View source for Gta.dat

{{lowercase}}
The '''gta*.dat''' file lists which files define the game map. It can be found in the game's <code>data</code> directory, and is known as <code>'''gta3.dat'''</code> in [[GTA III]], <code>'''gta_vc.dat'''</code> in [[GTA VC]], and simply <code>'''gta.dat'''</code> in [[GTA SA]]. The same file format is also used for <code>'''[[default.dat]]'''</code>.

== Format ==
Each line links to a map file, unless it's empty or starts with a <code>#</code> (denoting a comment, which are ignored by the game). Since there are different types of files, a keyword is needed for each entry. Most entries use the following format, where the path is relative to the game's base directory:
 &lt;keyword&gt; &lt;path&gt;

Although the file itself is not split up into sections, entries are usually grouped by type and arranged in a special order according to the game's loading sequence:
{| {{prettytable}}
! Keyword || Games || Description
|-
| CDIMAGE || style="text-align:center" | {{Icon|3}} {{Icon|VC}} || rowspan="2" | [[IMG archive]]
|-
| IMG || style="text-align:center" | {{Icon|SA}} {{Icon|4}}
|-
| IMGLIST || style="text-align:center" | {{Icon|4}} || [[Images.txt|Image list]]
|-
| WATER || style="text-align:center" | {{Icon|4}} || [[Water_(GTA_4)|Water]]
|-
| IDE || style="text-align:center" | {{Icon|trilogy}} {{Icon|4}} || [[IDE]] item definitions
|-
| COLFILE || style="text-align:center" | {{Icon|trilogy}} || [[Collision]]s
|-
| MAPZONE || style="text-align:center" | {{Icon|3}} || rowspan="2" | [[Zone]] map areas and [[IPL]] item placements
|-
| IPL || style="text-align:center" | {{Icon|trilogy}}
|-
| TEXDICTION || style="text-align:center" | {{Icon|trilogy}} || [[TXD|Texture dictionaries]]
|-
| MODELFILE || style="text-align:center" | {{Icon|trilogy}} || DFF [[Model file]]s
|-
| SPLASH || style="text-align:center" | {{Icon|trilogy}} || 
|-
| HIERFILE || style="text-align:center" | {{Icon|trilogy}} || 
|}

Since [[GTA IV]] has various subdirectories which need to be identified there are new identifiers at the start of the path. They identify the exact location relative to the executeable file. Those are:

 platform:
 common:

Internally they will be replaced with the internal directory description and appendet to the installation directory of the game.
Example:
 platform:/DATA/MAPS/MANHAT/MANHAT12.IPL 
gets
 PC/DATA/MAPS/MANHAT/MANHAT12.IPL 
which finally is transformed to (e.g.)
 C:\Program Files\Rockstar Games\Grand Theft Auto 4\PC\DATA\MAPS\MANHAT\MANHAT12.IPL

== Keywords ==
=== IMG and CDIMAGE ===
''IMG: GTA SA only, CDIMAGE: GTA III and VC''

These entries define additionally used [[IMG archive]]s (other than the hardcoded ones). In SA, you can only define a maximum of five entries. Any more will crash the game. <code>CDIMAGE</code> is supported in GTA III and VC, though unused in the default data files.

Example (GTA SA):
 IMG DATA\PATHS\CARREC.IMG
 IMG DATA\SCRIPT\SCRIPT.IMG
 IMG MODELS\CUTSCENE.IMG

=== IMGLIST ===
''GTA 4 only''

These link to external [[Images.txt|image list]] files.

Example:
 IMGLIST common:/data/images.txt

=== WATER ===
''GTA 4 only''

These link to external [[Water (GTA 4)|water]] plane placement files.

Example:
 WATER common:/DATA/WATER.DAT

The WATER identifier can hold more than one parameter. It is unconfirmed either this also works for other identifiers.

Example:
 WATER common:/DATA/WATER.DAT common:/DATA/WATERLOW.DAT

=== IDE ===
''GTA III, VC and SA''

These entries link to [[item definition]] files.

Example:
 IDE DATA\MAPS\generic.IDE

=== HIERFILE ===
{{Incomplete}}

=== COLLISION ===
''GTA III, VC and SA''

With these entries [[collision file]]s are defined. An additional parameter between keyword and path defines the map part they belong to. If this is 0, the col file is used by the whole map; a higher number (1 to 3) assigns it to one of the [[Zone|map zones]].

Example:
 COLFILE 0 MODELS\COLL\GENERIC.COL

=== IPL and MAPZONE ===
''GTA III, VC and SA''

These keywords are used to link to [[IPL]]-style item placement and [[zone]] files. <code>MAPZONE</code> is only used in GTA3 and can only contain map zone data.

Example (GTA3):
 MAPZONE DATA\MAP.ZON
 IPL DATA\GTA3.ZON

Example (GTA SA):
 IPL DATA\MAP.ZON
 IPL DATA\INFO.ZON
 
 IPL DATA\MAPS\LA\LAn.IPL
 IPL DATA\MAPS\LA\LAn2.IPL

=== TEXDICTION ===
''GTA III, VC and SA''

These link to external, mostly generic [[texture dictionary|texture dictionaries]].

Example:
 TEXDICTION MODELS\GENERIC.TXD

=== MODELFILE ===
''GTA III, VC and SA''

These link to external, mostly generic [[model file]]s.

Example:
 MODELFILE MODELS\GENERIC\WHEELS.DFF

=== SPLASH ===
''GTA III, VC and SA''

These define the splash screens that appear while loading the map. The argument for these is '''not''' a path, but just the name (without extension) of a [[texture dictionary]] in the <code>models/txd</code> directory. Might be ignored, though.

Example:
 SPLASH loadsc2

=== EXIT ===
''GTA III, VC and SA''

This command stops any further processing of the gta.dat file.

{{N|4|SA}}
[[Category:Map Formats]][[Category:GTA 3]][[Category:GTA VC]]