.dat Modding - Modelviewer Dead?

Heya fokes. Decided I wanted to get back into doing my .dat mods (Mainly recolors tbh) recently and having lost all my tools, set out to try and find them again. Found pretty much all of them until I came to modelviewer. That took some time to find but I did. That is where the problem began. The latest update I can find for it is like March of 2012 (Pre-SoA). So I thought I could try and use AltanaViewer's files... That didn't work needless to say. Only reason I really need to have modelviewer back is for the export/import feature.

If anyone knows where I could find a recent (late 2013 I think would even suffice) or another program that would do the exporting and importing, that would be great!

I think this might have what you want. You have to post in the intro topic to download stuff though.

Tools But I don't think there's any recent Model viewer updates. And this site is not very active, try rooting around on windower or BG forums? (least there you don't have to post to download) Nekosentai (nsfw warning) has some dat stuff too FFXI modders corner

Bless his soul, Krizz has been doing wonderful work on AltanaViewer, should be able to find a version with most of SoA stuff added in over in this thread. With the rate they have been adding equip lately, im sure its not 100% up to date, but perhaps has alot of what your seeking.

Yeah, Carrie and Neko Sentai were the first places I looked. Carrie was where I found the version of modelviewer that I have (March 2012) and was able to easily find Altanaviewer fully updated. It is missing (or I'm just missing it somewhere) the ability to export the .dat files and split them into their four components. (The bitmap, DDS, MCD, and MQO files) so they can be edited. This part is what I need. If anyone knew how to convert the Altanaviewer files into a format that modelviewer could use, that would be awesome as well.

I wish there was a stronger community for this, some of the old talent that left was really awesome like Mooshy. Do they even do this for FFXIV? Seemed fun but I was always too lazy to learn it.

Seems to me, if i remember correctly, the lists are easy to update. The different between the two viewers are not that vastly different. Just a matter of plugging in the dat ID numbers. I remember adding to both lists at one time or another when I was heavy into DAT modding. It's been a long time since I did any of that though.

I've collected a few programs for modding purposes, if you like I can bundle them into a super mod program collection and upload them onto some site. I have:

AltanaView: Already mentioned previously by others, and Krizz has been very consistent about updating it. You can't really do anything to mod with this program, but you can easily view most of the game's files. I've updated the music list to include Adoulin.

Model Viewer: Less impressive than AltanaView for checking out files, but has a very handy feature that will export .DAT model files into their separate components, and import them back again. The version I have is pretty old and could use an updated model list, though. Note that any models you export can be modified in a program like Metasequoia (a free 3D modeling program) and imported back into the game. However, you cannot add/remove verticies on models, so it has it's limits. Great for little touches though.

VRS: An incredibly frustrating modeling program that has the ability to modify .DAT models beyond what Metasequoia can do. This includes being able to make stuff from scratch, as well as combine/add/remove parts of models, or even make custom animations (which I have not attempted). However, the interface is in broken English translated from Japanese, and even when you know what you're doing, it can be like working with tweezers to sort sand. Stromgarde on the Blue Gartr forums has great experience with this program and I occasionally go to him for tips or help.

ChangeTex: A handy little program that imports/exports the .dds files of models, allowing you to edit them in a program like Photoshop (which requires a .dds plugin that I can include). Great if you want to recolor/redesign the textures on models, such as your character's facial expression or hair color.

FFXI Icon Change: An easy to use program that allows you to import your own status icons (like Signet, Protect, Food, etc). Lately I've been going to town with this one, because as a tank, I hate seeing a million of the same icons (you know, the Barspell one) for every single buff I've got and never knowing what is what. You can also export existing icons if you want to simply modify them.

XiMC: A program that allows you to convert .wav files into .bgw files (background music). Note that you'll need a program like Audacity if you want to say, loop or edit a .wav file. I've discovered a few tricks allowing for songs that don't loop well to be used properly (ie: songs with a really awesome intro).

I think that's it, other programs (Photoshop, Audacity, Metasequoia) are extremely helpful, and of which only Photoshop isn't free. So, if you or anyone else is interested, I will bundle the programs I mentioned and host them somewhere. Additionally, I can create a thread serving as tutorials from my experience, and even upload some of my .dats (of which, probably my favorite is using the Bravely Default boss music for Ark Angel fights).

If nothing else, locate the dat you desire to edit on Altana Viewer, the file number/location is listed once selected. Then goto appropriate dat list in ModelViewer (Taru hands for example) and simply add in a line at the bottom with that file number/location and a title that you'll recognize. Open ModelViewer after saving the list and your dat should then be viewable on the drop down list as normal.

If this is too cryptic, I can try to find a picture guide, pretty sure one still exists out there.

First of all, thank you everyone for the information you provided.

In my annoyance, I hadn't thought about updating the lists directly. For anyone else that is looking to do this, this is what I did:

1)Open Altanaviewer and find the .dat you wish to adjust (Example: Manibozo Brias Hume-F would be ROM/301/1)

2)With that noted, open up the List in the Modelviewer folder for the correct gender and slot that you want. (This example Modelviewer/list/Hume-F_Legs.lst). Personally opened it with Notepad ++ but others may work as well.

3)Afterwards, place the desired .dat information in the list of others. For the Manibozo Brias, it would need to be input like this:
301-1, Manibozho Brias
The numbers will refer to the .dat location in the FFXI folders (ROM/301/1 becomes 301-1) and the name you place after it will be what is displayed in the program.

4)Save the changes and open Modelviewer and select the race / slot that you desired and the listing should be there, ready to be exported and edited.

If you do put the programs up somewhere, I can host them as well.

Sure, give me a little bit and I'll compile them. I've also updated the lists for AltanaView (but not Model Viewer cuz I'm lazy) to organize all of those Adoulin weapons, as well as including Adoulin song file listing.

lists can be copied from altanaview to modelviewer. the only difference is altanaview lists are 1/1.dat and modelview is 1-1.dat

This is true, however there are a ton of lists that need to be updated (each slot of each race has its own list), and I'm one lazy dude.