To modders, would you like an esm disassembler?

[ezzetabi]

Time ago when I was writing mods I seldom needed to hack the .esm files using an hexeditor. For example I remember adding hundreds of spell effects; this action would be impossible (in reasonable time) with the TES or even with Enchanted Editor.

(esm file format)

So I thought about making an esm disassembler* a program that converts the .esm file to a easy to read and easy to write textual format and changes it back.
Actually only few kinds of records and sub-record would be converted, the other would be placed as hex blob. But, even for those editing would be easier.

In order to understand if there was interest I posted about it on the planet elder scroll forum; but I got only few confused answer so I gave up. (laziness is strong...)

Out of curiosity, would be anyone interested here? Did you ever needed a lower level textual approach to esm files?


*I know there is not assembly involved, it is just the best word I can think.

[gus]

ezzetabi, i love you! You had a more complete doc about ESM than me, and you just saved me hours of troubles!

[Zini]

Time ago when I was writing mods I seldom needed to hack the .esm files using an hexeditor. For example I remember adding hundreds of spell effects; this action would be impossible (in reasonable time) with the TES or even with Enchanted Editor.

...

So I thought about making an esm disassembler* a program that converts the .esm file to a easy to read and easy to write textual format and changes it back.
Actually only few kinds of records and sub-record would be converted, the other would be placed as hex blob. But, even for those editing would be easier.

I hope that our new editor will make such a tool redundant. The GUI should be able to handle more complex tasks. And we should probably consider adding a Python interface that allows to mass manipulate records via a script.

[ezzetabi]

ezzetabi, i love you! You had a more complete doc about ESM than me, and you just saved me hours of troubles!

Well, you are welcome. It was the file I used when I wrote code to mass add stuff to yalsm mod of mine.

I hope that our new editor will make such a tool redundant. The GUI should be able to handle more complex tasks. And we should probably consider adding a Python interface that allows to mass manipulate records via a script.

Python interface is a fine idea too.

[TheCatLord]

Greetings,

I'm a modder. I would very much appreciate this "esm disassembler" as you call it. I'm looking forward to the OpenMW Construction Set, too.

Humbly,
The Cat Lord