Modding Basics


This is it. You want to start modding. But where do you start? Right here. This tutorial will tell you all the things you need to know to start modding halo.

The Begining

So, you want to mod halo. Well, first thing is first. Make a folder on your desktop. Name it halomodding or something like that. Then, in that folder, add a shortcut to the halo directory. Backup all of your maps. Then, get the files you will need.

Files

Now, we go to the files. These are files you will need to mod halo

Winrar You need this to make and extract .zip files and .rar files.

Hex Workshop This is a very important program. Alot of your mods will be with hex editing. (explained further down) This program allows you to edit hex, and comes with a base converter and hex calculator (very helpful) This is a trial version.

Halo Map Tools v3 This is an advanced modding program. It allows you to batch extract and rebuild maps (both explained further down), and comes with serveral plugins that allow you to edit common meta values, such as vehicle speed and weapon zoom. A very important modding tool.

Spark Edit v2.5 This program is the closest we have right now to a map editor. It allows object movement, object rotation, and a bunch of other features.

PPF Studio Use this to make PPF files. PPF files are usually tiny and are a good way to post mods.

PPF-O-Matic This is used to apply PPF patches. This was originally posted by Mr.L and has a tutorial on how to use it.

Offset Lists These are the offset lists needed for hex editing.

What stuff it

So you have been hearing all this crap about .rar and meta and stuff, and you have know idea what I'm talking about. Well here it is.

Hex/Meta

This is a big item. Hex is basically a way a map can be viewed in. When you first open up a map in hex editor, you will be blown away. You will think it is the most confusing thing you have ever delt with. But it isn't. It's actually quite simple. First off, you need your offset list. Now I will try to explain some of the things that have to do with hex the numbers in hex are different from the decimal numbers we use. Also, there are letters that are thrown in that mean a number. It sounds really confusing but its not. For instance, 30 is actually 48 and FF is 255.
1=1
2=2
3=3
4=4
5=5
6=6
7=7
8=8
9=9
A=10
B=11
C=12
D=13
E=14
F=15
So that means that 10 is actually 16, 11 is 17, and so on. Now, converting this in your head would be tough. But Hex Workshop comes with a base converter, where you enter the hex and it tells you the decimal. This is a very useful tool that saves alot of time. Byte A byte is a piece of information where a variable is stored. In hex, it is two digits long.

Halo Map Tools

By now you should have halo map tools, and you are probaly wondering what all this talk about map rebuilding and batch extracting really means. Well, I will tell you
Batch Extracting Batch extracting is simply taking all the individual files in the .map file (like the warthog or the assualt rifle) and extracting them to their individual file. This extracts tons of meta files. Every projectile, weapons, object, vehicle, and everything else in a map is extracted.
Map Rebuilding This takes those extracted files we just talked about and puts them back into a .map file.