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File Formats
SWTOR uses a number of different file formats to store data. These are interesting, but are likely only relevant to you if you are making a tool, or are wondering what type of data is stored in a particular file. Each of these different formats serves to store data for a particular use. The most common files you will likely come across are .gr2, .jba, .mat, .dds, and .xml.
| Sections |
|---|
| Formats |
| File Structures |
| Reading a file |
Below is a list of all of the know formats used in the game
| Format | Content Type | Typical usage |
|---|---|---|
| .gr2 | binary | models, skeletons |
| .jba | binary | animation data |
| .clo | binary | cloth animations |
| .mat | xml | stores texture data |
| .dds | image | texture maps |
| .xml | xml | LUTs*/indices |
*LUT: Look Up Table
The .gr2 format has 3 variations:
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GAWB: This is your typical model file. The file extension is
.gr2 -
Skeleton: This is the skeleton (or armature) for animated models. The file extension is
.gr2 -
lod: This is a
.lodfile, it contains level of detail data. The file extension is.lod.gr2
Check out the gr2 structure here
Check out the clo structure here
Check out the jba structure here
This section covers good conventions and the process for reading the file formats that are stored as binary.
Note: a good an efficient file reader will read the headers, and use that data to find the corresponding data, versus parsing the whole file (more on that later)
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- Home.
- State of Play May 2025
- Getting Help:
IMPORTING SWTOR MODELS INTO BLENDER: A BRIEF OVERVIEW.
Check this intro first. Afterwards, you can jump directly to the guides on extracting PCs, NPCs and others.
-
ExtracTOR (Windows app): extracts the game assets from SWTOR's files.
Download - Guides. -
Blender (Windows/macOS/Linux app): popular free, open source 3D app.
Download - Guides - Short videoguides -
.gr2 Import/Export Add-on for Blender: imports 3D models in SWTOR's .gr2 format.
Download .gr2 and ZG Add-ons - Guides. -
ZG SWTOR Tools Add-on for Blender: includes Character and Area Assemblers.
Download .gr2 and ZG Add-ons - Guides. -
SWTOR Terrain Extractor (Windows command line executable): pre-converts SWTOR's ground patches files to a format (.obj) readable by our tools:
Download - Guides. -
JC SWTOR Tools Add-on for Blender (3.6):
Character, Gear, Dye, and NPC importer that doesn't use TORCommunity.com data:
Download - User Guides
Requires installing matched .gr2 and ZG add-ons, too.
(Older tools like Slicers GUI, Noesis, or EasyMYP, are no longer needed, supported, or compatible at all)
-
TORCommunity.com:
(warning: it runs VERY slowly)- SWTOR Database (with NPC Exporters).
- Character Designer.
READ THE BROAD STROKES FIRST: YOU'LL SEE IT'S EASIER THAN YOU THINK!
-
The steps:
- Extracting SWTOR's game assets with ExtracTOR (WIP).
-
Using TORCommunity's Character Designer to export Player Characters.
- IF ARMOR SELECTION SEARCH IS DOWN: workaround to manually specify Armor Sets.
- Using TORCommunity's NPCs Database to export Non Playable Characters.
- Using our Blender add-ons to auto-assemble the model.
- Rigging the character for posing and animation
- Applying SWTOR animations to the character.
-
Extra steps that require manual work and some knowledge of SWTOR's assets:
- Baking:
- Exporting to other apps:
- Exporting to VRChat.
- Exporting to Star Wars Battlefront II.
- Exporting to Unreal Engine.
- Exporting to Garry's Mod.
- Exporting to Tabletop Simulator.
- 3D Printing:
- Locating Player Characters' head assets through their Appearance Designer sliders data.
- Locating armor parts' assets.
- Locating weapons' assets.
- Assigning materials and textures to environmental and architectural elements, furniture, props, ships, vehicles and weapons.
- Assembling multi-part assets (Decorations, Rooms, etc).
- Generic guide to importing objects and assigning materials (Legacy Add-on-based. Needs updating).
- Snippets.
- Improving and customizing our SWTOR models and materials.
- Other Extracting Strategies (needs updating).
- SWTOR Materials recipes:
We have resumed modding tool development. Stay tuned for tools and tutorials. Meanwhile, visit our Discord's Modding channel
- Alternative techniques:
- Modding SWTOR textures with Special K (USE CAUTION).
Basically, use Jedipedia.net's tools and check our Discord. We'll see about adding new material, but this is very involved stuff.
- File Formats:
(32-bit. Needs updating to 64-bit): - A look at SWTOR's Materials and Texture Files.