Hi All,

If you've ever been interested in writing your own Daggerfall tools, but haven't been able to get into the file formats, I've started a new project called the http://www.dfworkshop.net/?page_id=396. This is a C# rewrite of the code I've developed over the years for getting data out of Daggerfall's files, bundled up in an easy-to-use class library. While still in the early stages, I have decided to share this right from the start so I can determine interest in the library, and garner feedback from anyone who might get use out of it.

There are a handful of http://www.dfworkshop.net/?page_id=401 to help you get started (source for these is included with the download), and of course the http://www.dfworkshop.net/?page_id=398 itself. I am still working on proper namespace documentation, but XML documentation is included with the library, which should show up in Intellisense when accessing the namespaces.

The intermediate tutorials cover writing small applications such as a http://www.dfworkshop.net/?page_id=494, and a http://www.dfworkshop.net/?page_id=511 using minimal code, and no knowledge of the file formats needed.

I will be adding to the tutorials over the next couple of weeks for proper 3D visualisation (using XNA or Ogre, I haven't decided yet), and working with dungeon and city blocks.

If DFConnect is something you are interested in using, please download and let me know your feedback. I will be open-sourcing DFConnect once it is a little more complete and polished than the test build up at the moment.

I really wish I had the skillset to utilize such an amazing code base. Your work has always been very impressive, Interkarma.

Thanks Taemos. I know this project will have a smaller interested base due to it being code-related. I'm hoping it will help encourage a new generation of Daggerfall enthusiasts to entertain and amaze us.

A shame that coding is one of very few things I haven't attempted to learn (and later give up on). Ah, well. I'm sure the other modders such as Lucius will put these to good use.

I hope so (though I don't think Lucius needs any help with the file formats ).

The main goal of DFConnect is to help people who can code, and are interested in Daggerfall, but don't have the time/interest to write all the boilerplate necessary for accessing Daggerfall's files. The library is simple enough to use that even folks with entry-level experience should be able to do something with it. Being a .NET class library, it can be used in any of the .NET languages (such as Visual Basic, C#, etc.). It also opens up some interesting avenues like using the XNA Framework with Daggerfall.

I can see it potentially spawning all manner of weirdness: Daggerfall map PDF generators, Daggerfall dungeon-to-Quake converters (why?), cheat programs, modding tools (assuming Lucius doesn't corner the market there), Daggerfall Winamp visualization plugins, etc, etc.

You nailed it, Aliotroph? I'm hoping we eventually get a menagerie of weird, surprising, and entertaining tools that connect to Daggerfall in some way. With the game now free to download, everyone can take advantage of whatever comes out of it.

Thanks a lot for this Interkarma! I started a 'BLOCKS.BSA' editor using C++ (and Qt for the GUI) a month ago for some hacking purposes and I had to start writing a BSA library. However I stopped due to real-life things as usual. Now I think I will continue my work on this using your wonderful library and this gives me a good reason to learn C#

That sounds awesome, Ferital. Support for BLOCKS.BSA will be in the next version, which should be ready this weekend.

Everything in DFConnect is currently read-only, but it's certainly possible to make read-write versions of the classes. Hopefully there will be enough interest that people will help me add these extra features once the library is open source.

Version 0.3.2 of DFConnect is now available on the http://www.dfworkshop.net/?page_id=398 page. This build is packaged as an MSI installer and includes early namespace documentation. Online documentation available on the http://www.dfworkshop.net/?page_id=404 page.

The 0.4.0 build of the DFConnect Library has been http://www.dfworkshop.net. This build adds support for RDB (Dungeon) blocks, along with a couple of demos that show how to use DFConnect with a 3D engine. Source code for the demos (a mesh and dungeon block viewer) is included with the library, along with pre-built executables.

DFConnect 0.4.5 is http://www.dfworkshop.net/?p=638. This build has updated support for reading RMB (outdoor) blocks, and a new demo for browsing them. Full source code is included with the demo binaries.

Edit: I just realised the last four posts were from me. If mods feel there is not enough conversation on this subject, just let me know and I will stop posting updates to this thread.