Left 4 Dead 2: How to Modify xdR and Other Animation Addons

You need hex edtor of your choice and .vpk archive tool to extract and pack it back: vpk.exe, Crowbar or GCFScape (only extraction)

First, find and extract addon .vpk archive. All workshop addons are stored in Left 4 Dead 2/left4dead2/addons/workshop/ and non-workshop addons are stored in Left 4 Dead 2/left4dead2/addons/. Preview images are stored along with vpks, use them to identify needed addon. Also, the addons named after their assigned workshop id, you can see it in address bar when open it’s page like indicated below:

xdR anims are stored in /models/xdreanims/.

Simply remove character’s anims .mdl and .ani files.

You might have two anim mods that replace same sequences. One with currently lowest slot will play anims that both addons replace. You can move another addon to any lower slot to play it’s anims instead (or higher slot to allow other addon play it’s anims).

1. Rename .mdl and .ani (if exists) files so they have different slot indicated in their name. For ex. if we want to move Coach animations occupying slot 47 to slot 11. rename files to coach_slot_011.mdl and coach_slot_011.ani
2. Open renamed .mdl file in hex editor
3. Edit it so it references to new .mdl path at beginning
   
4. Near end of file, point to new .ani path
   
5. Save file

Say you don’t want specific sequence to be played in game. For ex., to disable Idle_Standing_Pistol sequence, do this:

Open .mdl file in hex editor. Search for Idle_Standing_Pistol text.
It may find text prefixed with a_ like a_Idle_Standing_Pistol. Don’t touch it, it’s $animation. Keep it, search next.

Needed sequence looks like this. If it has Activity id assigned to it, it usually comes after and has ACT_ prefix.

To disable it, change it’s name and act like this:

I advise changing only one letter in name and act. Name and act length must be same.

Technically, this sequence is still inside model, but it should no longer be triggered in game.

It’s technically possible but not advised as different character have different proportions or different skeletal structure. For ex. if we move anim from Coach to Zoey, it will be stretched in game. Moving from survivor to special infected won’t work.

Rename .mdl to needed character and slot.

Original .ani must be renamed so it has same length. Simply replace some letters.

Open .mdl file in hex editor.

Edit so it has new path reference. Path field is 64 bytes long like selection above shows, after .mdl there is padding filled with hex zeroes 00. You must not exceed it.

Near end of file, point to new .ani path

There are anim mods that do not utilize xdReanimsBase. It is possible to port them to xdR so it can be combined with other xdR anims. Since these replace all sequences, it’s best idea to assign them to highest possible slot. For ex., animation mod for Charger is converted like this:

Move .mdl file to xdreanims folder and rename to assigned character and slot:
models/infected/anim_charger.mdl —> models/xdreanims/charger_slot_047.mdl

.ani file must be located at same folder and must have same name length. Rename it by changing only some letters.

Edit .mdl file in hex editor so it has new path reference. Path field is 64 bytes long like selection below shows, after .mdl there is padding filled with hex zeroes 00. You must not exceed it.

Near end of file, point to new .ani path

Save file.

If you familiar to modding, you may try to decompile anim using Crowbar, do changes, compile back.

I won’t cover the process, that’s beyond of scope of this guide. I can say though that decompiler can’t produce source files perfectly suitable for editing unless it only has some simple animations. Delta sequences will be complete garbage. Best thing you can do is to create another extension that contains your edited sequences.

Open addoninfo.txt in text editor and change addon name for your convenience.

Pack edited addon into .vpk by using vpk.exe or Crowbar.

Your addon is ready. Place it in Left 4 Dead 2/left4dead2/addons/. I strongly advise against uploading it without original author’s acknowledgement.