Editing vars.arma3profile

[magnum482 10]

Not sure where to post this since, while it doesn't fall into the 'mission editing' category, it doesn't really fit anywhere else (except maybe tools).

After scouring the site I came across eliteness and its 'derapify' feature that supposedly makes the vars.arma3profile readable but when I try to use 'derapify' it is greyed out. Open/examine just gives me a blank screen for the vars.arma3profile. So how do I edit it?

---------- Post added at 23:17 ---------- Previous post was at 23:14 ----------

use unrapify/eliteness to get it in a readable format

This was posted in response to an inquiry on how to edit the vars.arma3profile. So I downloaded eliteness and find that I cannot do this.

DnA posted this warning:

We would recommend not tinkering with this file (other than through the in-game scripting commands mentioned above). You would risk corrupting your profile data, which may eventually contain data for campaign progress, GUI settings, etc.

So let's approach this with the assumption that I have understood this warning.

I feel like I am unearthing Tutankhamun's tomb here because even this information was hard to find. It would be great if someone knowledgeable would come along and enlighten me.

Nevermind, apparently simply running the derapify.exe on the file will create a .txt version.

Edited July 24, 2013 by magnum482

[ajb 10]

I understand how to edit the file using derapify but how can I repack it to the binary vars.ArmA3Profile?

[dvdbrewster 12]

Did U find OUT how to repack ? and is that the proper program to make var. file editable?:cool:

[TurboJet 10]

I seem to be out of options, so I am posting in this thread because I cannot make a new thread. I have tried to find a thread with similar questions to post my question in that is also recent, etc.

I have been messing around modding the vanilla campaign, but changing a file in Arma 3/Addons/ folder makes the game fail to start with the "Data file too short" message. (In this particular case I changed dubbing_f_epa.pbo (I packed it with the Arma 3 tools "FileBank.") Is it possible to mod the built in campaign? Can I get the game to recognize my modded files?

Sigh...

[Tajin 349]

Don't mess around with the original files. Create an addon with pbos that contain patches.

Oh and yes, you can basically mod/overwrite everything.

https://community.bistudio.com/wiki/Addons

However, what you're asking is in no way related to "vars.arma3profile" so please make a new thread if you have further questions. (yes you can)

@magnum482

Just wondering... whats the point in editing the vars file externally? So much easier to do it ingame.

[TurboJet 10]

Thanks Tajin, I think you have the right idea. I think new members do not immediately have the privilege of making new threads.

[Edit: hm, I seem to have it now, I might do that!]

After further research, I believe I need to put a config.cpp file in the top level of the pbo file. Therefore, after modding dubbing_f_epa, I placed the below code in dubbing_f_epa/config.cpp:

class CfgPatches
{
	class dubbing_f_epa
	{
		units[] = {};
		weapons[] = {};
		requiredVersion = 0.1;
		requiredAddons[] = {};
	};
};

Then I packed everything up into a new dubbing_f_epa.pbo file, placed in .../Arma 3/@dubmod/Addons,

and added "-mod=@dubmod" (without quotes) to starting parameters.

It did not work, I think I need to change the name of the class...I will get it sometime, perhaps. Thanks for the tip.

[Drift_91 33]

Sorry for the necro, but this is the top result on Google for "arma 3 vars.arma3profile" so I figured I'd give the answer for anyone looking at this thread in the future.

 

Seeing as how "derapify" is able to debinarize the file, it would only make sense that rapify would be able to binarize it. I've tested it by using derapify and then rapify without modifying the non-binarized text file and Arma 3 does seem to be able to read it. Just be sure to remove the "#define _ARMA_" line and everything above it. And as DnA has stated in OP's quote, you do run the risk of corrupting your profile; Be sure to keep a backup copy if you plan on editing the file!

 

(Btw TurboJet, if you still haven't figured it out, use AddonBuilder instead of FileBank. I made the same mistake myself.)