File format documentation?

[YellowAfterlife]

Recently, I thought of creating lightweight utility to view *.w3* files (map data), separately.
So, for example, if you want to look at unit data while playing (look at tech tree, see stats, check unit ID's for JJCP?), you would not need to import .w3u into dummy map, open world editor, load that map (...). You could just use a program to view only the file that you need.
But here's the problem: how to discover file format structure.
I've tried to discover it via hex editor, but number of NULL (hex-00) data between strings varies in different .w3u's.
So, if someone has documentation\ideas on that, provide them\links please.

[UndeadxAssassin]

I dunno what exactly you're looking for, but you can view most, if not all of the .w3* and even the .j file using notepad. I know for sure you can view Buff/Ability/Item/Unit/destructible/building/.wts etc using notepad.

[Vegas]

Nathan had a website that documented all this and actually showed how to find everything nicely in a hex editor. I am looking for the site now as it appears I dont have it bookmarked anymore.


Piss..found it and its dead. http://nathanmx.com/mpq/


send him an email and ask for it.

[Dekar]

http://web.archive.org/web/200807161144 ... x.com/mpq/