This
tutorial will explain how to add the transparent
water effect to your user created maps. If you
are looking for transparent water for the
standard Quake maps or the mission packs, you can
download them from the files page.
First, you will
need the QuakeVISUtils.ZIP file. Then extract it to a
new folder of your choosing. Call it "Quake Utils"
for easy reference. It includes the following
files:
- BSP2PRT.EXE
- This extracts the "portal"
data from a map (the data for liquid
surfaces/textures), and creates a file
with the same name as the map it's used
on, but with a "PRT" extension.
It writes that file in the current
directory unless you tell it otherwise.
- RVIS.EXE
- This takes the data in the PRT
file and uses it to recompile the
BSP map with transparency enabled.
- WINPAK.EXE
- Useful for extracting files
from PAK files, and also for creating PAK
files from a group of files (necessary
when patching the maps contained in a PAK
file).
- BSP2PRT.TXT
- Readme file for the BSP2PRT
utility.
- RVIS.TXT
- Readme file for the RVIS
utility.
- WPAKHELP.TXT
- Readme file for WINPAK utility.
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Use the info above
as a "checklist", and make sure that
these files are always in
your "Quake Utils" folder.
To patch
individual maps (BSP format):
- Copy the BSP
file you want to patch into the "Quake
Utils" folder.
- Click and
Drag the BSP file over the BSP2PRT file
first. This creates the portal data file
and should only take a few seconds.
- Click and
Drag the BSP file again over the RVIS
file. This patches the map.
- When the DOS
window disappears, the map is finished.
If the map is large, this may take awhile
(anywhere from a few seconds to over 30
minutes). When it's done, just copy the
BSP file back to the MAPS folder (overwrite
the old version) and test it out. Don't
forget to set r_wateralpha = 0.4 for best
effect.
- Don't forget
to delete the BSP and PRT files left
behind from the patching. The "Quake
Utils" folder should only contain
the utilities extracted from this
email (see above for checklist).
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To patch
maps contained within PAK files:
First, you
need to create a working folder. The easiest
place is on the Windows Desktop. Right click on
the desktop and choose NEW > FOLDER. Name the
folder "WORK1".
- Copy the PAK
that you want to extract the maps from
into the WORK1 folder.
- Copy the
WINPAK.EXE utility into this folder as
well, and run it by double-clicking the
file.
- Choose FILE |
OPEN PAK FILE in the utility's menu bar.
- Select the
PAK file you want to extract. It should
already be showing in the folder list.
Note the name of this file, since you
will be recreating it later.
- Click Extract
All in the utility and all files and
folders should be extracted.
- Clean up the
folder by deleting WINPAK.EXE and the
original PAK file from this folder. This
folder should only contain the files that
were actually in the PAK file. Be sure
NOT to disturb the folder structure!
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Next,
you need to put the patching utilities where they
will be the easiest to use and patch the map
files.
- Copy the BSP2PRT.EXE
and RVIS.EXE utilities from your Quake
Utils folder into the MAPS directory in
the working folder. This puts the
utilities right where they will be doing
the most work. If there is no Maps
directory, make sure you have extracted a
PAK file that actually has maps in
it. Not all PAK files have to contain
maps!
- Drag and Drop
each of the BSP files in the Maps folder
over the BSP2PRT file. This will create
the portal information files that will be
used to re-VIS the maps. This usually
only takes a few seconds per file.
- With the Maps
folder open and Active, click Start, go
to Run, type COMMAND, and hit OK. This
opens a DOS window, with the Maps
directory in the working folder set as
current directory.
- Use the still-open
Maps folder window as a guide so you
don't lose track, and pick the first BSP
file that you want to patch. Type RVIS
<mapname> and hit <Enter>. [Example:
RVIS MAP1.BSP] Note:
This process may take a LONG time,
depending on the map. When it is
complete, you will see stats on Avg.
Visible Leafs and the VIS'ing time,
counted in seconds. The prompt will also
be back so you can type in another
command.
- Repeat Step 4
for each BSP file in the folder. Use the
F3 key to recall the previous command if
you want to save keystrokes, and edit as
needed.
- Once the last
map is patched, you will want to clean up
the MAPS folder. Delete any files within
the MAPS folder that do not have a BSP
extension. Do NOT delete the BSP files,
and DO NOT delete files from ANY other
folder!
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Next,
you will want to rebuild the PAK file.
- Locate and
run your WINPAK.EXE utility again. It
doesn't matter where you run it from.
- Click the
Build Pak button. The program will ask
you what folder you want to start with,
and provide a Pak Name field as well.
- Point the
utility to your working folder, and for
the Pak Name, be sure to name it EXACTLY
what the original PAK file was called.
- Click the
Build Pak button on this dialog. Allow
the utility to add the files and verify
them.
- Click the
Close button and close the WINPAK utility.
You now have a new PAK file in your WORK1
folder.
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Finally,
copy the newly patched PAK file into your game
folder.
- Open a window
to your game folder in the C:\Quake
directory (or wherever you have it
installed).
- Right click
on the PAK file in this folder, and
choose RENAME.
- Rename the
file to something like PAK0.OLD, or PAK0.001.
This will be your backup in case you
messed up the patching process.
- Move your
newly patched PAK file into the game
folder.
- Run Quake and
try out the levels to make sure that the
PAK was properly built.
- When you are
satisfied, you can delete the working
folder from the Windows Desktop. You may
want to keep your backup copy of the
original PAK file, just in case...
Tutorial
by Zoopster
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