LPAR (File Format)

LE-CODE

LE-CODE & related file formats

• LE-CODE: General description
• LE-CODE: History
• LE-CODE: FAQ for track creators
• LE-CODE: Distribution Tutorial
• LE-CODE: Definition file for distributions
• LE-CODE: FAQ for distribution creators
• LE-CODE: Item Cheat
• LE-CODE: Controllers & Buttons
• LE-CODE: Slot usage
• LE-CODE: Exception Handler
• LPAR: File format for parameters
• LEX: File format and definitions
• LTA: LE-CODE Track Archive
• LFL: LE-CODE File List
• Wiimm's Test Tracks

Extended presence flags

• Introduction
• Technical Description
• Track Tutorial
• Software Overview
• Implementation Hints

Related Categories

• LE-CODE
• Extended Presence Flags

LPAR (LE-CODE Parameters) is a text file format defined by Wiimm. It is used to define parameters for LE-CODE.

Introduction

A LE-CODE binary file (e.g. lecode-PAL.bin) contains a binary section with magic »LPAR«. It defines how the LE-CODE executor works. Up to Wiimms SZS Tools v2.14a, LE-CODE parameters had to be set via options while patching. As of v2.15a, there is also the possibility to define the parameters by a LPAR file. So a LPAR file is a text version of the binary LPAR section. Options are still accepted and have higher priority than a LPAR file.

This whole article is based on Wiimms SZS Tools v2.15a or later. Some parameters will be available with the release of v2.16a, see remarks.

Using a LPAR file is recommended, because some parameters can only be set by a LPAR file. A typical command looks like this:

wlect patch lecode-PAL.bin --lpar lpar.txt  ....

Here and in this whole article the filename lpar.txt is used for the LPAR file, but any other filenames like lecode-param.txt are possible too. Read section »Use a LPAR file« for more details.

A LPAR file is a text file that always begins with the magic »#LE-LPAR« as identification. It is divided into sections. At the moment 2 sections are supported, one for General Parameters and one for Chat Messages. So a typical LPAR file looks like this:

#LE-LPAR

[LECODE-PARAMETERS]

# LIMIT-MODE will be available with Wiimms SZS Tools v2.16a.
LIMIT-MODE	= LE$PRODUCTIVE

ENGINE          = 10,60,30
ENABLE-200CC    = 0
PERF-MONITOR    = 0
CUSTOM-TT       = 0
XPFLAGS         = 1


[CHAT-MESSAGE-MODES]
# ....

Section »Create a LPAR file« explains how to create and modify a LPAR file.

Sections

General Parameters [LECODE-PARAMETERS]

This section defines general LE-CODE parameters. The corresponding options have a higher priority. Remove or comment-out a parameter if its value should not be changed. All values will be limited to the allowed ranges.

General Parameters

Parameter Name	Value	Related Option	Description
LIMIT-MODE	const	—	This mode defines the allowed values for the other settings: LE$PRODUCTIVE Exclude test and experimental values. LE$TESTING Allow test values, but exclude experimental values. LE$EXPERIMENTAL Allow all values. LE$AUTOMATIC Enable automatic detection by analyzing all values. Values set by an option are never limited. See parameter descriptions for limitation details. This parameter will be available as of Wiimms SZS Tools v2.16a.
ENGINE	int,int,int	--engine	Defines probabilities for engine classes. A list for »100cc,150cc,mirror« is expected. If 200cc is enabled, the values are for »150cc,200cc,mirror«. Any number is accepted. They are normalized to get a total of 100 percent. Use »0,1,0« to force 150cc. Use »0,0,0« to reset to Nintendo's VR based choice.
ENABLE-200CC	int	--200cc	Enables (1) or disables (0) 200cc support. LE-CODE hasn't implemented this feature yet!
PERF-MONITOR	int	--perf-mon	Enables (1) or disables (0) the performance monitor for Wii and Wii U. Enabling is only possible if LIMIT-MODE=LE$TESTING or LIMIT-MODE=LE$EXPERIMENTAL. The special value 2 enables it for Dolphin too, but only if LIMIT-MODE=LE$EXPERIMENTAL. It doesn't work correctly with Dolphin.
CUSTOM-TT	int	--custom-tt	Enables (1) or disable s(0) Time Trial for custom tracks.
XPFLAGS	int	--xpflags	Enables (1) or disables (0) support for extended presence flags. Disable it only for tests! If LIMIT-MODE=LE$PRODUCTIVE, XPFLAGS is always enabled.

Chat Messages [CHAT-MESSAGE-MODES]

LE-CODE supports a special feature for chat messages in private rooms. If a message is sent by the host and at least one guest is present, then some messages change the behavior of the game. Until LE-CODE build 16 the functions were hard coded to the messages (see below). As of LE-CODE build 18 and Wiimms SZS Tools v2.15 each function can be assigned to any message, and also to more than 1 message.

Only the definitions at the host's side are relevant. The host stores the settings in an internal data structure. The data is sent to all guests when starting a Grand Prix. This guarantees that late guests will be informed about the modified settings even if they never received the related chat messages. The settings are reset after finishing or aborting the Grand Prix, or on message mode CHAT$RESET.

List of available functions

Category	Parameter in Wiimms SZS Tools	Description
—	CHAT$OFF	Default mode: Message has no special function.
	CHAT$RESET	Resets all special settings. (Wiimms SZS Tools ≥ v2.16a)
track	CHAT$TRACK_BY_HOST	The host selects a tracks and wins the lottery. The track selection for guests is disabled.
	CHAT$ANY_TRACK	Cancels CHAT$TRACK_BY_HOST and enables standard track lottery.
vehicle	CHAT$KARTS_ONLY	Each player must select a kart.
	CHAT$BIKES_ONLY	Each player must select a bike.
	CHAT$ANY_VEHICLE	Cancels vehicle requirement.
engine	CHAT$USE_ENGINE_1	Forces the first engine class. Usually this is 100cc. If 200cc mode is activated, then it is 150cc.
	CHAT$USE_ENGINE_2	Forces the second engine class. Usually this is 150cc. If 200cc mode is activated, then it is 200cc.
	CHAT$USE_ENGINE_3	Forces the third engine class. Usually this is 150cc-mirror. If 200cc mode is activated, then it is 200cc-mirror.
	CHAT$RESET_ENGINE	Cancels engine selection.
n_races	chat$n_races(N)	Defines the number of races in the next Grand Prix. N is a number between 1 and 512 (inclusive). The original game uses BMG messages 582 to 585 (hex) to announce the races. LE-CODE uses messages from 6100 (first race) to 63ff (512th race) for race announcements at the moment. It is planned to use message 610c for all races ≥13.

Notes

• Constants are written here with upper case letters and the function-call with lower case letters. Anyway, the text parser accepts constant, variable and function names in any case.
• Only messages sent by the host are relevant.
• Only one option of each category can be active. A later messages cancels the previous message of the same category.

Legacy settings (old MKW-Fun settings)

Beginning with LE-CODE build 18, no chat messages have a special functionality by default. Each special functionality must be defined explicitly. If you want to use the old behavior defined for MKW-Fun, you will need to create a file (e.g. with name lpar.txt):

#LE-LPAR
[CHAT-MESSAGE-MODES]
@legacy = 1

This is equivalent to:

#LE-LPAR
[CHAT-MESSAGE-MODES]
M65 = CHAT$ANY_VEHICLE
M69 = CHAT$KARTS_ONLY
M70 = CHAT$BIKES_ONLY
M71 = CHAT$TRACK_BY_HOST
M72 = CHAT$ANY_TRACK
M73 = chat$n_races(1)
M74 = chat$n_races(2)
M75 = chat$n_races(3)
M76 = chat$n_races(4)
M77 = chat$n_races(5)
M78 = chat$n_races(6)
M79 = chat$n_races(8)
M80 = chat$n_races(10)

Then use option --lpar lpar.txt when patching the LE-CODE binary.

The original game uses BMG messages 582 to 585 (hex) to announce the races. LE-CODE moved the messages to range 6100 to 6109 to support 10 races. MKW-Fun defines the following messages:

6100 = \z{802,110002}\z{802,110000} - 1st Race (\z{a02,1000000000} players)
6101 = \z{802,110002}\z{802,110000} - 2nd Race (\z{a02,1000000000} players)
6102 = \z{802,110002}\z{802,110000} - 3rd Race (\z{a02,1000000000} players)
6103 = \z{802,110002}\z{802,110000} - 4th Race (\z{a02,1000000000} players)
6104 = \z{802,110002}\z{802,110000} - 5th Race (\z{a02,1000000000} players)
6105 = \z{802,110002}\z{802,110000} - 6th Race (\z{a02,1000000000} players)
6106 = \z{802,110002}\z{802,110000} - 7th Race (\z{a02,1000000000} players)
6107 = \z{802,110002}\z{802,110000} - 8th Race (\z{a02,1000000000} players)
6108 = \z{802,110002}\z{802,110000} - 9th Race (\z{a02,1000000000} players)
6109 = \z{802,110002}\z{802,110000} - 10th Race (\z{a02,1000000000} players)

Manage LPAR files

Create a LPAR file

A LPAR file can be created from scratch, by reading an old LPAR file or by reading a LE-CODE binary file:

# create LPAR from scratch
wlect create lpar > lpar.txt

# create updated LPAR after reading old LPAR file
wlect create lpar --lpar old-lpar.txt > lpar.txt

# create LPAR by reading a LE-CODE binary file
wlect lpar lecode-PAL.bin > lpar.txt

# create LPAR by LE-CODE binary file and update by old LPAR file
wlect lpar lecode-PAL.bin --lpar old-lpar.txt > lpar.txt

All examples create a file with name lpar.txt. After creation you can edit the file. It contains explanations about syntax and meanings. To suppress these explanations, use either option --no-header (-H) or option --brief (-B). Both options are fully available as of Wiimms SZS Tools v2.16a.

After creation you can edit a LPAR file with any text editor.

Use a LPAR file

A LPAR file is included by option --lpar FILE. Use it with command PATCH when defining the tracks:

wlect patch lecode-PAL.bin  --le-define DEFINITION  --lpar lpar.txt

It is also possible to change the parameters of a LE-CODE binary without definition file:

wlect patch lecode-PAL.bin  --lpar lpar.txt