Item Definition

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Item Definition

IDE Sections: 2DFX • AMAT • ANIM • CARS • HIER • HAND • MLO • OBJS PATH • PEDS • TANM • TOBJ • TREE • TXDP • WEAP

Item definition files, known by the extension .ide, 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. IDE files can easily be opened and edited using any text-editing program like Notepad.

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

Used to define standard static map objects.

GTA III, VC and SA format

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

Identifier	Description
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	amount 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)

GTA IV format

ModelName, TextureName, DrawDistance, Flag1, Flag2, (Bounds min)X,Y,Z, (Bounds max)X,Y,Z, (Bounds Sphere)X, Y, Z, Radius, WDD

Note that GTA IV does not use any unique object ID numbers

Identifier	Description
ModelName	name of the .wdr model file, without extension (string)
TextureName	name of the .wtd texture dictionary, without extension (string)
DrawDistance	draw distance in units, one for each sub object (float)
Flag1	object flag, defining special behavior
Flag2	object flag, defining special behavior, default 0 (integer)
Bounds Min	Lower Left vertex local position of a model bounding box
Bounds Max	Upper Right vertex local position of a model bounding box
Radius	Radius dimensions of the bounding Sphere
WDD	the model dictionary file that contains the LOD model for the defined Modelname

TOBJ

Used to define timed map objects. All but the last two columns are the same as the OBJS section.

GTA III, VC and SA format:

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

Identifier	Description
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	amount 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)
TimeOn	activation time in game hours (integer)
TimeOff	deactivation time in game hours (integer)

GTA IV format

ModelName, TextureName, DrawDist, Flag1, Flag2, (Bounds min)X,Y,Z, (Bounds max)X,Y,Z, (Bounds Sphere)X,Y,Z, Radius, WDD, NightFlag

Note that GTA IV does not use any unique object ID numbers.

Identifier	Description
ModelName	name of the .wdr model file, without extension (string)
TextureName	name of the .wtd texture dictionary, without extension (string)
DrawDistance	draw distance in units, one for each sub object (float)
Flag1	object flag, defining special behavior
Flag2	object flag, defining special behavior, default 0 (integer)
Bounds Min	Lower Left vertex local position of a model bounding box
Bounds Max	Upper Right vertex local position of a model bounding box
Radius	Radius dimensions of the bounding Sphere
WDD	the model dictionary file that contains the LOD model for the defined Modelname
NightFlag	assumed to be hardcoded time flags

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 animation archive, without extension (string)

GTA IV format

ModelName, TextureName, Wad, DrawDist, Flag1, Flag2, (Bounds min)X,Y,Z, (Bounds max)X,Y,Z, (Bounds Sphere)X,Y,Z, Radius, WDD

ModelName, TextureName, DrawDistance, Flags, Bounds min, Bounds max, Bounds Sphere X,Y,Z, Radius, WDD

same as for the OBJS section

Wad

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

PEDS

Used to define characters and pedestrians

GTA III format:

ID, ModelName, TxdName, Threat, Behavior, AnimationType, VehClass

Identifier	Description
ID	Unique model ID
ModelName	Name of the .dff model file, without extension
TxdName	Name of the .txd texture dictionary, without extension
Threat	The threat of the ped as defined in the ped.dat file
Behavior	The behavior of the ped as defined in the pedstats.dat file
AnimationType	The type of animation being used on the ped for movements
VehClass	The class of vehicle that the ped will drive The value is in hex! It needs to be converted into decimal and back

Vice City format

ID, ModelName, TxdName, Threat, Behavior, AnimationType, VehClass, StartAnimation?, Radio1, Radio2

Identifier	Description
ID	Unique model ID
ModelName	Name of the .dff model file, without extension
TxdName	Name of the .txd texture dictionary, without extension
Threat	The threat of the ped as defined in the ped.dat file
Behavior	The behavior of the ped as defined in the pedstats.dat file
AnimationType	The type of animation being used on the ped for movements
VehClass	The class of vehicle that the ped will drive The value is in hex! It needs to be converted into decimal and back
Radio1, Radio2	Ped's preferred radio station

WEAP

GTA III and VC format:

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

Animation

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

CARS

Used to define vehicles

GTA III formats

Car

ID, ModelName, TxdName, Type, HandlingID, GameName, Class, Frequency, Level, Comprules, WheelID, WheelScale

Boat and Train

ID, ModelName, TxdName, Type, HandlingID, GameName, Class, Frequency, Level, Comprules

Plane

ID, ModelName, TxdName, Type, HandlingID, GameName, Class, Frequency, Level, Comprules, LODModel

Identifier	Description
ID	Unique model ID
ModelName	Name of the .dff model file, without extension
TxdName	Name of the .txd texture dictionary, without extension
Type	Type of vehicle, which includes car, boat, train, and plane This data is related to hardcoded functions and must not be changed or else it might crash the game
HandlingID	Name corresponding to its handling data in the handling.cfg file
GameName	Name corresponding to its GXT entry, case sensitive and must be seven characters or less! Invalid name will show up as NAME missing
Class	Class of the vehicle
Frequency	Frequency of the vehicle spawning randomly on the streets
Level	unknown
Comprules	unknown
WheelID	ID number of wheel model Only available for type car, has no effect if used on type boat
WheelScale	Scale of wheel and collision models, 1.0 for original size of wheel and collision models Only available for type car, has no effect if used on type boat
LODModel	ID number of LOD model, can be any valid vehicle model Only available for type plane

Vice City formats

Car

ID, ModelName, TxdName, Type, HandlingID, GameName, Anims, Class, Frequency, Level, Comprules, WheelID, WheelScale

Bike

ID, ModelName, TxdName, Type, HandlingID, GameName, Anims, Class, Frequency, Level, Comprules, Unknown, WheelScale

Boat and Heli

ID, ModelName, TxdName, Type, HandlingID, GameName, Anims, Class, Frequency, Level, Comprules

Plane

ID, ModelName, TxdName, Type, HandlingID, GameName, Anims, Class, Frequency, Level, Comprules, LODModel

Identifier	Description
ID	Unique model ID
ModelName	Name of the .dff model file, without extension
TxdName	Name of the .txd texture dictionary, without extension
Type	Type of vehicle, which includes car, bike, boat, plane, and heli; flyable helicopters are type car
HandlingID	Name corresponding to its handling data in the handling.cfg file.
GameName	Name corresponding to its GXT entry, case sensitive and must be seven characters or less! Invalid name will not show up in the game
Anims	Appropriate animation file mainly used on bikes
Class	Class of the vehicle
Frequency	Frequency of the vehicle spawning randomly on the streets
Level	unknown
Comprules	unknown
WheelID	ID number of wheel model Only available for type car, has no effect if used on type boat
WheelScale	Scale of wheel and collision models for type car, scale of wheel collision model for type bike, 1.0 for original size of wheel and collision models Only available for types car and bike, has no effect if used on type boat
LODModel	ID number of LOD model, can be any valid vehicle model Only available for type plane

SA Format comming soon

HIER

SA Format only

This is (e.g.) used in default.ide in the 'data\'-folder Normal structure is like this:

 ID, model, texture, null, float (normally 2000.00)

The meaning of these lines isn't known yet, but it seems to be a kind of bodyparts for the player.

TXDP

Texture Archive Parent

SA and GTA 4 format

TextureName, TextureParentName

Both parameters are names of texture archives (.txd). The second archive (the "parent") virtually extends the first one. Practically, the game looks up a texture in the primary archive, and if it's not there and a parent txd has been assigned, it checks for the texture in the parent archive. This way shared archives can be created, which contain often used textures, without the need to create duplicates or split up a model just for that purpose.

2DFX

Used to place lights, particles, and ped behaviors on objects

GTA III and VC format

Type 0: Lights

ID, X, Y, Z, R, G, B, unknown (0 or 200), 0, Corona, Shadow, Distance, Outer range, Size, Inner range, IDE flag, Flash, Wet, Flare, Dust

Identifier	Description
ID	associated to existing object ID defined in OBJS or TOBJ section
X, Y, Z	X, Y, and Z coordinates relative to the center of the object
R, G, B	color of the light and everything associated with it in RGB format, also affects the intensity of the light so that darker the color the dimmer the light (meaning black (0,0,0) will yield a light so dim that it's not visible)
Corona	corona texture associated to the light, texture defined in particle.txd, usually "coronastar" for lights
Shadow	light texture that is cast on the ground, texture defined in particle.txd, usually "shad_exp" for lights
Distance	view distance of the light, is limited by the draw distance of the host object
Outer range	the range the light can cast on objects, cars, and peds
Size	the size of the corona, can be a float or integer, size 0 means no visible corona but effect of light still visible
Inner range	the range the light can cast on the ground
IDE flag	IDE flag, only the time-dependent flags are usable
Flash	sets the type of flashing
Wet	sets the particle to be "reflective" on wet grounds, will only work if the ground around the light is set to wet when raining 0 - not reflective when wet, 1 - reflective when wet
Flare	sets the particle to create a lens flare on the screen, similar to what the sun does 0 - no lens flare, 1 - yellow lens flare, 2 - white lens flare
Dust	sets the intensity of light reflecting off dust, values 4 to 7 have visible effects

Type 1: Particle

ID, X, Y, Z, R, G, B, unknown (63 or 200), 1, Particle, unk1, unk2, unk3, Size

Identifier	Description
ID	associated to existing object ID defined in OBJS or TOBJ section
X, Y, Z	X, Y, and Z coordinates relative to the center of the object
R, G, B	useless values
Particle	particle type
unk1, unk2, unk3	unknown, rotation of particle?
Size	the size of the particle

Type 3: Peds (Vice City only)

ID, X, Y, Z, R, G, B, unknown (200), 3, Behavior, unk1, unk2, unk3, RotX, RotY, RotZ

Identifier	Description
ID	associated to existing object ID defined in OBJS or TOBJ section
X, Y, Z	X, Y, and Z coordinates relative to the center of the object
R, G, B	useless values
Behavior	behavior type
unk1, unk2, unk3	unknown, useless values?
RotX, RotY, RotZ	rotation of ped when animation is playing

Type 4: Sun Reflections (Vice City only)

ID, X, Y, Z, R, G, B, unknown (120), 4

Identifier	Description
ID	associated to existing object ID defined in OBJS or TOBJ section
X, Y, Z	X, Y, and Z coordinates relative to the center of the object
R, G, B	useless values

Please note that the 2dfx Section is moved to the DFF Files by using R*'s custom section IDs in SA!

Please also note that the 2dfx Lights Section is present within GTA-IV WDR map models

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).

TREE

GTA4 only

TANM

GTA4 only

MLO

GTA4 only

AMAT

GTA4 only

Modelname, Flag1, Flag2

Procobj.ide

OBJS

GTA IV format

ModelName, TextureName, DrawDistance, Flag1, Flag2, (Bounds min)X, Y, Z, (Bounds max)X, Y, Z, (Bounds Sphere)X,Y,Z, Radius, WDD

ModelName

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

TextureName

set to 'null' by default in procobj.ide

DrawDistance

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

Flag1

object flag, defining special behavior

Flag2

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

Bounds Min

Lower Left vertex of a model bounding box

Bounds Max

Upper Right vertex of a model bounding box

Bounds Sphere

X,Y,Z Coords

Radius

Of Bounds Sphere

WDD

set to 'null' by default in procobj.ide

Tools

•  GTAGarage: IDEditor - By Xmen
•  GTAForums: IDE-IV in GTA-IV script centre - by Gforce
• FlagValue Calculator - By Aschratt - Calculates all Flagvalues (even those unknown)

External Links

•  GTAForums: GTAVC IDE Definitions - topic by ODIE covering specific details of IDE files in GTA VC
•  GTAForums: GTA3/VC Map File Documentation and Troubleshooting - topic by Opius covering general features of IDE files in GTA3 and GTA VC
•  GTAForums: Paths Documentation for SA, VC and GTA3 - topic by REspawn detailing GTA3's paths
• ID Flagvalue Decoding Project - project to decode all missing flag values