[Feature request] Compressing back unpacked .blk files

[PwaDesu]

Hey there!

First, let me start by one thing: Thanks for these tools, I've been using them for months and it's made my life so much easier when working with WT's awful modding API.

Here I come with a rather counter-intuitive request (that I've tried to get done by myself but unfortunately python isn't my strong suit): Adding the possibility to repack .blk files that were previously unpacked.

The reason for that is rather simple: Compressed .blk files are much lighter, and I believe they would still work for multiplayer missions (which are currently limited to 512KB, hence why the compression would help oh so very much)

[klensy]

Hi. I don't really know how to conver it back, at least now.

Are you tried to solve 512kb limit other way: for example using import_record thing? ( it's \mis.vromfs.bin\gamedata\missions\cta\historical\bfd\moscow_bfd_norespawn.blkx file, you can find there few more files over 512kb, even over 1mb)

imports{

  import_record{
    file:t="gameData/missions/templates/base_logic_template.blk"
    importAreas:b=yes
    importUnits:b=yes
    importTriggers:b=yes
    importMissionObjectives:b=yes
    importWayPoints:b=yes
    showAreas:b=yes
    showUnits:b=yes
    showTriggers:b=yes
    showMissionObjectives:b=yes
    showWayPoints:b=yes

    excludes{
    }
  }

[PwaDesu]

Yeah, imports are very useful, but unfortunately, as far as custom missions go, they cannot be used in multiplayer (As when creating a new custom battle in-game, you can only provide a direct link to a single .blk file, so imported files won't work - despite gaijin using imports internally. I guess, us, mere players, don't deserve that kind of power)

Do you know of any trick that could help reduce the size maybe? (I'm pretty sure new-lines are mandatory for example, but there could be some patterns that are only for human-readability and can be dropped like blank-lines)

[klensy]

What mission i can try to launch locally?

[PwaDesu]

What do you mean?

[klensy]

I've written simple minimizer, i need to test it on mission locally, as i can't launch multiplayer missions. Test mission works.

[PwaDesu]

you can't launch multiplayer missions?

[klensy]

As i understand, multiplayer mission requires:

1. The mission should have an initiator (creator of the session). The option of being an initiator will be automatically given to players that purchase any item from the game shop for more than $10. I don't really remember, if i purchased anything.
2. Multiplayer mission need to be uploaded to LIVE, to play? I've tried to download https://live.warthunder.com/post/890395/en/ and start from user mission, but it wont work (something about user should be owner or smth, i didn't remember).

[PwaDesu]

No you don't need to pay anything, the process to start a custom multiplayer is the following:

• Go to the battle modes (where you select either arcade, realistic, air battles, ground battles..) and select "custom battles"
• Click the "create session" button at the bottom-right
• Select "missions by URL"
• Click "Add mission" at the bottom-right
• Put whatever name you want
• Put the URL to the mission (you can use this one i just uploaded: cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/356224772184735756/699683602090295346/middle_east_ffa.blk)
• Add bots so you can start the battle
• Start the battle

The mission i just uploaded is very bare bones but works, so you can try to compress that

[klensy]

Nope, no "missions by url" for me https://wiki.warthunder.com/How_to_launch_a_custom_mission_in_the_game

[PwaDesu]

Oh so that's really a thing... i never noticed... Well, maybe you can run your script on the mission i just uploaded (https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/356224772184735756/699683602090295346/middle_east_ffa.blk) and send it back so i can test it

[klensy]

Hmm, can't see this mission when placed to UserMission folder, but ExploreSweden.blk shows in list. middle_east_ffa.min.blk.txt

[klensy]

https://github.com/klensy/wt-tools/suites/597656412/artifacts/4376619 ,will do proper release later.

[PwaDesu]

Alright, so I just tested the minified file you sent in custom multiplayer battles - and it works flawlessly. Pretty good compression ratio too, I cannot thank you enough for that

[klensy]

Yeah, imports are very useful, but unfortunately, as far as custom missions go, they cannot be used in multiplayer (As when creating a new custom battle in-game, you can only provide a direct link to a single .blk file, so imported files won't work - despite gaijin using imports internally. I guess, us, mere players, don't deserve that kind of power)

Do you know of any trick that could help reduce the size maybe? (I'm pretty sure new-lines are mandatory for example, but there could be some patterns that are only for human-readability and can be dropped like blank-lines)

Ah, yes.

  if ("imports" in misblk && "import_record" in misblk.imports)
    err("import_record in imports not supported in user missions")