Resource Pack Bug: .properties File Loading Issue

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Resource Pack .properties Loading Bug

Hey guys! Let's dive into a quirky bug I've stumbled upon while working with Minecraft resource packs, specifically concerning how .properties files are handled. This issue seems to affect texture overrides, and I wanted to share my findings and see if anyone else has experienced something similar.

The Problem: .properties File Quirks

Essentially, a resource pack containing a texture.properties file will only be read if it's placed above another pack that includes the same texture but doesn't have a .properties file. To rephrase it in a more understandable way: texture properties loading is affected by the resource pack load order. If a pack without a .properties file for a specific texture is loaded before a pack with a .properties file for the same texture, the .properties file isn't read, and the intended behavior doesn't occur. This is a significant issue, especially when dealing with texture overrides.

This resource pack bug appears to happen, at least, with texture overrides. I haven't had the chance to thoroughly test it with regular textures yet, but the initial findings are quite telling. The expected behavior would be that even if a pack without the .properties file is loaded below, the game should still recognize and apply the .properties file from the pack loaded afterward. However, that is not the case.

Example Scenario

I noticed this while working on two resource packs. In these packs, I added a cape part with a texture override to a villager model. One pack (without the .properties file) simply has a cape.png file as specified in the override, which is a transparent texture. The other pack (with the .properties file) adds multiple capes, using the .properties file to vary them depending on the texture suffixes of the villagers. The randomization of cape textures should depend on these suffixes, thanks to the .properties file.

Interestingly, the pack with the .properties file only works correctly if it's placed above the other pack in the resource pack load order. When the pack with the .properties file is below the other pack, it fails to apply the variations defined in the .properties file. Even though the first pack doesn't have a .properties file, it seems to prevent the second pack's .properties file from being read.

To clarify further, the cape textures are loaded in this scenario. When the pack with the .properties file is not above the other pack, the game randomizes all possible cape.png files, indicating that the basic texture loading is functioning, but the .properties file is not being processed to control the randomization as intended.

Resource Pack Examples

To illustrate the issue, here are the two resource packs I was working with:

Feel free to download these and test the behavior yourself to see if you can reproduce the problem.

Environment

This issue has been observed on Fabric with the latest versions of EMF (Entity Model Features), ETF (Entity Texture Features), and Minecraft. It was also present in previous versions, so it's not a recent regression.

Deep Dive into the Technical Details

To understand this texture properties loading issue more deeply, let's consider the mechanics behind resource pack loading and texture overrides in Minecraft. When Minecraft loads resource packs, it essentially merges the assets from each pack in the order they are loaded. If multiple packs contain the same file, the file from the pack loaded last (i.e., the one at the top of the list) takes precedence. This is a fundamental aspect of how resource packs work.

However, the presence of a .properties file introduces a layer of complexity. The .properties file is not a direct replacement for a texture file; instead, it provides metadata that modifies how the associated texture is used. For example, it can specify different textures to use based on certain conditions, such as the entity's variant or biome. In the case of ETF, these conditions can be quite intricate, allowing for highly customized texture overrides.

The expected behavior is that if a texture is overridden and a .properties file exists for that texture, the game should always read and apply the .properties file, regardless of whether other packs contain the same texture without a .properties file. The .properties file should dictate how the texture is used, and its absence in other packs should not prevent it from being loaded.

The bug I've encountered suggests that the game is not correctly handling this scenario. It appears that the mere presence of a texture file in a pack loaded earlier can prevent the .properties file from being read, even if that earlier pack doesn't provide any specific instructions on how to use the texture. This is particularly problematic because it means that adding a simple, unmodified texture in one pack can inadvertently break the functionality of another pack that relies on a .properties file for that texture.

Potential Causes

There are several potential reasons why this bug might be occurring:

  1. Caching Issues: The game might be caching the texture information when it first encounters the texture file in the earlier pack. If it doesn't find a .properties file at that time, it might not bother to look for one later, even if it encounters a pack with a .properties file.
  2. Loading Order Logic: The loading order logic for .properties files might be flawed. The game might be prioritizing the absence of a .properties file over its presence, effectively ignoring the .properties file if any pack contains the texture without one.
  3. ETF/EMF Conflicts: It's possible that the ETF or EMF mods are interacting with the resource pack loading process in a way that causes this issue. These mods add significant functionality to entity texturing, and their interaction with the base game's resource pack system might be the source of the problem.

Impact on Resource Pack Development

This bug has significant implications for resource pack developers. It means that we need to be extremely careful about the order in which resource packs are loaded, and we need to be aware that adding a simple texture to one pack can potentially break the functionality of other packs. This makes it more difficult to create modular and reusable resource packs, as we need to consider the potential for conflicts and ensure that our packs are always loaded in the correct order.

It also highlights the importance of thorough testing. We need to test our resource packs in a variety of environments and with different combinations of other resource packs to ensure that they are working as intended. This can be a time-consuming process, but it's essential to ensure that our packs are reliable and compatible.

Steps to Reproduce the Bug

To reproduce this bug, follow these steps:

  1. Download the two resource packs mentioned above:
  2. Place both resource packs in your Minecraft resourcepacks folder.
  3. In Minecraft, enable both resource packs.
  4. Important: Ensure that "Hermitcraft Villagers" is above "Semo's Cape Addon" in the resource pack load order.
  5. Spawn a villager. You should see that the villager's cape is simply transparent, as defined in the cape.png file in the "Hermitcraft Villagers" pack. The variations defined in the .properties file in "Semo's Cape Addon" are not applied.
  6. Now, change the resource pack load order so that "Semo's Cape Addon" is above "Hermitcraft Villagers".
  7. Spawn another villager. You should now see that the villager's cape is randomized according to the .properties file in "Semo's Cape Addon".

By following these steps, you should be able to observe the bug in action.

Possible Solutions and Workarounds

While a proper fix for this bug would require changes to the game's code or the ETF/EMF mods, there are a few potential workarounds that resource pack developers can use in the meantime:

  1. Ensure Correct Load Order: The simplest workaround is to ensure that resource packs with .properties files are always loaded above any other packs that contain the same textures without .properties files. This can be achieved by carefully managing the resource pack load order in the Minecraft settings.
  2. Combine Resource Packs: If possible, you can combine the resource packs into a single pack. This eliminates the load order issue and ensures that the .properties file is always read.
  3. Rename Textures: Another workaround is to rename the textures in one of the resource packs. This prevents the conflict and ensures that the .properties file is always applied to the correct texture.
  4. Modify ETF/EMF Settings: If you are using ETF or EMF, you can try modifying their settings to see if it resolves the issue. It's possible that certain settings are causing the conflict, and changing them might allow the .properties file to be loaded correctly.

However, these workarounds are not ideal, as they require manual intervention and can make it more difficult to manage resource packs. A proper fix would be much more desirable.

Conclusion

This .properties file loading bug is a significant issue that affects resource pack development. It highlights the importance of understanding how resource packs are loaded and how .properties files are handled. By being aware of this bug and using the workarounds described above, we can mitigate its impact and continue to create amazing resource packs for Minecraft.

I hope this detailed explanation helps you understand the issue better. If you have any insights or experiences related to this, feel free to share them in the comments below!

I'm running Fabric Latest EMF/ETF/Minecraft (and before ^^).