Spring RTS Engine

Okay i'm stumped! Can someone tell me how to extract the map conv so it works? I want to use Mother's version so I can use features on maps. I am not sure if I have all the right files so if you could list the required zip files that would help. Any help is very apprecated.

**I found out that I can make a 2048x2048 bump from 16 512x512 bumps rendered with Terragen. Then I can scale it up to 8192x8192(it takes 3minutes) and the bump becomes 547mb in size. Then I can save it(it takes 7 minutes and looks as if it died!) and it shrinks down to 192mb. I did all this in Gimp2.2 and on a comp with only a 2.0Ghz cpu and 512 max memory.**

i think u need more memory, i mean u are using 512 mb ram for a 547 mb bump.. i think it won't fit..

Ive made 6144*6144 map (12*12) with 512 mo, so I dont' think it's that.

TA3D , explain better your problem, what have you tried, what's working, where it do not work anymore etc...

try a unit map for testing puposes (1024x1024 texture, others 127x127 or whatever, use paitbrush or something), and see if that works... if not come back with the error log from mMapConv

I have never seen an actual step by step extracting help log so I just unziped the stuff into a folder. Which doesn't work. I need to know which files to use and where to place them so they run.

The bump thing is just a side note, that works just fine, but it just takse some time.

Wasn't there a trick with putting it in a folder that has no spaces anywhere in the pathname. So "c:\program files\mapconv\" won't work, but "c:\mapconv\" will be ok.

I figure I'll through in my 2 cents in on this ...

You can use a L3DT to generate a height map or the whole
map if you want. You can also use, Terrain Media Generator to
design a custom texture with a height map. You can use
MS Paint, Gimp 2 or PS Pro to make your height map, texture
map, metal map and your features map.

I've try them all and I do it different evey time. I'm trying to
find a way to design a good map with new tools all the time.
So, here is how I make maps with features.

I generate a height map and metal map. I then take the time
and think about the texture map. The features I include in
maps, wreckage, trees and geos. I'm starting to include custom
feature too. Like custom trees, rocks, weeds and other plants.
I just need to learn how to convert 3ds objects to 3do format.
After that I will be able to include them too in the map.
It depends on the util you use to make your map. Mothers
has a few versions of mapconv out. I've been using mothers
mapconv to make my maps.

EXAMPLE :

mapconv.exe -i -l -x 220 -n -60 -y terrainmap.bmp -m metalmap.bmp
-a heightmap.bmp -t texturemap -o mapname.smf -f fs.txt -c 1.5

-i, -invert, Inverts the height map

-l, -lowpass, Lowpass filters the heightmap

-y terrianmap.bmp - for different speeds on the ground.

-m metalmap.bmp - the metal deposits, grass, trees and features

-a heightmap.bmp - the height map for the terrain ... :)

-t texturemap.bmp - the main texture for the map..

-o mapname.smf - name of the map ...

-f fs.txt - a text file with wreckage name or custom features

-c compression of the map.


On the creative part, that's up to you.

texture maps .. multiples of 512 pixels

metal,height and terrian 1/8 of the texture + 1 pixel

Also, don't forget 7-zip ... a must ... have util ..


I hope this helps you out ....

My point is I have no idea as to how you go about doing a complete extraction from nothing, so that it works. I have never used it before partly because of this. So if someone could show me the current list of zip files needed to use Mother's current version of map conv, then how to, and where to extract them so they work. Thats what I am asking about.

extract them all to the same folder... any extra files are probably just the source and other stuff... who cares... just put them all into a folder...

The files you need to compile a map is :

map data

height.bmp
metal.bmp
texture.bmp
fs.txt - for features or wreckage

util files

mapconv.exe
geovent.bmp
nvdxt.exe

Also, make a bat file to build you map.

EXAMPLE:

mapper.bat


@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.
PAUSE
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

REM Edit below.

mapconv.exe -i -l -x 220 -n -60 -m metal.bmp -a height.bmp -t texture.bmp -o mapname.smf -f fs.txt -c 1.5
PAUSE




I hope some of this info helps you out.

Zip files required (I think):

http://www.fileuniverse.com/?page=showitem&ID=681 - Base map compiler
http://www.fileuniverse.com/?p=showitem&ID=1234 - Updated version for 0.6x
http://fileuniverse.com/?p=download&uni ... d7&ID=1421 - Mothers map maker

Unzip all the archives into the SAME FOLDER. If it asks to replace something, replace it. If it doesnt ask to, then your extracting in the wrong spot. The path to the map converter must have NO SPACES. It screws things up. Then, just compile with the bat file or commmand line like people have said.

you missed features.bmp

http://www.fileuniverse.com/?p=showitem&ID=1564, uses all the tags genblood listed except -f. Just put in in the same folder as the stuff maelstrom linked to.

that one also has a readme that almost makes sense

Argg it doesn't work. I used the front end, with all the files in the directory and in the right slots, but when I go to run mapconv(Mothers). It starts up, then it crashes and gives me a windows error report. Any ideas?

Did you tick mothers and supply the additional required files?

I checked mothers map conv, and added the required files, but it doesn't work. Heres the windows error log. I hope this is the right one:


<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-16"?>
<DATABASE>
<EXE NAME="MapConv.exe" FILTER="GRABMI_FILTER_PRIVACY">
<MATCHING_FILE NAME="Maelstroms SMD Creator.exe" SIZE="184320" CHECKSUM="0x7CA32537" BIN_FILE_VERSION="1.0.0.0" BIN_PRODUCT_VERSION="1.0.0.0" PRODUCT_VERSION="1.00" COMPANY_NAME="Department of Education" PRODUCT_NAME="SMD Creator" FILE_VERSION="1.00" ORIGINAL_FILENAME="Maelstroms SMD Creator.exe" INTERNAL_NAME="Maelstroms SMD Creator" VERFILEDATEHI="0x0" VERFILEDATELO="0x0" VERFILEOS="0x4" VERFILETYPE="0x1" MODULE_TYPE="WIN32" PE_CHECKSUM="0x31860" LINKER_VERSION="0x10000" UPTO_BIN_FILE_VERSION="1.0.0.0" UPTO_BIN_PRODUCT_VERSION="1.0.0.0" LINK_DATE="10/11/2005 12:33:29" UPTO_LINK_DATE="10/11/2005 12:33:29" VER_LANGUAGE="English (United States) [0x409]" />
<MATCHING_FILE NAME="MapConv.exe" SIZE="425984" CHECKSUM="0x23145B6C" MODULE_TYPE="WIN32" PE_CHECKSUM="0x747C2" LINKER_VERSION="0x0" LINK_DATE="08/31/2005 23:11:14" UPTO_LINK_DATE="08/31/2005 23:11:14" />
<MATCHING_FILE NAME="mapconvfrontend.exe" SIZE="159744" CHECKSUM="0xD6F69786" MODULE_TYPE="WIN32" PE_CHECKSUM="0x0" LINKER_VERSION="0x0" LINK_DATE="10/03/2005 03:06:46" UPTO_LINK_DATE="10/03/2005 03:06:46" />
<MATCHING_FILE NAME="nvdxt.exe" SIZE="565248" CHECKSUM="0x9A1D1AD2" MODULE_TYPE="WIN32" PE_CHECKSUM="0x0" LINKER_VERSION="0x0" LINK_DATE="05/10/2004 21:09:23" UPTO_LINK_DATE="05/10/2004 21:09:23" />
<MATCHING_FILE NAME="spring.exe" SIZE="2682880" CHECKSUM="0x50E9353F" MODULE_TYPE="WIN32" PE_CHECKSUM="0x0" LINKER_VERSION="0x0" LINK_DATE="08/30/2005 15:02:18" UPTO_LINK_DATE="08/30/2005 15:02:18" />
<MATCHING_FILE NAME="texconv.exe" SIZE="532480" CHECKSUM="0x38831073" BIN_FILE_VERSION="5.3.1.1126" BIN_PRODUCT_VERSION="5.3.1.1126" PRODUCT_VERSION="5.3.0000001.1126" FILE_DESCRIPTION="" COMPANY_NAME="Microsoft Corporation" PRODUCT_NAME="Microsoft├é┬« Windows├é┬« Operating System" FILE_VERSION="5.3.0000001.1126 built by: DIRECTX" ORIGINAL_FILENAME="texconv.exe" INTERNAL_NAME="texconv.exe" LEGAL_COPYRIGHT="├é┬® Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved." VERFILEDATEHI="0x0" VERFILEDATELO="0x0" VERFILEOS="0x40004" VERFILETYPE="0x2" MODULE_TYPE="WIN32" PE_CHECKSUM="0x8871A" LINKER_VERSION="0x50001" UPTO_BIN_FILE_VERSION="5.3.1.1126" UPTO_BIN_PRODUCT_VERSION="5.3.1.1126" LINK_DATE="09/10/2003 16:45:13" UPTO_LINK_DATE="09/10/2003 16:45:13" VER_LANGUAGE="English (United States) [0x409]" />
</EXE>
<EXE NAME="kernel32.dll" FILTER="GRABMI_FILTER_THISFILEONLY">
<MATCHING_FILE NAME="kernel32.dll" SIZE="983552" CHECKSUM="0x4CE79457" BIN_FILE_VERSION="5.1.2600.2180" BIN_PRODUCT_VERSION="5.1.2600.2180" PRODUCT_VERSION="5.1.2600.2180" FILE_DESCRIPTION="Windows NT BASE API Client DLL" COMPANY_NAME="Microsoft Corporation" PRODUCT_NAME="Microsoft├é┬« Windows├é┬« Operating System" FILE_VERSION="5.1.2600.2180 (xpsp_sp2_rtm.040803-2158)" ORIGINAL_FILENAME="kernel32" INTERNAL_NAME="kernel32" LEGAL_COPYRIGHT="├é┬® Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved." VERFILEDATEHI="0x0" VERFILEDATELO="0x0" VERFILEOS="0x40004" VERFILETYPE="0x2" MODULE_TYPE="WIN32" PE_CHECKSUM="0xFF848" LINKER_VERSION="0x50001" UPTO_BIN_FILE_VERSION="5.1.2600.2180" UPTO_BIN_PRODUCT_VERSION="5.1.2600.2180" LINK_DATE="08/04/2004 07:56:36" UPTO_LINK_DATE="08/04/2004 07:56:36" VER_LANGUAGE="English (United States) [0x409]" />
</EXE>
</DATABASE>

TA 3D,

Make a bat file and run mapconv ...

Its really simple ....

@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.
PAUSE
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

REM Edit below.

mapconv.exe -i -l -x 220 -n -60 -m metal.bmp -a height.bmp -t texture.bmp -o mapname.smf -c 1.5
PAUSE

Use notepad and replace the x and n values ....

The metal .. height .. texture ... mapname ... with yours ..

An run the bat file ...

When complete take the 2 files and your .smd file put it
in a folder maps and use 7-zip to archive it to a .sd7

Okay tell me if i'm using the frontend, do I need to make a bat file too?

No.

Mapconv basically just tells dos

mapconv.exe -i -l -x 220 -n -60 -m metal.bmp -a height.bmp -t texture.bmp -o mapname.smf -c 1.5

But its got a graphical front end rather than batch files.