Item Placement

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Item placement files, known by the extension .ipl, are map files used to place objects into the GTA world, as well as define zones, paths, garages, interior portals, and a lot more. Most IPL files can easily be opened and edited using any text-editing program like Notepad. In San Andreas there are also binary IPL files which are located in the IMG archives of the game. Those you can only open using a special editor.

Structure

The .ipl files are split up into many sections. Not all of them have to be used, leaving them empty works as well. Each section starts with a section identifier and ends with the keyword "end", both in a separate line.

Example:

inst
...
end

INST

Locations and properties for instances of static and dynamic map objects.

GTA3 format

id, name, x, y, z, sx, sy, sz, rx, ry, rz, rw

Vice City format

id, name, int, x, y, z, sx, sy, sz, rx, ry, rz, rw

San Andreas format

id, name, int, x, y, z, rx, ry, rz, rw, lod

ID

Unique object identifier. Must match in IDE file identifier. (integer)

Name

Usually same as the .dff model file, without extension. (string)

int

Interior number; zero for outside. (integer)

x, y, z

Item placement coordinates. (floating point numbers)

sx, sy, sz

Item scale, scales visible model only, doesn't scale the collision model. (floating point numbers)

rx, ry, rz, rw

Item rotations. Defined as quaternion, quite sophisticated math is needed to translate it to Euler angles. A map editing program should be used to edit these.

lod

San Andreas only. This is the line number in the current IPL file for the LOD which belongs to this object. The first item in IPL file is line number 0, second is number 1 and so on. A value of -1 means no LOD is used. (integer)

CULL

This creates rainfree zones, wastefree zones, map reflections, TV screens, and temporary fixed camera positions.

GTA3 and Vice City format

x1, y1, z1, x2, y2, z2, x3, y3, z3, flag, 0

x2, y2, z2

lower-left corner of the areabox

x3, y3, z3

upper-right corner of the areabox

San Andreas format 1

centerX, centerY, centerZ, 0 (some kind of rotation), Ywidth, bottomZ, Xwidth, 0 (some kind of rotation), topZ, Flag, Flag 2

San Andreas format 2

centerX, centerY, centerZ, 0 (some kind of rotation), Ywidth, bottomZ, Xwidth, 0 (some kind of rotation), topZ, Flag, Vx, Vy, Vz, Cm

Cull zone boundaries in San Andreas are aligned to the nearest world unit.
Flags:
1 Camera close in into player using closest third-person view camera mode, does not close in if in first person or cinematic mode, camera mode cannot be changed while in the zone
2 camera remotely placed outside the zone, no control of camera, camera mode cannot be changed while in the zone
4 Unknown
8 Rain-free, police helicopter-free zone
4096 5-star military zone

PATH

Vice City only

Ped, Car and Boat Paths, defines paths relative to the world centre. Only used in GTA VC, this format is much easier than in GTA3 where the paths were stored in IDE files, and GTA-SA paths which are stored in **nodes.dat inside gta3.img. This is a quite complicated format and hardly usable without an editing program (such as Ked).

GTA SA uses compiled binary files for its paths.

GRGE

This creates garages for the main.scm to use. Only used in San Andreas.

San Andreas format

X1, Y1, Z1, frontX, frontY, X2, Y2, Z2, Door, Type, Name

X1, Y1, Z1

Lower left front

frontX, frontY

Lower right front

X2, Y2, Z2

Upper left rear

Door

Type of door

Type

Type of garage

Name

Used to edit garage through the SCM

ENEX

This creates entrances to exits or interior connections to real world by placing yellow markers on the map for CJ to walk through. Note that changes to the flags and links of existing markers are not updated by the text files after the save is created so maintaining the proper sequence of enex lines is a primary concern. New connections can be added to an existing save if temporary (burglary) connections are not present in the save data. Indoor saves generally have no temporary enex data. Add the markers at the very end of the gta.dat else it can negatively affect currently placed markers. 376 of 400 possible enex connections are used in a standard game.

San Andreas format

X1, Y1, Z1, ROT, W1, W2, C8, X2, Y2, Z2, Rot2, Int, Flag, Name, Sky, I2, Time On, Time Off

X1, Y1, Z1

entrance location

ROT

 ???

W1

X width of entry

W2

Y width of entry

C8

constant 8

X2, Y2, Z2

exit location

Rot2

exit rotation in degrees

Int

The target interior number

Flag

The type of marker

Name

Interior name, used to find the counterpart and to identify via mission script

Sky

Sky color changer

I2

unknown integer flags, could be weather related

Time On

enables the marker at this time

Time Off

disables the marker at this time

San Andreas Enex Flags

Flag	Name	Description
1	unknown interior	Only used for interior markers
2	unknown pairing	Used mostly for interior markers; also Big Ear & LS Skyscraper
4	Create linked pair	Pair with unflagged mate during new game start
8	Reward interior	Sets flag 0010 on pair mate when used
16	Used reward entrance	Set by accessing reward interior
32	Cars and aircraft	Enable for cars and aircraft
64	Bikes and motorcycles	Enable for bikes and motorcycles
128	Disable on foot	No foot traffic. Use for cars and/or bikes only
256	Accept NPC group	Group members accepted at destination of pair (passengers stripped)
512	Food date flag	Set and cleared by food date (cut-scene related)
1024	unknown burglary	Set on Bayside and Temporary Burglary doors
2048	Disable exit	Player can enter but cannot exit a two-way pair
4096	Burglary access	Enabled and disabled during Burglary
8192	Entered without exit	Set by Entrance, Cleared by Exit; Applies to one side of a two
16384	Enable access	Enabled by default; often cleared by scripts
32768	Delete enex	Enex is deleted when used

San Andreas Enex Sky Colors

Sky Color	Descriptions
0	blue sky
1	white fading to black
2	Black with yellow lights.
3	same as 1
4	same as 2
5	white fading to purple fading to black with yellow lights
6	white fading to black with yellow lights.
7	white fading to green fading to black with yellow light (probably clouds)
8	same as 6
9	same as 6
10	same as 2
11	Purple (gay) retarded shadows not much sight.
12	same as 6
13	same as 6
14	same as 7 only green is ocean blue
15	same as 6
16	same as 2.....
17	Nightly Mist
18	Blue fading yellow (sunrise i think)
19	Blue air with white clouds
20	darker blue air with lightblue clouds
21	Darker Blue air with white clouds
22	Orange with white clouds
23	Orange fading gray with orange clouds (weird)
24	this is red fading PURPLE with no seeing rang that you can't even see yourself
25	Dark Purple to grey with nice sun reflection
27	same as 19
28	the best one: big sun white clouds and blue air
29	Blue air white clouds HUGE SUN
30	Orange with dark orange clouds

PICK

This creates permanent weapon pickups. Rockstar only used this to create fire extinguisher pickups at fast food restaurants.

San Andreas format

Weapon ID, X, Y, Z

San Andreas Pick Weapon IDs

ID	Weapon Name	Ammo
4	Brass Knuckles	-
5	Nightstick	-
6	Knife	-
7	*Nothing*	-
8	*Nothing*	-
9	Golf Club	-
10	Bat	-
11	Shovel	-
12	Pool Cue	-
13	Katana	-
14	Chainsaw	-
15	Molotov	8
16	Grenades	8
17	Satchels	5
18	9mm Pistol	30
19	Silenced 9mm	10
20	Desert Eagle	10
21	Shotgun	15
22	SPAS Shotgun	10
23	Tec 9	60
24	Micro SMG	60
25	MP5	60
26	AK47	80
27	M4	80
28	Country Rifle	20
29	Sniper Rifle	10
30	*Nothing*	-
31	Flamethrower	100
32	Minigun	500
33	Large Purple Dildo	-
34	Small White Dildo	-
35	Large White Vibrator	-
36	Small Black Vibrator	-
37	Flowers	-
38	Cane	-
39	Ringbox	-
40	Necklace Box	-
41	Cellphone	-
42	*Nothing*	-
43	Teargas	8
44	Minigun (Duplicate)	500
45	SPAS Shotgun (Duplicate)	10
46	Rocket Launcher	4
47	Heat Seeking Rocket Launcher	3
48	Detonator	-
49	Spray can	500
50	Fire Extinguisher	500
51	Camera	36
52	Nightvision Goggles	-
53	Infrared Goggles	-
54	Jetpack	-
55	Parachute	-

JUMP

Creates a Unique Stunt Jump based on the minimum and maximum coordinates for the starting and landing zones. This format conforms with the encoding provided by opcode 0814.

San Andreas format

startXmin, startYmin, startZmin, startXmax, startYmax, startZmax, landXmin, landYmin, landZmin, 
landXmax, landYmax, landZmax, camX, camY, camZ, reward

TCYC

Creates black sky if you enter the zone. Also exists for all towns in countryside. Probably custom weather?

San Andreas format

X1, Y1, Z1, X2, Y2, Z2, ?, ?, ?, ?, ?

AUZO

This creates an audio if you enter the zone.

San Andreas format type 1

Name, ID, Switch, X1, Y1, Z1, X2, Y2, Z2

Name

Name of the zone

ID

Sound played in this zone

Switch

Makes it always on or always off. Can be forced using the main.scm using opcode 0917

San Andreas format type 2

Name, ID, Switch, X, Y, Z, Volume

Name

Name of the zone

ID

Sound played in this zone

Switch

Makes it always on or always off. Can be forced using the main.scm using opcode 0917

Volume

The distance the sound will be heard

San Andreas Auzo Audio IDs

ID	What sound it plays	Description of sound in the unmodified audio streams
4	Ambience track 9	St Mark's violin music
5	Ambience track 6	Beach party bkgd song
8	Ambience track 31	Unused loud hum
10	Ambience track 5	Awards ceremony music
12	Ambience track 34	Loud hum heard on ships
13	Ambience track 23	Low Rider Challenge bkgd song
15	Ambience track 30	Static sound heard on military bases
17	Ambience track 12	Casino bkgd medley
19	Ambience track 4	Quiet hum heard in Area 69
20	Ambience track 2	Fan-like clicking heard in Abattoir
21	Ambience track 1	Quiet hum heard in 24-7s
23	Ambience track 14	Loud hum heard in Dam interior
24	Ambience track 25	Racing sounds heard in ITB lobby
25	Ambience track 24	Quiet hum heard in Planning Dept
26	Ambience track 20	Quiet hum heard in safe houses
28	Ambience track 13	Dance Club bkgd medley
29	Ambience track 13	Dance Club bkgd medley
30	Favorite Radio Station	Stream or User Tracks Player
34	Ambience track 28	Pleasure Domes bkgd medley
36	Ambience track 21	Loud hum heard in Jet interior
37	Ambience track 10	Muzak-type bkgd heard in unused diner interiors
39	Ambience track 29	Quiet hum heard in police stations
41	Ambience track 35	Stadium event bkgd medley
44	Ambience track 18	Fast Food Joint bkgd sounds
48	Ambience track 3	Ammunation PA loop
50	Ambience track 39	Quiet hum heard in warehouses
51	Ambience track 22	Very loud hum heard in cargo plane?
52	Radio stream CH	Playback FM
53	Radio stream CO	K-ROSE
54	Radio stream CR	KDST
55	Radio stream DS	Bounce FM
56	Radio stream HC	SFUR
57	Radio stream MH	Radio Los Santos
58	Radio stream MR	Radio X
59	Radio stream NJ	CSR
60	Radio stream RE	K-JAH West
61	Radio stream RG	MasterSounds
62	Radio stream TK	WCTR
64	Ambience track 17	Unused quiet hum
66	Ambience track 36	Strip Club bkgd medley
67	Ambience track 37	Unused bkgd medley

Notes: Any ID value from 0-70 inclusive not listed above generated no background sound.
Audio 4 type two only
Audios 5, 10, 12, and 13 disabled by default, can be re-enabled

MULT

San Andreas and GTA4 only

In San Andreas, this was never used in the game. This section is currently unknown and may never be known; it is ignored by the game.

CARS

Only used in San Andreas, this creates permanent parked vehicles around the state. This section is similar to the opcode 014B, the only difference to the opcode is that an IPL-Spawned car got an check if another car is already parked in an specific radius at this position. Rockstar used it only in binary IPLs but it can also be used in regular IPLs.

San Andreas format

X, Y, Z, angle, car id, primary color, secondary color, force_spawn, 
alarm_probability, door_lock_probability, unknown (word), unknown (word)

Angle is in radian units: degrees/~57.2958
Car ID can be random: -1
Vehicles spawn more reliably if force_spawn is true: 1

OCCL

This creates occlusion boxes around Vice City and San Andreas.

Vice City and San Andreas format

direct mid x, direct mid y, bottom height z, width x, width y, height from bottom height to top, 
rotation

ZONE

Although technically an IPL section, this is usually only used in zone files (extension .zon).

BLOK

GTA4 only

VNOD

GTA4 only

LINK

GTA4 only

MLO+

GTA4 only

RTFX

GTA4 only

LODM

GTA4 only

SLOW

GTA4 only

2DFX

GTA4 only

Useful Tools

•  GTAForums: IPL Helper - by Xmen
• Binary (De-)Compiler - By ocram

External Links

•  GTAForums: GTA3/VC Map File Documentation and Troubleshooting - Topic by Opius covering general features of IPL files in GTA3 and GTAVC.
•  GTAForums: Paths Documentation for SA, VC and GTA3 - Topic by REspawn detailing Vice City's path
•  GTAForums: GTA SA IPL Documentation - Topic by spaceeinstein covering details of the IPL format in GTA SA.
•  GTAForums: Enex Documentation - Topic by OrionSR
•  GTAForums: Explanation of GTA SA LOD System - Post by Steve-M, explaining the LOD system for IPL files in GTA SA.
• Explanation of the path-section in a VC IPL - by Cerbera