MIX

2014-02-08T05:36:29Z

67.189.82.28: Vandal's advertising link removed.

.mix is the extension for the files used by [[Westwood]] to store most game files up until [[YR|Yuri's Revenge]]. For [[Generals]] and following, [[big-files]] took this part.

==Editing Mix-files==
Mix-files are read, edited and created using the [[XCC Mixer]] and the [[XCC Mix Editor]], both created by [[Olaf van der Spek]]. They can be downloaded at [http://xccu.sourceforge.net http://xccu.sourceforge.net].

==File Names and Loading Hierarchy==
Naming your MIX correctly is important for the correct execution of your mod.<br>
There are three names/naming systems
;{{tt|expand{{co|md|#D2691E}}##.mix}}
:Where ## is a number between 01 and 99, and {{tt|{{co|md|#D2691E}}}} is added if the the file is for {{yr}}.
;{{tt|ecache*.mix}}
:Where * can be any string.
;{{tt|elocal*.mix}}
:Where * can be any string.

===Loading Hierarchy===
The game searches the MIX files for contents in this order. Once a file is found in a mix, the next MIXes don't even get checked for its presence.
* A higher-numbered {{tt|expand{{co|md|#D2691E}}##.mix}} has a higher level than a lower numbered one.
* For {{tt|ecache*}} and {{tt|elocal*}} files, order is not guaranteed - standard WinAPI functionality is used to locate them, [http://bingo-players.org Gala Bingo] and no sorting is done.
:: Quoting [http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/aa364428(VS.85).aspx MSDN - FindNextFile]:
:::: ''The order in which this function returns the file names is dependent on the file system type. With the NTFS file system and CDFS file systems, the names are usually returned in alphabetical order. With FAT file systems, the names are usually returned in the order the files were written to the disk, which may or may not be in alphabetical order. However, as stated previously, these behaviors are not guaranteed.''
:: Additionally, files that have any of the "Hidden", "System" or "Temporary" attributes set are not loaded.

{{HorizontalBar|This list was generated for Yuri's Revenge 1.001 . Red Alert 2 ignores the {{co|md|#D2691E}} MIXes, and other games might use a different order, to be documented later.}}

# LANGMD.MIX
# LANGUAGE.MIX
# EXPANDMD##.MIX '';( 99, 98, ... 02, 01)''
# RA2MD.MIX
# RA2.MIX
# CACHEMD.MIX
# CACHE.MIX
# LOCALMD.MIX
# LOCAL.MIX
# AUDIOMD.MIX
# ECACHE*.MIX
# [http://casino-del-sol.net Casino Slots]
# ELOCAL*.MIX
# CONQMD.MIX
# GENERMD.MIX
# GENERIC.MIX
# ISOGENMD.MIX
# ISOGEN.MIX
# CONQUER.MIX
# CAMEOMD.MIX
# CAMEO.MIX
# MAPSMD03.MIX
# MULTIMD.MIX
# THEMEMD.MIX
# MOVMD03.MIX
# theater-specific MIXes - see [[Theatres]] for a list
# SIDEC##.MIX '';the {{tt|##}} stands for side you're playing as - 1 for Allied''
# SIDENC##.MIX

As a result of this, it is common to distribute new and modified files as follows:
=== {{tt|expand{{co|md|#D2691E}}##.mix}} ===
This is a type of mix file designed to overide things already existing in the game files. (as can be seen by rulesmd.ini in expandmd01.mix for Yuri's Revenge v1.001)
*[[INIs]]
*[[File_Types#.TEM.2C .SNO.2C .URB.2C .UBN.2C .LUN.2C .DES|.TEM, .SNO, .URB, .UBN, .LUN, .DES]]
*[http://casino-royale-lasvegas.com Casino Royale]
*[[WAV]]s (EVA voices, not the audio normally stored in audio.bag)
*[[SHP]]s (interface-/screen-elements, including side-related GUI ones)
*[[FNT]]s (general game font which can be edited by a FNT editor)

=== {{tt|ecache*.mix}} ===
As the name sugests, this is a cache file. The files in here are only read if they do not exist elsewhere, unlike other mix files where the last read file overides the previous versions files. the files inside these mix files are only indexed upon loading, and speculativly, the progressive number override doesn't apear to apply.
*[[SHP]]s (normal buildings, infantry etc.)
*[[AUD]] files (Not used in [[Red Alert 2]]/[[Yuri's Revenge]])
*[[VXL]]s
*[[HVA]]s

=== {{tt|elocal*.mix}} ===
This file is practically not used in the community, but works for "unofficial SHP, VXL, HVA and MAP files" according to {{theguide}}. Since, in the original game, [http://hollywoodcasinoonline.co.uk/ Hollywood Casino] local.mix holds almost all object-related graphics, and elocal*.mix works for the same file types, it is likely it was originally conceived as an expansion file specifically for local.mix. It is unknown why the community started using ecache*.mix for unit graphics instead.

===Loose===
*[[CSF]]
*[[PKT]], Only 1 can exist loose, otherwise you get maps listed multiple times.
*[[BAG]]
*[[IDX]]
*[[WAV]]
*[[BIK]]

Note that, despite this common distribution of files, many files (especially graphics) work in an expand{{co|md|#D2691E}}##.mix as well.

==How to make a new MIX file ==
'''Important:''' In order to be read by the game, your new mix has to reside in the game's folder, and has to be [[#File Names and Loading Hierarchy|named correctly]].

===Using [[XCC Mix Editor]]===
Click {{Tt|New}} and choose where to save it. To add files to a mix file you can go to import or you can use the faster method of "drag 'n drop" you can select files from explorer and drag them into the XCC Mix Editor window. Next press the "Compact" button, this saves and compresses the file.

===Using [[XCC Mixer]]===
Click {{Tt|File - New}} and select where to save it. Then, [http://awinkbingo.co.uk/ Foxy Bingo] navigate there and open that file in the Mixer. Now you can actually drag and drop files to the Mixer as well to add them, there is an option to compact in the context menu that appears when you right click on a file in that mix.

==Location of files in the game's mix files==

===RA2/YR===
*The [[INIs|INI files]] are in {{Tt|RA2.mix}} {{arr|r}} {{Tt|local.mix}} and {{Tt|RA2md.mix}} {{arr|r}} {{Tt|localmd.mix}}. {{Tt|rulesmd.ini}} and {{Tt|soundmd.ini}} for YR 1.001 are in {{Tt|expandmd01.mix}}.
*[[Cameo]]s (build icons), which are single frame [[SHP]]s, can found in {{Tt|language.mix}} {{arr|r}} {{Tt|cameo.mix}} and in {{Tt|langmd.mix}} {{arr|r}} {{Tt|cameomd.mix}}.
*Infantry, which are multi frame [[SHP]]s, can be found in {{Tt|RA2.mix}} {{arr|r}} {{Tt|conquer.mix}} and {{Tt|ra2md.mix}} {{arr|r}} {{Tt|conqmd.mix}}.
*The [[File Types#.VXL|voxel]]s (and their associated [[File Types#.HVA|hva files]]), Tanks, [[naval]] vessels, and aircraft, can be found in {{Tt|ra2.mix}} {{arr|r}} {{Tt|local.mix}} and {{Tt|ra2md.mix}} {{arr|r}} {{Tt|localmd.mix}}.

==See also==
*[[File Types#.MIX|.mix on the File Types Page]]
*[http://www.riverscasinoonline.com/ Online Casino]
*[http://xccu.sourceforge.net/documents/MIX_Format.html Explanation of the MIX format by Olaf van der Spek]
*[[Reserved Mix Files]]
*[[MIX protectors]]

[[Category:General Editing Information]]
[[Category:XCC Tutorials]]
[[Category:XCC Mix Editor Tutorials]]
[[Category:File Formats]]

ModEnc² - User contributions [en]

MIX