** GPL: Hacking Some Files **

Hmmm....I haven't seen this posted elsewhere, so please excuse me if this has already been posted... Papyrus has provided (whether intentional or not) a means for extracting some of the files within GPL, and convert them to a readable format in a paint program (Like Paint Shop Pro). The file is included with the GPL_Demo, and can be found inside the PROGRAM directory. The file is called PBF2TGA.EXE, a Gerhard_Lingenberg_style DOS program that allows you to convert the PBF files within the LAYOUT.DAT file to 24_bit TGA format (Truevision Targa). I'm not too clear why they would do this, since the TGA files are considerably smaller (usually by 75%) than the PBF_compression used by Papyrus - and why they would provided a utility for hacking at their precious files... Whatever the reason, have fun with the file...Here's the proper command_line for converting the files (you'll need to unpack the LAYOUT.DAT file first): PBF2TGA BRABHAM.PBF BRABHAM.TGA Then simply open the file in Paint Shop Pro using TGA!! =) Cheers! Marc -- (please remove '_*_' when replying) Sim Racing News - http://www.simnews.com The Sim Project - http://www.simproject.com * No animals were harmed in the making of this e-mail *

See the readme file and you'll find out why its to convert screenshots.

You can pick up the pack/unpack tools at various sites, including The Sim Project: http://www.simproject.com Cheers! Marc

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> >Whatever the reason, have fun with the file...Here's the proper > >command_line for converting the files (you'll need to unpack the > >LAYOUT.DAT file first): > > PBF2TGA BRABHAM.PBF BRABHAM.TGA > How do you 'unpack' the LAYOUT.DAT file? > Thanks. > -- > * rrevved at mindspring dot com *

-- Marc J. Nelson Sim Racing News - http://www.simnews.com <remove '_*_' before replying>

OK, so intentional for screen shots, but the subject was the internal files in the LAYOUT.DAT...Why not use PCX's as in N2?...and it makes me wonder why they don't use PCX's for the screen shots. I think it's a cool item nonetheless. =) Cheers! Marc > See the readme file and you'll find out why > its to convert screenshots. > > Papyrus has provided (whether intentional or not) -- Marc J. Nelson Sim Racing News - http://www.simnews.com <remove '_*_' before replying>

I unpacked the layout.dat, converted the lotus.pbf, and it's just the hood ornament!! Where would the cars paint scheme be stored? I unpacked the lotus.dat in the cars67 directory, and it didn't have any pbf files......hmmmm. I want to paint the Lotus!!! Anybody have any ideas? Craig Marcho

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>Hmmm....I haven't seen this posted elsewhere, so please excuse >me if this has already been posted... >Papyrus has provided (whether intentional or not) a means for >extracting some of the files within GPL, and convert them to a >readable format in a paint program (Like Paint Shop Pro). The >file is included with the GPL_Demo, and can be found inside the >PROGRAM directory. >The file is called PBF2TGA.EXE, a Gerhard_Lingenberg_style DOS >program that allows you to convert the PBF files within the >LAYOUT.DAT file to 24_bit TGA format (Truevision Targa). I'm >not too clear why they would do this, since the TGA files are >considerably smaller (usually by 75%) than the PBF_compression >used by Papyrus - and why they would provided a utility for >hacking at their precious files... >Whatever the reason, have fun with the file...Here's the proper >command_line for converting the files (you'll need to unpack the >LAYOUT.DAT file first): > PBF2TGA BRABHAM.PBF BRABHAM.TGA >Then simply open the file in Paint Shop Pro using TGA!! =) >Cheers! >Marc >-- >(please remove '_*_' when replying) >Sim Racing News - http://www.simnews.com >The Sim Project - http://www.simproject.com >* No animals were harmed in the making of this e-mail *

Look in the next days on the Simproject site (www.simproject.com) for the WinMip GPL update! Cheers! Klaus

Yes...Klaus has sent me the new version, and all I can say is WOW!! The new version of WinMip1.2 should fill a needed void in GPL for painting one's_own_pride_and_joy. As soon as Klaus feels it's ready, I'll upload it to the TSP site. =) Cheers! Marc

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> >I unpacked the layout.dat, converted the lotus.pbf, and it's just the hood > >ornament!! Where would the cars paint scheme be stored? I unpacked the > >lotus.dat in the cars67 directory, and it didn't have any pbf > >files......hmmmm. I want to paint the Lotus!!! Anybody have any ideas? > Look in the next days on the Simproject site (www.simproject.com) for the > WinMip GPL update! > Cheers! > Klaus

-- (please remove '_*_' when replying) Sim Racing News - http://www.simnews.com The Sim Project - http://www.simproject.com * No animals were harmed in the making of this e-mail *

On Tue, 7 Apr 1998 14:23:10 -0500, "Craig Marcho" >I unpacked the layout.dat, converted the lotus.pbf, and it's just the hood >ornament!! Where would the cars paint scheme be stored? I unpacked the >lotus.dat in the cars67 directory, and it didn't have any pbf >files......hmmmm. I want to paint the Lotus!!! Anybody have any ideas? Speaking of pbf files......I'm no graphic artist, and am not familiar with these. I used the "\" key and noticed that the screen prints are producing pbf files. I have Picture Publisher 6.0, but these are not supported. What type viewer is required? *** Tim Wortman *** NASS '98 Series Director *** NASS '98 Homepage *** www.nasscar.com/n2.html

The utility included with GPL (mentioned in previous post - PBF2TGA), can convert from the *.pbf to *.tga format so you can open the shots in Paint Shop Pro, or other quality paint program. TGA is a Truvision Targa image that's highly compressed given the number of colors (16M). What I'm amazed at are the number of colors in a given image; say, the car image, or perhaps the tires, buildings, etc...All are simply 4_bit graphics (16-colors!) all with many palettes, yet when viewed in GPL, meld_together in a well_orchestrated, very realistic, psuedo_16_bit environment. I'm lovin' it! =) Cheers! Marc > Speaking of pbf files......I'm no graphic artist, and am not familiar > with these. I used the "\" key and noticed that the screen prints are > producing pbf files. I have Picture Publisher 6.0, but these are not > supported. What type viewer is required? -- (please remove '_*_' when replying) Sim Racing News - http://www.simnews.com The Sim Project - http://www.simproject.com * No animals were harmed in the making of this e-mail *