Unity Asset Editor

Version 0.2

Created by
Kyle N. Lane

Last Update
3/8/14

Introduction

Unity Asset Editor is a plug-in based asset editor, exporter, and importer for
modding games created with the Unity Game Engine. It can import and export any
asset in raw data format. It can also be extended to support any kind of asset
type through the use of plug-ins.

This is an early version of UAE, so expect some bugs. I also can't guarantee it
will work with every game or every file. If you find a file or game it doesn't
work with let me know so I can figure out what's wrong. Also any suggestions will
be listened too, and if I can do it I will.

Using Unity Asset Editor

At the most basic level Unity Asset Editor can only browse the asset files, extract
and import raw data, and save the changes back out to the asset file. Most of the
menus a self explanatory. Saving and loading assets is in the file menu.
Importing and exporting individual assets is under the assets menu. The Plug-ins
menu contains a dialog with information about the installed plug-ins. And the Help
menu contains a dialog with information about the current build of UAE.

Using the Default Plug-ins

The plug-ins are the real powerhouse of the editor. Each one can work with a
different type of asset. If the asset has a plug in that works with it, it will
show a named asset type in the list view instead of a hex number. Each plug-in can
work in it's own unique way so you'll need to consult individual plug-ins on their
exact use. The Plug-ins Info Dialog shows information about each plug-in, and may
contain instructions on it's use.

Default Audio Plugin

The Default Audio plug-in allows importing and exporting of audio files. Each file
internally is either a Wave or an Ogg Vorbis. The Export dialog lets you select a
file type, but the actual file exported will match it's original type. You should
only import files into files of the same type.

Default Text Plug-in

The default text plug-in allows editing of text directly inside of UAE. It also
allows the exporting and importing of text files and XML files. The text editor
supports plug-in decrypters for unknown decrypted files. New with v0.2 I've
included the 7 Days to Die Decrypter.

Default Texture Plug-in

The texture plug-in is probably the most complex of all the Default Plug-ins The
plug-in allows viewing a texture, and exporting/importing a texture in DDS format.
When a texture is selected the plug-in displays
about the texture. It's important to make note
can create a compatible game texture. The most
and compression. Size shouldn't matter, unless
game itself.
the texture and some information
of the texture information, so you
important factors are mipmapping
it's a restriction imposed by the

Mipmapping is simple, if a texture is mipmapped to begin with, then the texture you
import should be mipmapped also.

Compression is a little different. Textures are either compressed of uncompressed.

The other important thing to note is the presence of alpha channels. The files
I've come across are only four possible types. If you find types that don't work
let me know. The four types are DXT1 compressed with no alpha channel. DXT5 with
implicit alpha channels, RGB 8.8.8 uncompressed, and RGBA 8.8.8.8 uncompressed.

Keep your imports with the same compression and mipmapping for compatibility with
your game.

The main texture plug-in requires Direct X 9.0c. If you don't have it the program
will crash when you select a texture. For now if you have this problem and are
unable to install Direct X 9.0c I've included a no Direct X version of the mod in
the Texture Plug-ins folder.

Default Hexidecimal Plug-in

The Hexidecimal Plug-in allows viewing the raw bytes of a file, and an ASCII
readout of the file contents. This plug-in can be used on any asset by selecting
the Hexidecimal button below the asset list.

Default Mod Creator Plug-in

The Mod Creator Plug-in allows creating and packaging of mods for distribution. It
allows you to set some basic information about your mod, add files, and create a
self contained install exe that you end user can use to install your mod.

The main thing you need to do is set the Install Directory to a directory above the
assets files you are modifying. The installer will search this directory and all
sub directories until it finds your asset. It will only install to the first asset
it finds.

The Verify File field is useful, but not required. In this field you select a file
relative to your Install Directory. This file must exist in the exact specified
place, or the installation will fail. This field can include child directories
(ex. Mods\file.exe).

For a mod to do anything you must add files to it.
that has your modded file, select it, and click the
added to the mod. If you wish to remove a file you
list, and click the Remove button. The mod store a
or update a file you must first remove it, and then
To add a file open up an asset
Add button. The file will be
can select it in the Mod Files
copy of the file, so to change
add the updated version.

The Icon field can be used to set a custom icon for you installer. Right now it
can only handle a very specific icon format. That probably will change in the
future. For now use the provided example icon to make your new icon. The
important thing to keep the same is icon numbers and sizes.

When your ready to release your mod simply click the Package button, select a save
name, and click save. The file that's created contains all the files you put in
your mod, plus the install program, so your end user only has to follow a pretty
standard installation process.
This plug-in can be used on any asset by selecting the Mod Creator button below the
asset list.

Installing Plug-ins
The Unity Asset Editor allows extending it's functionality through plug-ins Each
of these controlling the editing,exporting, and importing of different assets.
Plug-ins need two files, a plg and a dll. Plugin may also contain other files, and
individual plug-ins should be consulted for specific instructions. Simply place
your plg and dll in the plug-ins folder. You can even place them in folder inside
this directory. The editor will search the Plug-ins directory and all of it's sub
directories for the plg files and load the plug-in Plug-ins are first come first
served, so if multiple plug-ins register the same asset only the first one will be
usable. All of them will be visible on the Plug-ins Info Dialog.

Creating A Plug-in
Creating a plug-in is easy at it's most basic level. The real difficulty is in
handling each asset. To create a plug-in you must create a plg file and a dll.
Refer to the supplied Example Plugin for more information.

PLG Files
A plg file is an XML file that contains information about the name,author, version,
and date of the plug-in It also contains space for a detailed plug-in description,
and instructions on the plug-ins use. This information will be displayed when the
user views your plug-in in the Plugin Info Dialog. The mainLibrary attribute must
be set to the name of your main dll. The file name in mainLibrary will be appended
to the directory of the PLG files so the dll can reside in lower directories, but
not higher ones.

The last part of the PLG contains the id of the type of asset the plug-in handles,
the name of the asset to be shown in the list view, and the file extensions the
plug-in can handle. Each plug-in can have up to ten different extensions, and each
extension can be up to ten letters long. The actual extension is put in the
extension attribute, and the filter attribute contains the text that will be
displayed for the extension in the Save/Load dialogs.

DLL Files
Your dll files can contain almost anything, but they must have certain functions in
them. These functions are explained in detail in the comments in dllMain. Use
the included project as a template for your dlls.

Change-log

2/20/14

New Additions
Added a right-click context menu for extracting and importing assets.
Added a status bar.
Added a preferences file that save information about directories, and window
position.
Added the Mod Creator Plug-in.
Added the Hexidecimal Plug-in.

Bug Fixes
Fixed Bug where selecting a plug-in on the plug-in dialog showed the incorrect
information.
Fixed Bug where selecting an item in the list view using the keyboard selected the
incorrect item.
Fixed Bug where message loop used unnecessary cycles.
Fixed Bug where Texture plug-in would report the wrong DDS format.
Fixed Bug where the selected plug-in remained displayed when opening a new file.
Fixed Bug where exporting an unnamed asset would not export the entire file.
Fixed Bug where file name lengths over 64 would cause a crash.

Other
Cleaned some unused libraries from Texture Plugin.

2/20/14
Initial Release