HIER (File Format)

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The HIER format is used to group logbook scans in Echoes into hierarchal categories, which are displayed while scanning objects. There is only one HIER file in Echoes, DUMB_ScanHierarchy in NoARAM.pak (asset ID 0xDD79DC2A). The hierarchy described in this file matches that in TREE, but is optimized for in-game scanning rather than pause menu navigation.


This file format is almost completely documented
What are Options used for?


Format

Header

Offset Type Count Name Notes
0x0 FourCC 1 Magic Always HIER
0x4 u32 1 Node Count
0x8 Node Node Count Nodes

Node

Each node represents either a Category, a Scan, or an Option. When scanning a logbook scan, the game locates its node and all its parents, and displays up to 5 Categories as well as the Scan node.

Type Count Name Notes
STRG Asset ID 1 Name String Table Asset ID of the STRG file with this node's name.
string 1 Name String Name The named string in the Name String Table with this node's name.
SCAN Asset ID 1 Scan Asset Asset ID of the SCAN asset associated with this node. Always 0xFFFFFFFF for Categories and Options.
u32 1 Parent Index into the Nodes table. Top-level nodes have a parent of 0xFFFFFFFF.