JKA Modding Tutorials & Tools (Updated April 27th, 2011)

***Inyri Forge*** · October 4th, 2007

JEDI ACADEMY MODDING TUTORIALS & TOOLS
By Category
This post is a compilation of as many tutorials and tools as I could find here on the forums, as well as off the forums, arranged by category, so that folks don't have to go rooting around the forums for the tutorials they need. If you still can't find what you need, feel free to post. If you have a tutorial to add, PM me or another moderator and we'll add the link.

NOTE: Be aware, some of these tutorials were taken from the Jedi Outcast forums, so check to see if they are compatible before using them. I also haven't checked every link -- PM a JK Series moderator if you find a broken link.

Note about linking to this thread: Please note that because the thread title is changed when the thread is updated, you cannot simply copy/paste the link given out by vBulletin. If you want to link to this thread at any point on any external website or even in a thread on here, please use the following URL:

Code:

http://forums.filefront.com/showthread.php?t=333326

Note: If you can't find the exact 3DS Max (or GMax) plugin you're looking for, check the Plugin Database (there's a link in the tools list).

Remember, those who help themselves first are more likely to receive help when they need it!

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SKINNING:
JK3Files Skinning Tutorial
Bael's Skinning Tutorial
Qbranch Tutorials

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MODELLING:
GMAX
Milkshape 3D
SoftImage XSI Mod Tool 6 (Link updated July 8th, 2009)
Autodesk Softimage Mod Tool
Roadkill UV Tool
Gun Compilation Tutorial (getting your gun model in-game)
Reference Sketch of Human Anatomy

GMAX/3D Studio Max Resources:
Almighty Gir's Player Modelling Tutorial (New link Dec/10/2007)
Ben Mathis's Modelling Tutorials
Making a Head - Poly by Poly
Psyk0 3D Modelling Tutorials (Contains player weighting and compiling tutorials!)
Getting a Vehicle Model In-Game
Lightsaber Crafting Tutorial
Inyri Forge's GMAX UV Mapping Tutorial (video) (Updated Aug 14, 2007)
UVW Mapping
Simple Sword Modelling Tutorial
ASE Importing for 3DS Max 8

Milkshape 3D:
Milkshape 3D Tutorials
More Milkshape Tutorials (Updated Aug 14, 2007)
~~Milkshape 3D Skeleton~~

Softimage Mod Tools Resources:
Beginner Tutorials
Softimage|XSI Character Tools for JA
Eclypse's XSI Mod Tool Weighing Tutorial

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SHADERS:
Q3A Shader Manual
Qbranch Tutorials
DLX's cell-shading tutorial

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MAPPING:
GTKRadiant 1.4.0
GTKRadiant 1.5.0 (Windows)
GTKRadiant 1.5.0 (Linux)
GtkRadiant 1.4.0 (Mac)
GtkRadiant Sample Resource Packs, Add-ons and Older Versions (Added Aug 23, 2007)
GtkRadiant Sample Resource Packs (Mac Installer)
Rich Diesal's Mapping Tutorials (Archive provided by Omegasigma+Devoted
~~Q Workshop 3 Mapping Tutorials~~
Bubba's Arena Mapping Tutorials
Massassi Temple Mapping Tutorials
GTKRadiant 1.5.0 Documentation
EasyGen Terrain Generator
Map-Review Tutorials
Creating Terrain
Rotating Doors
TK409er's Radiant Entity Menu Tutorial
Map Center Tutorial Thread
Customizing GtkRadiant
Creating Holopanels
Botroutes Tutorial
QuArK utility

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SCRIPTS:
Kengo's Scripting Tutorials

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OTHER:
Changing the Music in the Menus
Inyri's MP to SP Model Conversion Tutorial (Including Hoth Fix)
Adding Saber Hilts to SP Menu
How to Use ModView
Adding New Player Soundsets
Saber (.sab) File Manipulation
Chop Shop Servers Education Page - Contains Frames
How to Make a RoQ Video
How to make a HUD (Heads-Up Display)
Dragon Animation Tool
Dragon User Guide
Photoshop & GIMP tutorials
JA MP Coding tutorials, reference, discussion, community
JKHub - Modding tutorials, downloads, community

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WALKTHROUGH:

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HELPFUL TOOLS:
PakScape
3D Studio Max
3D Studio Max 7 Plugin Pack (GLM/XSI/MD3 + Extras)
3D Studio Max 8 Plugin Pack (Provided by =Someone=)
UVW Mapping Tool for use with Milkshape 3D
Offical Raven Modding Tools and ModView
3DS Max and GMAX Plugin Database
XSI Import/Export Plugin for Maya 8.0
XSI Import/Export Plugin for Maya 6.5/7.0
MD3 Import Script - 3DS Max and GMAX
PopNFresh's Enhanced MD3 Exporter v2.0
~~MD3 (and other) Tools - GMAX~~ (Site temporarily offline for reconstruction.)
PakRat - PK3 Viewer for Mac
the GIMP - Free Graphics Software
Paint.NET - Free Graphics Software
Audacity - Free Audio Software
JA Multi-Player SDK
AshuraDX's Saber Builder Kit

Want to suggest an addition or edit to the list? PM Raz0r with your suggestions!

Mikouen · October 4th, 2007

Posting this here because I've received reports that the attachment no longer works for some people.

How to add new saber hilts to the single-player menu.

Spoiler:

Tools you will need:
-Pakscape
-Notepad

Step 1. Open up "assets1.pk3" (found in your Jedi Academy base folder).
Step 2. Extract "saber.menu" from the ui folder. You can put this in any folder -- you'll just need to edit it a bit.
Step 3. Open "saber.menu" with notepad (or a similar text-editor).
Step 4. Use the "find" function to search for this text string: single_2

NOTE: Steps 5 through 7 are for single sabers or dual sabers ONLY.

Step 5. After you've searched for single_2 you should see a list that looks something like this:

@MENUS_SINGLE_HILT1 "single_1"
@MENUS_SINGLE_HILT2 "single_2"
@MENUS_SINGLE_HILT3 "single_3"
@MENUS_SINGLE_HILT4 "single_4"
@MENUS_SINGLE_HILT5 "single_5"
@MENUS_SINGLE_HILT6 "single_6"
@MENUS_SINGLE_HILT7 "single_7"
@MENUS_SINGLE_HILT8 "single_8"
@MENUS_SINGLE_HILT9 "single_9"

At the bottom of this list, add the following entry:

@MENUS_YOURSABERNAMEHERE "SABERNAME"

YOURSABERNAMEHERE will be some short string describing the hilt you want to add, and SABERNAME will be the name of the saber as it appears at the top of the .sab file.

Step 6. Scroll down a little until you see an almost identical list. It should be after a list of staff hilts, which we'll come back to later.
Step 7. Repeat step 5 for this new list if you wish for this hilt to appear in the dual hilt menu.

NOTE: Step 8 is for dual sabers only.

Step 8. If you have a dual saber, scroll back up to that list in the middle that looks something like:

@MENUS_STAFF_HILT1 "dual_1"
@MENUS_STAFF_HILT2 "dual_2"
@MENUS_STAFF_HILT3 "dual_3"
@MENUS_STAFF_HILT4 "dual_4"
@MENUS_STAFF_HILT5 "dual_5"

Repeat step 5 for this list.

NOTE: Your @MENUS_YOURSABERNAMEHERE **must** have the @MENUS_ part on the front. The YOURSABERNAME here can be anything.

Step 9. Save this file (you may have to go into the file's properties and uncheck "read-only").
Step 10. In pakscape make a new PK3. Create a directory called "ui" and put saber.menu in this folder.
Step 11. Open assets0.pk3 and extract "MENUS.str" from the strings/English directory.
Step 12. Anywhere in this file (don't put it in the middle of an entry, though! Entries are separated by line breaks) add the following entry:

REFERENCE YOURSABERNAMEHERE
NOTES "saber hilt name"
LANG_ENGLISH "THE NAME OF YOUR SABER"

Note that YOURSABERNAMEHERE should coincide with the latter half of whatever you chose for @MENUS_YOURSABERNAMEHERE and THE NAME OF YOUR SABER is whatever name you want it to show up as in the menu.

Step 13. Save this file and put it in the new PK3 you made (make a directory called "strings", then make a directory inside strings called "English").
Step 14. Save this pk3 as whatever you want (make SURE to save it as a PK3!) and make sure to save it in your base folder (in your Jedi Academy directory).
Step 15. Enjoy!

NOTE: If you have more than one MENUS.str in your base folder the names of the sabers may not appear. This will not affect gameplay.

Posting this here because I've received reports that the attachment no longer works for some people.