Item Definition

Introduction

Item definition files are known by the extension .ide and are usually used to assign a model and texture file to a unique object ID, along with many parameters, depending on the section. These files are in human readable text format, and allow the # character to comment lines out.

Structure

The .ide files are split up into many sections. How many of them you use in your file is optional, they can even be empty. Each section starts with a section identifier and ends with the keyword "end", both in a single line.

Example:

objs
...
end

OBJS

Static Map Objects, used to define standard map objects.

GTA III, VC and SA format:

ID, ModelName, TextureName, ObjectCount, DrawDist, [DrawDist2, ...], Flags

ID

unique object ID (integer)

ModelName

name of the .dff model file, without extension (string)

TextureName

name of the .txd texture dictionary, without extension (string)

ObjectCount

ammount of sub objects, e.g. damaged parts, usually 1 (integer) - optional for SA, default 1

DrawDist

draw distance in units, one for each sub object (float)

Flags

object flags, defining special behavior, default 0 (integer)

Object Flags

0 normal object (no flags)

1 wet while raining

2 TOBJ nighttime flag used with flag 4

4 disables culling behind alpha transparency

8 alpha transparency

16 TOBJ daytime flag used with flag 4

32 is interior object

64 disables culling of ped and car shadows behind transparency

128 disables culling of objects behind transparency

256 draws LOD across loading zones

512 two-sided breakable window

1024 one-sided breakable window

Flag values are always to the power of 2. To use more than one flag, add the flags together.
Example:
36 = 4 + 32
132 = 4 + 128
172 = 4 + 8 + 32 + 128
196 = 4 + 64 + 128

TOBJ

Timed Map Objects, used to define map objects which are only visible during a special time of the day.

GTA III, VC and SA format:

ID, ModelName, TextureName, ObjectCount, DrawDist, [DrawDist2, ...], Flags, TimeOn, TimeOff

ID, ModelName, TextureName, ObjectCount, DrawDist, Flags

same as for the OBJS section

TimeOn

activation time in hours (integer)

TimeOff

deactivation time in hours (integer)

ANIM

Animated Map Objects, used to define objects whose sub objects are animated. Note: There must be animation frames for each sub object, also the collision model remains static - no solid animations.

GTA SA only:

ID, ModelName, TextureName, AnimName, DrawDist, Flags

ID, ModelName, TextureName, DrawDist, Flags

same as for the OBJS section

AnimName

name of the .ifp animation archive, without extension (string)

PEDS

GTA III and VC format:

ID, ModelName, TextureName, Threat, Behavior, AnimationType, ?, StartAnimation?, ?, ?

Threat

From ped.dat, sets a ped to attack and avoid certain peds

Behavior

From pedstats.dat, behavior for a ped

AnimationType

From ped.ifp, type of animation a ped use to walk

WEAP

GTA III and VC format:

ID, ModelName, TextureName, Animation, ?, DrawDistance, ?

Animation

From ped.ifp, animation used to wield and shoot the weapon

CARS

GTA III and VC format:

ID, ModelName, TextureName, Type, HandlingID, GXTEntry, PedDrivingAnimation, Class, Frequency, Level, 
SpecificType, WheelID, WheelSize

HandlingID

From handling.cfg

PedDrivingAnimation

From ped.ifp, type of animation to enter, exit, drive, and drive-by from a vehicle

WheelID

not available for type "boat"

WheelSize

not available for type "boat"

SA format coming soon.

HIER

Coming soon.

TXDP

Parent Texture

SA format only:

ModelName, TextureName

Assigns texture to the model.

2DFX

Particle and Environment Effects

GTA III and VC only:

ID, X, Y, Z, R, G, B, U, Type, ...

ID

ID of the object it's assigned to (integer)

X, Y, Z

position of the effect, relative to the object (3 floats)

R, G, B

color of the effect, if available (3 integers, 0 - 255)

U

unknown color component, always 200 (integer)

Type

specifies the type of effect

Effect #0: Light

Coming soon.

Effect #1: ...

Coming soon.

PATH

Ped and Car Paths, defines paths relative to the objects. Only used in GTA III, quite complicated format and hardly usable without a editing program (such as Ked).

External Links

• GTAVC IDE Definitions - GTA Forums topic by ODIE, covering specific details of IDE files in GTAVC.
• GTA3/VC Map File Documentation and Troubleshooting - GTA Forums topic covering general features of IDE files in GTA3 and GTAVC.