research HG/SS Mapping File Specifications

[Hiro TDK]

Map Files   - located at /a/0/6/5 - contains 5 sections
#1 Section - Header - section is 20 bytes
Offset	Length	Name	Description
0x0	0x4	Movement Permission Size	The size of the Movement Permissions in Section #3. Always 0x800.
0x4	0x4	3D Object Size	The size of the 3D Objects defined in Section #4.
0x8	0x4	NSBMD Model Size	The size of the embedded Model (NSBMD) file in Section #5.
0xC	0x4	BDHC Size	The size of the embedded Terrain (BDHC) file in Section #6.
0x10	0x4	Unknown Section Size	The size of the section of unknown data in Section #2.
#2 Section - Unknown Data - data in this section serves a currently unknown function - data is unique to HG/SS and theorized to be Pokemon size permissions
Offset	Length	Name	Description
0x0			.
#3 Section - Movement Permissions - data is always 2048 bytes, two bytes for each tile, and all maps are 32x32 tiles - tile data is ordered from left to right, bottom to top
Offset	Length	Name	Description
0x0	0x1	Special Permission	Allows for special permissions. A rather incomplete list can be found in the Appendix.
0x1	0x1	Movement Permission	Three valid values: 0x0 No Restriction, 0x4 No Special Permissions (Ignore First Byte), 0x8 Solid/No Movement
#4 Section - 3D Objects - section is 48 bytes per object defined - 3D Objects Size in Section #1 will be the total size of this section in bytes
Offset	Length	Name	Description
0x0	0x4	Object ID Number	A complete list of Object ID numbers can be found in the Appendix.
0x4	0x2	Y Fractional	Variable allowing fractional Y-axis positioning. (Defaults to 00 00.)
0x6	0x2	Y Coordinate	Position of the object on the Y-axis.
0x8	0x2	Z Fractional	Variable allowing fractional Z-axis positioning. (Defaults to 00 00.)
0xA	0x2	Z Coordinate	Position of the object on the Z-axis.
0xC	0x2	X Fractional	Variable allowing fractional X-axis positioning. (Defaults to 00 00.)
0xE	0x2	X Coordinate	Position of the object on the X-axis.
0x10	0xC	????	This section serves a currently unknown function.
0x1D	0x4	Width	The size of the object on the Y-axis.
0x21	0x4	Height	The size of the object on the Z-axis.
0x25	0x4	Length	The size of the object on X-axis.
0x29	0x7	????	This section serves a currently unknown function.
#5 Section - NSBMD Model - NSBMD Model Size in Section #1 will be the total size of this section in bytes - this is the 3D model of the map itself - NSBMD model specifications aren't listed here.
#6 Section - Terrain (BDHC) - BDHC Size in Section #1 will be the total size of this section in bytes - BDHC file specifications are detailed here.

 

Terrain Files (BDHC)   Credit and thanks goes to Mikelan98 for finally cracking these files. This section will have a ton of notes, as the format is very complex. Refer to Mikelan98's guide for help. - located at the end of map files, found at /a/0/6/ - contains 7 sections
#1 Section - Header Data
Offset	Length	Name	Description
0x0	0x4	Magic ID	#BDHC (0x42444843)
0x4	0x2	Points Size	The number of points defined in Section #2.
0x6	0x2	Inclines Size	The number of inclines defined in Section #3.
0x8	0x2	Heights Size	The number of heigths defined in Section #4.
0xA	0x2	Plates Size	The number of plates defined in Section #5.
0xC	0x2	Strips Size	The number of strips defined in Section #6.
0xE	0x2	Access Lists Size	The number of access lists defined in Section #7.
#2 Section - Points  - section length will be 8 bytes multiplied by Points Size from Section #1  - each 8 bytes follows the format below
Offset	Length	Name	Description
0x0	0x4	Padding	Color
0x4	0x4	X Coordinate	X Coordinate for first point. (Little Endian)
0x8	0x4	Padding
0xC	0x4	Y Coordinate	Y Coordinate for first point. (Little Endian)
Notes:  - These coordinates define points on the map.  - Maps are always 32x32 tiles.  - Coordinates are defined from the center of the map.  - The coordinates for the center four tiles are: - Northwest: 00 00 FF FF, 00 00 FF FF - Northeast: 00 00 00 00, 00 00 FF FF - Southwest: 00 00 FF FF, 00 00 00 00 - Southeast: 00 00 00 00, 00 00 00 00 - Coordinates south and east will increase. Coordinates north and west will decrease.  - The coordinates of the outside corners are: - Northwest: 00 00 F0 FF, 00 00 F0 FF - Northeast: 00 00 10 00, 00 00 F0 FF - Southwest: 00 00 F0 FF, 00 00 10 00 - Southeast: 00 00 10 00, 00 00 10 00
#3 Section - Inclines  - section length will be 12 bytes multiplied by Inclines Size from Section #1  - each 12 bytes specifies a type of incline
Offset	Length	Name	Description
0x0	0x12	Incline Type	Specifies a type of incline.
Notes:  - It is assumed that the 12 bytes define coordinates in some way.  - Because it is not fully understood, here is a list of known inclines: - Flat Plate: 00 00 00 00 00 10 00 00 00 00 00 00 - North Stairs: 00 00 00 00 50 0B 00 00 50 0B 00 00 - East Stairs: B0 F4 FF FF 50 0B 00 00 00 00 00 00 - West Stairs: 50 0B 00 00 50 0B 00 00 00 00 00 00
#4 Section - Heights  - section length will be 4 bytes multiplied by Inclines Size from Section #1  - each 4 bytes specifies a height
Offset	Length	Name	Description
0x0	0x2	Fractional Z Coordinate	Variable allowing fractional Z-axis positioning. Defaults to 00 00 (Little Endian)
0x2	0x2	Z Coordinate	Vertical positioning coordinate. Defaults to 00 00. (Little Endian)
Notes:  - Up on the Z-axis subtracts, while down on the Z-axis adds.  - Fractional coordinates are divided by -65536, e.g., 00 80 = 32768/-65536, or -0.5.  - Add both variables for final height, e.g., 00 80 FF FF = -0.5 + 1 = +0.5
Formulas:  In the Spanish version of the tutorial Mikelan98 wrote, he posted some formulas for determining the heights you need to define in this section when dealing with specific types of slopes. They also allow one to figure out how to make formulas for other types of slopes. Here, I'll translate them. - Northward Stairs: Height = 0xB505 * (-(y)-(h)) - Westward Stairs: Height = 0xB505 * (x-h) - Eastward Stairs: Height = 0xB505 * (x-h+1) - Where: - x = the position of the stairs on the X-axis, unless the tile is more than one tile long, in which case you would use the tile that is lower on the Z-axis - y = the position of the stairs on the Y-axis - h = the height of the bottom of the stairs + 1
#5 Section - Plates  - section length will be 8 bytes multiplied by Plates Size from Section #1  - each 8 bytes section builds a plate using definitions from the previous three sections
Offset	Length	Name	Description
0x0	0x1	First Point Index	The index of the Point used for the northwesternmost corner of the plate.
0x1	0x1	Padding	Color
0x2	0x1	Second Point Index	The index of the Point used for the southeasternmost corner of the plate.
0x3	0x1	Padding
0x4	0x1	Incline Index	The index of the Incline used for this plate..
0x5	0x1	Padding
0x6	0x1	Height Index	The index of the Height used for this plate.
0x7	0x1	Padding
Notes:  - The indexes for these are simply the order in which each previous section was defined.  - For Points, if you're using the first two Points to construct a plate, you would use 00 & 01.  - This creates a rectangular plate between the coordinates defined, with the defined inclination and height.
#6 Section - Strips  - section length will be 8 bytes multiplied by Strips Size from Section #1  - each 8 bytes section builds a plate using definitions from the previous three sections
Offset	Length	Name	Description
0x0	0x2	Padding	Color
0x2	0x2	Lower Bound	The southernmost tile of the strip. (Little Endian)
0x4	0x2	List Elements	The number of list elements from Section #7 to use. (Little Endian)
0x6	0x2	List Start	The index of the first list element from Section #7 to use. (Little Endian)
Notes:  - The first Strip begins at the northenrmost horizontal "strip" and ends at the first defined Lower bound.  - The second Strip begins at the next tile south of the first Lower Bound and ends at the second defined Lower Bound.  - The List Start index works the same as the indexes in Section #5.  - List Elements counts elements including List Start.  - More information is noted after Section #7 - Access List.
#7 Section - Access List  - section length will be 2 bytes multiplied by Strips Size from Section #1  - each 2 bytes is a list entry
Offset	Length	Name	Description
0x0	0x2	Plate Index	The index number of a plate from Section #4.
Notes:  - The Plate index number references Plates in the order they're defined, the same as in previous sections.  - The Plates in this list are referenced in the section above, and they're accessed, once again, by index number.  - The Plates are ordered in groups, and individual plates generally appear multiple times.  - The Plates in this section that are referenced in the previous section, are plates that can be accessed from that strip.  - More information and visuals can be found in Mikelan98's guide.