editingg IM files

[jamal17]

I have some IM files that i want to edit but i cant i even have gimp and i cant Add none of my items to gimp so i can edit them. can someone show me how to do this

 

[teddytoot]

You cannot edit the im mesh files. Only the original creator can do that. Gimp can only edit the texture (tga, bmp or jpg) files.

 

[jamal17]

You cannot edit the im mesh files. Only the original creator can do that. Gimp can only edit the texture (tga, bmp or jpg) files.

my mistake i meant i have GMAX

 

[srr89]

Either way, IM files cannot be reversed, like teddytoot just said.

 

[rweber95]

You can do minor edits to mesh files using PEV's PM2IM.exe program to fix some texture problems. Also, you can make minor text edits using a hex-editor.

Bob

 

[teddytoot]

If you want to add items you can create them in GMax and then add the item to the mesh-table (assuming you have 2004 on).

 

[torino72]

First, forgive me for bumping an old post. Secondly, let me say I've never created any content item for Trainz so I have little to no knowledge of GMAX, Blender, etc.

What I'm attempting to do is create a "billboard" asset from a JPEG file of a mural painted on the side of a grain elevator in Berthoud, CO. The mural is named "Berthoud's Roots", not that it matters. Anyhow, the
mural is 55ft tall and 35ft wide (longer vertically than horizontally). I attempted to use an old (Build 1.3) asset available in 2006 and 2010 (and possibly TS12) named Billboard 11 <kuid:73480:23069> to display this
new TGA file. Using PEV's Images2TGA, I converted a .texture file to a TGA file. Then using IrfanView, I've successfully managed to crop the photo and create a new TGA file of my mural to replace the old TGA
(originally .texture) file and get it to successfully display in Trains TRS-2010. This "Billboard 11" kuid has the correct demensions for the mural. The only problem is that the billboard is longer horizontally than
vertically and would need to be rotated 90 degrees to the right for the mural to display in the correct position. From this thread, I assume this rotation would have to occur within the mesh (IM) file and since I
understand these cannot be edited therein lies the problem.

I had earlier tried this with a "poster" asset of the correct orientation but it was way too small for the job and the same "editing the IM file" would apply to enlarge the mesh.

Does anyone know of a billboard of the same size as the "Billboard 11" asset but in the correct orientation to correctly display this mural? If not, how big of a project and "learning curve" am I looking at to create
a mesh to accomodate this new TGA file in the vertical position?

 

[JCitron]

I wouldn't even bother to place an actual mesh and would use a texture instead. Edit the texture for the grain elevator and paste your new image in there. Ensure that the scaling is proper for the asset, and this would be the easiest way to do it.

The alternative would be to just butt the framed image against the grain elevator like any billboard object would be, and the most difficult method would be to add in a new mesh using attachment points. This can be done using PEVs tools.

As far as editing im files, this out of the question and is actually a violation of copyright laws.

John

 

[torino72]

JCitron: I guess what I was attempting was your 2d suggestion except that for that to work the new billboard would have to be rotated 90 degrees right. I'll clone the elevator and see what I can do with the 1st suggestion.

 

[johnwhelan]

First, forgive me for bumping an old post. Secondly, let me say I've never created any content item for Trainz so I have little to no knowledge of GMAX, Blender, etc.

What I'm attempting to do is create a "billboard" asset from a JPEG file of a mural painted on the side of a grain elevator in Berthoud, CO. The mural is named "Berthoud's Roots", not that it matters. Anyhow, the
mural is 55ft tall and 35ft wide (longer vertically than horizontally). I attempted to use an old (Build 1.3) asset available in 2006 and 2010 (and possibly TS12) named Billboard 11 <kuid:73480:23069> to display this
new TGA file. Using PEV's Images2TGA, I converted a .texture file to a TGA file. Then using IrfanView, I've successfully managed to crop the photo and create a new TGA file of my mural to replace the old TGA
(originally .texture) file and get it to successfully display in Trains TRS-2010. This "Billboard 11" kuid has the correct demensions for the mural. The only problem is that the billboard is longer horizontally than
vertically and would need to be rotated 90 degrees to the right for the mural to display in the correct position. From this thread, I assume this rotation would have to occur within the mesh (IM) file and since I
understand these cannot be edited therein lies the problem.

I had earlier tried this with a "poster" asset of the correct orientation but it was way too small for the job and the same "editing the IM file" would apply to enlarge the mesh.

Does anyone know of a billboard of the same size as the "Billboard 11" asset but in the correct orientation to correctly display this mural? If not, how big of a project and "learning curve" am I looking at to create
a mesh to accomodate this new TGA file in the vertical position?

email me jwhelan0112 gmail.com with exactly what you'd like and the texture file and I'll see what can be done. It should be a fairly simple job to do.

Cheerio John

 

[BuilderBob]

As far as editing im files, this out of the question and is actually a violation of copyright laws.

No it isn't. You can edit an IM, or any other type of file, as much as you want.

Distributing an edited file might be a violation of copyright, depending on the what the copyright owner has allowed (or not) and what has been changed in the edit.

 

[martinvk]

Just because you can doesn't mean you are allowed.

 

[torino72]

Johnwhelan, I sent 2 emails with attachments to the gmail address you gave but both were returned with this message.
Diagnostic-Code: smtp; 550 Requested action not taken: mailbox unavailable

 

[martinvk]

Did you enter the @ symbol where it belongs?

 

[torino72]

Did you enter the @ symbol where it belongs?

Yes

 

[shaneturner12]

No it isn't. You can edit an IM, or any other type of file, as much as you want.

Distributing an edited file might be a violation of copyright, depending on the what the copyright owner has allowed (or not) and what has been changed in the edit.

Editing .PM/.IM (apart from using PM2IM or Attachment Maker) is seen as reverse engineering (as that format is specific to the Jet engine at this point in time), which is against the rules. Only the creator can edit such files, and only if they make the changes using their 3D modelling program and re-exporting the .IM.

Shane

 

[johnwhelan]

Did you enter the @ symbol where it belongs?

Yes

you have a pm.

Cheerio John

 

[BuilderBob]

Editing .PM/.IM (apart from using PM2IM or Attachment Maker) is seen as reverse engineering (as that format is specific to the Jet engine at this point in time), which is against the rules. Only the creator can edit such files, and only if they make the changes using their 3D modelling program and re-exporting the .IM.Shane

The comment referred to copyright, not reverse engineering - they are two different things.

Reverse engineering is the process of using the provided data to generate information that is otherwise not available or not obvious. Changing values within an IM file is not reverse engineering. Editing an IM is the same as editing a config.txt, except that a different tool is used. An IM file is no more specific to the Jet engine than the config.txt file is.

Attachment maker does not alter the IM.

 

[johnwhelan]

The comment referred to copyright, not reverse engineering - they are two different things.

Reverse engineering is the process of using the provided data to generate information that is otherwise not available or not obvious. Changing values within an IM file is not reverse engineering. Editing an IM is the same as editing a config.txt, except that a different tool is used. An IM file is no more specific to the Jet engine than the config.txt file is.

Attachment maker does not alter the IM.

I disagree config.txt file is a text file that can be edited by a text editor and is designed to be modified. There is documentation available on it. A .im file can be edited by a hex editor but is not designed to be edited and its only by inspecting and reverse engineering that the structure can be determined. Pev's attachment maker creates .im files it does not edit them to my knowledge.

Cheerio John

 

[BuilderBob]

I disagree config.txt file is a text file that can be edited by a text editor and is designed to be modified. There is documentation available on it. A .im file can be edited by a hex editor but is not designed to be edited and its only by inspecting and reverse engineering that the structure can be determined. Pev's attachment maker creates .im files it does not edit them to my knowledge.

Cheerio John

There is no need to understand the structure in order to edit the IM. If I want to move an attachment point I just do a replace - I don't even bother to see which bits get changed. I don't need to know anything more than the current value and the value that I want it to be. I need to understand the structure of the IM file in exactly the same way that I need to understand the structure of a TGA file when I change the color of one pixel - that is, not at all.