3.TDU Modding Tools : Main Tools
File Browser
This tool is now totally replacing beloved couple BNK Editor+BNK Tool, thanks to BNK Manager.
It displays all your TDU file hierarchy (folders on the left, files on the upper-right, contents of selected BNK file on the lower-right).
Every menu item has a tooltip, giving more details; to get it, just
point this item and wait a few seconds. You can also display file properties by
right-clicking on this file then choosing corresponding item in contextual menu.
.Keyboard shortcuts:
Some functions are explained in details above.
- F5: actualizes the lists, like Windows Explorer
- Ctrl+Numpad 1: displays/hides BNK Manager
- Ctrl+Numpad 2: displays/hides Edit Tasks
- Ctrl+A: selects all items
- Ctrl+B: makes a quick backup of selected file(s) [in top-list]
- Ctrl+E: extracts selected or all files from BNK [in BNK Manager]
- Ctrl+L: displays file choosing dialog to load a BNK file from any location [in BNK Manager]
- Ctrl+N: restores a file from selected backup [in top-list]
- Ctrl+R: replaces selected file, maintaining BNK size [in BNK Manager]
- Ctrl+Shift+R: replaces selected file, modifying BNK size [in BNK Manager]
- Del: deletes selected file(s) [top-list only]
- Alt+Enter: displays properties for selected file.
.Mouse shortcuts:
- Single left-click: if item is a BNK file, contents will be displayed in
the BNK Manager
- Single right-click: provides access to common operations onto selected file
- Double left-click: opens selected file in default editor
- Shift+Double left-click [in BNK Manager]: creates an edit task and displays in default editor.
a.To backup/restore files:
File Browser is able to make a backup of every file appearing in the upper section. Click on Backup. A copy
of selected file will be created, whose name ending by .BAK.
Also, you can restore a previous backup by selecting it then clicking on Restore. File will retrieve its previous contents. Also, please note the backup
file will disappear.
b.To edit a file with BNK Manager:
This new edit function allows you to easily modify packed files, manage current edit tasks and directly apply changes you've made.
Select a packed file in the bottom part (BNK Manager), then Edit. A new edit task will be created and file will be opened in default editor:
- Once editing is finished, you can choose to Apply. The BNK file will be automatically updated and saved
according to checked task(s). You can define in Settings which method to use when updating this file.
- You can also Discard checked task(s) to cancel corresponding changes.
The Open location/file buttons respectively display the folder
where files are stored during editing or open the selected file again with the default application.
c.To extract and replace files (manually):
BNK manager behaves almost the same way as Jeff's BNK Editor. So you should be very good at it already ;)
The only difference is you'll be able to specify the method when replacing files into a BNK:
- Modify size: feature preserving file contents; though you'll have to
ensure the MAP system is ok (see chapter d below).
- Maintain size: same behavior as BNK Editor.
Note1 : packed files which have just been replaced appear in blue.
Note2 : BNK file is automatically saved after a replace operation.
d.To definitively patch the MAP (preferred method):
Menu Tools > Disable File Size Control...
By doing this, you accept the Bnk1.map to be patched to enable any file replacement. You only need to do this once; original file will be saved as backup.
No account bans, nor online disconnects have been reported so far. But at this modding level, I can't give you any guarantee so be advised before using modified files.
MAP Tool (advanced feature)
Notice: now it's much simpler to use a Magic Map than fixing manually with its tool. So I recommend not to use
it anymore - except for research goals.
Module to watch and manage TDU's file protection: each file in Bnk folder and subfolders will be accepted by the game, as long as its size
matches to info stored in a particular file: Bnk1.map.
MAP Tool gives contents of that file and allows advanced users to change expected sizes. That could be useful when you have to replace a BNK or whatever by a significally lighter/heavier file.
a.To generate your own key:
Provided map-key.xml should be OK for most usages. Though for any reason, you might have to generate your own key according to contents of your Bnk folder.
Just load your Bnk1.map file, click on Get Key...
then follow further instructions.
These steps are useful to discover new ids and support new files too.
b.Fixing:
It consists in automatically correcting Bnk1.map data to ensure actual file size and
protection system will contain consistent values.
There are 2 ways to 'fix' :
- Fix entry button: data will be corrected for the selected file only
- Fix all button: data will be corrected for all the supported files.
c.To change data for a particular file:
For test purposes; it's a more advanced function, that allows to manually change size for a particular file into the Bnk1.map.
To do that, click on Change button.
DB Resources
This part of the software allows you to edit data stored in the per-language database
files (DB_XX.bnk, where 'XX' corresponds to your game language).
It can be used according to 2 ways:
- Direct access mode, by selecting a
Topic in the
list. Contents of current database will be loaded
- Custom file mode, by checking Open file then choosing a database file name
to edit (e.g. ...\TDU_CarPhysicsData.us).
Moreover, database files can be also viewed/edited from FileBrowser/Bnk
Manager: simply select the DB_xx.BNK then either View or Edit the packed file of your choice.
a.To change a resource value in the database:
Just select the entry you want to change, then click on Change button
(or double-click that entry).
In Entry Editor, make your changes, finally click on OK button to update file.
b.To add a resource value:
It's now possible to add new resources to TDU database, for example to create new model names...
Please note it's there for experimental reasons and will be more useful in the future.
Just select the line where you wanna insert this new value, then click on Insert button
(or press Ins key).
In Entry Editor, make your changes, finally click on OK button to update resources.
Make sure Id value you've entered does not already exist; else it won't be accepted.
c.To delete a resource value:
It's also possible to delete resource values.
Please note it's there for experimental reasons and will be more useful in the future.
Just select the value you want it to be deleted, then click on Delete button
(or press Del key).
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