[Tutorial] Using ZeroSignal's Python scripts for editing SData files and not only

Hello everyone,

I see some posts from people that claim not to be able to edit the .SData files in .csv, which means using ZeroSignal's Python scripts for unpacking them and opening them in a .csv editor.

This tutorial is not rocket science, it is basic knowledge, and I hope that there won't be any questions for anybody after reading this whole post.

What can be edited in .csv ? With this method you can edit .SData files, .svmap files, .MLT files and .ITM files.

Let's begin. First of all, you need to download Python. There's newer versions, but I've been always using 2.6 and never had any problems with it. You can download any version from [Only registered and activated users can see links. Click Here To Register...].
The installation is pretty straight forward. The default installation root location is C:\, don't change it, you'll see later why.

Next you need to download the [Only registered and activated users can see links. Click Here To Register...] Python Scripts [Only registered and activated users can see links. Click Here To Register...].

Copy the contents of the .zip file in the Python folder, basically C:\Python<version>, in my case it's C:\Python26. Your Python folder must contain both Python default files and the files from the shay_data_edit_0-1c.zip file.

Before we proceed to the actual file unpacking, you should make sure you have downloaded and installed [Only registered and activated users can see links. Click Here To Register...], which is a great, freeware program that can safely open, edit and save .csv files.

You should also download the [Only registered and activated users can see links. Click Here To Register...], which can both encrypt and decrypt the ep5 and lower .SData files, by dragging the respective .SData file on them.
For an easier future, place both files in both Input\SData and Output\SData folders. This way you can encrypt/decrypt .SData files right before unpacking/right after packing them.

We're done with getting everything ready to work, now let's do the actual work.
Paste an Item.SData file in the Input\SData folder. If it's encrypted, simply drag it over ShaiyaSdataToolDecrypt.exe, delete the current Item.SData and rename the Item.SData.decrypted to Item.SData.
Open the Command Prompt(Win + R, cmd, Enter), and type in the command to move to the Python directory, as follows : CD "C:\Python26". Again, this is my case, it depends on where you installed Python. I recommended you use the default location so you don't have to type something like CD "C:\Hi\My\Name\Is\Python\Python26", this is useless.

On the following line, you type a next command, which calls the Python script responsible for unpacking the Item.SData, as follows : Item_csv.
You can go to Output\SData and find a new file, named Item.complete.csv. Open it in OpenOffice, and select the value delimiter as comma ONLY, no spaces, no semicolon, just comma.

After you're done editing the .csv file, you can pack it using the following command : Item_sdata.
You will see a new file in the Output\SData folder, named Item.SData, which is decrypted by default.

Below you have the explanation given by ZeroSignal in his release thread. There are people who didn't understand his explanation, but I hope after my detailed one, you will understand how simple it is by reading ZeroSignal's guide.

Spoiler

Quote:

Originally Posted by ZeroSignal

SDATA EDITING:
SData editing is straight-forward. Place the unencrypted SData file in
".\Input\SData\*.SData"

Click on the corresponding batch command from the programs root folder matching
to the file you want to create.

The extract files will be contained in
".\Output\SData\*"

Example:
To make Cash.SData into a comma seperated file run "Cash_csv.bat".
Edit the "*.csv" with a CSV Editor (I used OpenOffice Calc).
To create it back into a SData file run "Cash_sdata.bat".

MAP EDITING:
Map extracting and combining requires you use the batch commands from command
prompt. This is because it accepts 1 parameter that is the map number.

Place the SVMAP file in
".\Input\Map\*.svmap"

Open command prompt and navigate to the programs root folder, then enter the
command along with the Map index you want to extract.

It will extract the file into several files located in
".\Output\Map\[Map_number]\*"

Example:
To extract 0.svmap into its respective CSV files in command prompt enter:
"Map_csv 0"
To re-combine it back into svmap type:
"Map_svmap 0"

MLT EDITING:
MLT extracting and combining requires you use the batch commands from command prompt.
This is because it accepts 1 parameter that is the MLT file name.

Place the MLT file in
".\Input\MLT\*.mlt"

Open command prompt and navigate to the programs root folder, then enter the
command along with the filename you want to extract.

Example:
To extract vimm_hair.MLT into its respective CSV files in command prompt enter:
"mlt_csv vimm_hair"
To re-combine it back into svmap type:
"mlt_mlt vimm_hair"

ITM EDITING:
ITM extracting and combining requires you use the batch commands from command prompt.
This is because it accepts 1 parameter that is the ITM file name.

Place the MLT file in
".\Input\ITM\*.itm"

Open command prompt and navigate to the programs root folder, then enter the
command along with the filename you want to extract.

Example:
To extract 02.ITM into its respective CSV files in command prompt enter:
"itm_csv 02"
To re-combine it back into svmap type:
"itm_itm 02"

Enjoy !