How to transform a 'basic resource' tank from DS1 into a resource tank for DS2:
(in this context 'basic resource' refers to textures, sounds, models)
1.) Take a hex editor (like Frhed) to open the DS1 resource file, for example V:\dsiege\resour_1\object_1.dsr
It shouldn't matter if the file is from CD or from the installed game, however some hex editors don't allow to edit a copy-protected file on a CD (luckily with Frhed you can disable this with 'Edit'=>'Read-only mode').
2.) Click on the marked double-bytes 69 67 ... 02 00 and change it into 67 32 ... 00 01.
Before:
After:
While editing the right side of the window may automatically change too, but no need to bother.
3.) Save the edited file in the Resources folder of DS2.
You can give any pleasant file name but take care that the file ending (extension) has to be .ds2res now!
Remarks:
- The method described here only works for DS1 tanks that exclusively contain 'basic' resources like sounds, textures, meshes. As soon as the resource tank (also) contains other resources like templates, skrits, effects or map files then you should not use this method - unless you have checked the whole content for DS2 compatibility.
- Of course it's also possible to un-tank the DS1 tank and to re-tank it again for DS2. This probably takes more time but makes sense if you have to update the DS1 content first to work in DS2.
In this context please note, if you untank+retank the Objects.dsres from DS1 it's necessary to delete the files inside art/animations/skrits before retanking (since the new tank will perform as mod usually overwriting DS2 files with the same name).
Comments
Edit:
Instead of using a hex-editor you can try using this auxiliary tool: Convert_DS1_to_DS2_Setup.exe (45kB)
It's actually a (self-extracting) zip-archive that needs to be extracted into the 'Resources' folder of your DS2 installation.
After the extraction there will be a batch file called 'Convert_DS1_to_DS2.bat'. Then you can drag-&-drop (with your mouse) a tank from DS1 (installed or from CD) onto this batch file in order to create a copy of this tank that DS2 is able to read (only the tank/file format will change, the tank content itself however won't be updated).
It's a rather primitive 'tool' though, it should work on Windows systems with 32bit, and on 64bit systems probably too.
Instead of using a hex-editor people you can try using this auxiliary tool: Convert_DS1_to_DS2_Setup.exe (45kB)
It's actually a (self-extracting) zip-archive (to be extracted into the 'Resources' folder of your DS2 installation).
After the extraction there will be a batch file called 'Convert_DS1_to_DS2.bat', on this file you can drag-&-drop DS1 tanks the change their file format from DS1 to DS2 (but the tank content itself won't be updated).
It's a rather primitive 'tool' though, it should work on Windows systems with 32bit, not sure about 64bit systems.
As experienced the alternate way (with the DOS batch file) seems to work more reliable than doing this oneself with the (Frhed) hex editor.
Personally I made a MD5 check and both methods should produce identical files, however on newer Windows OS this could be different.
Feel free however to use a/any hex editor. Would be interesting to know if it was successful.
I know when I used Hex Editor Neo (I think that's the name) I struck the animation problems. Incidentally I have Windows 7 32bit if that helps.
What would be interesting if changes were made to the time stamp, etc, to see if that made a difference.
I had been using Frhed. Vista 32bit.
I am thinking a hex editor may assign same priority as tankcreator. So any file converted will overwrite the main file.