
Name:      : tex2tga
Version    : Beta
Build date : 22 November, 2000

Description: A simple converter from MM2 TEX format to TGA format.

Author:      HPB_Forever (dbk242@hotmail.com)

Thanks to:   Justie \(JH4C\)  (justhere4coffee@yahoo.com)
                 For deciphering the TEX format.
             Kaneda (steve@animefringe.com)
                 For testing and feedback.
			 Oleg M. (funspeed@softhome.net) 
			     For figuring out that MM2 can use TGA files as textures.
			     For the ZModeler 3D editor (http://zanoza.iscool.net).  

Installation: Put tex2tga.exe into a folder with some TEX files you want
              to convert.

Usage:        From a DOS prompt: tex2tga name-of-TEX-file
              - The '.tex' extension is optional 
              - You may enter the names of as many TEX files as you like.

              Example: tex2tga one.tex two three four.tex 

              -- OR ---
              Associate TEX files with tex2tga.exe.
              ** This is my preferred method. **

              -- OR ---
              Drag & drop TEX files onto tex2tga.exe.

Output:       All output files will be contained in a sub-directory named
              'tga'.
              - name-of-TEX-file.pal   - Images palette in Windows format
                                         * Only for car body textures *
              - name-of-TEX-file_h.tga - TGA image. It's format varies
                                         based on the type of TEX file
                                         converted.

Notes:        When preparing a TGA file for use in MM2, it must be 'flipped'
              and saved in 24 or 32 bit format.

              Only the car body textures output a PAL file.  This is done
              to make it easier to change the colors for all of the 
              textures in a particular skin.  All other TEX files are
              converted to 24 or 32 bit TGA files, dependant on whether or
              not the alpha channel is defined for the texture.

              If you decide to associate TEX files with the tex2tga program,
              you only need one copy of it on your system.  Also, it can be
              placed in any folder you like, not just in the one with the
              textures.

              Since MM2 can use TGA files in place of TEX files, the
              tga2tex utility has been dropped.

Known issues: When using the drag&drop method, long file names are mangled
              into their 8.3 format.

              After associating TEX files with tex2tga.exe, you will
              probably need to manually edit the association to allow
              support for long file names.  Here's how:
              - Open Windows Explorer
              - Go to View -> Folder Options -> File Types
              - Scroll down the list until you find 'TEX File'
              - Double-click on 'TEX File'
              - In the 'Actions' section of the 'Edit File Type' dialog, 
                double-click on 'open'
              - In the 'Application used...' field of the 'Editing action...'
                dialog, add these characters at the end (include the quotes)
                "%1"
              - Click 'OK'
              - Click 'Close'
              - Click 'Close'
              - That's it!  You should now be able to convert any TEX file
                just by double-clicking on it.

              When converting several textures at once using the associate
              method, a separate instance of tex2tga will be launched for 
              each file.  So, I wouldn't recommend trying to convert the
              entire MM2 tex directory in one go :)
