step by step how to make it work: (Also known as the mapconv guide to noobs)
1. Download;
2. Extract the files;
3. Open the new mapconv directory extracted from the zip file;
4. you will find these files:
[code] changelog.txt
DevIL.dll
example scripts <directory>
geovent.bmp
ILU.dll
line.txt
mapconv.exe
mapid.txt
nvcompress
nvdxt <directory>
old nvdxt <directory>
1options.txt
readme.txt
texcompress <directory>
texconv <directory>
todo.txt [/code]
5. Open the nvdxt directory;
6. Select the nvdxt executable;
7. Hit [CTRL + C];
8. go back to the mapconv directory;
9. Hit [CTRL + V];
10. Select the files "line.txt" and "options.txt";
11. Hit [SHIFT + DEL], and press [ENTER];
12. Open the "example scripts" directory;
13. Open the "example 1" directory;
14. select the .bat file, "compressor.txt", and "special.txt";
15. Hit [CTRL + C];
16. go back to the mapconv directory;
17. Hit [CTRL + V];
18. Done.
For your map you should do:
19. Open the bat file that you copied to the mapconv directory in any text editor;
20. Remove the lines:
[code]@ECHO OFF
ECHO
ECHO.
ECHO Edit this file in notepad.
ECHO.
ECHO Make sure all map bitmaps are present in the same directory as Mapconv.
ECHO.
ECHO Mapconv help will now display.
mapconv -help
ECHO MapConv will now run again with the parameters you have added. If you haven't touched this file yet, something bad will probably happen.
pause
ECHO *SOMETHING TO NOTE* When compiling with features it is best to use a max height of 101 and a min height of 100. This ensures that all of your features (especially GeoVents) will be placed correctly! When working with large heights ALWAYS use the Lowpass option ( -l )!
pause
REM Edit below.[/code]
21. then you will have just two lines, hit [CTRL + S], and close the text editor;
22. go to your your map image files directory (height map, metal map, feature map, texture, type map);
23. select them all;
24. Hit [CTRL + X];
25. Open your mapconv directory;
26. Hit [CTRL + V], now you will have your images on mapconv directory;
27. Open the .bat (batch file) in the text editor again;
28. If you don't know how to use the mapconv features, you will have problems at this point. To learn about them look in the readme, or in the first post;
29. Edit the parameters to fit your needs;
30. Hit [CTRL + S], and close the text editor;
31. Open "compressor.txt" in the text editor;
32. Assuming that you know how to use the nvdxt parameters, edit the line. (look at the nvdxt readme for more information);
33. Hit [CTRL + S], and close the text editor;
34. Open "special.txt" in the text editor;
35. This one is easy just write the options you want, and remove the ones you don't want;
36. Hit [CTRL + S], and close the text editor;
37. Probably everything is OK;
38. Run the batch file (.bat);
39. A black window will open, displaying the batch file content;
40. If the images are 100% OK, then you won't get any errors;
41. Wait;
42. Wait some more;
43. At the end of compilation you will get something like this:
Could Not Find C:\mapconv\temp\Temp*.png.raw
44.
That is not an error;
45. You will see a .smf and a .smt in the mapconv directory;
46. Right click, new folder, name it "maps";
47. Copy the .smf and .smt to the new folder;
48. Create a .smd file, and copy it to the "maps" directory that you created on step 46;
49. Compress the "maps" directory using either zip or 7z compression;
50. Done.
Notes:
1.
No .bmp files;
2.
No .tga with origin at bottom left;
I hope it helps.
edit: i still think this guide is not detailed enough, really it isn't, i will make a better guide later.