MCM1 SX Plugin File Formats

Version 1.0 (Beta) - 7/9/26

This document describes the plugin-side files used by MCM1 Plugin Editor and TrackEdit-style construction sets:

plugins.ini - registry of available construction sets
xxxx.ini - one construction-set definition, such as classic.ini
plugins/<name>/ - ASC, TGA, and BMP assets used by the construction-set INI

Examples use the checked-in classic plugin:


plugins/plugins.ini
plugins/classic.ini
plugins/classic/
tracks/classic_test.trk

General Text Rules

Plugin files are INI-like text files.

Lines are normally CRLF terminated.
Section names are written as [SectionName].
Key/value lines use Key=Value.
Blank lines are ignored.
Semicolon-prefixed lines are comments.
Section and key names are read case-sensitively by the current editor code in most places, so preserve the existing names.
Asset paths may be bare file names, relative paths, or TrackEdit-style paths such as ..\classic\StrN.tga.
Plugin-relative subfolders such as Textures\PieceN.tga resolve relative to the active plugin asset folder, matching TrackEdit and game behavior.

Plugin Scheme

A TrackEdit installation is expected to have this shape:


xxxxxxxxxx
<TrackEdit root>/
  plugins/
    plugins.ini
    classic.ini
    classic/
      Per.asc
      PerN.tga
      PerUp.bmp
      ...
  tracks/
    classic_test.trk
    classic_test.ter
    classic_test.scn
    classic_test.dat

The selected plugins.ini tells MCM1 Plugin Editor where the TrackEdit root is. From there, the editor loads construction-set INI files from plugins/, construction-set assets from plugins/<set name>/, and normal tracks from tracks/.

`plugins.ini` Format

FORMAT BANNER: plugins.ini
Registry file listing the construction sets available to TrackEdit and the editor. Example: plugins/plugins.ini.

The file has one required section:


xxxxxxxxxx
[Plugins]
TotalConstructionSets=6
Set_1=classic
Set_2=stepup
Set_3=stepup2
Set_4=classic2
Set_5=stepup2026
Set_6=classic3

Keys

TotalConstructionSets

Number of Set_N entries expected in the file.

Set_N

Construction-set base name. The editor resolves Set_1=classic to:


xxxxxxxxxx
plugins/classic.ini
plugins/classic/

Do not include .ini in Set_N; the track file uses Plugin=classic.ini, but plugins.ini uses the base name classic.

Construction-Set `xxxx.ini` Format

FORMAT BANNER: xxxx.ini
Definition for one construction-set plugin. Example: plugins/classic.ini.

Each construction-set file contains one [ThisConstructionSet] section and one [TrackPiece_NN] section for each piece.

`[ThisConstructionSet]`

Classic example:


xxxxxxxxxx
[ThisConstructionSet]
TotalConstructionSetPieces=13
Description=Classic Motocross Construction Set
SampleBitmap=example.bmp
DefaultConstructionPiece=1
StartFinishPiece=12

TotalConstructionSetPieces

Number of [TrackPiece_NN] sections.

Description

Human-readable plugin name shown by the editor.

SampleBitmap

Preview image in the plugin asset folder. Classic uses plugins/classic/example.bmp.

DefaultConstructionPiece

Piece id used to fill empty or new tracks. Classic uses piece 1, the default terrain perimeter piece.

StartFinishPiece

Piece id that marks the start cell and race direction. Classic uses piece 12.

`[TrackPiece_NN]`

Classic piece 02 is a straight:


xxxxxxxxxx
[TrackPiece_02]
ToolTipText=Straight Away
StatBarText=Straight away piece.
GeometryNorth=StrNS.asc
GeometryWest=StrEW.asc
GeometrySouth=StrNS.asc
GeometryEast=StrEW.asc
TextureMapNorth=StrN.tga
TextureMapWest=StrW.tga
TextureMapSouth=StrS.tga
TextureMapEast=StrE.tga
ToolbarIconUp=StrUp.bmp
ToolbarIconDown=StrDn.bmp
BitmapNorth=StrNS.bmp
BitmapWest=StrEW.bmp
BitmapSouth=StrNS.bmp
BitmapEast=StrEW.bmp
Connectivity=NS
PieceType=1
NumberMapOrientations=1
RandomOrientation=0

Track Piece Keys

ToolTipText

Piece display name in the editor.

StatBarText

Longer description for the piece.

GeometryNorth, GeometryWest, GeometrySouth, GeometryEast

ASC geometry files for each orientation. These must resolve inside the plugin asset folder unless a relative path points elsewhere. Classic straight pieces use StrNS.asc for north/south and StrEW.asc for west/east.

TextureMapNorth, TextureMapWest, TextureMapSouth, TextureMapEast

TGA texture maps for each orientation. The editor uses these to build the .ter terrain palette.

ToolbarIconUp, ToolbarIconDown

BMP toolbar icons for TrackEdit. The editor preserves and displays these asset references where available.

BitmapNorth, BitmapWest, BitmapSouth, BitmapEast

BMP construction-grid preview images for each orientation.

Connectivity

Cardinal ports for the north-oriented piece. Values are made from N, S, E, and W. The DAT writer rotates connectivity by the placed orientation when it traces the race route.

Classic examples:

Piece	Connectivity	Meaning
`TrackPiece_02` Straight Away	`NS`	connects north/south
`TrackPiece_08` 90 Degree Turn	`SE`	connects south/east
`TrackPiece_01` Default Terrain	`NSEW`	available on all sides, but not a race piece

PieceType

Numeric behavior used by TrackEdit and the editor's DAT writer:

Value	Meaning
`0`	generic flat
`1`	straight away
`2`	90 degree turn left
`3`	takeoff ramp
`4`	landing ramp
`5`	whoops
`6`	table top
`7`	90 degree turn right
`8`	left or right turn, resolved to `2` or `7` in DAT output
`9`	obstacle

PieceType=0 and PieceType=9 are treated as non-racing cells by the current DAT writer.

NumberMapOrientations

Controls texture handling in generated .ter files.

4: the plugin supplies orientation-specific maps; the editor writes Transform=NONE.
1: the editor writes a MakeTerr transform from the placed orientation: NONE, HD, HV, or VD.

RandomOrientation

TrackEdit flag for randomizing orientation when terrain is written. The editor preserves the value in plugin files.

Plugin Asset Folder

FORMAT BANNER: plugin asset folder
Asset directory paired with a construction-set INI. Example: plugins/classic/.

The asset folder name normally matches the construction-set base name:


xxxxxxxxxx
plugins/classic.ini
plugins/classic/

Classic assets include:


xxxxxxxxxx
Per.asc
StrNS.asc
StrEW.asc
PerN.tga
StrN.tga
StrNS.bmp
StrUp.bmp
StrDn.bmp
example.bmp

Asset Roles

ASC files define the 16 x 16 elevation mesh for a construction tile.

TGA files define the terrain texture maps used by MakeTerr.

BMP files define editor and TrackEdit UI previews.

The .trk file stores only piece ids and orientations. For example, tracks/classic_test.trk starts with:


xxxxxxxxxx
[Track]
Plugin=classic.ini
Name=Classic Test Track
Piece_01=1
Orient_01=2

When the editor builds that track, it combines:


xxxxxxxxxx
tracks/classic_test.trk
plugins/classic.ini
plugins/classic/

to generate the track-side .ter, .scn, and .dat files.