By Mirex, JWP, random_npc and myst6re (and now HobbitDur too). Edit: We now know the animation and skeleton- see https://github.com/MaKiPL/OpenVIII/blob/4ac151daad7cd1475eb0694dd0715bc35d7a4b39/FF8/debug_battleDat.cs
Header
DAT file is divided into 11 sections (except for c0m127.dat, which contains only 2 sections : 7th and 8th).
| Offset | Length | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 0 | 4 bytes | Number of sections (always =11, except for c0m127.dat) |
| 4 | nbSections * 4 bytes | Section Positions |
| 4 + nbSections * 4 | 4 bytes | File size |
Section 1: Skeleton
| Offset | Length | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 0 | 2 bytes | Number of bones |
| 2 | 6 bytes | Unknown |
| 8 | s16f (divide by 4096f) | scaleX |
| 10 | s16f (divide by 4096f) | scale -Z |
| 12 | s16f (divide by 4096f) | scale Y |
| 14 | 2 bytes | Unknown |
| 16 | Number of bones * 48 bytes | Bones |
Bone struct
| Offset | Length | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 0 | 2 bytes | Parent id |
| 2 | s16f (divide by 4096f) | Bone size (?) |
| 4 | s16f (divide by 4096f) | unknown, multiplied by 360f |
| 6 | s16f (divide by 4096f) | unknown, multiplied by 360f |
| 8 | s16f (divide by 4096f) | unknown, multiplied by 360f |
| 10 | s16f (divide by 4096f) | unknown |
| 12 | s16f (divide by 4096f) | unknown |
| 14 | s16f (divide by 4096f) | unknown |
| 16 | 28 bytes | Unknown (often empty) |
Section 2: Model geometry
Header (data sub table)
| Offset | Length | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 0 | 4 bytes | Number of objects |
| 4 | nbObjects * 4 bytes | Object Positions |
| 4 + nbObjects * 4 | Varies | Object Data (see below) |
| Varies | 4 bytes | Total count of vertices |
Object Data
| Offset | Length | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 0 | 2 bytes | Number of Vertices Data |
| 2 | Varies * NbVerticesData | Vertices Data (see below) |
| Varies | 4 - (absolutePosition % 4) | Padding (0x00) |
| Varies | 2 bytes | Num triangles |
| Varies | 2 bytes | Num quads |
| Varies | 8 bytes | Always empty |
| Varies | numTriangles * 16 bytes | Triangles |
| Varies | numQuads * 20 bytes | Quads |
Vertice Data
| Offset | Length | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 0 | 2 bytes | Bone id |
| 2 | 2 bytes | Number of vertices |
| 4 | nbVertices * 6 bytes | Vertices (nbVertices * 3 shorts) |
Useful structures
struct vertice {
sint16 x, y, z;
};
(sizeof = 6)
struct triangle {
uint16 vertex_indexes[3]; // vertex_indexes[0] &= 0xFFF, other bits are unknown
uint8 texCoords1[2];
uint8 texCoords2[2];
uint16 textureID_related;
uint8 texCoords3[2];
uint16 u; // textureID_related2
};
(sizeof = 16)
struct quad {
uint16 vertex_indexes[4]; // vertex_indexes[0] &= 0xFFF, other bits are unknown
uint8 texCoords1[2];
uint16 textureID_related;
uint8 texCoords2[2];
uint16 u; // textureID_related2
uint8 texCoords3[2];
uint8 texCoords4[2];
};
(sizeof = 20)
Section 3: Model animation
Header (data sub table)
| Offset | Length | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 0 | 4 bytes | Number of animations |
| 4 | nbAnimations * 4 bytes | Animations Pointers |
| AnimPointer | Varies | Animation |
Animation
| Offset | Length | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 0 | 1 byte | Number of frames |
| 1 | Varies | Animation frame |
Animation frame
Each frame is one vector location and BonesCount*RotationVectorData. Vector location is used to manipulate the model in world space, where all the animation is rotating each bone. The frames work accumulatively, so in order to get the final rotation at in example frame 5, you have to add all rotations from frames 0,1,2,3 and 4.
| Offset | Length | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 0 | LocationVectorData | LocationVectorData |
| Varies | 1 BIT | Mode bit (contains additional info check) |
| Varies | RotationVectorData * bonesCount | Rotation Vector data per bone |
Location vector data
| Offset | Length | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 0 | PositionType | Location X |
| Varies | PositionType | Location Y |
| Varies | PositionType | Location Z |
Rotation vector data
| Offset | Length | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 0 | RotationType | Rotation X |
| Varies | RotationType | Rotation Y |
| Varies | RotationType | Rotation Z |
| Varies | 1 BIT | bUnk1 |
| Varies | 0 if bUnk1==0, else 16 BITs | Unk1 data |
| Varies | 1 BIT | bUnk2 |
| Varies | 0 if bUnk2==0, else 16 BITs | Unk2 data |
| Varies | 1 BIT | bUnk3 |
| Varies | 0 if bUnk3==0, else 16 BITs | Unk3 data |
We don’t know what the Unk1, Unk2 and Unk3 do. Enemies works without them, but as it’s important to keep up with the current bit position, we need to read it anyway
Position type
Position is BIT length. First we read the count of bits to read by reading first 2 bits.
| Offset | Length | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 0 | 2 BITs | PositionTypeBits |
| 0+0b11 | PositionTypeBits | Vector axis |
PositionTypeBits
| PositionTypeBits value | Bits to read for one vector axis |
|---|---|
| 0b00 | 3 |
| 0b01 | 6 |
| 0b10 | 9 |
| 0b11 | 16 |
Rotation type
Rotation is also BIT length. First read first bit to see, if there’s rotation data. If no, continue. If yes, then read the rotation data similar to Position Type
| Offset | Length | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 0 | 1 BIT | IsRotationTypeAvailable |
| 0+0b1 | 2 BIT | RotationTypeBits |
| 0+0b100 | RotationTypeBits | Rotation vector axis (pitch/yaw/roll) |
RotationTypeBits
| PositionTypeBits value | Bits to read for one vector axis |
|---|---|
| 0b00 | 3 |
| 0b01 | 6 |
| 0b10 | 8 |
| 0b11 | 12 |
Section 4: Texture animation data
Optional section, often empty. It contains info on animated texture (like blink-eyes) It starts with a list of offset followed by data that look like this:
struct texAnim
{
uint8 textureNum;
uint8 originalUCoord; //All UV coords here are for the upper left corner
uint8 originalVCoord;
uint8 regionUSize;
uint8 regionVSize;
uint8 copiedRegionCount; //1 less than the actual number
uint8 unknown1;
uint8 unknown2;
//Insert remaining UV coords here
};
Refer to this message for more info: Qhimm message
Section 5: Animation sequences
Contain sequence of animation. Not much known yet, all info are found here: Qhimm message
Header
| Offset | Length | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 0 | 2 bytes | Number of sequences |
| 2 | nbSequences * 2 bytes | Sequences Positions |
Section 6: Camera sequence
Not analysed, but defined camera work.
Section 7: Informations & stats
| Offset | Length | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 0 | 24 bytes | Monster name |
| 24 | 4 bytes | HP values |
| 28 | 4 bytes | Str values |
| 32 | 4 bytes | Vit values |
| 36 | 4 bytes | Mag values |
| 40 | 4 bytes | Spr values |
| 44 | 4 bytes | Spd values |
| 48 | 4 bytes | Eva values |
| 52 | 16*4 bytes | Abilities, low level |
| 116 | 16*4 bytes | Abilities, med level |
| 180 | 16*4 bytes | Abilities, high level |
| 244 | 1 byte | Med level start |
| 245 | 1 byte | High level start |
| 246 | 1 byte | Unknown (flags, 3 bits used) |
| 247 | 1 byte | [LSB] Zombie / Fly / zz1 / LvUP-Down Immunity / HP Hidden / Auto-Reflect / Auto-Shell / Auto-Protect [MSB] |
| 248 | 3 bytes | Cards (low/med/high) |
| 251 | 3 bytes | Devour (low/med/high) |
| 254 | 1 byte | [LSB] zz1 / zz2 / unused / unused / unused / unused / Diablos missed / Always obtains card [MSB] |
| 255 | 1 byte | Unknown (flags, 4 bits used) |
| 256 | 2 bytes | Extra EXP |
| 258 | 2 bytes | EXP |
| 260 | 8 bytes | Draw (low) |
| 268 | 8 bytes | Draw (med) |
| 276 | 8 bytes | Draw (high) |
| 284 | 8 bytes | Mug (low) |
| 292 | 8 bytes | Mug (med) |
| 300 | 8 bytes | Mug (high) |
| 308 | 8 bytes | Drop (low) |
| 316 | 8 bytes | Drop (med) |
| 324 | 8 bytes | Drop (high) |
| 332 | 1 byte | Mug rate |
| 333 | 1 byte | Drop rate |
| 334 | 1 byte | Padding (0x00) |
| 335 | 1 byte | APs |
| 336 | 16 bytes | Renzokuken data: 8 renzokuken depending on the level of crisis. Each 2 byte is a special action (for example 332 is a renzokuen with 7hit) |
| 352 | 8 bytes | Elemental resistance (Fire, Ice, Thunder, Earth, Poison, Wind, Water, Holy) |
| 360 | 20 bytes | Mental resistance (Death, Poison, Petrify, Darkness, Silence, Beserk, Zombie, Sleep, Haste, Slow, Stop, Regen, Reflect, Doom, Slow Petrify, Float, Confuse, Drain, Expulsion, ???) |
Abilities
typedef struct {
uint8 kernel_id;
uint8 unknown;
uint16 ability_id;
}
kernel_id is the used table in kernel.bin. May be 0x02 (= magic), 0x04 (= item) or 0x08 (= monster ability). ability_id is the ability in the selected kernel table.
Draw/mug/drop
typedef struct {
uint8 id_1; // magic_id for draw, item_id for mug & drop
uint8 qty_1; // quantities are always 0 for draw
uint8 id_2;
uint8 qty_2;
uint8 id_3;
uint8 qty_3;
uint8 id_4;
uint8 qty_4;
}
Section 8: Battle scripts/AI
| Offset | Length | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 0 | 4 bytes | Number of sub-sections |
| 4 | 4 bytes | Offset to AI sub-section |
| 8 | 4 bytes | Offset to text offsets |
| 12 | 4 bytes | Offset to text sub-section |
AI
| Offset | Length | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 0 | 4 bytes | Offset to init code |
| 4 | 4 bytes | Offset to code executed at ennemy’s turn |
| 8 | 4 bytes | Offset to counterattack code |
| 12 | 4 bytes | Offset to death code |
| 16 | 4 bytes | Offset to “before dying or taking a hit” |
Texts
Text offsets is a list of text positions (2 bytes each) in the text sub-section.
Section 9: Sounds
Contains AKAO sequences (can be empty).
| Offset | Length | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 0 | 2 bytes | Number of AKAOs |
| 2 | nbAKAOs * 2 bytes | AKAOs Positions |
| 2 + nbAKAOs * 2 | 2 bytes | End of section 9 |
| 4 + nbAKAOs * 2 | Varies * nbAKAOs | AKAOs |
Section 10: Sounds/Unknown
Contains AKAO sequence + unknown data (can be empty).
Section 11: Textures
Contains some TIMs.
| Offset | Length | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 0 | 4 bytes | Number of TIMs |
| 4 | nbTIMs * 4 bytes | TIMs Positions |
| 4 + nbTIMs * 4 | 4 bytes | End of file |
| 8 + nbTIMs * 4 | Varies * nbTIMs | TIMs |