SZS Modifier

**SZS Modifier**
Creator:	Chadderz
File Formats:
Version:	2.5.2.0
Video:	—
Download:	ChadSoft

Overview

SZS Modifier was the first program used to create Mario Kart Wii texture hacks, and eventually, custom tracks. It was made by Chadderz. Several programs have developed since that can perform the functions of SZS Modifier, such CTools Pack, KMP Modifier, BrawlBox, and KMP Cloud. However, the original program is still quite useful and should be part of any CT maker's arsenal.

Features

SZS Modifier has various features to enable editing Mario Kart Wii and other Wii games that use similar files. The program has editors for BMG files, KCL files, KMP files, BRRES files and U8 files. It also has links to the SFP Server to allow the distribution of custom tracks, and a USB Gecko connection feature to allow editing of courses in the Wii's memory (Last known Version which works with the USB Gecko is 2.4.6.0).

Interface

SZS Modifier has the "old_mario_64.szs" file open

In the picture, you can see the way that SZS Modifier displays the files, which is in a file tree view. The SZS file shown contains a KCL file, a KMP file, multiple BRRES files, and a couple of other types of files that aren't currenly editable by the program. Selecting one of those or one of the editable files while holding CTRL displays a hex viewer.

The "File" menu has the options that every File menu has: Open, Save, Save As, and Exit.
The "Patches" menu has options related to SFP patches: Create one from the currenly open file, apply one to the currenly open file, upload a ptach to the server and browse the server, where it's possible to download patches made by other people.
The "USB Gecko" menu has only one option, which is the one to connect the program to the USB Gecko. It's grayed if there isn't any detected.
The "View" menu has the option to view the status bar on the lower section of the screen, which shows if the Patch Server is online.
The "Tools" menu has the "Options" menu. It lets you choose if the file compression is either fast or produces a small file, and it lets you choose the language (avaliable languages are English, Spanish and German).
The "Help" menu shows an about box, with credits, descriptions and copyrights.

New KMPItems.xml

Wiimm has created a new KMPItems.xml (last update 2012-03-05). It contains a list of all known object names and also hints about needed files (see flags below). To install, copy the file to C:\Program Files\Chadsoft\SZS Modifier\ and overwrite the existing file KMPItems.xml.

Flags

B: BRRES file needed or supported.
E: Effect files (BREFF and BREFT pair) needed or supported.
D: BRASD file needed or supported.
K: KCL file needed or supported.
A number before a letter is a multiplicator.
?: No related file found. The question mark appears for object, that are not used by any track.

Name examples:

new name              comment
------------------------------------------------------------------
sound_volcano         no files used
ice(B)                1 BRRES file used
pochaMori(E)          1 effect files (pair with BREFF+BREFT) used
cow(B7D)              1 BRRES file and 7 BRASD files used
FlamePole(BEK)        1 BRRES, 1 effect pair and 1 KCL file used
woodbox(BE)           1 BRRES + 1 effect pair used
heyho2(2B)            2 BRRES files used
w_itemboxline(3B2E)   3 BRRES files + 2 effect pairs used

Wiimms KMP Object Query will give more details about the used files.