GTExplorer

3D Mesh Preview

Features

• Archive Management — Extract and repack GT-ARC / GT-ZIP archives (.DAT / .ARC). Uses manifest.txt when present.
• Asset Viewer — View TIM, TIM packs (.tpk), CTEX, GT-PS, and other GT assets.
• 3D Model Viewer — Preview 3D car and track models (TBD).
• Built-in Editors — Edit save data, view car databases, adjust color palettes, and more.
• Preview Options — Inspect text files, GTHTML, SPEC / COLOR tables, and sound sequences.
• TIM Tools — Convert, re-encode, replace, swap palettes, and batch-process TIM textures (requires Pillow).
• Region Support — Built-in regional file lists for accurate asset identification.
• TIM & Expansion Tools — Optional TIM packing and INST/ENGN sample expansion.
• Disc Rebuilding Pipeline — Integrated wrapper for mkpsxiso (dumpsxiso / mkpsxiso) directly within the GUI.
• In-App Help — Built-in user guide (Help button or Help → User Guide).

💡 Tip: Always perform a clean Extract All (with manifest.txt) prior to modifying assets for seamless repacking.

Work in Progress

Palette Editor

In latest build

Database Editor

Known Limitations

• TIM Pack Repacking: Repacking .tpk files is not yet implemented. Loose .TIM files can be edited normally.
• Model Renderer: Model viewing is experimental. Models currently lack wheels (using placeholders for now) and may cause performance slowdowns or crashes.
• Repack Workflow: You must open the folder you wish to repack via File → Open Folder before running a repack operation (Extract/Repack).
• Disc Rebuilding: Automatic disc rebuilding with mkpsxiso can occasionally fail after repacking. Moving modified files into the disc folder manually is recommended.

Typical Modding Workflow

[Dump ISO] ──► [Extract DAT/ARC] ──► [Edit Assets/TIMs] ──► [Repack Archive] ──► [Rebuild ISO]

1. Dump Game Disc (Optional, once) — Run Tools → Dump disc (dumpsxiso)… or set up via Setup.
2. Extract Archives — Open a target .DAT file and click Extract → Extract All.
3. Modify Assets — Edit texture files (.TIM), text, or other assets in your output directory.
4. Repack — Run Extract → Repack to generate an updated archive file.
5. Rebuild Disc — Copy the modded .DAT into the disc file tree (matching the original path), then run Tools → Build disc (mkpsxiso)… and boot the new .cue in an emulator.

Setup / Workspace

Open File → Setup / Workspace… to configure paths:

Suggested Layout

C:\GT1_Modding\
├── GAMEFILES\        ← Original game archives (.DAT / .ARC)
├── _mods\            ← Extracted assets & repacked edits
├── disc_files\       ← ISO files dumped via dumpsxiso
├── gt1.xml           ← Project configuration XML
└── _built\           ← Output directory for rebuilt .bin / .cue

For a simple single-root setup, point the default project paths at something like C:/GT1/.

Supported File Formats

Archive Kinds

Detected File Types

Requirements & Quick Start

Prerequisites

• Python 3.8+
• PyQt6 ≥ 6.4
• Pillow & NumPy

Installation

git clone https://github.com/JeevesGB/GTExplorer.git
cd GTExplorer
pip install -r requirements.txt

Running GTExplorer

Windows: run.bat

From terminal: python src/main.py

1. On first launch, complete Setup (input / output folders).
2. File → Open .DAT — or click an archive in the Input list.
3. (Optional) Pick a region Names list in the toolbar.
4. Extract → Extract All into your output folder.
5. Edit files on disk, then Extract → Repack.

Press F1 or click Help in the toolbar for the full User Guide.

Detailed Usage Docs

Tools Folder

GTExplorer does not ship mkpsxiso. To dump or rebuild full disc images:

1. Download the official release: Lameguy64/mkpsxiso
2. Place mkpsxiso.exe and dumpsxiso.exe in the project's tools/ directory.

tools/
├── README.txt           ← Ships with the project
├── mkpsxiso.exe        ← You add (official release)
└── dumpsxiso.exe       ← You add

Keyboard Shortcuts

Credits

• pez2k / gt2tools — foundational prior research into GT1's archive and asset formats, without which much of GTExplorer's format support would not have been possible.
• Lameguy64 / mkpsxiso — provides the dumpsxiso / mkpsxiso tools GTExplorer wraps for optional disc dumping and rebuilding.
• The Gran Turismo modding and PS1 reverse-engineering community — for ongoing research, testing, and format documentation that continues to inform this project. Many of GT1's file formats are still being actively researched; see Contributing if you'd like to help.

Contributing

Contributions are welcome! Please see CONTRIBUTING.md for setup instructions, coding guidelines, and a list of areas that need help (see Known Limitations above for good starting points).

License

Distributed under the MIT License.