With the file uncompressed, click on the or Edit button within SFM, or use the built-in quick functions:
Resize objects along the X, Y, and Z axes to fix scaling issues.
For the rolling stock developer, the tool was equally vital. It allowed for the adjustment of animation hierarchies—the code that tells a wheel to rotate or a door to open. It also enabled the addition of "flickering lights" or other visual effects directly into the shape file’s parameters. Perhaps most importantly, it facilitated "poly-hacking," a process where developers could reduce the polygon count of a model to improve game performance. By identifying and removing invisible or redundant polygons through the text editor, creators ensured their detailed locomotives did not overwhelm the hardware of the early 2000s.
: It introduced the ability to adjust MIP Map levels and Texture Modes , which helped fix "shiny" locos or texture flickering.
The utility is abandonware, but knowledge is preserved:
Windows often protects files located inside the Program Files (x86) directory.
Despite its reliability, users occasionally encounter issues:
Tip: Use SFM 2.5 first to uncompress a shape, then use Shape Fixer on the uncompressed text, then return to SFM 2.5 to recompress.