Currently this is the most complete and most up-to-date documentation about the ESX format we have available. It is not all that up-to-date or complete or correct. But it is the best we have.
Once we are starting to extend the ESX format, we will need to document these changes. As a base for this documentation, I would like the have the old format on our wiki, so we can insert changes there and have a complete description of the file format.
I assume since the linked file is from the UESP wik, it is under CC, so we should not have any problems with the license. Wouldn't hurt to check, though.
Any takers?
Having a main page that lists the 42 top record types and then links to one page per top level record would be optimal. Ideally in a nice, consistent layout.
And we also could use some way to mark up different sections for different versions, i.e. an obsolete tag for sub-records that are used in MW, but ignored by OpenMW and a version x tag, that indicates that the record is recognised from version x of the file format on.
Wikification of ESX format
Re: Wikification of ESX format
After glancing on the front page of the UESP wiki, they link to this page regarding any usage of materials from their site. It looks like we shouldn't have a problem using that ESM info page you found, as long as we license it under the by-sa liscense, and link back to the UESP page.Zini wrote: I assume since the linked file is from the UESP wik, it is under CC, so we should not have any problems with the license. Wouldn't hurt to check, though.
Re: Wikification of ESX format
Maybe I can give an hand? After all I read that file quite some times in the past to make my level system mod.
But can anyone at least describe the "consistent layout", I guess the best would be writing one or more templates to fill-in with the ESx informations.
And just to be sure. When you say "ESx", it is a short-cut to say "ESM", "ESP", "ESS", and possibly future Openmw-only extensions?
But can anyone at least describe the "consistent layout", I guess the best would be writing one or more templates to fill-in with the ESx informations.
And just to be sure. When you say "ESx", it is a short-cut to say "ESM", "ESP", "ESS", and possibly future Openmw-only extensions?
Re: Wikification of ESX format
ESM and ESP are the same. We are not interested in ESS. Future OpenMW-only formats will be extensions to the ESM/P format and as such we will simply add these extensions to the ESM/P documentation.
Re: Wikification of ESX format
My bad. I did not meant the format, I was thinking to the file extension. But still thanks for clarification.
Re: Wikification of ESX format
Mostly. I think we can skip these parts:
because they have no practical use and are irrelevant once we go beyond Morrowind.esm.
The format is overall okay. If you want to put a bit of additional work into it, you could make sure the sub record description is a bit more consistent.
Mostly we have: x bytes, type, Description
For example:
19 to 261 bytes (43 average)
(each for the top of a record page)308 bytes
because they have no practical use and are irrelevant once we go beyond Morrowind.esm.
The format is overall okay. If you want to put a bit of additional work into it, you could make sure the sub record description is a bit more consistent.
Mostly we have: x bytes, type, Description
For example:
But in some cases, this is turned around:4 bytes, float Version (1.2)
As you can see length and type are swapped here.string, variable length
Re: Wikification of ESX format
I was also wondering what were the usefulness of that sizes, but before destroying information I wanted to be sure.
About the coherent layout, I will try to be more careful.
Thanks for input.
About the coherent layout, I will try to be more careful.
Thanks for input.
Re: Wikification of ESX format
Any idea of what is the ENAM sub-record of SPEL? I am not sure from the description.
Here is an example from morrowind.esm, it is the eye of fear of the khajiit race:
ENAM length is always 24 bytes (0x18), but the meaning is unclear. I guess it should be a reference to a magic effect, but how?
Here is an example from morrowind.esm, it is the eye of fear of the khajiit race:
Code: Select all
001025C0 0F 00 00 00 19 00 00 00 32 00 00 00 53 50 45 4C ........2...SPEL
001025D0 5C 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 4E 41 4D 45 \...........NAME
001025E0 0C 00 00 00 65 79 65 20 6F 66 20 66 65 61 72 00 ....eye of fear.
001025F0 46 4E 41 4D 0C 00 00 00 45 79 65 20 6F 66 20 46 FNAM....Eye of F
00102600 65 61 72 00 53 50 44 54 0C 00 00 00 05 00 00 00 ear.SPDT........
00102610 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 45 4E 41 4D 18 00 00 00 ........ENAM....
00102620 35 00 FF FF 02 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 1E 00 00 00 5...............
00102630 64 00 00 00 64 00 00 00 53 50 45 4C 5E 00 00 00 d...d...SPEL^...