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How to convert YMT, YMAP and YTYP files to XML

Read the game's binary metadata as Rockstar-style XML: open a single .ymt, .ymap or .ytyp file and save it, or convert whole folders in one go.

Updated · 2 min read

RPFView – Metadata
RPFView showing the binary mp_m_freemode_01.ymt converted to readable XML with highlighting and foldingRPFView showing the binary mp_m_freemode_01.ymt converted to readable XML with highlighting and folding

Before you start

You need RPFView with the game folder and keys set up; see how to open RPF files. RPFView converts these files to XML:

  • RSC metadata: .ymap (map placements), .ytyp (archetypes) and .ymt;
  • PSO: .ymt and .ymf;
  • RBF files. Plain .meta and .xml files are shown as they are.

1. Convert one file

  1. Press Ctrl+F, search for the file, for example mp_m_freemode_01.ymt, and press Enter. Double-click the result to open its folder.
  2. Click the file once. The preview pane shows it as XML, with highlighting and folding.
  3. Click Save as… (Ctrl+S) above the XML. RPFView suggests the file name with .xml added, such as mp_m_freemode_01.ymt.xml.

To paste the XML somewhere else, click Copy all. Find (Ctrl+F in the viewer) searches the text, and Word wrap wraps long lines.

2. Convert many files at once

  1. Select the files or folders in the file list. To find all files of a type, search for ext:ymt (or ext:ymap, ext:ytyp) and select the results.
  2. Choose Export as… (Ctrl+Shift+E).
  3. Under Metadata, tick Convert to XML, choose a Destination folder and click Export.

Binary files are saved as name.ymt.xml, name.ymap.xml and so on; text .meta files keep their names. Folders are exported with everything in them, and files that can't be converted are exported as they are.

Names instead of hashes

Binary metadata stores most names as hashes. RPFView turns them back into names with a dictionary it builds from your own game files. If a converted file shows hashes where you expect names, choose Tools → Build name dictionary and open the file again.

Can I convert the XML back?

No. RPFView converts metadata to XML for reading, comparing and copying values into your own files, but it doesn't convert XML back into binary .ymt, .ymap or .ytyp files. For that you need another tool, such as CodeWalker.

To pull the original files out unconverted instead, for example every weapon metadata file, see the command line.

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