User:Chris/WIP/VPPTSV: Difference between revisions

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'''VP Propdump TSV Version 1 (VPPTSV1)'''
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!''' Under construction '''
Propdump format for VP designed with simplicity, flexibility and user friendliness in mind. Based on the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tab-separated_values tab-separated values] format, it is intended to be a universal format for storing the object data of worlds and enabling them to be modified. Each object is displayed on its own line, with the various parameters such as model name and location separated by tab, allowing spreadsheet editor to display these parameters in cells.
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TSV and CSV files are widely supported by computer programs such as spreadsheet and text editors, making it easy to work with these propdump files.


'''VP Propdump TSV Version 1 (VPPTSV1)'''
== Usages ==


A simple propdump format for VP designed with flexibility and user friendliness in mind. Based on the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tab-separated_values Tab-separated values] format, the VPPTSV format is intended to be a universal format for storing the object data of worlds in VP and allowing them to be easily edited. The format takes elements from the C++ programming language but was designed with .NET programming in mind.
The VPPTSV format could be used to store a small group of objects or as a medium to backup a world. It could also be useful as an intermediate format when it is necessary to perform some tasks on builds in AW or VP, or when converting from AW propdumps.


Many computer programs support the TSV format, such as spreadsheet and text editor software. This can mean that for the end-user, no additional programs need to be downloaded to edit a propdump.  
It can make batch modifications to multiple objects a much quicker and more convenient task in both AW and VP, for instance if one needs to modify each texture on a a series of objects or move a build to a different location, making use of the math functions available in spreadsheet editors.


The format could be used to store a few builds or an entire world. It could also be useful as an intermediate format when converting between different formats. By providing a textual representation of objects, it can make modification of multiple objects a much easier task, for instance if a person needs to modify each texture on an object and replace it with a different one.  
As a flexible format, it is indiscriminate against the two styles of rotation available in VP: XYZ and Axis-Angle, the former being used in AW propdumps.  


The format is also indiscriminate of the two styles of rotation available in VP (AW & VP Axis-Angle type) so it can be used as a universal format to store AW backups too.
AW propdumps can also be stored in this format.


== File format specification ==
== File format specification ==
''The specification is still currently a work in progress.''
''This specification is still a work in progress and may be subject to change.''


Each line in a VPPTSV file is an individual object, with the data values being separated by tab characters.  
Each line in a VPPTSV file is an individual object, with the data values being separated by tab characters.  
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Newline is replaced with '''\n''' and tab is replaced with '''\t'''<br>
Newline must be replaced with '''\n''' and tab must be replaced with '''\t'''<br>
Note that the header version may be incremented to 1.1 if a small update is made to the specification, instead of whole numbers (float type). This must be accounted for if your program will be processing the version number.<br>
Please be aware the header version may be incremented to 1.1 if a small update is made to the specification, instead of whole numbers. This should be accounted for if your program will be processing the version number.<br>
Spreadsheet software will recognise the header and comments as part of the table, so there may be tabs after the header line, if the propdump has been edited with such software.
File extension can be .tsv or .csv


== Sample ==
== Sample ==


This can be better visualised in a table using spreadsheet software.
You can copy and paste this sample into spreadsheet software to better visualise it.
 
TODO: Colour code the lines to make each section more distinct, how would this be done inside a pre tag?


<pre>
<pre>
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== Date & Time Structure ==
== Date & Time Structure ==
For the end user, most spreadsheet software should be able to understand a standard Date & Time, allowing for the ability to manipulate objects in propdumps based on their date and time, for instance only selecting objects built before a certain date or only selecting objects from a certain date. The date can be flexible and may be altered slightly by some spreadsheet software when performing simple manipulations.
For the end user, most spreadsheet software should be able to understand a standard Date & Time, allowing for the ability to manipulate objects in propdumps based on their date and time, for instance only selecting objects built before a certain date or only selecting objects from a certain date. The date can be flexible and may be altered slightly by some spreadsheet software when performing simple manipulations, so it is advised that your program will be able to understand various DateTime formats.


The DateTime string can be parsed into a [http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/system.datetime.aspx DateTime structure] when programming in a .NET language using the [http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/system.datetime.parse.aspx DateTime.Parse Method]. This method accepts many date & time formats making it very flexible, so it should understand most date and times. When using the [http://vpnet.codeplex.com/ VPNet SDK], it is easy to parse the DateTime string directly into a VpObject structure using this method.
The DateTime string can be parsed into a [http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/system.datetime.aspx DateTime structure] when programming in a .NET language using the [http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/system.datetime.parse.aspx DateTime.Parse Method]. This method accepts many date & time formats making it very flexible, so it should understand most date and times. When using the [http://vpnet.codeplex.com/ VPNet SDK], it is easy to parse the DateTime string directly into a VpObject structure using this method.

Latest revision as of 06:16, 12 July 2013

VP Propdump TSV Version 1 (VPPTSV1)

Propdump format for VP designed with simplicity, flexibility and user friendliness in mind. Based on the tab-separated values format, it is intended to be a universal format for storing the object data of worlds and enabling them to be modified. Each object is displayed on its own line, with the various parameters such as model name and location separated by tab, allowing spreadsheet editor to display these parameters in cells.

TSV and CSV files are widely supported by computer programs such as spreadsheet and text editors, making it easy to work with these propdump files.

Usages

The VPPTSV format could be used to store a small group of objects or as a medium to backup a world. It could also be useful as an intermediate format when it is necessary to perform some tasks on builds in AW or VP, or when converting from AW propdumps.

It can make batch modifications to multiple objects a much quicker and more convenient task in both AW and VP, for instance if one needs to modify each texture on a a series of objects or move a build to a different location, making use of the math functions available in spreadsheet editors.

As a flexible format, it is indiscriminate against the two styles of rotation available in VP: XYZ and Axis-Angle, the former being used in AW propdumps.

AW propdumps can also be stored in this format.

File format specification

This specification is still a work in progress and may be subject to change.

Each line in a VPPTSV file is an individual object, with the data values being separated by tab characters. The magic number or header which must be the first line is "vp propdump tsv1". This is used to identify the file format and version.

Programs parsing the file should ignore lines that start with a hash # allowing for comments to be added such as the creation date and world.
Lines starting with "O" should also be ignored as they are most likely the optional header, which is to name each field, user friendliness, spreadsheet software.

VP SDK Attribute VPPTSV Attribute Data Type (C#)
VP_OBJECT_USER_ID Owner unsigned int
VP_OBJECT_TIME DateTime DateTime
VP_OBJECT_X PositionX float
VP_OBJECT_Y PositionY float
VP_OBJECT_Z PositionZ float
VP_OBJECT_ROTATION_X RotationX float
VP_OBJECT_ROTATION_Y RotationY float
VP_OBJECT_ROTATION_Z RotationZ float
VP_OBJECT_ROTATION_ANGLE RotationAngle float
VP_OBJECT_TYPE ObjectType unsigned int
VP_OBJECT_MODEL Model string
VP_OBJECT_DESCRIPTION Description string
VP_OBJECT_ACTION Action string
VP_OBJECT_DATA ObjectData byte[]

Newline must be replaced with \n and tab must be replaced with \t
Please be aware the header version may be incremented to 1.1 if a small update is made to the specification, instead of whole numbers. This should be accounted for if your program will be processing the version number.
File extension can be .tsv or .csv

Sample

You can copy and paste this sample into spreadsheet software to better visualise it.

vp propdump tsv1
# Created:	09/03/2013 23:43:53
# World:	Blizzard

Owner	DateTime	PositionX	PositionY	PositionZ	RotationX	RotationY	RotationZ	RotationAngle	ObjectType	Model	Description	Action	ObjectData
104	09/03/2013 22:49:39	-1.136963	8.195639E-09	0.2480469	0	1	0	0	0	tbtree003.rwx		create ambient .5,diffuse .5,specular 0
104	09/03/2013 23:13:00	-0.105957	0.005000007	-0.8530273	0	1	0	0	0	pp16w2.rwx		create scale .7 .6 .6,color 0;activate move -1 0 0 wait=10
104	09/03/2013 23:12:46	0.03393555	0.005000007	-0.8530273	0	1	0	0	0	pp16w2.rwx		create scale .7 .6 .6,color 0;activate move 1 0 0 wait=10
104	09/03/2013 23:15:24	0.2128906	0.101	-0.001953125	0.7700768	0.3189757	0.552482	1.286658	0	pole1m02.rwx		create visible no,solid no,light color=skyblue
104	09/03/2013 23:05:52	0.2141113	6.705522E-09	0.1479492	0	1	0	0	0	thseb1g.rwx		
104	09/03/2013 23:14:05	0.2128906	0.301	0.0480957	0	1	0	0	0	thsed2.rwx		
104	09/03/2013 23:11:47	0.4628906	0.301	1.148926	0	1	0	0	0	sign3.rwx	Cheap Test House\nfor example purposes only	create sign	
104	09/03/2013 23:15:36	0.3640137	6.705522E-09	1.398926	0	1	0	3.141593	0	mailbox1.rwx		
104	09/03/2013 23:15:42	0.2141113	6.705522E-09	1.148926	0	1	0	0	0	doorpic2.rwx		create scale .9,solid no

Date & Time Structure

For the end user, most spreadsheet software should be able to understand a standard Date & Time, allowing for the ability to manipulate objects in propdumps based on their date and time, for instance only selecting objects built before a certain date or only selecting objects from a certain date. The date can be flexible and may be altered slightly by some spreadsheet software when performing simple manipulations, so it is advised that your program will be able to understand various DateTime formats.

The DateTime string can be parsed into a DateTime structure when programming in a .NET language using the DateTime.Parse Method. This method accepts many date & time formats making it very flexible, so it should understand most date and times. When using the VPNet SDK, it is easy to parse the DateTime string directly into a VpObject structure using this method.


See also

External links

  • OpenOffice Calc - Free open-source spreadsheet software that can edit TSV files