VMS Editor - X-Hax/sa_tools GitHub Wiki

VMS Editor is a tool that can read and modify the data in various VMS files used by the Dreamcast version of Sonic Adventure. These files are usually created on the VMU by the game itself or downloaded from the official website using the Dreamcast browser. This tool also has an editor for Dreamcast VMI files, which is required for importing VMS files in some emulators or downloading them using the Dreamcast browser.

Table of Contents

Supported Files

Filename Description Relevant Editor
SONICADV_000 to SONICADV_999 Events and challenges DLC Editor
SONICADV__VM Chao Download Data/Chao Adventure Chao Editor
SONICADV_ALF Chao Garden Save Chao Editor
SONICADV_H00 to SONICADV_H07 Upload Data See below

Upload data

Filename (JP) Filename (INT) Description Relevant editor How to create in the game
SONICADV_H00 SONICADV_H07 Chao Upload Data Chao Editor Hold Y+A when a Chao is going into the transporter until you hear the ring sound
SONICADV_H01 SONICADV_H04 World Rankings Data World Rankings Converter Hold Y+A on the file select screen until you hear the ring sound
SONICADV_H02 SONICADV_H05 Twinkle Circuit Data Challenge Result Viewer Created automatically when you finish the DLC Twinkle Circuit course
SONICADV_H03 SONICADV_H06 Event Result Data Challenge Result Viewer Created automatically when you finish a DLC challenge

Program Mode Selector

Program Mode Selector

This window lets you open a specific editor manually or auto-detect the data by file contents and open the relevant editor automatically. It also has additional tools to decode and decrypt/encrypt DLC and Upload data.

VMI Editor

A VMI file is required for the DLC to be compatible with the Dreamcast browser and some emulators (such as redream). The VMI file is also created automatically by Chao Editor and DLC Editor when you save the VMS file (this can be disabled in the Edit menu).

VMI Editor

Resource is the name of the VMS file to be loaded when the VMI file is opened by the browser. File Name is the name the VMS file will have on the memory card.

Notes on VMI files

  • If you want to make the file downloadable with the Dreamcast's browser, make sure the Resource field matches the VMS filename on the server. For example if the VMS file is called TIKAL.VMS, the Resource string should be TIKAL.
  • Set File Number to 1 and VMI Version to 0 for compatibility with SA1's built-in browser.
  • Resource cannot be longer than 8 characters.
  • File Name must be 12 characters.
  • File Name for DLCs must be SONICADV_XXX, where XXX is a 3-digit number.
  • File Name for other files must match the default name for the data type (see Supported Files).