This program is provided "as is" with no warranties expressed or implied. The author will not be held responsible for any losses incurred, either directly or indirectly by the use of this program, or for any infringement of copyright or licensing laws that using this product may break.
This is not a Microprose product and the author has no connection with Geoff Crammond, Microprose or Hasbro Interactive.
This program must be distributed in its entirety, including this document.
GP3 Jammer works on the 16 bit Jam files used in the hardware accelerated display mode. It does not work with 8 bit software mode Jam files. It allows you to export the image contained in the Jam file to a Bmp (bitmap) file. This file can then be edited with a graphics application (such as Paint Shop Pro), and then imported back into the Jam file. In essence, it is a tool to facilitate the user's customisation of GP3's graphics - cars, helmets, pit crews, adverts, scenery ... anything.
This is the first (and only?) release of this program, and whilst I have tested it as much as possible, it may have unseen consequences. Be warned - back up any Jam files before you change them.
Run the application. There are only four things you can do.
Load Jam
Opens a file dialog so you can select the Jam file you want to load. Only one Jam file can be loaded at a time. You may be presented with error messages should the Jam file not be 16 bit or it is corrupted. The Jam files you can edit with this application are contained within the "GP3JamsH" directory. You should have first done a full install of the game, so that the Jams are on your hard drive, and not on the CD.Export Bitmap
Extracts the bitmap information from the Jam file and saves it as a 24 bit Bmp file. The transparency colour used in the Jams is cyan.Import bitmap
Opens a file dialog so you can select a Bmp file to import. This replaces the image information in the Jam file with the image in the Bmp file. Should the Bmp file not be 24 bit, or not the same size as the image in the Jam file, an error message is displayed.Save Jam
Saves the Jam file.
GP3 Jammer is just a first attempt at decoding/encoding 16 bit Jams. All told, it appears to work very well. Of all the 567 Jams used, there is only one that it cannot handle - "Landscap.Jam". This has a special format all of its own. Its only a grass texture anyway, so I don't think it will be missed.
Yes, I know the program does not do batch decoding/encoding and it has a very limited interface. No doubt others will produce more fully featured apps like the excellent GPEdit. But I've rather hurt my brain trying to understand the format of the Jams and I have other, pressing, work to attend to. At least it gives people a start in being able to produce their own GP3 graphics. My initial impetus to write this was so that I could design a car livery for my own "Juicy Bifter" team......
In order to run, two dll's must be in your "Windows/System" directory. These are "mfc42.dll" and "msvcrt.dll". Most people should have these dll's on their systems already. If not, what have you been using your machine for! I have not included them with this program, as they bloat its size to over 40 times its size. Most GP3 discussion forums should be able to point you in the right direction if you don't have them. Right fellas ...?
Enjoy,