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ArmA 1 aka Armed Assault (ArmA)

PEW are Visitor's project files. Visitor is bis tool for creating terrains.

Visitor is a GUI tool that interacts with Bulldozer, an inbuilt 'world' viewer inside any Armed Assault engine.

The contents of the project file, pew, are not directly related to the ultimate output, a wrp file. However, that data, of course, contains all similar elements, such as road networks, elevations, cell matrices, models and textures.

Exporting a pew file into wrp format, involves the use of Bulldozer, since it is Bulldozer that decides how it wants that data presented, rather than anything visitor might like to decide. It is Bulldozer that determines the format and version of the resulting wrp file (in 8WVR format), and consequently, that, is a reflection of the Arma Engine itself.

While there have been several pew versions, the one's listed here are

*POSEW59 and
*POSEW60

there are only a few subtle differences to their makeup.

see Generic FileFormat Data Types

This file format is principally used with Armed Assault v1.09 and later plus the ArmA Tools Suite Final release (v1.14).

  POSEW59
  POSEW60
  {
    PoseHeader               Header;
    ulong                    nOFPTextures           // none in Arma;
    OFPTexture               OFPTextures[[nOFPTextures]];
    ulong                    nObjectTemplates;
    ObjectTemplate           ObjectTemplates[[nObjectTemplates]];
    shortBool                NoOfpTerrains;
    if  (!NoOfpTerrains)
    {
    ulong                    nOFPTerrains;         //  none in Arma;
    OFPTerrain               OFPTerrains[[nOFPTerrains]];
    }
    shortBool                NoOFPForests;         //  none in Arma;
    if  (!NoOFPForests)
    {
    ulong                    nOFPForests;
    OFPForest                OFPForests[[nOFPForests]];
    }
    RoadNets                 RoadNets[[...]];
    Elevation                Elevation[[...]];
    ulong                    NoOfObjects;
    Object                   Objects[[NoOfObjects]];
 
    ulong                    NoOfLayers;
    String                   LayerName;           //"Base"
    Layer                    Layers[[NoOfLayers]] ;
 
    if (POSEW60)
    {
     ulong                   Unknown;
    }
    else // pose59
    {
      ulong                  nNamedZones;
      NamedZone              NamedZones[[nNamedZones]];
    }
 
    ulong                    nRoadBlocks;
    RoadBlock                RoadBlocks[[nRoadBlocks]];
 
    if (POSEW60)
    {
      ulong                  nNamedZones;
      NamedZone              NamedZones[[nNamedZones]];
    }
    else // pose59
    {
     ulong                   Unknown;
    }
    ulong                    nKeyPoints;
    KeyPoint                 KeyPoints[[nKeyPoints]];
    ulong                    NoOfBackgrounds;
    Background               Backgrounds[[NoOfBackgrounds]] ;// not checked for 59
    ulong                    TotalSizeOfSelections; // from here, to end of file
    ulong                    nSelections;
    Selection                Selections[[nSelections]];
  }

 Header
 {
  char     Signature[[7]];        // "POSEW59" or "POSEW60" note: NOT null terminated
 
  ulong    Length;              // of PEW file;
  ulong    UnknownLong;         // typically 0
  String   IslandDataPath;      //"SomePboPrefix\SomeIsland\data\0"
                                // Folderlocation of the rvmat material list
  String   IslandObjectPath;    //""
  float	   GridSize;            //50.0
  float	   SegmentSize;         //400.0 (==SegmentSize - SegmentOverlap)
  String   IslandClassname;     //""
 };

 OFPTexture
 {
  ulong	    TextureID;
  String    TextureFileName;	// "snih3.paa"
  String    TextureName;	// "snih3"
  String    RvmatName;		// "snih3.rvmat"
  byte      UnknownBytes[[14]];	// (typically 0)
  RGBAColor Colour;
 }

  ObjectTemplate
  {
      String       ModelFilename; //"SomePrefixRoot\data\jablon.p3d\0"
      String       ModelName;     //"jablon"
      ulong        ObjectType;    // 0..5
                                  // 0 Undefined - This type should never be encountered.
                                  // 1 Natural
                                  // 2 Artificial
                                  // 3 Road (RoadFlag will be true)
                                  // 4 Forest
                                  // 5 Road2 (RoadFlag will be false)
      RGBAColor    OutlineColour;
      RGBAColor    ObjectColour;
      double	   GeometryBounds[[2]];	        // 50.0
      ulong	   ModelID;
      XYZTriplet   GeometryAutocenterPos;
      double	   ResolutionBounds[[2]];	        // 50.0
      XYZTriplet   ResolutionAutoCenterPos;
      shortBool	   Generally0x01;
      shortBool	   RandomScaleFlag;
      double	   RandomScaleMinMax[[2]];        // 50.0
      shortBool	   RandomRotateFlag;
      double	   RandomRotateMinMax[[2]];       // 20.0
      shortBool	   RandomOrientationFlag;
      double	   RanmdomOrientationMinMax[[2]];	// 180.0
      shortBool	   RoadFlag;
      if (RoadFlag)
      {
            TransformMatrix RoadNamedSelections;	// (LB, PB, LE, PE)
            TransformMatrix XRoadNamedSelections;	// (LD, LH, PD, PH)
      };
      ulong            nNamedVectors;               // Usually 0 (zero)
      NamedVector  NamedVectors[nNamedVectors];
      ulong        MarkerType;	                // Rectangular = 0, Elliptical = 1
  }

  NamedVector
  {
     String     Name;       //"pohrada"
     LongBool   Unknown;
     ulong      nTriplets; // always 2
     XYZTriplet StartEndPos[[nTriplets]];
  }

 OFPTerrain
 {
  String  TerrainName;
  byte    UnknownBytes[[11]];
  ulong	  nSurfaces;
  OFPSurface OFPSurfaces[[nSurfaces]];
 }

 OFPSurface
 {
  String SurfaceName;
  float	 Surfacefloat[[4]];
  byte   UnknownBytes[[16]];
 }

 OFPForest
 {
  String    ForestName;
  RGBAColor OutlineColour;
  RGBAColor ObjectColour;
  ulong	    SquareFillModelID;
  ulong	    SquareModelID;
  ulong	    TriangleModelID;
  ulong	    Unknown1;	// (typically 0)
  ulong	    Unknown2;	// (typically 0)
 }

    shortBool NoRoads;
    if  (!NoRoads)
    {
      ulong    nTypes;
      RoadType RoadTypes[[nTypes]];
      ulong    nXRoads;
      XRoad    XRoads[[nXRoads]];
    }

  RoadType
  {
    String       FamilyName;        // "cesta","silnice",etc
    RGBA         KeyPartsColour;
    RGBA         NormalPartsColour;
    shortBool    FilledLine;        // 0 or 1
    double       MaxAngle;          // 25.0 degrees
    double       MaxBankAngle;      // 5.0 degrees
    ulong        nStraights;
    RoadList     Straights[[nStraights]];
    ulong        nCurves;
    RoadList     Curves[[nCurves]];
    ulong        nSpecials;
    RoadList     Specials[[nSpecials]];
    ulong        nTerminators;
    RoadList     Terminators[[nTerminators]];
    }
  }

  RoadList
  {
       String      ModelName;      // "cesta25"
       ulong       ObjectID;       // in the model list
       ushort      MeterType;      // 0,1,2,3 not present for Terminators
       shortBool   CanChangeAngle; // not present for Terminators or Curves
  }
 
MeterType
:Type Straights Curves
:0      6         25   meters
:1     12         50
:2     25         75
:3               100

Broadly speaking, there are a few basic road types

*asfalt   bitumen.
*silnice  Paved
*cesta    dirt

Each RoadType describes the general characteristics of a Dirt Road as opposed to (say) an Asphalt one.

Each of these RoadTypes (such as asphalt) can have multiple curved, straight, special, and termination p3d models associated with them.

Generally speaking, there are

*3 'straight' models, approximately 6,12, and 25 meters long respectively.
*4 'curved' models, 25,50,75 and 100 meters long.
*1 'terminaton type.

The termination type is a road like any other but tends to be a fixed 6 meter fade out of the general road texture.

 XRoad
 {
  String    Name;	      //kr_asfaltka_asfaltka_t.
  ushort    Shape;            //1 or 3
  RGBA      color;	      //FF FF FF FF
  shortBool CanChangeBankAngle;
  ulong     ObjectID;
  String    Intersections[[4]]; //"asfaltka","silnice","cesta",Type=3 "silnice" else ""
 }

Although CrossRoads could, conceivably, have any number of intersections, only two types are handled.

*Type 1: A T_Junction (3 intersections)
*Type 3: A Genuine crossroad (4 way intersection)

For T_Junctions, there is, obviously, no 4th intersection and this is null filled.

Without taking too literal an interpretation, there are some major types of road.

*asfaltka:bitumen (sealed)
*silnice: Paved
*cesta:   Dirt

Thus the names of each intersection reflect the road type of that intersection, sometimes resulting in (up to) four identical names.

The overall name of the crossroad itself, tries to reflect the nature of it's makeup thus

kr_asfaltka_asfaltka_t: an bitumen T_Junction

kr_silince_x_cesta: a crossroad of paved and dirt roads.

 Elevation
 {
    XYPair   GridSize; // 256 x 256 eg
    float    Heights[[GridSize]];
    float    BlueEdgeTerrainHeights[[NoOfBlueFloats]]  ; //Always zero values
    // NoOfBlueFloats = (GridSize_Y * GridSize_X)/16;
    ulong    Always0;
 }

  Object
  {
      ShortBool IsPresent;
      if (IsPresent)
      {
        ShortBool Moveable;              // always 0
        ulong     InstanceId;
        float     TransformColumn[[3]][[4]]; // described here to solidly illustrate to reader
                                         // this is a standard DirectX Transform matrix
                                         // but in COLUMN format;
        double    ObjectRelativeSize;    // decimal percentage
        String    InstanceName;          // "minimalStrelPos"
        float     RelativeSurfaceElevation;
        RGBA      OutlineColour;
        RGBA      ObjectColour;
        ulong     ObjectTemplateID;
      };
  };

    Layer
    {
        ulong           SizeType;         //0..2 //see below
        String          Name;             //"Base"
        shortBool       DefaultIndicator; // 0 ... 1
        if (DefaultIndicator == 0)
        {
            ulong  SurfaceTable[[TableSize.x*y]];
            ulong  TextureTable[[TableSize.x*y]];
            byte   UnknownTable[[(TableSize.x*y/4)]];
            ushort UnknownShort;
        };
        if (DefaultIndicator == 1)
        {
            ulong           NoOfTerrainMaterials;
            TerrainMaterial[[NoOfTerrainMaterials]]
            {
                ulong  BitFlags;     // 1 = label, 0x40 = rvmatfile,,,,
                String MaterialName; // "---sea---","Layers\P_000-000_L00.rvmat"
                ulong  TypeID;       // 0..3
            };
            ulong RvmatTable[[TableSize.x*y]];
        };
    };
 
TableSize = Terrain.GridSize>> SizeType;

 RoadBlock
 {
  ShortBool IsPresent;
  if IsPresent
  {
  ShortBool Always1;
  ulong     Unknown[[12]];
            /* typical data
            **00 00 00 00 00
00 00 F0 2C
46 00 98 23
46 C6 6F C6
42 0E 01 00
00 01 00 00
F0 2C 46 00
98
23 46 C6 6F
C6 42 0E 01
00 00 4B 00
00 00 00 00
00 00
            */
  ushort    Type;             // 0,1,2,3
  String    RoadFamilyName;   //"hlavni silnice"
  String    RoadModelName;    //"kr_silnice_cesta_t"
  RGBA      color;
  ShortBool Always1;
  ulong     Count;
  FamilyList FamilyLists[[Count]];
  ulong     Unknown[[27]];
            /* typical data
            **FA D4 30 BF 94 58 08 3D 00 00 C8 C0 00 00 60 C0
            **00 00 00 00 00 00 48 C1 00 00 60 40 00 00 00 00
            **00 00 48 C1 00 00 60 C0 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00
            **00 00 60 40 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 C8 C0
            **00 00 00 00 00 00 30 C0 00 00 C8 C0 00 00 00 00
            **00 00 1C C1 04 01 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00
            **09 00 00 00 0B 80 00 00 04 00 00 00
            */
  ulong     Count;
  ModelList ModelLists[[Count]];
  }
 }
Type
*0 Road Ending with FamilyName and it's ModelName_konec
*1 TJunction ModelName Only
*2 Road similar to type 0
*3 Xroad with ModelName Only

 FamilyList
 {
   ulong  Unknown[[4]];// Typically 00 00 C8 C0 00 00 C8 C0 00 00 00 00 0E 01 00 00
   String Name;     // "silnice hlavni silnic\0"
 }

This struct is principally used for Xroads and Tjunctions. It typically lists the order of all RoadFamilyName's required

 ModelList
 {
  ulong      Count;           //15 eg
  BlockModel BlockModel[[Count]];
  String     FamilyName;      //"silnice hlavni silnic\0"
  ulong      Unknown[[4]];      //Typically 00 00 C8 C0 00 00 C8 C0 00 00 00 00 0E 01 00 00
  RGBA       color[[2]];
  ShortBool  Always01;        //01
  ulong      buf2[[4]];         // Typically 00 00 00 00 00 00 39 40 00 00 00 00 00 00 24 40
 }

    BlockModel
    {
        ulong	   ModelFlag;   // 0x000001 ... 0x00010001
        XYZTriplet Position;      // Model coordinates
        float	   ModelDirection;
        ulong	   ObjectID;
        ushort     Type;               //0,1,2,3
        String     ModelName;          //"silnice10 100\0"
        ulong      unknown[[25]];
           /*typical data
           **00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00
           **C4 76 C2 3F 0E EB 8A C1 00 00 00 00 BE 00 00 00
           **CC ED 26 BE CA 0F 12 40 56 30 28 3F 00 00 00 00
           **18 CA 04 C1 48 8B 3D C0 00 00 00 00 2D 3D 91 C1
           **06 01 C0 40 00 00 00 00 EE 98 84 C1 99 99 91 C0
           **00 00 00 00 64 4A 5F 35 99 99 91 40 00 00 00 00
           **64 4A 5F B5 01 00
           */
        ShortBool  ok; // 0 or 1
 }

 NamedZone
 {
  ShortBool IsPresent;
  if IsPresent
  {
   ShortBool Movable;        // Always0;
   BisString Name1;          //"Les_new"
   ulong     AreaColor,OutlineColor;
   ulong     DisplayStyle;
   ulong     nPoints;
   PointsRectangle
   {
       float TopLeft.xy;
       float BottomRight.xy;
   }[[nPoints/4]];
             /* Typical Data
             **00 00 61 45 00 78 1B 46 00 20 64 45 00 20 19 46
             **00 20 64 45 00 78 1B 46 00 40 67 45 00 58 18 46
             **00 40 67 45 00 78 1B 46 00 60 6A 45 00 58 18 46
             **00 60 6A 45 00 78 1B 46 00 80 6D 45 00 90 17 46
             **00 80 6D 45 00 B0 1A 46 00 A0 70 45 00 C8 16 46
             **00 A0 70 45 00 E8 19 46 00 C0 73 45 00 00 16 46
             */
   ulong     ID;             // 0,1,2,3,4....
   if POSEW60
   {
    LongBool  Visible; // always
   }
   else
   {
    BisString Name2;          //Les_new Name2==Name1
   }
  }
 };

 KeyPoint
 {
  LongBool  Always1;
  String    ClassName;  //"Noe_Lany"
  RGBA      AreaColor,OutlineColor;
  ulong     DisplayStyle;
  ShortBool Visible;
  float     Offset[[2]];  // map relative
  float     Size[[2]];    // 250 x 250.0 eg (widht and height)
  ulong     ID;         // 0,1,2,3,4,5,6....
  BisString TownName;   //"Lipany", "Hill"
  BisString LocaleType; //"NameCity" NameCityCapital, NameVillage, NameLocal, VegetationBroadLeaf,Hill,Marine,ViewPoint
  BisString ClassText;  // "canOcclude=1; BumbleButt='FlowControl2"; ++=)#4555Semi"
 }

Each of these locales have a LocaleType. Some of which are:

*NameCity

*NameCityCapital

*NameVillage

*VegetationBroadLeaf (Forest)

There is always a classname associated with this locale,

*Forest_Owls

*Abel_LaTrinite

and in most cases a text name

“La Refuge Des Chassuers”

(Type Viewpoints and Marine eg) do not have names associated with them. There is no "place" in the sea.

  Background // this structure has not been seen
  {
       String BackgroundFilename;//"sat_lco.bmp"
       String BackgroundName; //"overlay1"
       float  OffsetXY[[2]];
       float  SizeXY[[2]];
       ulong  Transparency;
       shortBool Visible; // or ulong?
  }

 Selection
 {
  ushort       strlen;
  char[[]]       SelectionName[[strlen]];  // NOT null terminated
  ulong        nSubSelections;
  SubSelection SubSelections[[nSubSelections]]
 }

 SubSelection
 {
  ulong ObjectId;
  byte  Type;
  byte  Unknown[[7]];
}

  enum ObjectClassEnum
  {
     Natural = 1,
     Artificial = 2,
     Road = 3,
     Forest = 4,
     ArtificialAndDefinedInRoad = 5
  }

  enum MarkerTypeEnum
  {
     Rectangular = 0,
     Elliptical = 1
  }

As of v60 a rarely used sub structure with ObjTemplates.