View source for TxdGen/Converting Textures to PS2 Format

Read this tutorial if you want to know how to convert RenderWare PC [[TXD|Texture Dictionaries]] into their PS2 format. This method can be used to mod the PlayStation 2 version of San Andreas with new textures. Be wary to follow the steps carefully since any branching-off can break things!

At the time of writing, '''TxdGen''' version 0.7 is current.

==Used tools and resources==
* A DVD drive.
* '''PC''' San Andreas installation
* '''PS2''' San Andreas disc
* [[TxdGen]]
* [http://www.imgburn.com/ ImgBurn] - this or MagicISO
* [http://xpert2.blogspot.de/ Xpert 2.0] - used for constructing working PS2 game ISOs
* '''ImgImport''' - used for adding files into GTA engine IMG archives (bundled with '''TxdGen''')
* [http://www.moddb.com/mods/sanandreas-retextured-3 SanAndreas Retextured 3] - example mod

''Note: Some tools on this list are optional. If you know what you are doing, you might aswell replace them.''

==Directions==

===Step 1: Installing and Preparing===
Before doing anything complex, we have to download and install the said tools and resources. I assume that you are aware of basic Windows installation procedures. But there are some requirements that you need to enforce during installation.

* GTA San Andreas has to be installed in '''C:/Program Files (x86)/Rockstar Games/GTA San Andreas/''' (default location)

If any of the points above is incorrect, remember to adjust the following steps accordingly.

Keep in mind that installing '''SanAndreas Retextured 3''' will modify your GTA San Andreas with no option to restore it. If you do not want to reinstall San Andreas, it is advised to '''create a backup of the entire game folder'''.

====How to install TxdGen====
* Place the downloaded '''txdgen_*'''.zip archive onto your desktop
* Right click on the icon and select "Extract All"
* Press the "Extract" button.
* You now have a '''txdgen_*''' folder on your desktop

===Step 2: Creating a PS2 GTA:SA .iso file using ImgBurn===
* Open the '''ImgBurn''' program that we just installed
* Click on '''Create image file from disc'''
* ''Optional: select your DVD drive in the "Source" combo box''
* Click on the folder-looking symbol
* Browse into the '''gtaiso''' folder inside the '''txdgen_*''' folder on your desktop and name the output file '''gtasa.iso'''
* Click on the image that points a disc at an image file.
* Wait until the .iso creation process has completed. This may take a while.
* Once finished, close the program.

===Step 3: Setting up TxdGen and ImgImport===
To ensure proper functionality of '''TxdGen''' and '''ImgImport''', please take a look into the .ini configuration files. It is '''recommended''' that they look like this.

====txdgen.ini====
<source lang="ini">
[Main]
gameRoot=C:/Program Files (x86)/Rockstar Games/GTA San Andreas/
outputRoot=txdgen_out/
targetVersion=SA
targetPlatform=PS2
compressTextures=true
compressionQuality=0.5
palRuntimeType=PNGQUANT
dxtRuntimeType=SQUISH
warningLevel=1
ignoreSecureWarnings=true
reconstructIMGArchives=false
fixIncompatibleRasters=true
dxtPackedDecompression=false
</source>

====imgimport.ini====
<source lang="ini">
[Main]
sourceRoot=txdgen_out/models/gta3_archive/
imgFile=gtaiso/@GTASA.ISO/MODELS/GTA3.IMG
</source>
(please disable NoScript if you are running Firefox to properly view the imgimport.ini content)

===Step 4: Extracting the .iso using Xpert 2.0===
* Open the '''Xpert 2.0''' program that we just installed
* You will be greeted with awesome effects. Be patient until the program window has appeared and the '''mod loading banner has disappeared'''
* Click on the '''Sound Options''' combo box and select '''@No Sound Selected'''
* Click on the '''Xpert-Plugins''' combo box and select '''PS2 CdDvd5 |PSP UMD ISO Shrinker v1.04 *.ISO'''
* Press the colorful folder-looking symbol and select the '''gtasa.iso''' that we created earlier
* You notice that more buttons have become colorful and clickable.
* Click on the first button top left and wait until the '''LBA table has been extracted'''
* Click on the second button top left and wait until the '''ISO contents have been extracted to your HDD'''. This may take a while.
* We are done for now. Minimize the Xpert 2.0 program window, so we can resume later.

===Step 5: Converting the Textures===
To convert all textures from your GTA San Andreas PC installation into PS2 format, simply execute '''txdgen.exe'''. Please be patient, since the conversion can take a very long time. If you have carefully read through this tutorial, nothing can go wrong.

===Step 6: Importing the New Textures===
If you want to update the textures of your new PS2 San Andreas installation, you need to replace/update files inside the '''@GTASA.ISO''' folder that has been created by Xpert 2.0. In this tutorial, we only want to update the '''GTA3.IMG''' archive which stores world models and their textures.

Execute the '''imgimport.exe''' application and wait until it has finished. It may take a while until the new textures have been added to the '''GTA3.IMG''' archive so please be patient.

===Step 7: Generating your new .iso===
''We now want to resume where we left off at Step 4.''
* Restore the '''Xpert 2.0''' program window.
* Remember that we already pressed the first two buttons in the top left. We want to press two more buttons.
* Click on the third button top left and wait until the '''.iso file has been rebuilt'''. This process will take some time.
* Click on the fourth button top left and wait until the '''LBA has been rebuilt'''. This should be done fairly quickly.
* We are done with Xpert 2.0. The new .iso file should be called '''NEW-GTASA.ISO''' and should be located in the same folder as the original '''gtasa.iso'''
'''Congratulations! You have created your very first custom GTA:San Andreas installation!'''

==How to run the .iso==
The '''NEW-GTASA.ISO''' file can be run in the [http://pcsx2.net/ PCSX2 emulator].

==Note regarding the Limitations==
The PlayStation 2 hardware has a '''streaming memory limit of 32mb'''. This is the limit of all the data that can be displayed on the screen at once. If it overshoots this limit, the engine crashes or freezes. It does not harm the hardware but it can be frustrating to play.

This is why TXDs have to be '''optimized''' before they are converted to PS2 format. Optimization is as simple as '''scaling down textures''' using a professional TXD editing tool.
It is advised to contact the author of the mod so he could release an optimized version of his texture mod.

If you are looking for an automatic streaming memory optimizer, there is one in the works.
{{N|SA}}
[[Category:Tutorials]]