Wiki: File Types and Formats

The following is a list of file types that can be found when doing modding work. Common items are bolded.

Extension	Name	Engines	Relevance	Details
.bsp	Binary Space Partition	Goldsource, Source	Mapping	This is a compiled map file that the engine will load. Compile tools turn your map in the editor into a BSP file.
.fgd	Forge Game Data	Goldsource, Source	Mapping	This is a definition file used by Hammer and other editors to detect what entities are available to be used. Each game and mod will use its own FGD file, so be sure to use the correct one for your game. The name "Forge" comes from the original codename for the Worldcraft editor, now known as Hammer.
.gam	Library list file	Goldsource	General	Every Goldsource game/mod contains a `liblist.gam` file, describing properties about the game/mod.
.jmf	JMF	Goldsource, id Tech 2/2.5/3 (Quake I/II/III)	Mapping	JACK's native map format, with features such as multiple VisGroups per object.
.lin	Linear Pointfile	Goldsource, Source	Mapping	Compile tools will generate a pointfile when there is a leak in your map. You can open the pointfile in your editor to trace a line from the leaking entity to the outside of your map. It is recommended you use the LIN file over the PTS file, if it is available.
.log	Log file	Goldsource, Source	General	A log file is typically generated by compile tools or other programs to save their output to a file. You can view them in Notepad or any other text editor. If you have errors during your compile, you can check the log file for details.
.map	Quake MAP file	Goldsource	Mapping	The MAP format is the format used by Quake editors and it can be used by Goldsource editors as well, though an RMF is a better option. Goldsource compile tools require a map to be in MAP format, however the editor will automatically do this.
.mdl	Model file	Goldsource, Source	Mapping, Modeling	Model files used in the game to represent players, NPCs, and props, separate from world geometry. These files contain meshes, skeleton, animations, and (in Goldsource) texture data. While both engines' model formats use the same extension, they are not cross-compatible.
.pak	Package file	Goldsource	General	A simple archival file format containing game data used by Half-Life, to help improve file access time for 1998's hardware. Modern Goldsource games distribution, and modern hardware, no longer needs it, but it's still supported.
.pnt	Pointfile	Goldsource, Source	Mapping	Compile tools will generate a pointfile when there is a leak in your map. You can open the pointfile in your editor to trace a line from the leaking entity to the outside of your map, however it is sometimes difficult to follow the line. If your tools generate a .lin file, it will probably be easier to follow.
.prt	Portal File	Goldsource	Mapping	Generated by the CSG compiler, this file is used by the VIS compiler to generate the VIS data in a BSP.
.qc	Quake code file	Goldsource	Modeling	A file format used by model compile/decompile tools, defining various properties of a model.
.rad	Radiosity File	Goldsource	Mapping	File used by RAD compiler to light the map. Contains a list of texture names and their ighting values. Superceded by the `info_texlights` entity.
.res	Resource file	Goldsource	Mapping	Lists the files game servers will send to clients to precache for a particular map. Found only in `maps/` folder together with the bsp files.
.res	Resource file	Goldsource, Source	UI	Steam UI uses keyvalues file with .res extension. Found typically in `resources/` folder.
.rmf	Rich Map Format	Goldsource	Modelling	RMF files are the source format of maps created by the Hammer editor. The format is perfect for Goldsource maps, however it cannot be used for any other engine. Unlike the MAP format, RMF saves groups, visgroups, colours, and other metadata that Hammer displays.
.rmx	RMF Backup	Goldsource	Mapping	When Hammer saves your RMF, it first renames the existing RMF file to RMX. Think of it as a snapshot of your map from the previous save. It is not, however, a very good version control mechanism. You should store your map source files in a source control system such as SVN or Git.
.seq	Sequence file	Goldsource	Mapping	A scripting file format introduced to the engine in 2004 to script sentences and map events, though the vanilla SDK isn't prepared to use this.
.smd	Studio Model Data	Goldsource, Source	Modelling	A file format used by model compile/decompile tools, containing actual mesh and/or animation data. Mainstream 3D modeling softwares needs to export to this format (natively or with plugins) for compilation into .mdl files that the game engines use.
.spr	Sprite file	Goldsource	Mapping, Texturing	This is a sprite file for the Goldsource engine, used in map detailing, muzzleflashes, and the HUD.
.vmf	Valve Map Format	Source	Mapping	The VMF format was created as a successor to the RMF format. Rather than RMF's binary layout, VMF uses a text based layout similar to XML or JSON. This is better for version control systems, and it also makes it easy for other editors to extend upon the format to add custom items.
.vmt	Valve Material Type	Source	Mapping, Texturing	This is a material for the Source engine. A VMT is a text-based shader definition, the actual texture is typically stored in a related VTF file.
.vpk	Valve Package	Source	General	This format is very similar to the PAK format used by Quake, however it is modified to match Valve's requirements. VPK files typically contain all the maps, models, materials, sounds, and other files for Source games downloaded from Steam.
.vtf	Valve Texture Format	Source	Mapping, Texturing	A file for that Source engine that contains image data. VTF files are referenced by a material specified by a VMT file.
.tga	Truevision Targa	Goldsource	Mapping, Texturing, UI	The in-game skybox, as well as UI elements such as the game background, uses this image format.
.txt	Plain text file	Goldsource, Source	Mapping, Texturing, Sound	Various files used by the engines are in plain text, containing specially formatted text. Examples include `gameinfo.txt` (Source), `titles.txt`, `sentences.txt`, `materials.txt`, `GameUI_.txt`, and `_detail.txt`.
.wad	WAD texture file	Goldsource	Mapping, Texturing	In the Quake engine, WAD stands for "Where's All the Data?", as this format stored all the different data types used by the engine. In Goldsource, however, only textures are stored in WAD files. Use Wally to edit them.

File Types and Formats Last edited 2 years ago2022-10-09 18:40:37 UTC

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