Nomen
Copyright © Nobun 2010-2011
License: GPL v3
Loading, Creating and Edit an Sff
When Nomen loads or saves an sff, he automates a lot of actions.
This big automation will avoid to create panics and it is fine for an editor that tries to avoid to force too boring actions for users. That is, in my opinion, also the best way to allow Nomen to work both in sffv1 and sffv2 (that are totally different) without asking too many actions to users for every single operation.
On other hand, this big automation means a little attention by user that is using Nomen. Here you will find a list of things and explainations about what to do (or what to don't do).
1. Create a New Sff
In order to create a new sff, select the "New" item from "Sff" menu.
A new screen will appear. Now you can start with adding images.
The first thing to care of is this one: when you are creating a new sff it is VERY VERY important, if you are creating an sff for a character, to add as a first image one of that images of main character. For example: one image from standing animation.
To understand why see: "palette automation system" and "the importance of palette 1,1"
The second thing to care of, but only if you want to create a sffv1 file, is to HAVE at least one of 9000,0 o 9000,1 image (small portrait / big portrait) if you are creating a sff for character.
If you, instead, are creating a NON-character sffv1 , you must AVOID to use both 9000,0 and 9000,1 image.
This because, one of Nomen automations, is the sffv1 treatment: if Nomen finds a 9000,0 image or a 9000,1 image, the sffv1 file will be saved as a shared sff (character sff), else if Nomen doesn't find neither 9000,0 nor 9000,1 image, the sffv1 file will be saved as an individual sff (non-character sff)
2. Load an Existing Sff
In order to load an existing sff you need to select the "load" item from "Sff" menu. You don't need to know the format of sff you are trying to load. Nomen will load it for you regardless of his format.
Nomen, infact, will load sff internally using an independent data structure that is inspired by sffv2 structure (becouse it has a lot of params more) but it is not totally equal to it. When loading an sffv1 Nomen will arbitrary decide palette values, using the same method used by Nomen when you are adding a new image (see: "palette automation system")
3. Extracting Sff
When you load an sff, you can also extract all things it contains.
There are 3 items in menu: Extract All, Extract Actual Image, Extract Palettes Only
Extract All will extract all images AND palettes inside sff (also in sffv1)
Extract Actual Image will extract only the image you are actually viewing in Sff Editor
Extract Palettes only will extract only the palettes (all palettes) inside sff (also if sffv1)
Filenames: filenames will be saved as "gggg-ii.ext" where "gggg" is the number for groupno (ex. 0010 for 10) and "ii" is the name for itemno (ex. 02 for 2) and "ext" is the extension ("png, pcx or bmp" for images, "pal or act" for palettes).
Extracting Destination Folder:
Under Windows: <Nomen_path>/snap/FOLDER
Under Linux: $HOME/.nomen/snap/FOLDER
Where "FOLDER" is the name of sff (for example if the file is "kfm.sff", FOLDER = "kfm")
Under Windows <Nomen_path> means the path where "Nomen" stands. So, if for example Nomen stands at "c:\Nomen" and you are extracting "kfm.sff" you will find file extracted at
"c:\Nomen\snap\kfm"
NOTE: If you are creating a new sff, the 3 items for extracting (Extract all, etc) will remain disabled until you save the sff for the first time. After saving sff, the 3 items for extracting will be enabled
4. Save Sff
By default, Nomen saves Sff as a Sffv2. If you want to save Sff using the old SffV1 format you must select "Sff 1.0" format before saving. To do it, go to "Sff->Select Sff Output Format" to change the format for saving Sff.
Remember: When you quit Nomen and you run it again, Nomen will start always with Sffv2 as default format for saving
NOTE: There is also a "Remove Duplicates" checkbox in "Sff" Menu. If checked, Nomen will identify duplicate images (for example if image 5000,0 and 5010,0 have the same image inside) and, during saving, will save space in sff using linking images for duplicates. If unchecked, Nomen will save all images, without using linking images. By default "Remove Duplicates" is checked. It is suggested to leave it checked, and to remove check ONLY in the rare case the process for matching duplicates is too long.
5. Edit Sff
When Opening an Existing Sff (or creating a new Sff) the Sff Editor will open. If you close Sff Editor, you DON'T close Sff. You can recall Sff Editor to edit the actual Sff opened, using the toolbar button “Sff”
See "Using Sff Editor" for more details