when making new command posts and having them actually count for victory, I know that you have to change the objectives file, but its in .lua format, my computer cant read that.

What program do I need in order to be able to open . lua files?

-The_Fonz

You'll find that, in many cases reguarding SWBFII modding, files will open with either notepad (or similar program thereof) or paint/photoshop (or similar program thereof). In this case, you can open the .lua files in notepad. Just off of the top of my head, here are some of the file types and what programs they open in:

.LUA: notepad
.ODF: notepad
.REQ: notepad
.BAK: notepad
.PRP: notepad
.FX: notepad
.SKY: notepad
.TGA: paint/photoshop
.MSH: XSI or similar 3d modeling software (may require conversion to .OBJ filetype)
.WLD: Zeroeditor

Hope that helps! And welcome to modding!

.wld is also the extention for VRML files though, so that can get confusing.

Superm9 wrote:.MSH: XSI or similar 3d modeling software (may require conversion to .OBJ filetype)
.WLD: Zeroeditor

Mesh files can also be viewed in a hex editor so that you may do things such as add transparency. This will become apparent as the need arises.

World Files can also be viewed with notepad or other similar programs, saying it is opened by ZE is not entirely correct unless you append that terminology to other files such as terrain files as well (which can also be opened by notepad).

DarthRogueKnight wrote:.wld is also the extention for VRML files though, so that can get confusing.

The file extension for VRML2.0 files is .wrl not .wld.

.anim - Animation list file - Text file
.anm - ZE animation data file - Text file
.asfx - Additional sound effects file - Text file
.bak - Backup file - Text file
.bar - Barrier data file - Text file
.bat - Batch file; ASCII text file containing a series of commands - Text file
.bnd - Boundary name-list file - Text file
.cin - Cinematic description(?) file - Text file
.combo - Combination configuration file - Text file
.cus - ? - Text file
.dcl - Decal data file (unused?) - Binary data file *
.enc - Encounter(?) file - Text file
.ffx - Foley effects configuration file - Text file
.fx - Environment(world1) or particle effects file - Text file
.grp - Layer groups file - Text file
.hnt - Hint node data file - Text file
.ldx - Layer description file - Text file
.lgt - Light data file - Text file
.lll - Last loaded layer file - Text file
.log - Error or warning logging file - Text file
.lrg - Line region file(?) - Text file
.lua - Script file - Text file
.lvl - Binary file containing munged and packed game data - Binary data file
.lyr - Layer file - Text file
.mrq - Mode requirement list file - Text file
.msh - SWBF model/animation file - use hex editor to view/edit the binary data **
.mus - Music configuration file - Text file
.obg - Object group file - Text file
.odf - Object definition file - Text file
.option - Optional parameters for VM during compile process - Text file
.pln - Planning data file - Text file
.prp - Prop paint configuration file - Text file
.pth - Path data file - Text file
.pvs - Potentially Visible Set file for portal and sector data - Text file
.req - Requirement files declare what is to be packed into a *.lvl of the same name - Text file
.rgn - Region data file - Text file
.sfx - Sound effects file; list paths to sound samples - Text file
.sky - Sky data file - Text file
.snd - Sound property file - Text file
.st4 - Stream file; list paths to pairs of quadraphonic stream files - Text file
.stm - Stream file; list paths to stream files - Text file
.ter - Terrain data file - Binary data file
.tga - Targa image - View/edit with image editor
.tsr - Sound trigger region config file - Text file
.wld - World file - Text file
.zaabin - Munged animation data file - Binary data file
.zafbin - Munged skeleton data (basepose) file - Binary data file
.zat - Animation debug file - Text file


* Press F11 while in ZE to bring up Decal Edit Mode
** You can also import .msh files into XSI for editing using ZETools


Recommended Text/code file editors:

• Notepad (included with Windows)
  Notepad++
  SciTE
  PSPad

Note: Don't use WordPad to edit SWBF text files, it produces curly quotes which breaks the syntax.

Recommended Hex editors for viewing/editing binary data:

• XVI32
  HxD

Recommended image (tga) viewer/editors:

• GIMP
  Paint.NET
  Photoshop (NOT free but trials are available)

Comparison of hex editors
Comparison of text editors
Comparison of raster graphics editors


There may be other tools that aren't listed here that work. The rule is, find at least one tool that works and that you are comfortable using.

This seems like it could be pretty useful for new modders - maybe it should be added to the Everything You Need thread?

Thanks so much! This is really going to help me!

(lol, I didn't know that text editor was used so much!)

Thanks again

Just a minor note, but the bak files open with a text editor because they're usually backups of the lua scripts when dealing with SWBF2. Just be warned that any type of file can be turned into a bak file.