Exactly how does it work?
I've searched, and I've searched, and I've searched, and I have yet to turn up a post about how the .rez format works.
If you were writing a program and needed to tell it how to save the file in the .rez format, what would you tell it, since there are no resource forks in Windows?
And I don't mean specific commands, just how the .rez file is set up.
You could save it as a text file and then import it into EVNEW manually. That's what most people do. 
The file is seperated into 3 main sections...
1. File header (contains offsets to each resource as well as the resource map)
2. Resource Entries (the resources themselves as written in the Nova Bible)
3. Resource Map(Contains an entry number, resource type, resource ID
and name of the resource in the same order the resources
themselves are listed in the file)
File Header & Offset list - (INTEL BYTE ORDER)
42 52 47 52 - Header
LONG - 01 00 00 00 unknown
LONG - Offset of end of header(before the "resource.map" line, actually it seems to always point to the first 'e' in the 'resource.map' string at the end)
LONG - 01 00 00 00 unknown
LONG - Number of first resource in Index (all index entries are numbered sequentially starting with this number)
LONG - Number of entries in Index
repeated for each resource entry {
LONG - resource offset
LONG - resource length
LONG - Unknown ( the last entry in the list contains it's own offset, for all other entries this is 00 00 00 00)
}
"resource.map" - 12 byte String
00 - null terminator
**everything else appears to be in Motorola byte order
Resource Entries-
These are defined in the Nova Bible.
Each entry is immediately followed by the next
Here's the format of the a few of the resource types...
// 1860 bytes
struct Ship {
SHORT shipHolds;
SHORT shipShield;
SHORT shipAccel;
SHORT shipSpeed;
SHORT shipTurn;
SHORT shipFuel;
SHORT shipFreeMass;
SHORT shipArmor;
SHORT shipShieldRecharge;
SHORT shipWeapon1;
SHORT shipWeapon2;
SHORT shipWeapon3;
SHORT shipWeapon4;
SHORT shipWeapon1Count;
SHORT shipWeapon2Count;
SHORT shipWeapon3Count;
SHORT shipWeapon4Count;
SHORT shipWeapon1Ammo;
SHORT shipWeapon2Ammo;
SHORT shipWeapon3Ammo;
SHORT shipWeapon4Ammo;
SHORT shipMaxGuns;
SHORT shipMaxTurrets;
SHORT shipTechLevel;
LONG shipCost;
SHORT shipDeathDelay;
SHORT shipArmorRecharge;
SHORT shipExplode1;
SHORT shipExplode2;
SHORT shipDispWeight;
SHORT shipMass;
SHORT shipLength;
SHORT shipAI;
SHORT shipCrew;
SHORT shipStrength;
SHORT shipGovmnt;
USHORT shipFlags;
SHORT shipPodCount;
SHORT shipDefaultItem1;
SHORT shipDefaultItem2;
SHORT shipDefaultItem3;
SHORT shipDefaultItem4;
SHORT shipDefaultItem1Count;
SHORT shipDefaultItem2Count;
SHORT shipDefaultItem3Count;
SHORT shipDefaultItem4Count;
SHORT shipFuelRegen;
SHORT shipSkillVar;
USHORT shipFlags2;
ULONG shipContributes;
ULONG shipContributes;
CHAR shipAvailability(255);
CHAR shipAppearOn(255);
CHAR shipOnBuy(256);
SHORT shipDeionize;
SHORT shipIonizeMax;
SHORT shipKeyCarried;
SHORT shipDefaultItem5;
SHORT shipDefaultItem6;
SHORT shipDefaultItem7;
SHORT shipDefaultItem8;
SHORT shipDefaultItem5Count;
SHORT shipDefaultItem6Count;
SHORT shipDefaultItem7Count;
SHORT shipDefaultItem8Count;
ULONG shipRequire;
ULONG shipRequire;
SHORT shipBuyRandom;
SHORT shipHireRandom;
CHAR Unused(68);
CHAR shipOnCapture(255);
CHAR shipOnRetire(255);
CHAR shipShortName(64);
CHAR shipCommName(32);
CHAR shipLongName(128);
CHAR shipMovieFile(32);
SHORT shipWeapon5;
SHORT shipWeapon6;
SHORT shipWeapon7;
SHORT shipWeapon8;
SHORT shipWeapon5Count;
SHORT shipWeapon6Count;
SHORT shipWeapon7Count;
SHORT shipWeapon8Count;
SHORT shipWeapon5Ammo;
SHORT shipWeapon6Ammo;
SHORT shipWeapon7Ammo;
SHORT shipWeapon8Ammo;
CHAR shipSubtitle(64);
USHORT shipFlags3;
SHORT shipUpgradeTo;
LONG shipUpgradeCost;
LONG shipSellValue;
SHORT shipEscortType;
CHAR Unused(16);
// 192 Bytes
struct Govt {
SHORT VoiceType;
USHORT Flags;
USHORT Flags2;
LONG ScanFine;
SHORT CrimeTol;
SHORT SmugPenalty;
SHORT BoardPenalty;
SHORT KillPenalty;
SHORT ShootPenalty;
SHORT InitialRec;
SHORT MaxOdds;
SHORT Class1;
SHORT Class2;
SHORT Class3;
SHORT Class4;
SHORT Ally1;
SHORT Ally2;
SHORT Ally3;
SHORT Ally4;
SHORT Enemy1;
SHORT Enemy2;
SHORT Enemy3;
SHORT Enemy4;
SHORT SkillMult;
USHORT ScanMask;
CHAR CommName(16);
CHAR TargetCode(16);
ULONG Require;
ULONG Require;
SHORT InhJam1;
SHORT InhJam2;
SHORT InhJam3;
SHORT InhJam4;
CHAR MediumName(64);
ULONG Color;
ULONG ShipColor;
SHORT Interface;
SHORT NewsPict;
CHAR Unused(16);
};
// 1860 Bytes
struct Miss {
SHORT AvailStel;
SHORT Unused;
SHORT AvailLoc;
SHORT AvailRecord;
SHORT AvailRating;
SHORT AvailRandom;
SHORT TravelStel;
SHORT ReturnStel;
SHORT CargoType;
SHORT CargoQty;
SHORT PickupMode;
SHORT DropOffMode;
USHORT ScanMask;
SHORT Unused;
LONG PayVal;
SHORT ShipCount;
SHORT ShipSyst;
SHORT ShipDude;
SHORT ShipGoal;
SHORT ShipBehav;
SHORT ShipNameID;
SHORT ShipStart;
SHORT CompGovt;
SHORT CompReward;
SHORT ShipSubtitle;
SHORT BriefText;
SHORT QuickBrief;
SHORT LoadCargText;
SHORT CompText;
SHORT FailText;
LONG TimeLimit;
SHORT CanAbort;
SHORT ShipDoneText;
SHORT Unused;
SHORT AuxShipCount;
SHORT AuxShipDude;
SHORT AuxShipSyst;
SHORT Unused;
USHORT Flags;
USHORT Flags2;
SHORT Unused;
SHORT Unused;
SHORT RefuseText;
SHORT AvailShipTyp;
CHAR AvailBits(255);
CHAR OnAccept(255);
CHAR OnRefuse(255);
CHAR OnSuccess(255);
CHAR OnFailure(255);
CHAR OnAbort(255);
LONG Require;
LONG Require;
SHORT DatePostInc;
CHAR OnShipDone(255);
CHAR AcceptButton(32);
CHAR RefuseButton(32);
SHORT DispWeight;
CHAR Unused(17);
};
Resource Map-
**this is the last entry in the offset index.
LONG - Unknown (always 00 00 00 08 from what I've seen)
LONG - Number of resource types in the file
repeated for each type of resource included in the file
{
4 Byte String - Resource type name
LONG - Offset from beginning of resource map to first entry of that type
LONG - Number of entries of that resource type
}
repeated for each resource entry {
LONG - Index of resource in file starting from the number defined in the resource.map
4 Byte STRING - resource type ("spn", "shn", "bm"...)
SHORT - Object ID (in game terms, i.e. Federation govt is ID 128)
256 Bytes - ANSI String - Object 'Name' (any additional space is filled with buffer overrun)
}
EOF
This post has been edited by orcaloverbri9 : 02 January 2006 - 11:23 PM
Aha! Thank you very much!
Oh, do note that the resources themselves are identical bit-for-bit to the Mac resources. If you were, say, writing a program to convert from resources to .rez, you could just get the data through resource manager routines or whatever, and then write it straight to the .rez file. In fact, the .rez format is very similar to the resource fork format (except easier, and I say this as someone who has written the routine to create a resource fork from scratch using resource manager routines :)).
Also, be sure to keep in mind that for whatever unfathomable, mindboggling reason, the endian order switches halfway through the file. Specifically, the header is little endian, and the rest is big endian. Every explicit value stated in the above description is big endian, so 42 52 47 52 is actually 52 47 52 42, but when interpreted by a Mac is 42 52 47 52.
Just a few random things I figured I'd mention.
This post has been edited by orcaloverbri9 : 03 January 2006 - 03:03 AM
Not exactly. You shouldn't try interpreting 42 52 47 52 as a long integer, because it is a sequence of ASCII bytes meaning BRGR, Burger, and as such it is endian neutral just like "resource.map".
However, when writing a four-char constant such as 'BRGR' in C on a Mac, it means the integer 0x42524752 (this is in fact a convention from gcc, the only Mac compiler to support the two different endian orders: indeed the C standard requires the representation of multiple-character constants to be implementation-defined, which means a compiler has to make a choice, document it, and stick with it on the matter) whose memory representation (and hence file representation) depends on the current byte order. On a big-endian machine, this is the sequence of bytes 42 52 47 52; on a little endian machine, 52 47 52 42, which doesn't match the header. So to be sure you have a constant that matches, you'd use something like:
#ifdef LITTLE_ENDIAN
#define BURGER_MAGIC 'RGRB'
#else
#define BURGER_MAGIC 'BRGR'
#endif
(of course, I'd better use OSSwap*Const stuff, but I don't really know them)
To sum up, 'abcd' != ((UInt32)"abcd"). See the Universal Binary Programming Guidelines for Apple's info.
Another reference is the source for the bin-to-rez converter, but Burger's site seems to be down at the moment, so you can't check it right now.
Hey guys,
I was thinking the same thing, there does appear to be a lack of Dev tools for the PC, I've got some experience developing Win apps so would be keen to look at this.
orcaloverbri9 - thanks for the info on the file structure, v. useful.
I do have a couple of other questions though...
1. Actually getting to the data in the .rez file, I have opened it usng Text pad in ASCII and Binary mode and can't make head nor tail of the .rez file, am I beig stupid?
2. Using the provided file structure within your application, what is the best way to intergrate it?
3. Dev envionment, any recommended Languages/Tools?
4. Further info, are there any other sites/posts with more information in them, this appear to be the only one I have seen?
Thanks for any answers in adavnce.
Cheers
Stedders
1. You won't be able to get anything out of it like that. If you really wish to read it, I recommend a hex editor. Use the format I posted above to help decipher the seeming nonsense.
2. I don't quite understand this question. Could you be more specific?
3. Not being a Windows developer, this isn't my area. However, it's apparently doable with C++ and I'd imagine C could do it. I'd recommend asking Aprosenf about it.
4. Go to the top of the page and click on "Search", then click on "More Options...". Enter "rez format" for the search and "Mehrunes" for the author, then click "Perform Search". You'll see a topic about the .rez format by seant. I suggest you read it.
This post has been edited by orcaloverbri9 : 09 January 2006 - 05:37 PM
Thanks orcaloverbri9.
orcaloverbri9, on Jan 8 2006, 04:03 PM, said:
1. You won't be able to get anything out of it like that. If you really wish to read it, I recommend a hex editor. Use the format I posted above to help decipher the seeming nonsense.
2. I don't quite understand this question. Could you be more specific?
Makes a lot more sense, viewed in a Hex editor and Textpads binary mode and can now see what you mean, you answered the second point with the first answer.
orcaloverbri9, on Jan 8 2006, 04:03 PM, said:
3. Not being a Windows developer, this isn't my area. However, it's apparently doable with C++ and I'd imagine C could do it. I'd recommend asking Aprosenf about it.
Yeah, I've seen the source for EVNEW, am going to be ploughing through it to see how it has been designed, I could write it in C++ but would prefer to use Java as I need to learn it for Uni and this would be a "fun" project to do.
orcaloverbri9, on Jan 8 2006, 04:03 PM, said:
4. Go to the top of the page and click on "Search", then click on "More Options...". Enter "rez format" for the search and "Mehrunes" for the author, then click "Perform Search". You'll see a topic about the .rez format by seant. I suggest you read it.
View Post
OK, feel like a bit of a Newb now, cheers 
stedders, on Jan 8 2006, 03:12 PM, said:
Yeah, I've seen the source for EVNEW, am going to be ploughing through it to see how it has been designed, I could write it in C++ but would prefer to use Java as I need to learn it for Uni and this would be a "fun" project to do.
Well, they're close, so writing it in Java from C++ shouldn't be too difficult as far as porting large applications between languages goes.
pipeline,
Quote
Java and C++ are worlds apart. I've learned both, and let me tell you, a port would not be a trivial exercise.
You're spot on there, C++ and Java do have a lot of thing in common but they do also differ a lot as well, in this case it will primarily be Memory Management and Windows interface implementation, I also have experience in both.
Quote
Well, they're close, so writing it in Java from C++ shouldn't be too difficult as far as porting large applications between languages goes.
I am not looking to port EVNEW, I want to build a utilities set that would specialise in certain things, system creation/mapping, port/weapon/ship creation, and then pull it together within a single app, I'm more looking at the challenge of building it from scratch, rather than ripping off what someone has alredy done.
Quote
Aside from the fact that Java is an interpreted language unsuitable for writing large applications...
Is there a Java compiler?
I don't like flaming people, so I won't....do you have any experience with Java, or other such interpreted languages?
A large application can be written in Java and, depending on the situation, may be best written in such a language, if you want cross-compatibility, more control over execution/security and running speed isn't an issue, this is the case for 75%+ applications.
Where running speed is an issue, in such processor intense apps such as Games, 3D modelling and scientific apps, C/C++ is the best choice as you have direct access to the memory on the machine and can use nasty things, such as pointers, to manipulate the data in memory in the most efficient manner.
Also C/C++ and Basic can also be considered a interpreted language, there are applications out there that allow you to run such apps from the source via an interpreter, Java on the other hand is in fact a half-interpreted language, the Java source is compiled into bytecode, which is platform independant, it is this code that is run by the Java interpreter, improving performance over most interpreted languages, eg. Perl/Python.
Yes there is a Java Compiler, a Java app can't be run without it being compiled first.
The reason I mentioned Java is that it is the weakest of my core languages, out of C#, Perl, Python, VBasic, Basic, PHP and JavaScript, I would be able to build a Mac and PC version at the same time and as I do a lot of my developing on Linux I can't really build a C/C++ app and then port it to Windows/Mac as easily.
Thanks for everyones comments and help, if anyone else has some good pointers, or feel I have misrepresented something in the above text, feel free to comment.
stedders, on Jan 9 2006, 11:11 PM, said:
Where running speed is an issue, in such processor intense apps such as Games, 3D modelling and scientific apps, C/C++ is the best choice as you have direct access to the memory on the machine and can use nasty things, such as pointers, to manipulate the data in memory in the most efficient manner.
Most programmers would not consider pointers to be evil. Java's weakness is that it's a slow language, compiled, and a mass of treacle when interpreted.
It has many excellent features, but being useful where speed of calculation is required is not one of them.
Dave
pipeline, on Jan 9 2006, 02:39 AM, said:
Java and C++ are worlds apart. I've learned both, and let me tell you, a port would not be a trivial exercise.
Dave @ ATMOS
Ah. Well, that was a guess on my part. I've heard that C++ and Java are similar, so I just assumed, having no experience with C++ and minimal failed experience with Java.
That said, it's still easier than many cross-language ports would be; Java is at least still OO. I've never personally tried going from OO to procedural, but in a large-scale, non-simple application, I'd imagine it's not fun.
Of course, I could be wrong.
This, however, I am sure of: Java compilers exist, but Java applications are slower than sin and kludgier than a grandma with a broken leg. On Mac at least.
Of course, it would allow it to be cross-platform, but there are better solutions for that than Java.
This post has been edited by orcaloverbri9 : 09 January 2006 - 05:40 PM
pipeline, on Jan 9 2006, 09:24 PM, said:
Most programmers would not consider pointers to be evil. Java's weakness is that it's a slow language, compiled, and a mass of treacle when interpreted.
It has many excellent features, but being useful where speed of calculation is required is not one of them.
Dave
View Post
Pointers are evil, they are, they are, they are.....had some bad experiences with them, was trying to be too clever, didn't work and caused some serious memory leaks in a previously stable app :blink:
orcaloverbri9, on Jan 9 2006, 10:37 PM, said:
Of course, it would allow it to be cross-platform, but there are better solutions for that than Java.
View Post
<_< - such as?
stedders, on Jan 10 2006, 06:53 AM, said:
<_< - such as?
I said better, not easier or cheaper, if you catch my drift.
stedders, on Jan 10 2006, 10:53 PM, said:
Pointers are evil, they are, they are, they are.....had some bad experiences with them, was trying to be too clever, didn't work and caused some serious memory leaks in a previously stable app :blink:
View Post
Correct use of pointers seperates the good programmers from the average. That's we were taught in "Algorithms & Metrics" at University.