TaraEditor

[ThirdOnion 4,898]

Tara files are essentially Tanki Online's asset libraries. They store images, 3d models, and text files, among other things. If you have worked with Tanks Testing Tool or made maps before, you are likely familiar with these.

 

Before, the only way to work with tara libraries was to use the taraTools application, which I believe was made by the player ruslan_g02. However, taraTools is a bit clumsy to use.

 

Thus, I've created my own application for working with tara libraries: TaraEditor. It allows you to view all the files stored in a tara file and unpack whichever ones you like, as well as create your own custom tara libraries.

 

Download TaraEditor here

 

 

Using the program is quite straightforward. To load a tara library, select the "Import .tara library" option from the "File" menu. The files contained within that library will be displayed in the left list view. You can then either unpack all of the files and select "Unpack all" from the "Unpack" menu, or unpack whichever ones you like by selecting files from the list (hold Shift or Ctrl to select multiple) and clicking "Unpack selected."

 

TaraEditor can also pack files into tara libraries. Selecting the "Import files" option from the "File" menu will display the files to be packed. You can also add files from an open tara library by clicking the "Move selected to pack" button. Then, you can pack all or some of the files in the same manner as unpacking.

 

Caution: If you import files that have the same names as existing ones in the file list view, they will replace them. This will not alter the existing files in any way; they will simply not be packed into a tara. In addition, if the output directory has files with the same names as the ones selected to unpack, they will be overwritten!

 

Tip: If the application looks a bit blurry or the resolution doesn't seem to be as high as for other programs, you can fix this by selecting the .exe file's "Properties", then navigating to "Compatibility" > "Change high DPI settings" > check "Override high DPI scaling behavior."

 

Some notes on tara libraries:

• Theoretically, the maximum number of files a tara library can store is 4294967295, as the number of files in a library is determined by an unsigned 32 bit integer.
  
• Theoretically, the maximum file size of a given file in a library is 4.3 gigabytes, as the size of each file is determined by an unsigned 32 bit integer.
  
• Needless to say, neither of these extreme cases are actually possible, and in the program, file sizes are restricted to 2 gigabytes.
  

If you find any bugs or other issues, please do report.

 

Legacy downloads:

TaraUnpacker

 

Imgur links:

https://imgur.com/a/5yi7iij

https://imgur.com/a/AfkSShE

Edited June 13, 2019 by ThirdOnion

[Guest]

Posting this in the mapmaking discord rn

[Guest]

It could be useful if it were possible to pack your own Tara files or change models and images to the existing Tara files, but overall the tool is impressive, thanks for designing it!

Thanks. I will add packing functionality to the tool soon. You will be able to take files from tara libraries and pack them into new ones in one go, without doing any unpacking.

[Guest]

TaraUnpacker has been updated! It is now called TaraEditor, and supports creation of custom libraries. It also got a shiny new icon. The main topic has been updated with a new download link.

[FogOfWar_XXX 793]

I could write a novel about how this is important and useful for the mapmakers out there, but I'd be at the end of the list, I've only just started recently posting maps.  I think Adriel has already said for all map makers, but here it is again.

 

You made something we've been wishing for FOREVER.  This is the difference between using the same tired old textures on the same old tired props, or now, MAYBE, just MAYBE, we can finally break out some 3ds models, skin them, pack them, build with them, and present with them. The implications of this are enormous.  When map makers make Tanki videos now, viewers will see things they've NEVER EVER seen in Tanki.  From new props and buildings with new skins, to maybe tile textures and sprites (please, nobody make more sprites for now though, ugghh, they're a pain to place and view), sky is the limit now, just how much time people have to build these things.  Before, it didn't matter, except in a few cases maybe of trading out texture/skins and cleverly renaming them and getting lucky, there was no such thing.

 

Rest assured your efforts have not been in vain.  Exceptionally cool tool.

[Guest]

 

 

That CP point looks very cool - how'd you do it? I'm guessing 3d base and a sprite as the floating thing?

 

 

Thank you for the kind words, but I'm afraid you are giving me too much credit. The ability to make tara libraries has been around for a while with the "taraTools" program - I just took some existing functionality and made things neater.

Edited June 19, 2019 by ThirdOnion

[FogOfWar_XXX 793]

Okay, so I need something.

A long time ago, I had a REALLY cool library.  It had a lot of props in it, stuff you don't see anymore, AND ...

AND this is the important part...

It had all the textures and skins for COM Builds.  Like the windows WITHOUT bullet holes in it.  And the cinderblock without wear and tear on it.  And a bizzilion other surface looks that were great for variety.

With the new Tara Manager from ThirdOnion, it has made me want to do two things:

One, flog myself for having lost the library with all those cool possibilities.

Two, hope that someone has them and could send them.

While I'm at it, I saw some props posted just recently that I had not before, so I guess this is call for any and all to post their libraries up if they could be so kind.

So yeah, that's my pitch.  Look forward to see if anyone has any good hard to find and rare ones.

Edited June 19, 2019 by FogOfWar_XXX

[Guest]

A few words on the structure of tara libraries. They're dead simple.

 

First 4 bytes - unsigned integer representing the number of files contained in the library.

Next, the name of each file encoded in UTF8, followed by 4 bytes - the unsigned integer representing the size of the file in bytes. This is where we get the 4 GB file size limitation.

After that, the contents of each file.

 

For example, here's what the structure of a tara library containing two files, image.jpg (12 KB) and text.txt (3 KB) would look like:

 

[2][image.png][12000][text.txt][3000][contents of image.png][contents of text.txt]

 

Obviously this would all be in binary without brackets.

 

The current TaraEditor's code is pretty carp and its functionality is also quite limited. Expect a much better version in the somewhat near future.

Edited August 22, 2019 by ThirdOnion