Item Placement

Item placement files, known by the extension .ipl, are map files used to place objects into the GTA world, as well as define zones, paths, garages, interior portals, and a lot more. Most IPL files can easily be opened and edited using any text-editing program like Notepad. In San Andreas there are also binary IPL files which are located in the IMG archives of the game. Those you can only open using a special editor.

Structure
The  files are split up into many sections. Not all of them have to be used, leaving them empty works as well. Each section starts with a section identifier and ends with the keyword "end", both in a separate line.

Example: inst ... end

INST
Used to place objects in the world.

GTA III format ID, ModelName, PosX, PosY, PosZ, ScaleX, ScaleY, ScaleZ, RotX, RotY, RotZ, RotW

Vice City format ID, ModelName, Interior, PosX, PosY, PosZ, ScaleX, ScaleY, ScaleZ, RotX, RotY, RotZ, RotW

San Andreas format ID, ModelName, Interior, PosX, PosY, PosZ, RotX, RotY, RotZ, RotW, LOD

CULL
Create a culling zone.

GTA III and Vice City format CenterX, CenterY, CenterZ, LowerLeftX, LowerLeftY, LowerLeftZ, UpperRightX, UpperRightY, UpperRightZ, Flags, Unknown

San Andreas format 1 CenterX, CenterY, CenterZ, Unknown1, WidthY, BottomZ, WidthX, Unknown2, TopZ, Flag, Unknown3

San Andreas format 2 CenterX, CenterY, CenterZ, Unknown1, WidthY, BottomZ, WidthX, Unknown2, TopZ, Flag, Vx, Vy, Vz, Cm

PATH
Vice City only

Ped, Car and Boat Paths, defines paths relative to the world centre. Only used in GTA VC, this format is much easier than in GTA3 where the paths were stored in IDE files, and GTA-SA paths which are stored in **nodes.dat inside gta3.img. This is a quite complicated format and hardly usable without an editing program (such as Ked).

GTA SA uses compiled binary files for its paths.

GRGE
Creates a garage.

San Andreas format PosX, PosY, PosZ, LineX, LineY, CubeX, CubeY, CubeZ, DoorType, GarageType, Name

ENEX
Creates an entrance to an exit

San Andreas format X1, Y1, Z1, ROT, W1, W2, C8, X2, Y2, Z2, Rot2, Int, Flag, Name, Sky, I2, Time On, Time Off

PICK
Creates a weapon pickup.

San Andreas format ID, PosX, PosY, PosZ

JUMP
Creates a unique stunt jump.

San Andreas format StartLowerX, StartLowerY, StartLowerZ, StartUpperX, StartUpperY, StartUpperZ, TargetLowerX, TargetLowerY, TargetLowerZ, TargetUpperX, TargetUpperY, TargetUpperZ, CameraX, CameraY, CameraZ, Reward

TCYC
Creates black sky if you enter the zone. Also exists for all towns in countryside. Probably custom weather?

San Andreas format X1, Y1, Z1, X2, Y2, Z2, ?, ?, ?, ?, ?

AUZO
This creates an audio if you enter the zone.

San Andreas format 1 Name, ID, Switch, X1, Y1, Z1, X2, Y2, Z2

San Andreas format 2 Name, ID, Switch, X, Y, Z, Radius

MULT
San Andreas and GTA4 only

In San Andreas, this was never used in the game. This section is currently unknown and may never be known; it is ignored by the game.

CARS
Creates a parked car generator

San Andreas format PosX, PosY, PosZ, Angle, CarID, PrimCol, SecCol, ForceSpawn, Alarm, DoorLock, Unknown1, Unknown2

OCCL
Creates zones for separated rendering.

Vice City and San Andreas format mid x, mid y, bottom height z, width x, width y, height from bottom height to top, rotation

ZONE
Although technically an IPL section, this is usually only used in zone files (extension ).

BLOK
GTA4 only

VNOD
GTA4 only

LINK
GTA4 only

MLO+
GTA4 only

RTFX
GTA4 only

LODM
GTA4 only

SLOW
GTA4 only

2DFX
GTA4 only

Useful Tools

 * KEd
 * Binary (De-)Compiler