAT\MANHAT12.IPL

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See Grand Theft Wiki:Copyright for more information.

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
-{{File-stub}}
+{{lowercase title}}
-{{lowercase}}
+The '''gta*.dat''' file lists which files define the game map. It can be found in the game's <code>data</code> directory, and is known as <code>'''gta3.dat'''</code> in [[Grand Theft Auto III]], <code>'''gta_vc.dat'''</code> in [[Grand Theft Auto: Vice City]], and simply <code>'''gta.dat'''</code> in [[Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas]]. The same file format is also used for the <code>'''default.dat'''</code> file in the same directory.
-This file lists which files define the game map. It can be found in the game's <code>data</code> directory, and is known as <code>'''gta3.dat'''</code> in [[GTA III]], <code>'''gta-vc.dat'''</code> in [[GTA VC]], and simply <code>'''gta.dat'''</code> in [[GTA SA]]. The same file format is also used for <code>'''[[default.dat]]'''</code>.
 == Format ==
-Each line links to a map file, unless it's empty or starts with a <code>#</code> (denoting a comment, which are ignored by the game). Since there are different types of files, a keyword is needed for each entry. Most entries use the following format, where the path is relative to the game's base directory:
+The files are in plain text format so they can be opened with any text editor (like [[wikipedia:Microsoft Notepad|Notepad]]). Line comments are indicated by the character <code>#</code> (number sign) and empty lines are allowed. They can be placed anywhere in the file. Since there are different types of files, a keyword is needed for each entry. Most entries use the following format, where the path is relative to the game's base directory:
   &lt;keyword&gt; &lt;path&gt;
 Although the file itself is not split up into sections, entries are usually grouped by type and arranged in a special order according to the game's loading sequence:
-# Archives (<code>[[IMG]]</code>)
+{|class="wikitable center-col-2"
-# [[Images.txt|Image list]] ''(GTA IV only)''
+!Keyword ||Games ||style="width: 64em;" |Description ||Example
-# [[Water (GTA 4)|Water]] ''(GTA IV only)''
+|-
-# Item Definitions (<code>[[IDE]]</code>)
+|CDIMAGE ||{{Icon|3}} {{Icon|VC}} ||rowspan="2" |Links to additional [[IMG Archive|IMG archives]] (other than the hardcoded ones). In GTA San Andreas, a maximum of five entries are supported; any more will crash the game. <code>CDIMAGE</code> is supported in GTA III and GTA Vice City but it is unused in the default data files. ||
-# Collision Files (<code>[[Collision File|COLLISION]]</code>)
+{{Pre|
-# Map Areas (<code>[[Zone|MAPZONE]]</code>, <code>[[IPL]]</code>)
+CDIMAGE MODELS\EXAMPLE.IMG
-# Item Placements (<code>IPL</code>)
+}}
+|-
+|IMG ||{{Icon|SA}} {{Icon|4}} ||
+{{Pre|
+IMG MODELS\EXAMPLE.IMG
+}}
+|-
+|IMGLIST ||{{Icon|4}} ||Links to external [[Images.txt|image list]] files. ||
+{{Pre|
+IMGLIST common:/DATA/EXAMPLE.TXT
+}}
+|-
+|WATER ||{{Icon|4}} ||Links to external water plane placement files. The identifier can hold more than one parameter. It is unconfirmed either this also works for other identifiers. ||
+{{Pre|
+WATER common:/DATA/EXAMPLE1.DAT
+WATER common:/DATA/EXAMPLE2.DAT common:/DATA/EXAMPLE3.DAT
+}}
+|-
+|IDE ||{{Icon|t}} {{Icon|4}} ||Links to [[IDE|item definition]] files. ||
+{{Pre|
+IDE DATA\MAPS\EXAMPLE.IDE
+}}
+|-
+|COLFILE ||{{Icon|t}} ||Links to collision files. An additional parameter between keyword and path associates the file to a level. If this is 0, the col file is used by the whole map; a higher number (1 to 3) assigns it to one of the level. ||
+{{Pre|
+COLFILE 0 MODELS\COLL\EXAMPLE.COL
+}}
+|-
+|MAPZONE ||{{Icon|3}} ||Links to zone files. ||
+{{Pre|
+MAPZONE DATA\EXAMPLE.ZON
+}}
+|-
+|IPL ||{{Icon|t}} ||Links to [[IPL]]-style item placement and zone files. ||
+{{Pre|
+IPL DATA\EXAMPLE.ZON
+IPL DATA\MAPS\EXAMPLE.IPL
+}}
+|-
+|TEXDICTION ||{{Icon|t}} ||Links to external [[TXD|texture dictionaries]]. ||
+{{Pre|
+TEXDICTION MODELS\EXAMPLE.TXD
+}}
+|-
+|MODELFILE ||{{Icon|t}} ||Links to external model files. ||
+{{Pre|
+MODELFILE MODELS\GENERIC\EXAMPLE.DFF
+}}
+|-
+|SPLASH ||{{Icon|t}} ||Links to splash screens that appear when transitioning between levels. The argument for these is '''not''' a path, but just the name (without extension) of a texture dictionary in the <code>\models\txd</code> directory. Might be ignored, though. ||
+{{Pre|
+SPLASH loadsc2
+}}
+|-
+|HIERFILE ||{{Icon|t}} ||Unknown purpose. ||
+|-
+|EXIT ||{{Icon|t}} ||Stops any further processing of the file. ||
+|}
-Since [[GTA IV]] has various subdirectories which need to be identified there are new identifiers at the start of the path. They identify the exact location relative to the executeable file. Those are:
+Since [[Grand Theft Auto IV]] has various subdirectories which need to be identified there are new identifiers at the start of the path. They identify the exact location relative to the executeable file. Those are:
   platform:
@@ Line 29: / Line 85: @@
   C:\Program Files\Rockstar Games\Grand Theft Auto 4\PC\DATA\MAPS\MANHAT\MANHAT12.IPL
-== Keywords ==
+{{fdl}}
-=== COLLISION ===
+{{3-navi}}
-''GTA III, VC and SA''
+{{VC-navi}}
+[[Category:Map Formats]]
-With these entries [[collision file]]s are defined. An additional parameter between keyword and path defines the map part they belong to. If this is 0, the col file is used by the whole map; a higher number (1 to 3) assigns it to one of the [[Zone|map zones]].
-Example:
- COLFILE 0 MODELS\COLL\GENERIC.COL
-=== IDE ===
-''GTA III, VC and SA''
-These entries link to [[item definition]] files.
-Example:
- IDE DATA\MAPS\generic.IDE
-=== HIERFILE ===
-{{Incomplete}}
-=== IMG ===
-''GTA SA only''
-These entries define additionally used [[IMG archive]]s (other than the hardcoded ones). You can only define a maximum of five entries. Any more will crash the game.
-Example:
- IMG DATA\PATHS\CARREC.IMG
- IMG DATA\SCRIPT\SCRIPT.IMG
- IMG MODELS\CUTSCENE.IMG
-=== IMGLIST ===
-''GTA 4 only''
-These link to external [[Images.txt|image list]] files.
-Example:
- IMGLIST common:/data/images.txt
-=== IPL and MAPZONE ===
-''GTA III, VC and SA''
-These keywords are used to link to [[IPL]]-style item placement and [[zone]] files. <code>MAPZONE</code> is only used in GTA3 and ''might'' be synonymous with <code>IPL</code>.
-Example (GTA3):
- MAPZONE DATA\MAP.ZON
- IPL DATA\GTA3.ZON
-Example (GTA SA):
- IPL DATA\MAP.ZON
- IPL DATA\INFO.ZON
- IPL DATA\MAPS\LA\LAn.IPL
- IPL DATA\MAPS\LA\LAn2.IPL
-=== MODELFILE ===
-''GTA III, VC and SA''
-These link to external, mostly generic [[model file]]s.
-Example:
- MODELFILE MODELS\GENERIC\WHEELS.DFF
-=== SPLASH ===
-''GTA III, VC and SA''
-These define the splash screens that appear while loading the map. The argument for these is '''not''' a path, but just the name (without extension) of a [[texture dictionary]] in the <code>txd</code> directory. Might be ignored, though.
-Example:
- SPLASH loadsc2
-=== TEXDICTION ===
-''GTA III, VC and SA''
-These link to external, mostly generic [[texture dictionary|texture dictionaries]].
-Example:
- TEXDICTION MODELS\GENERIC.TXD
-=== WATER ===
-''GTA 4 only''
-These link to external [[Water (GTA 4)|water]] plane placement files.
-Example:
- WATER common:/DATA/WATER.DAT
-The WATER identifier can hold more than one parameter. It is unconfirmed either this also works for other identifiers.
-Example:
- WATER common:/DATA/WATER.DAT common:/DATA/WATERLOW.DAT
-[[Category:Map Formats]][[Category:GTA III Modifications]][[Category:GTA VC]]{{fdl}}
-[[Category:Modifications]]