[TOOL] .hwl unpack utility

[Emjayen]

I noticed there doesn't appear to be anything around for unpacking these archives and so I've made one of my internal tools friendlier for public use. You can download it here

Example usage: hwl /f:bmp /s:somearchive.hwl

Above will unpack the textures contained in the HWL archive file somearchive.hwl to the current directory in bitmap format (A1R5G5B5)


EDIT: Source is available here

[GrayFace]

There was a tool for it somewhere, but just a few days ago I tried to find it and couldn't. I'm wondering though what use there is for it now. I recalled it because I was thinking of making HD textures in mods only in D3D and doing it via HWL, but decided that having them in a "magic" LOD might be better, because PaletteSMul and PaletteVMul options would be respected. For HWL the textures have to be pre-filtered.

[GrayFace]

I found the tool I had used in the past: http://mm6789.narod.ru/files/might_and_ ... wl2bmp.rar
Maybe I'll use HWL format after all. Though, I'll probably make a new LOD-based format instead (with HWL structures for individual files, but not for archive structure). Thinking about ways to support HD 16-bit textures in D3D mode.

[Emjayen]

There's a mechanism of my next MMCL revision that could be leveraged. At present it provides an optional, run-time filtering layer for textures; generating a scaled up mipchain version in technically any native hardware format, for now just the usual 32-bit R8G8B8A8 due to ubiquitous support.

[Erisian]

How do you open a texture file using these tools?

[Emjayen]

They're located in your game installation's "DATA" directory, e.g: d3dsprite.hwl

[Erisian]

They're located in your game installation's "DATA" directory, e.g: d3dsprite.hwl

When I try to run the software nothing happens. I also tried highlighting the .hwl file then choosing "open with hwl" but again nothing happens. What do I do with the exe to make it work?

[Emjayen]

It's a command-line tool.

Easiest thing to do would be:

- Copy hwl.exe to your DATA directory
- In the explorer address bar, type cmd
- Use the syntax described in the OP, so e.g hwl /o:sprites /f:bmp /s:d3dsprite.hwl

EDIT: I've updated it to support how you're trying to invoke it (e.g, you can use explorer's "Open With" and it'll work with some sane defaults) -- download link is the same

[Erisian]

EDIT: I've updated it to support how you're trying to invoke it (e.g, you can use explorer's "Open With" and it'll work with some sane defaults) -- download link is the same

Wow, thank you. I wasn't expecting you to change anything but I'm glad you did. I suppose I should stop being lazy and learn to use command line really. It might open doors for me but thank you for this.

[Dragonfly]

Hey! Great tool!
Can we make the oppositte? Add/replace a texture from an HWL file?
Was trying to compile the code but I can't resolve
#include <pce\pce.h>
#include <pce\pce_crt.h>
I'm using VS2017
Am I missing an external reference?
Thanks

[Emjayen]

If you're still in need of such functionality (writing HWL) let me know.

[GrayFace]

The patch will support new LOD-based LWD format with 24-bit textures. (also gotta ditch 16-bit textures internally, but not in the coming patch version)

[Dragonfly]

The patch will support new LOD-based LWD format with 24-bit textures. (also gotta ditch 16-bit textures internally, but not in the coming patch version)

superb!!!

[tomchen1989]

I found the tool I had used in the past: http://mm6789.narod.ru/files/might_and_ ... wl2bmp.rar
Maybe I'll use HWL format after all. Though, I'll probably make a new LOD-based format instead (with HWL structures for individual files, but not for archive structure). Thinking about ways to support HD 16-bit textures in D3D mode.

http://mm6789.narod.ru/files/might_and_ ... wl2bmp.rar may be blocked by some browser or ads blocker I don't know. If anyone wants to download it but cannot do it, copy the link and paste it in the address bar and enter.

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Simple usage:

Put hwl2bmp.exe directly in C:\, then search cmd and open Command Prompt, then enter something like:

Code: Select all

C:\>hwl2bmp "C:\game\mm7en\DATA\d3dsprite.hwl" C:\game\output\

The output folder must exist before the execution of the command!

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There's a description file in Russian and encoded with Russian encoding (cp1251) in hwl2bmp.rar, here's a rough English translation in case anyone needs it:

The HWL file format of Might & Magic VIII

These files contain the graphics used by the 3D gas pedal.
The file format is:

0 signature (DWORD) "D3DT"
4 offset to the beginning of the FAT
8..n data

FAT format:

Pretty convoluted

0 number of entries in FAT (DWORD)
4 FAT

FAT consists of 2 parts placed one after another

First part is file names - each record is 14h bytes long
file name starts at position 0 and reads to the first 0 (ASCIIZ).
The rest of the record is garbage.

The second part is just after the first one. It's just an array of offsets
from the beginning of the HWL to the files stored in it. (DWORD)

The files format:

The files themselves are 15-bit graphics (5:5:5), header
and packed with ZLib. The length of the header is 24h. The following fields are of interest:

0 packed data size (DWORD)
14h sprite width (DWORD)
18h sprite height (DWORD)

the rest is junk.

A command line program to unpack ALL of the HWL into a designated directory and simultaneously
to BMP at the same time.

Success in unpacking toys.
Andrey Ermakov aka Jel.