28.05.2010, 03:45
Let's sort this a bit...
First of all HSFX solely does the SFS repacking at the moment.
UP doesn't have access to the SFS tools, they're using the "files" folder, which again is nothing else than the "mods" folder from the packing's perspective.
Even TD didn't have access to the SFS tools until recently, there's been a serious risk for patch 4.10 to come out as a "files" folder pack until MG/1C decided to give TD access to the SFS tools, see here: http://forum.1cpublishing.eu/showthread.php?t=12568
General speaking it's technically possible to do SFS compression, like it has been done with the SFS decompression already.
Generating an SFS file isn't much more difficult than decompressing it, too - you'll have to have the right tools and you have to provide some kind of "index" (the filelist.txt of the sfs extractor).
Things start becoming tricky when you're about to integrate this into the game. The main reason is the behaviour of overwriting classes, functions, properties, files etc. SFS comes first, will be overwritten by the contents of the "files" folder, which in turn will be overwritten by the contents of the "mods" folder.
This can leave you decompiling, splitting and recompiling a lot of stuff you never wanted to touch before.
Then again when you managed to do the technical part, you should hopefully be safe on the license side. SFS tools aren't royalty free, if you're using them, you have to pay for it.
"Qtim", the guy who did the SFS extractor, hopefully owns a valid license for that type of work.
Anyone else who'd like to provide some useful tools for SFS file handling should do so as well.
Last but not least you already mentioned the unification issues.
I'm just guessing but it wouldn't make me wonder if for instance crt=2 wouldn't care for SFS files since they're somewhat "fixed" at the moment anyway. Now imagine someone could easily modify their contents... goodbye online gameplay.
Bottom line: Technically possible, but too dangerous.
Best regards - Mike
First of all HSFX solely does the SFS repacking at the moment.
UP doesn't have access to the SFS tools, they're using the "files" folder, which again is nothing else than the "mods" folder from the packing's perspective.
Even TD didn't have access to the SFS tools until recently, there's been a serious risk for patch 4.10 to come out as a "files" folder pack until MG/1C decided to give TD access to the SFS tools, see here: http://forum.1cpublishing.eu/showthread.php?t=12568
General speaking it's technically possible to do SFS compression, like it has been done with the SFS decompression already.
Generating an SFS file isn't much more difficult than decompressing it, too - you'll have to have the right tools and you have to provide some kind of "index" (the filelist.txt of the sfs extractor).
Things start becoming tricky when you're about to integrate this into the game. The main reason is the behaviour of overwriting classes, functions, properties, files etc. SFS comes first, will be overwritten by the contents of the "files" folder, which in turn will be overwritten by the contents of the "mods" folder.
This can leave you decompiling, splitting and recompiling a lot of stuff you never wanted to touch before.
Then again when you managed to do the technical part, you should hopefully be safe on the license side. SFS tools aren't royalty free, if you're using them, you have to pay for it.
"Qtim", the guy who did the SFS extractor, hopefully owns a valid license for that type of work.
Anyone else who'd like to provide some useful tools for SFS file handling should do so as well.
Last but not least you already mentioned the unification issues.
I'm just guessing but it wouldn't make me wonder if for instance crt=2 wouldn't care for SFS files since they're somewhat "fixed" at the moment anyway. Now imagine someone could easily modify their contents... goodbye online gameplay.
Bottom line: Technically possible, but too dangerous.
Best regards - Mike
'Armor' is a fantasy invented by your C.O. to make you feel better.