Hex Editing Literacy

[Mootheroo]

Having never done any hex editing so far, I would like to ask whether I am reading it correctly (definitely a "for dummies" question ).

I have read the Hex Editing Tutorial and whilst it's very clear and helpful, the example it shows is a very simple one-liner one and I get slightly confused when faced with larger modifications.

As an example let's take formerdeathcorps's "Oil takes 2x damage from fire attacks" ASM hack.

spoiler

BATTLE.BIN
0x11F464 change 982D428C to B74D0508
0xEC6DC
982D438C
5A006390
80006430
03008014
00000000
C74D0508
00000000
F7384490
80008430
03008014
00000000
C74D0508
00000000
CE384384
40180300
CE3843A4
982D428C
1B190608
00000000
00000000
00000000
00000000
00000000
00000000
00000000
00000000
00000000

So the way I input it, is:

1. Extract Battle.bin file from my .iso and open it
2. Go to > offset: 11F464
3. change 982D428C to B74D0508
4. Go to > offset: EC6DC
5. Enter all the remaining characters one after the other

Correct?

[RavenOfRazgriz]

You can simply use this handy tool I whipped up to generate FFT OrgASM XML code and then use FFT OrgASM to apply the hacks you want, since I feel it's safe to assume you're only looking to use things other people made and not make something yourself.  It'll save you quite some effort.

[formerdeathcorps]

Yes, but that would take forever.  A better way is to copy the above and paste it into your hex editor.

Also, that hack is now out of date.  If you want to use that hack, you may as well get the one from http://ffhacktics.com/smf/index.php?topic=5132.40.  The file is called basics.txt.  Once converted into a .xml file, you can even use FFT orgASM to apply hacks directly (http://ffhacktics.com/downloads.php, FFTP Suite).

[Celdia]

It sounds like you've got the right idea there, Mootheroo. Most hex editors have a Paste Overwrite function (as opposed to Paste Insert which will increase the size of the file - something you never want to do when applying ASM hacks like these) that lets you just drop in that whole stack of hex over what's already there so you shouldn't have to type it all in by hand.

[Mootheroo]

Thanks a lot for such prompt and helfpul replies, guys.

The amount of info on these forums can be overwhelming, to a newbie, at first but I'll get there eventually.

You can simply use this handy tool I whipped up to generate FFT OrgASM XML code and then use FFT OrgASM to apply the hacks you want, since I feel it's safe to assume you're only looking to use things other people made and not make something yourself.  It'll save you quite some effort.

Yes, at this stage all I am looking for is to get the basic understanding of how things work.

Once I figure that out, I want to add some extra features to FFT: Complete so that I can finally play (slightly enhanced) vanilla FFT from start to finish.

Thanks for the tip about the Orgasm XML Generator. I've just checked it out and it's indeed really handy!

[Mootheroo]

Yes, but that would take forever.  A better way is to copy the above and paste it into your hex editor.

Also, that hack is now out of date.  If you want to use that hack, you may as well get the one from http://ffhacktics.com/smf/index.php?topic=5132.40.  The file is called basics.txt.  Once converted into a .xml file, you can even use FFT orgASM to apply hacks directly (http://ffhacktics.com/downloads.php, FFTP Suite).

So if I understand it right, if I change the file extension from .txt to .xml and place it in the same directory as FFTorgASM.exe, the modifications show up in FFTorgASM?

ETA: Ok, ignore that question. I just did that and answered myself.