PAL File Format

This document describes the raw data format of the color palette (PAL) file. The same format was used for both Fallout and Fallout 2, giving all PAL files complete compatibility with both game engines.

General Information
Information about PAL files was obtained by various TeamX members through analyzing relevant functions in MAPPER2.exe and FALLOUT2.exe, as well as trying to implement a simple FRM display in a program.

Technical Information
PAL files contain a palette used when rendering FRM frame data. Additionally, they contain a table for transforming RGB values into an index in the palette (speculated as being used for extracting fonts), and also several tables concatenated beyond the main file data whose uses are not clear.

Required Fields
As referenced below, the Palette area ( -  ) and the RBG Conversion Table area (  -  ) are required elements in PAL files.

.exe-Generated Data
The purpose of the .exe-Generated Data is not clear. When loading PAL files, if these tables don't exist FALLOUT2.exe and MAPPER2.exe will generate them.

Also note that values contained in custom PAL files provided for individual FRM files are subject to certain changes in the game and mapper engines.