Force an IFF file to load more than one appearance?

[Kuuhl]

In my quest to have an E-11 with an unfolded stock, I came upon the shared_rifle_e11.iff file. Using SIE and poking around a bit revealed a line that loads the wp_carbine_e11.apt for the appearance.

I know it's possible to force .sat files to load more than one appearance at the same time, which brings me to my questions of whether or not it's possible to force an .iff to do so through a similar method. I've toyed around with it quite a bit, but everything I've tried results in a crash, an invisible item, default appearance, or an unaffected E-11 model.

 

[Timbab]

Yes, easiest way to do this is via attaching a .CDF (Client Data File) to an Object .IFF and then having either Hardpoint Object (HOBJ) chunks in that or Appearance/Mesh/Children in there that you manually position.

Fortunately, if you look at "appearance/mesh/wp_carbine_e11_l0.msh" for example, you'll see that it has 3 hardpoints (HPTS > HPNT) already set up, so we can just use Hardpoint Object chunks in an .CDF file which point to a specific hardpoint in the mesh for position and rotation.

I'm not going to explain how to edit Object .IFF files as they're a tad complex, better to wait for the next SIE update which will include both an Object Editor and an CDF Editor, but at least .CDF are a bit easier to modify if you have an example and/or use my templates.

I'll upload both the carbine and the rifle Object .IFF  modified to load a custom .CDF that has an Hardpoint Object chunk, you can look at it in SIE and see what I did and perhaps toy around with it.

Another good example is look how some of the harvesters work, they also have .CDF's attached to the Object .IFF, which load extra meshes.

Download

P.S. Sorry for the hastily written post, it's past 3 am, hope it makes sense though!

 

[Kuuhl]

Wow, that's way more of a response than I anticipated, thank you!

 

[Timbab]

Happy to be of help!

If you have further questions, don't hesitate to ask.

 

[Phoenix]

In my quest to have an E-11 with an unfolded stock, I came upon the shared_rifle_e11.iff file. Using SIE and poking around a bit revealed a line that loads the wp_carbine_e11.apt for the appearance.

I know it's possible to force .sat files to load more than one appearance at the same time, which brings me to my questions of whether or not it's possible to force an .iff to do so through a similar method. I've toyed around with it quite a bit, but everything I've tried results in a crash, an invisible item, default appearance, or an unaffected E-11 model.

So essentially you want an e11 with a collapsed stock? If the model doesnt exist you can create it in 3dsmax. And just make a new object.iff/all supporting files.

Like this? http://vignette4.wikia.nocookie.net/starwars/images/b/b5/E11_egwt.png/revision/latest?cb=20080506132013

 

[Timbab]

He said unfolded stock, ie open, you can do the same method I did for a collapsed stock, too.

 

[Phoenix]

He said unfolded stock, ie open, you can do the same method I did for a collapsed stock, too.

Oh yea you right boo boo